Bonners Ferry author publishes 22nd book
When Eileen and Jay Lantry suffered the tragic loss of their oldest son, Eileen Lantry decided to do something to occupy her mind.
The 86-year old Eileen embarked on a writing adventure which has held her captive for 40-years.
Eileen Lantry has just had her 22 book published, Broken Stick.
The couple came to Bonners Ferry from Yakima in 1986.
Jay Lantry has served as school superintendent for Seventh-Day Adventist churches in 17 countries. He typed every single one of his wife’s books.
“Without him I could not have raised three boys and written all the books,” Eileen said. “He has been a real help to me.”
Eileen Lantry began writing in 1976 using skills she learned from courses taken in college.
Jay Lantry had to step up even more on the last book as Eileen had a stoke upon their return from Guadalcanal.
The book is about the couple’s visit to the Solomon Islands in particular Guadalcanal.
The Lantry’s visited Guadalcanal in 2006 and spent just over three weeks learning about the culture, history and natives.
Iron Bottom Sound, named for the hundreds of ships and aircraft that sunk in the waters during World War II, and the Solomon Islands is home to some of the best wreck diving in the world.
According to Military Historical Tours, The Battle of Guadalcanal, was fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Fiercely contested on the ground, at sea, and in the air, the campaign was the first major offensive launched by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan and turned the tide in the Pacific War.
The Lantry’s did historical research on the subject during their visit and published historical photos as well as photos from their visit.
“We have traveled extensively around the world,” said Eileen Lantry. “All my books are true stories about those travels.”
The couple found that the children of the Solomon Islands were very happy to see them, holding their hands and smiling.
“The children even had dark skin and blonde hair passed down from some of the soldiers during the war,” said Eileen Lantry.
The couple visited dozens of different tribes and each spoke a different language, according to Jay Lantry they had to have a translator for each tribe they visited.
It is very tropical, hot and rainy there, said Eileen Lantry.
The couple discovered that thousands of people suffer from a skin disease that is prevalent among the natives. According to the Lantry’s the skin disease is curable and preventable. There are sites where schools have been built to house and teach the native people about hygiene. People with the skin disease can receive treatment while learning how to care for themselves after they are cured.
“The medicine is very expensive but it works,” said Jay Lantry. “This is a miserable skin disease that is itchy and all over their bodies.”
According to the Lantry’s it takes three weeks to cure the disease and can be kept at bay with good hygiene practices.
“We love to see the happy faces of the people who have been cured, and we want all the people of the islands to enjoy life and be that happy,” said Eileen Lantry.
The Lantrys will send the proceeds of their book to help purchase medicine for the region.
Eileen Lantry’s book Broken Stick can be purchased from the Adventist Book and Bible Store in Spokane, Wash. The book can be purchased for $11.99.
Information: (509) 838-2761