‘Book 6′ featuring Nancy’s Notes to be published

LA SALLE, Ill. — A new book featuring columns written by Nancy Dinelli-Prill will soon be available.

“Nancy’s Notes — ‘The Farmer’ and I: Book 6″ is currently in production with the plan for it to be completed later this year.

“The goal is to have a copy of ‘Book 6’ in mother’s hands by her 87th birthday on Nov. 9,” said her daughter, Gretchen Prill-Bimrose.

The book will feature columns written by Nancy for Illinois AgriNews and Indiana AgriNews from 2004 until her retirement in 2018.

The idea to add another book to the previous five, Gretchen said, occurred as a result of COVID-19.

“We were sent to our homes and I was looking for something to do so I thought this would be a great time to compile mother’s emails,” she recalled. “I started reading her columns and she kept saying that she was going to write another book, so she was thinking about ‘Book 6’ as far back as 2004.”

As Gretchen read through numerous columns she came across one that featured the Oscars.

“That’s what this has turned out to be for my mother,” she explained. “This is my lifetime achievement award to my mom because this means a lot to her.”

The Write Stuff

Nancy started in the newspaper business in 1975, working for the Durand Gazette, selling advertising and writing a column, as well as feature stories about farmers and the farming industry.

In 1980, Nancy received a job offer from Illinois AgriNews to sell advertising and write a weekly column that often centered around her family and topics related to agriculture.

It is important to include columns in “Book 6” that talk about grain bin safety, safety harnesses and auger safety, Gretchen said.

“I told mom some day there is going to be a kid that picks up her book and he will run into where you talk about farm safety and grain bin safety,” Gretchen said. “He is going to come against something like that in the workforce or on his own farm and remember those words which could save his life.”

The estimated cost for the 350-page book is $30 plus $5 for shipping. However, the final cost will be determined once the book is printed.

“This book is something to offer people who enjoyed reading Nancy’s columns,” Gretchen said.

The book will be printed by Barefoot Printers in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“When I went there to talk about the book, I found out the boss is from Malta, Illinois,” Gretchen said.

To get an idea of how many books to print, please participate in a survey. Send an envelope to: Gretchen Prill-Bimrose, 302 East Park Street, Cary, N.C. 27511. Make sure to include your return address and how many books you are interested in purchasing.