The story of a princess without parents

Nov. 16--DELHI -- Little girls and princesses frequently haunt children's literature. These subjects also reign in Delhi resident Mary Eklund's new book "Princess Vika's Forever Family."

But this story has another topic tucked away within its colorful pages -- adoption.

"I want people to be aware of orphans; I know that's on God's heart," said Eklund, 50. "This could be a story that's theirs. Children can see there are other children without parents."

Her story follows Princess Vika, a little girl who lives in a castle with her caretaker, Tanya. Although she is a happy girl, she often wishes for a mother and father.

This wish affects her dreams, where she runs and plays with "mama" and "papa."

"Little did she know that God was preparing the hearts of such a couple," the book stated. "Oceans away there was a mama and papa who were dreaming of a little girl with blue eyes, golden hair, and cheeks pink as roses."

The characters were illustrated by Schendel Elementary School aide and tutor Maria Gonzalez. She used colored pencils in bright colors to set scenes in a park and castle.

Gonzales, 27, met Eklund during the author's last job as a tutor at Schendel. Eklund asked the artist to create pictures of her characters in a bright way that would attract children.

Gonzalez, who has studied art since junior high, said she modeled the mama and papa characters after younger versions of Eklund and her husband, Ken. She offered sketches of her work for the author's approval.

"That was the hardest part," Gonzalez said. "It was hard to agree. I'm used to drawing for myself. But I still enjoyed it."

The most difficult picture to create was the castle shown on the book's cover, she said.

Eklund's husband was inspired by architecture he had seen in Russia and wanted the castle in his wife's book to look similar. They gave the illustrator a photograph from the country to work from.

Eklund did not set out to write a book for the public. She began to write the story for a little girl named Vika, an orphan from Russia who they were trying to adopt. The adoption did not work out but Eklund went ahead with the story in the orphan's name.

She was also inspired by 700 Club co-host Terry Meeuwsen's book "The God Adventure." In the book, Meeuwsen discusses her adoption of three Ukrainian sisters.

Eklund took bits and pieces from her inspirations, imagination and experiences with foster children to write her own book. She and her husband have taken in four foster children within about three years.

"We had a foster child who loves princesses," she said. "I think every little girl is a princess inside."

She finished her book last year and showed it to a little girl who some friends had just adopted.

"She read the story and, even without the illustrations, she said it was her favorite book," Eklund's husband said.

After some Internet research, the Eklunds decided to self-publish the book through AuthorHouse. It can now be purchased online at Barnes & Noble, Borders and BooksA Million.com or by contacting the author at http://k1v2 m3.mysite.com.

This is Eklund's first book publication, although her poem "Loving Sunshine," appeared in the 1997 issue of the National Library of Poetry.

The author is originally from San Francisco but moved to Delhi at age 17. She attended Merced College before studying sociology at California State University, Stanislaus, where she graduated in 1991.

Since then, she has worked as a tutor or substitute teacher for the Turlock Unified School District, Crane Preschool and Schendel Elementary.

"I've always worked with children," she said.

Reporter Dhyana Levey can be reached at 385-2472 or dlevey@mercedsun-star.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Merced Sun-Star, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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