My Brother, My Editor
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette:
MY BROTHER, MY EDITOR
Heading out the side door of our motel in Great Bend, we passed by the ice machine. I pushed the button and a half-dozen small cubes dropped into my palm.
My brother, in front of me, heard the noise and turned around. He knew exactly what I was up to, that I intended to drop that ice down the back of his t-shirt.
Opening my hand, I let the ice fall onto the sizzling sidewalk.
I hung my head, slumped my shoulders and said to Leon, “I’m sorry. I forgot. You edited my book – I have to be nice to you for the rest of my life.”
For the past five months my brother has been my editor and my savior. He helped me bring my book of columns into existence.
Yes, a book! It’s my first so I’m very excited. In early September, I’ll be releasing “Flyover People: Life on the Ground in a Rectangular State.”
This paperback is a collection of 80 columns that have been published in The Emporia Gazette over the past seven-and-a-half years, including my first piece, “On Being a Kansan,” which ran on Jan. 28, 2003.
The book has about 200 pages and is divided into eight sections: Pure Kansas, Life on the Ground, Seasons, Nature, Looking Back, Childhood, Small Towns and Earth & Sky.
A few of my husband’s photographs are in the book and the stunning cover shot “Flint Hills Road” is his work. That picture is a bright and clear autumn scene, a lone tree alongside a dirt road. Dave also helped with the book in other ways, including much-appreciated moral and tech support.
One day last March, I realized that the state’s sesquicentennial (Jan. 29, 2011) would be an optimal time to have a book of Kansas essays available. And if I was going to have it done before the calendar struck 150, I’d have to publish it myself. All I had to do was start.
I wrote to my big brother who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, and asked if he’d be my editor. He said he’d be glad to and immediately sketched out a plan to proceed.
He was certainly well qualified to help produce my book of simple prose. For about 30 years he worked as a newspaper copy editor – for the Austin American-Statesman, Wichita Eagle, Dallas Morning News, and the Anchorage Daily News. And since 1989, Leon has edited 12-15 college textbooks each year on subjects such as business, linguistics, psychology, law, economics, etc.
Last year Leon became the editor at the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where his job is to edit and produce books in or about the 20 Alaska languages.
“All books, all the time,” he said about his work life.
He enjoys his job and loves learning about the Eskimo and Athabaskan languages. “It’s fun,” he said with a grin. “They pay me to make books and anything else I soak up is free.”
There are many things I don’t know about publishing, but Leon has been my North Star. In addition to editing, Leon also designed my book and prepared it for printing.
One of our deadlines was to get the files sent to the printer, Mennonite Press in Newton, before Leon’s trip to Kansas in early August. From April through July, I had my head inside of my computer, so I don’t even remember those months. On July 27, Leon forwarded the book to Newton. I received the proofs a week later and Leon and I were able to look those over together.
During Leon’s Kansas visit, he went with me to Mennonite Press to turn in the proofs. And since we had a few details to work out there, it was handy to have Leon around to speak the language of printers.
My brother came through in every way I could’ve hoped for – and then some. For me, his help on the project was the equivalent of donating a kidney. Obviously, I should treat Leon with the kindness and respect he deserves. So forevermore, I will put away my childish toys; there will be no more attempts to slip ice down my brother’s shirt. Even if we walk past an ice machine when it’s 135 degrees outside, I will behave.
Copyright 2010 ~ Cheryl Unruh
Leon’s website: PawneeRock.org. Leon’s blog: Too Long in the Wind.
Become a Facebook fan of Flyover People.
You guys make me proud.
Aw, thanks, Laramie.
This is such a neat column about your relationship with your brother. The book is exciting. The relationship is heartwarming.
I do wonder though, will too much of his help make you grow up too much? I mean, if you are going to quit the ice down his shirt……..
Janet
“My brother came through in every way I could’ve hoped for…” This line reminds me of Old Rose talking about Jack Dawson in the film Titanic.
I thought sure you were going to offer your back (if not the shirt on it) to receive the ice! Guess gratitude only goes so far, especially in the face of tradition. I mean, I’m sure he never put ice down YOUR back! Brings back mushy feelings about my bro. I am looking forward to the book. We are going to history conferences in Rapid City and Oklahoma City in September. Maybe we could take a few along to peddle out of the back of the car with Joyce’s?
Resourceful family comes to mind. Thanks, Leon, for help Cheryl reach new readers.
Thanks, Janet, Roger and Ann. And Ann, yes, absolutely, that would great if you want to peddle the books. I’d be honored.
And everyone – check Page 93 of the Flyover People book to read about Ann Birney (as Amelia Earhart) in “Ride into History.
Nice job, but I would never make such a foolish promise.
What a treasure you and your brother are. Blessings to you both and to the book. I’m so excited for you. Love & Peace, Grace
You’re both incredible! Now me–I NEVER put ice down my brother’s back! (paybacks are bad)
–and this column must go in your NEXT book!