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Tracy Maurer Book Signing
by Jill Funke Since she was five years old, Tracy Maurer loved to write. In her mom, who is a retired English teacher, Tracy found support as well as the direction that helped her improve and perfect her writing ability. She feels that she was lucky to have a home life that was so conducive to writing. A country girl at heart, Tracy was raised in a rural area near Superior, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and worked at an advertising and marketing agency in the Twin Cities before opting for a freelance copywriting career. In 1995, she was writing a catalog for Rourke Publishing when that company found itself in need of an author for a four-book children’s series about dance. Rourke offered her the project and she jumped on it. The experience was very positive and she began to accept other opportunities to write books. When writing children’s books, Tracy considers the reluctant reader as well as those who love to read. She strives to make her subject matter so appealing that her audience is captivated from page to page. Tracy enjoys taking different subjects and explaining them in a way that youngsters can understand, yet she avoids "talking down" to her young readers. For the past 15 years, she has been working full time as a freelance writer, and says that one of the best aspects of her career is the opportunity to learn about so many fascinating subjects—from rhythmic gymnastics to monster trucks. Now that her elementary-aged children are readers, Tracy feels great satisfaction when sharing her work with them. One of Tracy’s most recent achievements is John Deere, a children’s book written about John Deere tractors, published by Motorbooks International. Librarians had told the publisher that children took great interest in the company’s adult titles for "enthusiasts," including books about John Deere tractors. However, the children couldn’t follow all of the adult-level text. The publisher asked Tracy to rewrite one of its popular adult titles, John Deere Two-Cylinder Tractors by tractor expert Rod Beemer, which featured collector insights and outstanding photography. Rolling up her sleeves, she began to research the tractor that many feel has come to represent life on the American farm. She was fortunate to interview experts from her own family tree. Her father-in-law, Harlan Maure,r and his brother, Jerry, gave Tracy real life stories about the Maurer farm that she was able to use in the book. The layout of each page was designed in a modern way with fun graphics to enthrall young readers, while the great historical content will interest any adults who may be sharing John Deere with a child. All of the research and the design work culminated into a treasure of a book that, model by model, tells the story of the John Deere tractor. Going back to John Deere’s beginning in 1892, the book brings readers into the present time, illustrating the important place that the John Deere, and the tractor in general, has in farming today. On Saturday, June 17 th, the Larchwood Library will be hosting a John Deere book signing event. From 9:00am to 12:00pm, Tracy will sign copies of the book at the library. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book that day will go to the Larchwood Public Library.
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