Former Hillsdale News reporter pens book on parents' adventures

HILLSDALE — Longtime Hillsdale resident Nancy Hastings recently released her first book: “Mission Possible.”

Over the weekend, she and cover artist John Castellese partnered with Artworks of Hillsdale County and the Heritage Association of Hillsdale County for a book signing and art exhibit at Studio42.

“It was a wonderful event and well attended by many in the community,” said Hastings. “I sold lots of books but more importantly, I hugged and reminisced with many!”

Castellese said he appreciated the opportunity to share his art with the community.

“I would like to thank Nancy Hasting for this opportunity,” he said. “I would also like to thank The Heritage Association and Artworks of Hillsdale County for sponsoring this great event.”

Hastings first started writing in high school, working at her high school and then later at her college newspaper.

After college, she began reporting for the Hillsdale Daily News.

“In the mid-1980s, I took over the family living position Geneva Gates held for many years at the Hillsdale Daily News when she started her traveling business,” she said. “I worked there until starting a family became a priority and I was a stay-at-home mother until the children were all in school.”

Hastings eventually returned to work at the Hillsdale Daily News part-time, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hastings decided to take early retirement and begin freelance writing.

She said she appreciated getting to work as a reporter in the community for all those years.

“Having the opportunity of being interwoven in the lives of the community by sharing their stories will always mean the world to me. It was my purpose and fulfillment for many years,” Hastings said.

This is when she began writing her book, which only took her a couple of months to write. Hastings said getting the book published was very exciting for her.

“Not only is there a sense of accomplishment attached to something completed, but there is fulfillment in knowing that you’ve put in the time to create something that may make a difference in someone else’s life,” Hastings said.

“Mission Possible” is loosely based on the lives of Hastings’ parents, who travel to South America to serve as missionaries.

“I like to develop book characters based on real-life characters — those who’ve made an impression on me throughout my lifetime,” she said.

To do this, Hastings drew from information saved by her parents.

“For this first book, I used information written down and shared by my parents,” Hastings said. “Their memories shared, along with diary and note taking came in handy for the recollection of their life story. Though the book is listed as historical fiction with some names and places changed, it’s pretty close to what they experienced abroad.”

This isn’t the only connection the book has to Hastings’ parents. The book is also filled with sketches done by Hastings’ father, which he first made for a children’s book Hastings wrote as a child.

Castellese said he enjoyed getting to design and paint the cover for “Mission Possible.”

“Painting the piece was very time consuming due to the amount of detail,  but overall a very enjoyable experience working with Nancy,” he said.

Hastings said she plans to write a sequel to “Mission Possible.”

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“For a sequel, I would like to travel to Brazil and research the places my parents lived to see how their presence has changed the lives of many during their work there,” she said.

Hastings hopes the story is one that readers of all ages can relate to and be inspired by.

“A good story comes from the ability to explain what makes the characters shine – their inner thoughts, conflicts, and triumphs,” she said. “There is fulfillment in knowing that you’ve put in the time to create something that may make a difference in someone else’s life.”

— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for The Hillsdale Daily News. She can be reached by email at ehawkins@hillsdale.edu.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Former Hillsdale News reporter pens book on parents' adventures