ARPress is honored to announce that the flipbook format of The Spare (Part 1) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter is now available for purchase. The book is also offered in other formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
There’s something undeniably magical about holding a paperback or hardback book in your hands, the smell of the pages, the feel of the paper, the satisfying thump as you close it at the end of a great story. It’s a sensory experience that e-readers and screens have struggled to replicate.
But here’s the thing: the world of reading is evolving, and it’s not just about going digital or flipping through pixels on a screen. Enter the flipbook, a fresh, interactive way to experience stories that goes beyond the printed page while still capturing the tactile joy we love.
You might remember flipbooks from childhood, those little booklets where flipping the pages quickly created a tiny animation. Today’s flipbooks have massively leveled up. They’re digital, accessible on any device, and combine the charm of flipping pages with multimedia elements like videos, sound, and clickable links. Imagine reading your favorite novel and encountering subtle animations or embedded audio that brings scenes to life.
“The Spare: Part I” by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter is a heartfelt memoir-style narrative that captures the struggles and triumphs of rural family life in South Dakota during the early- to mid-20th century. More than just a historical account, it is a living record of perseverance, family bonds, and the simple yet profound lessons learned from growing up in a time when survival depended on grit, faith, and community. The book draws readers into the everyday lives of farmers and ranchers, who, despite being less fortunate and constantly at the mercy of nature, managed to create homes filled with love, resilience, and hard-won joy.
The book tells the story of the author’s family—ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times. Through vivid anecdotes, Sumpter recalls her parents’ courtship, their trials as young newlyweds, and the realities of raising a family amid droughts, blizzards, and economic uncertainty. Life was harsh, with every crop and animal holding the weight of survival, yet there was also laughter, music, and moments of tenderness that anchored them through it all. The detailed accounts—from barn chores and shearing sheep to epic blizzards and tight-knit family gatherings—paint a picture of what it truly meant to live in “next year country,” where hope was as essential as food on the table.
It also highlights the author’s own experiences as a child growing into adulthood on the farm. Her recollections bring to life both the hard work and the playfulness of rural living—school days, community dances, family reunions, and the evolving culture as radio and eventually television began to shape society. Through these stories, Sumpter pays tribute not only to her parents but to an entire generation of families who carried forward strength, determination, and values of kindness despite overwhelming hardships.
Author Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter was born and raised on a working ranch twenty-eight miles north of Philip, South Dakota. As young people, they worked hard and played hard, and events that occurred caused considerable pain to her both mentally and physically. Her choices were not the best, and at seventeen, she was very much on her own. The saying “I was the only hell my mother ever raised” was probably very accurate. She writes this to tell you what it was like growing up and to let others know their choices are important to their future.
For anyone who loves history, memoirs, or tales of survival against the odds, this book offers a deeply human perspective on how ordinary families endured extraordinary times. It is a reminder that strength is not only found in grand gestures but in the everyday acts of persistence, sacrifice, and love that build a life worth remembering.
If you love books, don’t worry, paperbacks and hardbacks aren’t going anywhere. They still hold a special place on our shelves and in our hearts. But flipbooks open doors to new possibilities that blend tradition with innovation.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader curious about new formats or a creator eager to explore interactive storytelling, flipbooks invite you to go beyond the printed page and rediscover the joy of stories in a whole new way.
The Spare (Part 1) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter is now available for purchase via the ARPress Bookstore.