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FAIRMONT - Two former nursing instructors turned authors were on hand Saturday at the Good News Bookstore in Fairmont.

Edna Thayer - formerly of Truman and Ceylon - and Mary Huntley have co-authored two books in the past, but this time, each one had an individual book to promote.

"Our first book together was the School of Nursing history at MSU, where we both taught and were also members on the interim administration," Thayer said. "We really had a passion for the school, and the book now supports a nursing scholarship."

That was in 2003. In 2007, the two co-authored a second book, "A Mirthful Spirit," which addresses laughter for wellness and healing. The book received the Best Humor award in 2008 from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.

"There are some studies from our research," Huntley said. "But it really puts our message into practice."

There are also some stories that led to the third books for each author.

"There is a hint of Lydia in 'Mirthful Spirit,'" Thayer said, in regards to her current book, "Feisty Lydia."

"She was a German war bride, who married her American soldier, and came over to America in 1948," Thayer said. "She was my next-door neighbor for 32 years, and she had many stories. She was full of wit and humor."

The book was done with Lydia's blessing, who was able to see the first draft of the book before she passed away in March. "Feisty Lydia" received an honorable mention from USA Book News in the category of general biography.

Huntley's book is a personal tale as well, a salute to her high school classmates, who had made a pact to keep in touch and many still do.

"There were about 36 of us in high school when we graduated," Huntley recalled. "We had such an amazing time together, and we ended up forming the 'Blue Garter Gang.' It was a way to keep all of us coming back for each others' showers and weddings, as we'd hand the blue garter off for each other."

The book "Amazing Attributes of Aging: Silly and Sacred Stories of the Blue Garter Friends," details more than 50 years of friendship.

"There are still 28 of us who keep in touch and 21 of us had input into the book," Huntley said. "We still get together even though we've gotten spread out. There are only two of us who still live in Mankato. But we've been to Cleveland, Vermont, Wisconsin, and next it looks like Tuscon, Ariz."

Huntley again worked with a co-author, this time her high school friend Judy Appel. But when the time came to promote "Amazing Attributes," she and Thayer chose to hit the road together to market their books.

"Because it's just fun to do that," Thayer said.

"All this authoring has been in our retirement," Huntley said. "Another thing is that all of our books have been self-published. Our life is now really marketing these books. We go into the bookstores and talk to them ourselves."

In September, after doing readings at a Red Rock Center for the Arts event in Fairmont, the women made contact with the Good News Bookstore in order to promote their latest releases.

"I like coming back here because I originally graduated from Truman High School, and I worked with the Fairmont hospital for five years and also lived in Ceylon," Thayer said. "My father-in-law, Dr. Thayer, was a prominent physician in Fairmont."

The women also point out that getting out and meeting people is half the fun and inspiration for their work.

"Visiting with people, you realize that they have stories to tell," Huntley said. "They may not write a book, but they should leave their legacy. But we should take time to write our own stories, because the people will love it."

Both women also are available for public speaking regarding the ideas and issues addressed in their books.

The books are available at Good News Bookstore in Fairmont, and on the authors' Web sites:

o www.mirthfulspirit.com

o www.feistylydia.com

o www.amazingaging.com