Book Description

"It was near the end of February 1944. A light snow was falling as our family of six and a dog started out in our 1935 Ford. The tires were almost bald and there was a third of the steering wheel missing. The trailer behind was a modified shell of a travel trailer. It was loaded with the bare necessities to set up housekeeping nearly two thousand miles away. We were moving from Kanawha, Iowa to Yakima, Washington to seek our fortune picking fruit in the fruit-rich Yakima Valley." UPHILL ALL THE WAY, a collection of sixty-seven short stories, is a first hand account of the life of the author's family and their struggles through the Great Depression and World War II, and their eventual triumph. The circumstances they endured, some beyond their control and some created by the choices they made along the way, provided rich experiences for their family and does the same for the reader.The author's father suffered ill health the last twelve years of his life. It was during this time that the author spent many hours with his father and heard, for the first time, several of the stories told in this book. After his father died, the author had many visits with his mother to get a better understanding of his parents' lives before they were married and to clarify some of the things he remembered from his youth, taking notes and recording it all in the form of short stories. The end result is an unusual collection of poignant vignettes that draw the reader in and make the pages turn.More than 2,000 copies have been sold.Here are some comments from readers.* "UPHILL ALL THE WAY" By James Sloter."Anyone who grew up in small-town Iowa and especially those who grew up right after the Great Depression will find something to relate to in James Sloter's stories about the obstacles his parents overcame in raising their family in Iowa." Ellen Heath, Homegrown Writing, The Des Moines Register and Tribune. "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested." "OF STUDIES" ESSAYS II, Francis Bacon (1561-1626)"Thanks, Jim, for the copy of "UPHILL ALL THE WAY". We are 'digesting it'.The book signing was such fun-we'll do it again for the sequel!"Claudia Warner, Administrator: Algona Public Library, Algona, Iowa"You asked me to tell you what I thought of your book "UPHILL ALL THE WAY". You said that you rewrote each story several times to 'make it flow'. Does it ever flow! WOW!"Betty Shipman, Corwith News editor, Corwith, Iowa"I just finished "UPHILL ALL THE WAY". It was wonderful. I would like to buy ten copies for my book club." Peg Williams, Minneapolis, MN"This check is for five more copies of your fascinating book. Thank you very much for the privilege of reading it." Kent Ryerson, Norwalk, IA"I just finished reading your book. I enjoyed it so much." Delores Huse, Pharr, TX"I enjoyed your book so much and am passing it around for all my family to read."Maxine S., Dixon, IL"I hope your travels through Iowa and book-signings have been successful. I have finished your book-enjoyed it very much-it has us reminiscing about our own youth." Pearl White, Sioux Falls, SD"Your book was interesting reading and factual, as I can really remember doing many of the things you mentioned doing in your childhood. The one difference though is that you were loved and you knew it. I was fed and clothed, but I never felt loved the way you were. Your book is well written and in good order & people of a later day than the 30's-40's should find it interesting and educational.""Best wishes for a successful playwright."Gordon Templeton, Lincoln, NE"Please send me a copy of your book 'Uphill All The Way'. I started reading it at my mother's and would like my own personal copy." Billie May, Waldo, WI