Recent projects from our Book Production Team

Willie E. Lowther The Journey of My Life from Locust Grove to Harlem By Hastie N. Lowther In this moving book that encapsulated the struggles of an earlier generation of African-Americans, we observe Willie Lowther being mentored by a generous widow who recognizes his potential and nurtures its development. Eventually he becomes owner of the very barbershop where he got his break and buys a second shop, himself hiring and mentoring a number of young barbers, many fresh out of the South. Over the years, we cheer as the shy boy who traveled North to find his fortune realizes his potential to become a successful businessman, church deacon, and community leader. --Hastie Lowther's website: willielowther.html

With No Extraordinary Power A Social Worker's Life By Mary Ellen Elwell Why in the world did Mother give me Jane Addam's Twenty Years at Hull House to read when I was only twelve years old? Certainly Addams never intended to write a story for children. Even though I was a studious reader for my age, some sections were tough going. But I persisted, not only because it was important to my mother, but because I was intrigued by the descripton of solutions to problems in urban slums. The power of dedicated people making a difference fascinated me. --Mary Ellen Elwells's website: noextraordinarypower.html

In Their Own Words Memoirs of the Members of St. George Greek Orthodox Church Keene, NH Edwina Carr-Jangarathis helped the members of her church community to write their stories as part of the anniversary celebration of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Keene, NH. It was a powerful experience for all concerned to publicly share the tales of hardship and loss, adaptation and success, family and ethnic pride that have now become a valuable historical document. Soleil provided book design and production--we loved the chance to handle the rich legacy of images, treasured family photos from the mid-1800s to contemporary family snapshots, that illustrates the book. A moving collection of personal and family stories, In Their Own Words chronicles the immigrant history of one of New Hampshire's most vibrant communities. With courage and customs in hand, a generation left its homeland bringing with it a wealth of ways centered on family and church. An all-American story that enlivens core values of faith and tradition with portraits of intrepid individuals, this book is a multi-generation celebration of the rich and diverse past that informs our future. --Edwina Carr-Jangarathis' website: edwinasstories.com

From Coal Fields to Oil Fields & Beyond A Life in Pursuit of All I Could Be Sylvester C. Myers is a Senior Cost Engineer with 40+ years' cost management experience in a variety of government agency projects including USACE, HUD, and GSA, in the US and abroad. A native of West Virginia, Sy Myers found that talent and ambition together with discipline and determination were a powerful recipe for success. This is the story of his transformation from country youth to world-traveling businessman, a story that points the way for all who desire to craft their lives to match their potentials. --Sylvester C. Myers, Bramwell, West Viginia and Washington, D.C. email: sjmyers@scmyers.com

Memoir Gift Collections Vignettes of Southern Childhood and Growing Up Bradley: Memoirs of a Happy Childhood Vignettes of Southern Childhood by Barbara Stevens 84 pages, 6 x 9" perfect bound paperback with cover die cut and goldleaf stamping, 30 family photographs, private distribution only Poignant stories of growing up in hardscrabble Texas, these memoirs and vignettes were written not just for the author's fulfillment but to honor the memory of those who figured so prominently in her childhood. The previous generation were strangers to her own grandchildren--so she found great meaning in introducing that unknown past that is so lively for her to the future generation of her family. Growing Up Bradley: Memoirs of a Happy Childhood by Pamela Bradley Burton 40 pages, 6 x 9" hand saddle-stitched with wrap around cover, 18 family photographs, private distribution only These are oft-told family tales well-crafted by the author with many details and evocative memories of their years in Berlin, New Hampshire included. Re-told firstly for the pleasure of her parents and siblings and secondly as a legacy to the next generation, they were a big hit at the Bradley Family's holiday reunion! Holiday memoir books make unique and lasting gifts!

