Book on what makes ‘America great’ includes Indian Land writer

The dirt is different in the South and it takes work to establish roots.

That’s the theme of Indian Land resident Mary Fosnow’s story “Taking Root,” featured in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Spirit of America.”

Chicken Soup for the Soul, a storyteller organization, has been publishing a collection of 101 stories for more than 20 years, according to the organization. The company has published 250 books and sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone.

As a young mother of two, Fosnow found comfort reading the short stories in the books on sleepless nights.

“I always look forward to the new books as they are published,” she said.

This edition focused on what makes America great, Fosnow said.

When she saw the chapter “Our Vast and Beautiful Land,” Fosnow said she thought of the changes she experienced moving from northern Illinois to Tega Cay in 2010. After her husband retired, the couple wanted a warmer climate.

“It was early spring and the changes in landscape as we drove South were dramatic,” Fosnow said.

Adjusting to the climate was one change, but it also meant finding a new way to garden with unfamiliar clay soil.

“I gradually learned to work with it and helped new plants get established, while establishing my own roots in this new environment,” Fosnow said. “As I transplant the young plants, I'm reminded how our family also transplanted, leaving the cold and ice of the North.”

The couple recently moved to Indian Land, giving them another chance to establish roots.

“Once more, I will toil to create a garden and turn a house into a home,” Fosnow said. “We are so happy here in beautiful, sunny South Carolina.”

Fosnow has another story that is a finalist for “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Curvy and Confident.” This one is a humorous account of getting stuck in her grandson’s play tunnel.

“I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be published again,” she said.

This story was originally published October 4, 2016 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Book on what makes ‘America great’ includes Indian Land writer."