Locals Featured in New Book

Hot Off the Press: Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 3

In Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 3, writer/storyteller Elaine Thomas shares 30 more inspiring accounts of ordinary people whose life experiences she describes as extraordinary. The majority of these stories have appeared over the last decade in her column in The Fayette County Record.

Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 3 includes the stories of: Arleas Upton Kea, Rod Koenig, John D. Marburger, Molly Cernosek, Leon and Marcella Langhamer, Dolores Vacek, Bernice Havel, Gus Breymann, Dr. James Tiemann, Ida Mae Darden, Bill Klesel, Lydia Fietsam, Hermine Weise, Alvin Anders, Gary Lincke, Valeria Zapalac, Ed Krivacka, Eugene Hollas, Conrad Jochen & Irene Prihoda, Frances Schumann, Gracie Taylor, Billy Koehl, Richard Dixon, Gene Wessels, Leona Wagner, Marvin Stichler, Charlie Ripper, Johnnie Faldyn, John McCourt and Dick Peck.

After La Grange resident Paul Mikula finished the new book, he said, “What incredible reading. Elaine is masterful at telling someone’s life story, detailing their existence, sometimes two and three generations ago. I found myself laughing at one story, while in tears with the next. The struggles endured, the risks taken and sacrifices made by the individuals and families detailed in this book are unimaginable to most of my generation.

“I seriously doubt many of us could make it in that kind of world today. We have heard so many times that those who came before us wanted something better for their children and their grandchildren. Because of the courage and the will to survive of those detailed in this book, our lives are most certainly better. It should be required reading for all young people so they can better understand the paths their predecessors took to set forth the lifestyle we are so fortunate to enjoy today,” Paul added.

Come by The Fayette County Record on Friday, Nov. 3, when the newspaper celebrates its 102nd birthday, and ask Elaine to sign a copy of her new book for you. The cost is $18, plus tax. If you can’t attend the event, pick up signed copies of all of Elaine’s Texas books at The Record or the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives. To order from Amazon, go to Elaine’s website, www.elainethomaswriter. com, and click the book tab to view the list. Her books are also available at The Schulenburg Sticker and the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce.

Elaine will also be at the Schulenburg Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon for the Friends of the Schulenburg Library a special book signing event for local residents who shared their memories with Elaine for “Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 3.”

The public is welcome and complimentary refreshments will be served.

Elaine and her husband, Emil, will once again donate proceeds from book sales to student scholarships at Blinn College-Schulenburg.