New York publisher printing book written by Galva sisters
By Carol Townsend
and Jeff Lampe
GALVA – A new book that tells the tale of “The Most Amazing Harvest” is available in print.
Written by Galva twin sisters Pam Bates and Paula Patty, their non-fiction book tells the heart-warming story of the local community helping farmer Carl Bates – Pam’s late husband – who in 2015 was unable to complete his harvest due to a battle with terminal cancer.
After originally planning to self-publish the book they worked on for three years, the sisters were directed instead to Morgan James Publishing of New York. The publishing house made their book one of its 140 non-fiction projects for the year after the sisters signed a contract last July.
“That’s why we feel God was behind this,” Pam Bates said. “It was really God’s idea. I just kept hearing ‘Tell his story, tell his story.’ I would question it, but he just kept confirming he really meant it.”
There was one problem, Pam said. “I’m not a writer and don’t know the first thing about writing.”
But her sister Paula Patty had previously penned a column for The Galva News and the two of them began working on a manuscript in November of 2016 on the one-year anniversary of Carl’s death.
The twins traveled to Galena, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gulf Shores and even to Rome to focus on writing Carl’s story.
Carl had childhood cancer, (sarcoma on the spine) at age 11 and was in remission for years until he lost his life Nov. 1, 2015 at age 55. Carl learned on July 31, 2015, that his cancer had metastasized and he only had three months to live. Carl had other health issues but never missed a day at farming even with one of his legs amputated.
The family was devastated with grief but also wondered who was going to pick his 450 acres of corn.
Their worries turned to joy on Sept. 25, when more than 40 neighbors, family and friends showed up with 10 combines and picked 450 acres in 10 hours. The story went viral and a mural is painted on the side of a downtown building in Galva showing all of the combines at work.
The book captures Carl’s life. Pam and Carl were childhood sweethearts since their sophomore and junior years at Galva High School.
“It’s raw. It’s his story,” Pam Bates said. “I feel like we did honor to him. And God gets the glory.”
While the sisters have copies for sale, the actual publishing date is Sept. 22. Pre-orders are being taken by online booksellers and an e-book is due out on June 2.
To get your copy between now and the mass publication date, the authors have scheduled several book signings: March 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brighter Life book store in Galesburg; March 27 at the Galva Public Library from 2-4 p.m.; March 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at Heartfelt gift shop in Kewanee; and April 4 at the Bishop Hill Book Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The book will see its official launch June 20 from 2-4 p.m. under the downtown Galva mural. The authors will be on hand to sign books and food vendors will be present.
“It will be a party,” Pam Bates said of the launch.
Each year, a golf outing is held at Kewanee Dunes in memory of Carl and his friend Steve King who also lost his life to cancer. This year the event will be held June 19.
Some proceeds from the book will go to The Heller Center for Kids with cancer at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois. This will help the child and families thrive during and after the treatments.
The Heller’s mission is to ensure that every child with cancer and their family live life to the fullest. They supply counselors, educational help and assessments with diet and exercise.
Pictured are authors Pam Bates (left) and her twin sister (far right) Paula Patty. They presented the first copy of their book to their mother Carol Bates (center).
