Past Book Signings

Leanne Benner’s biography Son of the Wind is about the life of her father, Dr. D. Rohrer Eshleman. Both spoke and signed copies at two receptions: Friday, August 24, at Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa. and Saturday, August 25,at LMHS. The article below is reprinted from Lancaster County Woman, March/April 2012.

The bond between a father and daughter is a strong one. Just ask Leanne Eshleman Benner, who recently completed a biography on her father, Dr. D. Rohrer Eshleman. Entitled "Son of the Wind," the pages clearly convey the love and admiration she has for her father, who spent much of his life helping others through his skills as a medical doctor.

Benner's inspiration for the book came shortly after she finished writing a book of meditations called "The Peanuts In My Life." She was considering concepts for another project she was a stay-at-home mom and her daughters were in school. "My father had written a few of his stories about God's protection throughout his life and shared those with the family. When he made a passing comment, wondering what a writer could do with those stories, I kind of wondered, too, and offered to try. We made an informal pact that if the project became a strain or I felt like I didn't want to write the story after all, there would be no hard feelings. We considered it a sort of experiment and it took off from there," she explains.

For the better part of year, Benner and her father worked on the book – she did the writing and he reviewed it. She lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and her parents live at Woodcrest Villa in Lancaster, so much of their collaboration occurred online and on the phone.

Benner says many people think they know her father, but after reading the book, they learn about another side – particularly his sense of adventure. "They have known him as a physician, church worker, lecturer and counselor but really don't make the mental leap about how it fits his sense of adventure," she explains. "But he is one of the most fearless people I know, and he still tries new things and finds so much pleasure in doing that. I think it's because he is not afraid of making fool of himself. He has a well-defined sense of who he is and knows he won't fall to pieces if the worst happens."

Mennonite magazine editor Everett J. Thomas will spoke, answered questions and signed copies of his new historical novel, Johann, on Friday, October 26 at Landis Homes Retirement Community.

Thomas, editor of a bimonthly magazine of the Mennonite Church USA, wrote the fictionalized account based one of his ancestors, 8-year old Johann Thomas.

Johann immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents and other Palatine Mennonites in 1747. Escaping persecution in Europe, the family arrived just in time to experience the end of the Society of Friends’ (Quaker) control of the Pennsylvania legislature, with pacifism as official state policy toward Native Americans. The novel traces Johann’s next ten years through the unfolding French and Indian War.

“Johann is grounded in a clear sense of place, with vividly drawn nautical motifs,” said Goshen College history professor John D. Roth. “A very enjoyable read!”

Johann is available at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society bookstore for $8.95.

Local Mennonite author Romaine Stauffer gave a short talk and signed copies of her new book, Aaron’s Civil War, at three events on Friday, June 15.

Aaron’s Civil War is a historical novel about a young man who defies his family and childhood faith to fight in the U.S. Civil War.

"His heart swelled with pride and patriotism as he shouldered his newly acquired musket and marched behind the colorful banner as his company while the band played stirring music," the publisher wrote. "But things did not go the way he had dreamed.... Euphoria turned to misery and fear and questions as the horrible realities of war brought him face to face with the enemy—and death."

Aaron’s Civil War is available at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society bookstore for $7.50.

A leader in American medicine, Dr. Joseph B. Martin, spoke briefly and signed copies of his book, Alfalfa to Ivy: Memoir of a Harvard Medical School Dean, at two Landis Homes Retirement Community and LMHS on April 19 and 20.

Alfalfa to Ivy chronicles Martin’s journey from a Canadian Mennonite farm family to the highest levels of academic leadership.

“This book is a must read for anyone interested in the radical evolution of medicine in the United States that began in the second half of the twentieth century,” said Dr. Eric Kandel, 2000 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine.

Alfalfa to Ivy: Memoir of a Harvard Medical School Dean is available from Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society bookstore for $34.95.