I.M. RAMSEY
“Hitomi, you must have gaman to endure what may seem unbearable with patience and dignity.”
-My Mother Told Me Stories, pg. 131
My Mother Told Me Stories
Megan is a ten-year-old biracial girl growing up in a small town in the southeastern corner of Washington state in the early 1960s. Megan has the usual struggles of growing up that most children have, but her concerns are complicated with the reality that she is half-Japanese and half-white. She also struggles with one concern that is unique to her, understanding why her mother, Hitomi, is overly protective and hovering, so different from the mothers of her friends. The mystery grows when she discovers her sister, a sister she never knew existed until she finds pictures of her mother standing with a little Asian girl she had never seen before in front of a drab and desolate looking building somewhere in an empty and arid landscape.
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On the back of the picture is written, "Minidoka, 1943".
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My Mother Told Me Stories is a heart-wrenching story of loss, tragedy, and one woman's journey through the shadows of despair. But it is also a story of surprising kindness, generosity, and friendship; of forgiveness and reconciliation; and the enduring love of family.
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I. M. Ramsey
I. M. Ramsey has worked in a variety of roles in counseling, teaching, and administration at the collegiate level and feels very fortunate to have spent her entire professional career in academia.
Her primary research interest has focused on the impact of empathy and forgiveness and the relational dynamics between perpetrators and those who extend forgiveness to them.
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This is her first novel with the story based upon the themes found in her South African research of political perpetrators who received empathy and forgiveness from family members of their victims.
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I. M. Ramsey lives in Washington state and enjoys spending time with her husband, their daughters, sons-in-law, and three grandsons, a.k.a. "the three scampering squirrels"
New Releases
I.M. Ramsey is pleased to announce The Tales of the Three Scampering Squirrels, a trilogy of children books released at Barnes & Noble and Amazon Bookstores, November 1, 2025. The three scampering squirrels live together in the large maple tree in Professor Stratton's backyard. The three of them have many adventures at the Squirrel Academy and competing in their favorite sports events.
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Tale One - Lander Squirrel Helps a Friend
The pistol sounds and the race begins! But as Lander makes his way around the track, he sees another runner trip and fall. Will Lander use this to his advantage so he can win the race easily? Or will he stop to help his friend, even if it means he doesn't win?
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Tale Two - Vinny Squirrel Believes in Himself
On the day of the Little Squirrel League big game, Vinny has a lot of work to do. Coach Beady Eyes gives the team an inspirational pep talk before the game, and the team is raring to go! It's the bottom of the 6th inning and Vinny's team is down by 2 runs. When the first two batters get out, will Vinny believe in himself enough to get the hit he needs to bring the win home?
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Tale Three - Liam Squirrel Never Gives Up
Liam and his friends, Ryan, Charlie, and Riley, make up the Prancy Paws soccer team. They work hard all season and are tied for first place with the Fancy Footwork. It's the last game of the season, and the winner of this game determines who will go into the playoffs as the first seed team. Will Liam's determination win the game? Or will he give up and be bested by the other team?
Current
Events
Barnes and Noble Book Signing Event​
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Please join I. M. Ramsey for her book signing at Barnes and Noble Bookstore, on March 2nd, 2024, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at Columbia Center Mall, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd, Suite 700, Kennewick, WA 99336. I. M. Ramsey will be in the store signing copies of her book, My Mother Told Me Stories, a story of An American Internment.
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An American Internment
With I.M. Ramsey
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I.M. Ramsey will be teaching a course offered through the QUEST program at Walla Walla
Community College, called An American Internment. Through the novel My Mother Told Me Stories, the course will explore the story of how Japanese Americans were treated as enemies of America in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The historical and cultural impact of the times will be studied, as well as the themes of “gaman” (enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity), friendship, forgiveness, and the enduring love of family.
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The course will be on Tuesday, 1/9-2/13 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Winter Quest registration opens Wednesday, December 13 a.m. at 9:00 a.m.
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Spring Speakers Series​
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I.M. Ramsey will be giving a presentation on April 11, 2024, 12;15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Room 185 at Walla Walla Community College’s Spring Speakers Series. This event is offered through the Library Services at WWCC with sponsorship from Humanities of Washington, Student Government Association, and WWCC Foundation. I.M. Ramsey will talk about her novel My Mother Told Me Stories and Lola Bloom, the “voice” of the Audible book will give selected readings from the novel around the topics of community, empathy, forgiveness, and epistolary writing. Please join us at this presentation!
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