PEMBERVILLE — What started off as an English assignment at Stautzenberger College in Toledo, turned into an idea for a children’s book series for Wanda Voland.

Voland, who is 55 and lives in Pemberville, wrote the children’s book, “Ivan Icicle’s Wedding,” published on June 19, for preschoolers up to the age of 8.

The book is about Ivan, a scientist, who brings home a bride after receiving a degree from Polar University. His friend Whitey brings flowers to the wedding, and it was the first time flowers were brought to a snow people’s wedding, since flowers don’t grow in the winter time.

“I hope the children will grasp the themes in my book, which are important for a child to learn early, which includes friendship, loyalty, morals, marriage — the respect between husband and wife,” Voland said. “I want them to appreciate their friends and family values.”

Voland always read to her daughter when she was a little girl.

“I think reading to your child is good because it allows them to get an imagination and when they start to read they see how sentences are structured.”

“Ivan Icicle’s Wedding” is one of five stories that Voland has written for this series, but the first to get published.

When Voland went back to college in May 2003, she was given an assignment in her English class to write about a topic that has never been on the big screen and tell what it should be about.

“I wrote my English assignment about snow people’s village,” Voland said. “And it’s about a young snow boy, Whitey, who wanted to grow flowers; so Ivan, his friend, invented a refrigerated suit for Whitey, so he could go in the greenhouse and grow his flowers without melting.”

Voland said she didn’t know what else to write about until the idea came to her while she was sitting in her kitchen.

“I got the idea from a little girl, who gave me candle holders with snowflakes on them, and as I was sitting down thinking about what I was going to write and I looked over at the candle holders, and the idea popped right in my head to write about snow people,” Voland said.

Voland said the impact, after taking the English class, was that it brought out some things she had no idea she had, such as creativity and a passion for writing.

“You know you have it, but you have to be inspired by something in order to pursue what you have, and this class helped me discover my talent for creative writing,” Voland said.

Also Voland plans to pursue for her other four stories that are part of the snow people’s series to get published like “Ivan Icicle’s Wedding.”

“I wanted this book to get published because I trust my work and I thought it sounded like a a good kid’s book,” Voland said.

Currently Voland writes in the Eastern Star newsletter in Pemberville about events that her chapter, Woodbind, does.

Sharon Giovannucci, illustrator of “Ivan Icicle’s Wedding,” is a resident of Oregon and has been painting and drawing her whole life.

Giovannucci said she wants the children to see kindness, caring, lovingness and people working together through the pictures throughout the book.

“Everybody’s doing their own thing and people don’t think about family, but it’s not about selfishness,” Giovannucci said. “And through my pictures I hope that those themes were brought out.”

Giovannucci has been painting since she could remember, but does not do it for money.

“Painting and drawing is a passion that I have always had and it makes me happy and I enjoy doing it because I draw and paint from my heart,” she said.

Giovannucci illustrated “Ivan Icicle’s Wedding” by making the snow people look like real people and not snowmen.

“I had to think about how to make them look like real people and at the same time be realistic on what clothes they should wear because they couldn’t have long sleeves on, but short sleeves or else they would melt,” she said.

“And I outlined them in the color of blue because the color is cool and not warm.”

Also Giovannucci brought the main characters out, Ivan Icicle and Whitey, through their characteristics and personality.

“For Ivan Icicle I thought of him as a icicle, so I made him long with a big nose and since he was a scientist, I wanted to give him a professor look with glasses for him to be more distinguishing, and a vest with a bow tie,” she said.

And for Whitey, Giovannucci thought of him as a gentle spirit, so she drew him as a young boy that looked between the age of 12 and 13 and for him to look gentle and kind.

In addition, she drew the greenhouse as a round house with clear windows filled with flowers of all colors such as red, pink and yellow.

By ALEXANDRIA CLARK

Sentinel Staff Writer

Learn more about “Ivan Icicle’s Wedding“

JENNY MACKAY
SPECIAL TO THE DOUGLAS TIMES
Posted: 8/17/2007

Tomacina Hochgurtel always dreamed of writing books. That her first would be born from her personal journals was an unexpected plot twist.

But for a woman who has learned to put the success of her family’s business and the happiness of two special sons before any needs of her own, those personal writings became the best hope for pursuing a long-put-off dream.

Few people publish their diaries. To expose the most intimate of personal musings to the world is a soul-bearing enterprise most of us lack the courage to pursue.

But what if a diary’s pages held the kind of raw hope that could turn another person’s life in a new direction? And what if the author took a nervy leap of faith and handed her story to the world?

The answer is found in Hochgurtel’s book, “Aunt Mommy,” the true tale of a remarkable family that took shape when a gutsy young woman rescued her 1-year-old Down syndrome nephew to raise him as her own son.

“It was just in my heart,” said Hochgurtel of a decision she claims saved not just a precious child, but herself. “I was a little lost before, and now I just know I have a purpose. I loved this little boy so much. Apparently, God trusted me enough to give me such an amazing gift — Jordan Lee.”

Hochgurtel’s book tells the story of her first encounter with the child she would one day call her own.

“That first day in the hospital when Jordan Lee was born,” she wrote, “I did not know that one day he would be mine. Looking back now, it makes more sense to me. Our story reminds me that everything happens for a reason.”

