Explora Books will present the Setterington Family series by Donna Gene Stankey and co-author Ramona Hammel at the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), held June 17–21 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The series offers a multi-volume portrayal of American pioneer life and family legacy across generations.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 21st May 2026 – Rate opens on a bitter December night in 1893 at the Setterington homestead near Elsie, Michigan, where Millie, a Canadian-born farmer, waits through the cold for the birth of a son his wife Mina neither wants nor welcomes. From this quietly charged opening, Donna Gene Stankey builds an intimate portrait of rural Midwestern life: its relentless labor, marital tensions, and a father’s stubborn hope that something of himself will endure into the next generation. Grounded in decades of family history and careful research, Rate functions as both a personal family chronicle and a vivid record of settler life on the American frontier.
The Lad Called Rate follows Ralph as he comes into his own through the daily work of the farm—its animals, seasons, and unrelenting demands—in a coming-of-age story rooted in heritage and belonging. Stankey and Hammel render his gradual self-discovery with patience and warmth, tracing a young man finding his footing in a world that asks everything of him.
The Mischief Maker sees Rate trade the open fields for the streets of Elsie, with his dog Bruno never far behind. The pull between his rural upbringing and town life creates both tension and tenderness, as Rate carries the instincts and loyalties of a farm boy into an unfamiliar world. Stankey and Hammel handle this transitional chapter of his life with precision and care.
Forever a Farmer brings the saga to its conclusion, with Rate facing the full cost of keeping a family farm alive across generations. It is a story about what it means to inherit not only land, but responsibility—and about the quiet determination of those who choose to stay when leaving would be easier.
Stankey was herself a Setterington—the third generation to farm the land outside Elsie, Michigan, which she spent decades documenting. Her co-author and daughter, Ramona Hammel, was shaped by the same rural inheritance: first on her father’s farm in Wayland, Michigan, and later on her husband’s farm near Hudson. Following Donna’s passing, Ramona has carried their shared work forward, ensuring the Setterington story reaches the readers it deserves.
Readers and industry professionals attending the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair are encouraged to visit the Explora Books exhibit booth 5A.B14 at the CNCC in Beijing. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover the complete Setterington Family series, explore special event features, and connect with the authors’ legacy in person.
All four books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major book retailers.
About Explora Books
Explora Books is a book marketing firm located in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company specializes in self-publishing and marketing, taking pride in its exhaustive research and creative strategies that provide wider avenues for aspiring authors to gain recognition for their works. Explora Books aims to guide authors through the complexities of self-publishing, offering convenient solutions to navigate this process. The firm fosters and redefines creativity and innovation, setting new industry standards. Explora Books is dedicated to empowering authors globally.
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