The adventurous tale of Gerome the Gnome begins in a small town of 740 hardy Midwesterners in Withee, Wisconsin in the Spring of 2008. My clever father was negotiating on a small retirement home for himself in Withee and I happened to be along for the ride -- and oh what a ride it has turned out to be!

Upon completion of the home transaction the owner, who was retiring to a condominium, asked if we wanted to bid on his truck, boat, and on assorted treasures -- in short all the stuff he couldn’t take with him. Well, this turned into a bid for everything in his garage which included the boat with trailer and the truck!  Our bid was accepted and my Pops and I were the proud owners of everything. Talk about a bargain.

You can only imagine the unmoving “joy” my wife expressed when I rolled up with a boat and trailer, plus a truck full of great stuff (more lovingly called, junk). I leaped from the car and said enthusiastically, “Honey! Look at this cool garden gnome I got in Withee!” Instantly her anger at my irresponsible male behavior was transferred to the innocent garden gnome. “That gnome is not coming into our garden!” she bellowed and stormed back into the house. Well, poor Gerome spent that season in the garage next to the long horned cow skull that was also part of this wonderful treasure. 

Luckily, I was given a chance to emancipate my poor garden gnome during the Christmas Season of 2008.  When I asked my beloved what she wanted for Christmas and she replied, “Write me another poem like you did in 2003”. This seemingly innocent request turned into a challenge to create a poem that fulfilled my Christmas obligation and would free the exiled Gerome the Gnome from the cold and lonely garage. 

Here is that poem for your enjoyment. A Poem by Gerome the Gnome I sit here plump and warm in my catacomb In the garden of a wonderful Elk Mound home With plenty of time to relax and contemplate My wonderful keeper and his mate For you see it is Winter and Christmas is near A time to celebrate all that we hold dear Master knows the magic and lore that I share Dispensed with love, enthusiasm and care While tending to the roots, plants and soil My Love for the tasks makes it never toil My Mistress alas has a fear of the unknown Uncomfortable with the “reality” of the gnomes But you see we are simply here to serve Unwavering devotion delivered with great verve So this rhyme is set forth pleadingly, without clout Of convincing our Mistress of our Love, no doubt Asking her to plant a seed of faith, in hope of fruition Of unseen powers that are but human intuition For you see it is our duty as your gnome To tend your garden and defend it as our home Never tarrying in our tasks we work without fright Guarding the greens against the creatures of the night Diligent and honorable, bound to never roam We work the soil, raking it with our combs So as I ponder the ending to this poem Marking time in seasons like a metronome I ask you, my Mistress, for a Christmas gift That you set aside you gnomeophobia in a shift That allows you to see my heart like chrome Shining in happiness as your garden gnome Shalom! Gerome the Gnome Christmas 2008

To further assure my success in the “Great Gnome Liberation” I recited the poem aloud at the family Christmas dinner and presented it to my wife. This crafty and ingenious move added guilt and public humor to the equation and gained instant permission for Gerome to tend our neighborhood garden. What fun we had that season with Gerome, along with the neighbor kids, and Gerome’s sidekick Bo Weevil, a painted rock “critter” we purchased at an art fair.  At the end of the gardening season my niece Rachel suggested I write a book about Gerome the Gnome. 

I’m not a children’s book author but the idea rang true and the concept of this product was born in October of 2009.  Events fell into place rather quickly, a friend and co-worker once shared with me her dream to be a full time children’s author. Edna Perkins was instantly enchanted with the idea and came onboard in late October 2009 to pursue her dreams.

We were extremely fortunate to find Kris Gausman, our magically talented illustrator, in the middle of November of 2009.  Working at a feverish pace, aided with gnome magic, we completed and tested our product with sixty children, adults, elementary educators, childhood curriculum professors and retailers across four states in time to launch “Gerome’s Magical Garden” in April of 2010.
We welcome you and are so excited that you have become part of our adventure.

If your intentions are pure and your efforts are sincere, your dreams will be fulfilled.

Greg Raleigh
March 2010