Geography instructor Gloria Siers released her first novel this summer after more than 20 years of writing.

The novel, entitled “Once There Was and Will Never Be Again,” follows a young boy named Peter as he experiences the political turmoil of Eastern Europe during the twentieth century. His experiences and personal losses eventually cause Peter to immigrate to North America by himself at the age of 18.

Siers, a lifelong Michigan resident, first discovered the idea for the story on a trip with her family to the Eastern European village her father emigrated from when he was young.

Since then, she has continued to write and rewrite the story over the past two decades.

“This is really a lifetime accumulation of information and stories,” Siers said. “I did this mainly for my family. It’s very much a family history.”

Siers sent the story to publishers across the country, but only received limited interest. Publishers thought her father’s story was compelling, but not marketable enough to make a profit.

“I read the original manuscript and I loved it,” said Becky Kurtz, director of the Wheatland Township Library in Remus and friend of Siers. “I encouraged her to try to get it published.”

Two years ago, Siers decided to publish the book herself with the help from R. J. Communications, a New York-based company. The company provided her with editorial services and served as a guide as where to get the book printed.

“I wanted to tell a story of ordinary people with extraordinary lives,” Siers said. “It’s more than just my father’s story; it’s the immigrant’s story in the early twentieth century.”

The artwork of the book was designed mostly by Siers, but she did receive help from her daughter Kari Siers, a professional graphic designer for a national non-profit in Clare.

“My job was to tell a visual story,” Kari Siers said. “(The artwork) comes from traditions of arts and crafts in the Ukrainian culture.”

Gloria Siers said her background in geography was also an advantage in writing the book because it helped her with the descriptions of settings and times in the novel that makes the story a very visual experience for the reader.

Written mostly for junior high and high school students, “Once There Was and Will Never Be Again” has been well received by all ages.

“I’ve recommend it to a lot of people who come into the (Wheatland Township) library,” Kurtz said. “It’s been getting a lot of great responses.”

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