It Can Happen to Any Family How Drugs Took My Daughter's Life The story of an ordinary family struggling with an extraordinary problem: a special child whose journey into adulthood was hijacked by teenage drug use. "I never took an interest in writing until the tragedy of my daughter Candice unfolded in front of me. Her needless death from a drug overdose just overwhelmed me. This wasn't suppose to happen to a family like ours. I felt I needed to take action publicly to let other families know before it was too late that depression and drug use among teens can have devastating effects on our lives. Telling Candice's story became my goal and the idea of writing a book came to me from a friend. I have also become a speaker in my community and region in order to bring awareness to this huge problem in our society. I am always very willing to deliver my message to groups large and small." --Cindy Doucette, Berwick, Maine itcanhappentoanyfamily.html

Down Over Normandy The Life of John Myrtetus "Handsome, vigorous, courageous, and beloved, John Myrtetus died over 60 years ago. As long as I can remember, I have said I would tell my uncle's story one day. Though John was commended for his service to his country with a number of medals both during his life and posthumously, I have always felt that he deserved more than commendation. He deserved commemoration. This book is meant to accomplish this, preserving his memory for future generations and reminding those still living who shared in his experience of war that we have not forgotten how much was sacrificed in that endeavor." --Susan Myrtetus Lorentzen, Westfield, New Jersey downovernormandy.html

A Soldier's Diary of World War One France 1917-1919 "My father was like many survivors--he could not talk about his desperate memories of the trenches in France. Though I believe those memories never left him, he did not share them with those closest to him. It is only in his journal that we can understand the weight of that hidden burden. The ten small red notebooks were very nearly lost. (Unfortunately, the letters he wrote to his fiancee, and her letters to him have disappeared.) But by some miracle, the journals survived and were found in safekeeping amongst my sister's papers after her death. It has been a two-year labor of love to copy faithfully this record. Not one word has been. " --A. Margaret Bok, Rockport, Maine soldiersdiary.html

from the Prologue to Green Rider, Thinking Horse My Journey with a Standardbred "As a twelve year old...the real horse I knew best belonged to a stranger. "Queen" was a horse--forbidden, exotic, mysterious. I longed to be near her, but did not say so... No one at home knew how I spent my time... As an adult, my life went in other directions until a casual invitation with a friend took me to our local harness racing track. Life took off at a new pace. I remet, not Queen, but more of her breed, and fell in love again. For several years now I have been more or less where I belong, in the company of horses." --Karen Douglass, South Portland, Maine greenrider.html

"Partly Cloudy was over two years in the making, and can only be described as a labor of love. "It is the most important thing I've ever done for my family. "Without hesitation, I would encourage anyone who is the least bit inclined to write a family memoir to do so, even if the task seems insurmountable at the beginning. "In the process, you will learn about your family's history; you will stir up memories that you thought were gone forever; you will wallow in nostalgia (which will make you laugh and cry); and you will feel blessed for the family of which you are privileged to be a part." --Judy Patberg, Ohio partlycloudy.html

"I wanted to show my family how I 'panned gold.' It's been a great life," says 89-year-old Hargreaves, who lives with his wife of 63 years, Etta, in Madison, Maine. While he doesn't consider himself a writer, Hargreaves started putting together his manuscript in 1999 with the intent of capturing his lifestory for his family. When he brought it to us, it wasn't yet a book; it was a collection of separate stories spanning nearly one hundred years. We helped him to shape and pace the book with links and transitions that made the story flow from start to finish. Jack says he had no idea he could produce a real book and was amazed that it was so well received. Friends in the community are not surprised. "He's a special guy with a lot to share," says Madison local, Jeff Sprague, who read Panning Gold. "What he has given to our community is a gift that will last for generations." --Jack Hargreaves, Maine

Fred Schwicker grew up on Long Island and remembers a town--Seaford--and the characters who peopled it--that doesn't exist anymore. That's why he sub-titled his book, Tales of a Town Gone By. A road construction worker who moved to Maine in 1983, Schwicker took his memories with him. When he retired, he began to write them down longhand, in notebooks. A life-long storyteller like his mother before him, his result was Clam Diggahs--Seaford: Tales of a Town Gone By, A Long Island Memoir. At Soleil, we edited it, restored many of the period photos, designed the cover, and shepherded it through the printing process. Clam Diggahs sold 800 copies in the first 8 months as Fred took it to library readings and to his high school reunion. --Fred Schwicker, New York and Maine clamdiggahs.html

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