For a young, unmarried woman with no children of her own to take legal guardianship of a child with special needs seems extraordinary. But the focus — indeed, the hero — of Hochgurtel’s story is Jordan Lee, she said.

Hero of the story

“Jordan attracts the most loving and accepting people,” she said. “He has brought us so close with some amazing friends and family.”

Since she opened her heart and home to her nephew eight years ago, Hochgurtel married her husband, Dan, and their family grew to four with the addition of a new son, David, now 2. The hard-working mother spends long hours behind the scenes at the local eatery Two Guys From Italy, doing everything from cooking and waitressing to helping her father manage the popular, family-owned restaurant. Dan works for NuSystems, and in their free time, the couple actively advocates for special-needs children.

To stay balanced amid weighty family and work commitments, Hochgurtel turned to the diaries that spawned her book.

“I write a lot to just get my thoughts and feelings out,” she said. “I was always telling our story to people, and they always seemed so touched and inspired. Often I was told I should write a book, so I took all my writing one day and put together a little manuscript.”

Hochgurtel, who has yet to see the age of 30, demonstrates wisdom far beyond her years. She said her hope is that her book finds its way into the hands of parents with special-needs children and anyone struggling with parenthood.

“I will not lie,” she said. “It is a challenge, and sometimes a little heartbreaking. But your child is an amazing gift and will teach a new and amazing way of life.”

The advice seems to hold true for the Hochgurtels. Jordan Lee, who celebrated his ninth birthday on Aug. 10, will be playing Pop Warner football this fall as his parents and little brother cheer from the sidelines.

Like Hochgurtel’s story, it is a picture of life that can’t help but inspire.

Copies of Aunt Mommy, released in July 2007 by Tate Publishing, can be purchased at Two Guys From Italy, Amazon.com, walmart.com, and tatepublishing.com/bookstore.

Learn more about “Aunt Mommy“

Saturday, August 18, 2007
By Ellen Shuck ~ Southeast Missourian

She woke up crying, had trouble sleeping and found little motivation. Sue McRoberts was experiencing postpartum depression.

Having postpartum depression puzzled her because the feelings came only after the birth of two of her three children — the oldest, Katie, now 8, and the youngest, Bennett, 23 months. She escaped the illness with her second child, Andrew, 5.

McRoberts, who said she is very religious, was unable to find a Christian book on postpartum depression to help her. Finally, while looking in bookstores, a clerk suggested she write a book to help other women.

McRoberts had never written a book before and was leery of the venture, but she decided to give it a try. The result was “The Lifter of My Head: How God Sustained Me During Postpartum Depression,” which she will be signing and speaking about today in Cape Girardeau.

McRoberts, a Missouri native who now lives in Minneapolis, Minn., said she was scared the first time around since she was unfamiliar with the symptoms and didn’t realize what was happening. The second time she experienced postpartum depression, she became angry.
Postpartum depression is an illness mothers sometimes experience after giving birth. Common symptoms include insomnia or sleeping too much, little motivation, anxiety and feelings of worthlessness, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Women experience postpartum depression for many reasons. Hormone changes before and after birth can cause chemical changes in the brain to trigger depression. Other risk factors in someone’s life can also contribute to the illness, the AAFP said, such as stress from divorce, death of a loved one, previous miscarriages or having had prior bouts of depression.

Postpartum depression can last for a few weeks or months. However, the illness is treatable through medication, support groups and counseling.

“I am a Type A personality used to getting things done; but then I cried all the time and even simple tasks were impossible to accomplish,” McRoberts said. “I became angry the second time I had the illness because I felt like I was a bad mom. I tried to wish it away. I was in denial, thinking it would disappear on its own.”

McRoberts never became angry with God, though. She said her Christian community was invaluable in helping her cope with her illness. They prayed, women e-mailed her and others called and sent cards. She believed in God because she knew he cared for her, she said.

“I never prayed I would get better be­cause I thought I would always have to live with my frame of mind,” McRoberts said. “But I knew that regardless of what happened God would always be with me.”

McRoberts said one thing really helped: She wrote Bible verses on cards and kept them with her. They encouraged her because she never doubted the Bible, she said.

In fact, dealing with postpartum depression changed the way she prayed. Scripture, then, became a part of her life. She repeated verses that assured, “God will never leave me, never.” “God is my helper” was within another passage. As Scripture became a part of her prayer life, it became more personal.

Scripture was so personal, she used it to name her book: “But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3.

Her book brought her personal experiences to the public light.

“I began writing the book ‘The Lifter of My Head: How God Sustained Me During Postpartum Depression’ during my illness. I wrote it as a tool to help others since there seemed to be no Christian books available on that subject,” McRoberts said. “I loved writing the book. It seems people are more open now to talking about postpartum depression.”

McRoberts strongly advises women experiencing postpartum depression to “above all, seek help!”

McRoberts speaks at various churches and organizations about her experiences with postpartum depression. The book is available online and in stores.

McRoberts claims Missouri as her home state. Her brother, the Rev. Mike Parry, lives in Southeast Missouri. He pastors Fruitland Community Church and staunchly supports her efforts.

Learn more about “The Lifter of My Head“