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B UP EATAlumni at a Bookstore Near Youby Sheila Walsh Dettloff (84D), Macomb, Michigan, USAthe summer of 2004 was anexciting time for two alumniwho had their first bookspublished. I happened to learn aboutboth of them at reunion in Tucsonand was struck by the similaritiesand differences of their stories — notonly the stories in the books, but thestories of the authors as well.‘A’ Is for AuthorWhen Rajean (Luebs) Shepherd(78E) was growing up in Bay City,Michigan, she never pictured herselfliving on the plains of Nebraska, letalone writing a children’s picturebook about that state.After completing a degree inelementary education at CentralMichigan University, Rajean traveledin the first Cast E of UWP. That wasthe beginning of a career with UWP,culminating in the position ofassistant director of education.Currently a substitute teacher,Rajean says that she has always had alove for children’s picture books.In 1994, before moving fromTucson to Nebraska, Rajean submitteda manuscript for achildren’s book to anArizona publishingcompany, but themanuscript wasrejected. Then, on avacation in Tucson in1998, she noticed achildren’s picture bookvery similar to hermanuscript. Then sherealized it had beenpublished by the samecompany she hadsubmitted her manuscriptto in 1994.“It took me a longtime to get over thisincident,” says Rajean. “But I wouldlike to urge those who have a dreamor goal to not let obstacles — like100 rejection letters — get in yourway. Forge ahead, because dreamscan and really do come true.”A few years ago, while visitingher parents in Michigan, Rajeanhappened across a children’s ABCRajean (Luebs) Shepherdbook titled “M is for Mitten,”published by Sleeping Bear Press inChelsea, Michigan. Inquiringwhether they had published aNebraska book, Rajean was told theyhad received some manuscripts buthad not yet selected one.“I then submitted some rhymingverses about the unique thingsNebraska has to offer,” says Rajean,“and six months later I received wordthat I would be the author of “C isfor Cornhusker.” Rajean says shereceived the exciting news via cellphone as she was driving to Wal-Mart. “When I finished the conversationand stepped into the store,”she says, “I could no longer rememberwhy I had come to the store ...everything was a blur!”Although Rajean grew up inMichigan, her roots take her back toNebraska. Her Grandpa Luebs, towhom the book is dedicated, was ahomesteader in Wood River, Nebraska.The book is also dedicated toher family, and to “Up with Peoplefor the memories of a lifetime.” “Iwanted to be sure,” says Rajean,“that, in some way, I was able tohonor every person in UWP whoaffected my life.”“By writing this book,” Rajeancontinues, “I hope to have been ableto provide a fun, entertaining andeducational way for children (andadults) to learn about the great stateof Nebraska and all the unique andfascinating people, history and sitesit has to offer from A-Z.” The bookis filled with colorful illustrations bySandy Appleoff, who lives on athree-generation farm inNebraska.Asked about herfuture plans as an author,Rajean says, “I may havethe opportunity to writea counting book sinceSleeping Bear Presswould like to eventuallyhave a counting book foreach state. That is what Iplan to work on next.”You can find a synopsis of “C isfor Cornhusker” and purchase thebook at sleepingbearpress.com. It’salso available at Amazon.com andmost major U.S. bookstores. Anyonewishing a signed copy should contactRajean at srshepherd@charter.net.An Idea Becomes “Reality”The 1984 era has a published authorin their midst as well. Dr. KimberlyWeiner (84C) says the idea for astory occurred to her when she saw apicture of Britney Spears with herlittle sister. “From there, the storywrote itself,” says Kimberly. “It wasn’tthat I set out to write a book; thestory found me and it gave me aplatform to address all kinds of issuesI deal with every day as an educationalmedia specialist.”“Not My Reality” helps kidsunderstand that reality TV doesn’thave to be reality for them. Theheroine of the book, Sam, is theyounger sister of the latest popsuperstar. She isn’t interested inbeing on TV or giving autographs.But she gets thrown in even deeperwhen the family is tricked intobecoming the stars of a reality TVshow. Sam is befriended by theshow’s director, who helps herunderstand that her role in thefamily can be much more importantthan simply “sister of the star,”and Sam decides to find a wayto stay true to herself among allthe craziness.Kimberly was teaching thirdgrade in Chicago when her oldmentor from Pepperdine University,where she received her mastersdegree, recruited her for a newdoctorate – an Ed.D. ineducational technology.After graduating,Kimberly settled into theniche of educationalmedia. She says, “Eversince then I’ve been verybusy bridging my twoworlds of media andeducation in a way thatKimberly Weiner (I hope) teaches andentertains.”While pursuing her new career,Kimberly realized that media nolonger just entertains the audience; itinfiltrates their lives and minds.“When we were kids – us latethirties/early forties folk – we had agreat deal of media directed at us,but it was of a very different nature.We were sold products with themessage that it would be cool to befriends with the ‘stars’ of the time.”In spite of the commercial natureof the message, Kimberly explains,we still understood that we wereliving our own lives. “The message isfrighteningly altered today,” she says.“Now the media tells kids it’s notenough to be a fan or a friend of theactor/singer of the moment, youneed to actually be that person, lookexactly the same, and be involved inthat person’s life to a point whereyour own life is utterly irrelevant.”Kimberly intends for this bookto be the first in a three-part series.She has already outlined the secondinstallment and will start writing itin the fall.“My desire to reach kids on alevel that is personal and meaningfulhas led me down different, yetrelated, paths,” says Kimberly, “andI’m very excited about this new one.”You can find more informationor purchase the book at notmyreality.com, or learn more aboutKimberly and her work at edtech21.com. The book is also for sale atAmazon.com. Please email kimberly@notmyreality.com to inquire aboutpurchasing a signed copy.6 Fall ‘o4