Staff writer
Elaine Ewert of Marion has written and illustrated a children’s book, “Estelle Wants to Fly.”
The story revolves around Estelle, the boxer which is named after one of the two boxers owned by the Ewerts.
In the book, Estelle is a close observer of birds and often wishes she could fly.
When she gets the chance to fly, she is ecstatic, but soon learns there are certain things she misses such as curling up in a cozy bed at night and being able to chase a ball.
She wakes up and discovers the whole episode to be a dream and is thankful to be a dog.
The moral of the story? Be happy with who you are.
Ewert said she grew up around boxers, and she and her immediate family — husband, Gary, son, Zachary and daughter, Amanda — always have had boxers as pets.
She said she often visits websites about boxers and once read that there was a need for stories about boxers.
When on walks with their dogs, the couple noticed how fixated they were by birds, not necessarily wanting to chase them but seemingly wanting to be like them.
One day, Gary said, “Why don’t you write a book?”
So Ewert did just that.
As a graphic artist at Hillsboro Free Press, she was in a unique position to draw the illustrations and lay out the pages for her book. She also designed the book cover.
A printer was found and before she knew it, the book was a reality. The attractive red, hard-cover, 28-page book became available near the end of September. Since then Ewert has sold 75 of the first printing of 100 copies. She has ordered 100 more.
Most of her sales have come from word-of-mouth. People who have boxers have been thrilled to receive the book, Ewert said. She plans to list the book on a boxer website.
She will be at Marion City Library at 10 a.m. Saturday for a special reading of the book. Autographed books will be available for purchase.
The book also can be purchased at Aunt Bee’s Floral, Gifts and Garden Center in Marion and Thee Book Store in Hillsboro.
To purchase the book directly from Ewert, call 620-382-3498.