Janice VanLoon-Ephraim and her husband, Steve, love traveling across America, exploring odd and unique places. Their favorite discoveries are places that are strange, historical, whimsical, or as they like to call them, schmaltzy.
When the couple pass through the small town of Kewanee, Illinois, something unique catches their eyes-a front yard filled with life-sized wooden cutouts of famous figures like John Wayne, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Jesus.
Janice and Steve meet the homeowner, Glenna, and she shares something even more intriguing. Glenna has a large and impressive doll collection, and she is happy to tell the couple all about it and the little log cabin she lives in. Glenna also relates her life story, beginning with her love for carpentry, painting, the Duke, and Elvis Presley. She goes on to describe her Blackfoot American Indian roots and her infamous cousin, who was wrongly accused in Lincoln's assassination conspiracy.
As Gleaning from Glenna: The Dolls of Kewanee travels between kitschy sites and Glenna's life story, it illustrates just how much there is to discover. Just take the time to look, and you will find it.
About the Author: Janice VanLoon-Ephraim grew up on Chicago's South Side. She spent ten years working as a blood bank phlebotomist. Janice met her husband, Steve, on a blind date. They later married and moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Janice worked as tour guide at the John Deere Engine Works for twenty years, before retiring in 2015. She volunteers with medical missions in Punta Palma, Izabal, Guatemala, and founded The Amazing Feet Project shoe ministry.
The couple have three grown sons, Matthew, Scott, and Sean, and a collie, ShaSha.
