An author’s tale

Walworth resident writes book for a cause

By Alexandrea Dahlstrom

SLN STAFF

‘“Santa called God and said, “I am finished with the Meeker family and on my way home to the North Pole.”

      “Thank you Santa, I will send you the names and addresses of next year’s families who are facing difficulties and could do with a ride in your magical sleigh. Peace be with you and to all those on Earth,” answered God.

      “See you next year. Good job my friend.”

      “Happy Birthday” replied Santa.’

~Excerpt from “The Wheel Christmas Secret”

A massive panic attack inspired a Walworth resident to become a children’s author. Trudy Schubert never intended on becoming a writer.

“I was driving to Madison and had massive panic attack. I don’t know what it was. Maybe a kid on a motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic. My heart was pounding and my pulse was racing,” Schubert said. “It wasn’t until I saw a large rabbit did I start to calm down. As I focused on the rabbit, I begin to think about my past.”

Schubert said she grew up on a farm and when her mother had to start working it was her job to collect the eggs.

“I remember asking my mother as a child why the Easter Bunny got all the credit for bringing eggs when the chickens did all the work.”

For some reason that childhood curiosity came to Schubert as she drove. After she got home, she kept thinking about it and thought it would make a cute book.

That was the birth of her first book “Sweet Tweets.” The book focused on the notion that sometimes help is needed and the Easter Bunny couldn’t make Easter happen on his own. It took the chickens and the help of others.

Schubert has written seven children’s books during her writing career and has self published all of them.

The proceeds from her books go to local non-profit organizations. Her latest book, “The Wheel Christmas Story,” has generated funds for Inspiration Ministries in Fontana. So far her books, which sell for $5 a piece, have raised more than $800 for the organization. Schubert hopes to sell more, saying the book would make a great stocking stuffer and is a good book for a parent to read to a child.

The titles of Schubert’s books are: “Sweet Tweets,” “Mouse on a Mission,” “Finbar and his Heavenly Father,” “The Dance Factory on Ann Street,” “My friend Cynthia and Me,” “Bullies Once Upon a Time” and her latest, “The Wheel Christmas Secret.”

‘The Wheel Christmas Story’

Schubert’s Christmas-inspired book can be purchased at Inspiration Ministries and the Walworth State Bank in Walworth.

The story features a young boy named Paul who is wheelchair bound for the rest of his life following an accident. Paul meets some other characters and together they take a journey and learn about others who are suffering. Paul realizes he is not the only one hurting – we all have pain and obstacles to challenge us.

Schubert was injured in a car crash more than 15 years ago while she lived in Fontana and she says it’s been with her ever since.

“It was just so scary,” she said. “I really thought I was going to die.”

Schubert believes her personal experience was one of the catalysts for her current book.

“I’m afraid of a car. I had an accident. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons I wrote this book,” Schubert said becoming overwhelmed with emotion.

It became important to Schubert to relay her message through her story telling. She says writing is her way of expressing and dealing with her personal triumphs and struggles.

“It really is the way I express myself,” Schubert said.

She explained the “Wheel Story of Christmas” was a contemporary story with modern twists. Many houses are without chimneys and Rudolph has a GPS system in his nose. Schubert wanted an updated story children could relate to the characters.

The character of Paul defies his grandmother’s wishes to not ride a horse. He wants to prove that he can ride. After he takes a nasty fall, Paul is told he will never walk again.

Shortly after Paul’s grandfather dies of a heart attack. Paul can’t help but blame himself for his grandfather’s death. He falls into a deep despair. Paul meets some new friends and they begin their quest to understand the hardships of others around the world. Paul quickly realizes he is not alone in his grief and that there are many others who have a situation worse than his own.

The journey Paul takes incorporates Santa and God. Schubert said she was nervous at first as she didn’t want to offend anyone, but she felt it was important to include both of these entities that are so special to Christmas. All of Schubert’s books send a moral message.

“Never, ever give up,” Schubert said about the message in her latest book. “Refuse to give up.”

Bullies now and then

Schubert penned a book in 2011 called “Bullies Once Upon a Time and Now.” Schubert’s motivation for this book was to bring awareness to young people about the dangers of bullying.

“I was bullied myself as a child,” Schubert said. “My sister always would look out for me. She had a physical talk with a bully. I was kind of a wimp and just wanted an ounce of bravery.”

Schubert said she went to several schools to read the book. She said they had police officers come to talk to the class and start a discussion about bullying with the students.

“Those kids open up. You know, the little guys who are being bullied. I think the uniforms really helped and the kids thought ‘Hey, this guy in uniform can help me.’ And I could relate because that’s where I went for help was a police officer,” Schubert said.

Schubert said she wants children to speak up and not to be afraid.

“I used to run away,” she said.

Schubert wants education about bullying to start right away. As young as pre-school and kindergarten the children need to know it’s not okay to take things from each other and to keep their hands to themselves.

From a descendant

to an author

A former library assistant, Schubert enjoyed reading books to the children. She felt she could tell a good story. Schubert also ran a pre-school in her home.

Schubert self-publishes her books, without an editor or publisher. She says she wanted creative control. This, she said, accounts for the grammatical or punctuation errors in her books.

“Someone said I had too many run-on sentences or maybe too many commas. If I have someone edit my book, then I have to pay. I want that money to go to the cause,” Schubert said.

She pays for all the printing and works with a couple of people who put her books together and add the illustrations. Her book on bullies was illustrated by her son, Curt, who is one of four brothers. Schubert’s other sons are Keith, Brian and Freddy.

Originally an Illinois native, Schubert found out at a young age that she was a direct descendent of George Galbraith. Galbraith owned a pineapple plantation in Oahu, Hawaii. The movie “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney, has close ties to the Galbraith story.

Her father used to receive checks in the amounts of $5 or $7, which was a lot back then, and told her that someday she was going to be rich.

The land in Hawaii has been selling and the descendants and heirs of George Galbraith all received an inheritance. When Schubert received hers she first put money into accounts for her children and chose to use the rest to finance her books.

Schubert’s next book is titled “Monkey Business.” It is based on her son, Curt’s, career as a maintenance worker for communication’s towers.

It is scheduled to be released sometime in 2013.