Jan Ruehling survived 55 years living with spinal-bulbar polio, a disease that left her completely paralyzed, including her lungs. To breathe, she needed continuous mechanical ventilation. She was cared for at home by family, skilled nurses and many friends.

In 1984 after the passing of her parents, Jan was determined to become self-supporting. She started her own company, JANimals, which produced wooden, hand-painted jewelry and T-shirts that were popular sellers for many years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Jan completed this original children’s story by dictating it to others, a process that took about 20 years. Gus was the name of her miniature red dachshund, who grabbed a fresh asparagus spear that dropped on the floor and proudly pranced through the house with it.

Jan was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and moved with her family to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1962. She survived Hurricanes Camille (1969) and Katrina (2005), and appeared in numerous television documentaries. With prayer, faith and round-the-clock care, Jan led an exceptionally fulfilling life. She passed away in September 2008.

Linda Rafferty, Presenter and Marketing

• • Featured on local WLOX-TV (ABS affiliate) May 27, 2013.
  • In April of 2013, Linda authored a published article in a national news magazine, ST/Dystonia. The article was about putting aside physical limitations for a “greater cause”. In my case, the greater cause was presenting/publishing this children’s book in my sister’s memory.
  • Available at iTunes
  • Goodreads Book Giveaway Campaign Dec/2017 – Over 700 avid readers signed up for 5 free copies of The Adventures of AsparaGus – Read More
    • The Adventures of AsparaGUS is listed in publisher’s (SBPRA) CCR (Customized Children’s Report) for 2013 and 2015.
    • Graphics and Links “Signature” added to personal email to continuously remind folks about the book.
    • With the help of my publisher, we designed full color, double-sided rack cards that triple as bookmarks and unique business cards. These cards are easy to slip into envelopes for mailings, colorful for merchants (who carry the book) to display, and clever hand-outs at book signings and events.
    • Featured book at Biloxi Visitor Center Biloxi, MS
    • Featured book at Beauvoir Home and Presidential Library Biloxi, MS
    • GLOBAL Exposure: The Adventures of AsparaGUS is distributed in Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, UK, India, and is approved reading in China.
    • Fall 2014- The Adventures of GUS was selected for the IB Library StudyeBuddy Program. Gus was part of 1000 titles chosen for this program which supplies e-books to baccalaureate schools.
    • March 2016- Gus is now available from Audible. The Adventures of AsparaGUS audiobook was produced by ACX.com and narrated by Colleen Curan. ACX is an Amazon platform.
    • See “GUS” Sponsored on the German website (In English)

Library Connections

• • • Pascagoula City Library (Mississippi) added the Adventures of AsparaGUS to it’s library.
    • West Wortham Elementary School (Gulfport, MS) added GUS to their school library.
    • Saint Vincent DePaul Elementary School (Pass Christian, Mississippi) has included The Adventures of AsparaGUS to their school library.
    • Follett and Ingram added as school library distribution services.

Book Signings

• • 9/2012 Tradition Realtor Da
  • 10/2012 Tradition Fall Festival
  • 10/2012 Realtor Open House
  • 11/2012 United Methodist Fall Bazaar
  • 11/2012 Tradition Family Lasagna Night
  • 11/2013 Beauvoir Presidential Library and Museum
  • 2/15/2014 First Annual Adopt-A-Bowl: Humane Society of South Mississippi partnered with Ohr-Okeefe Museum of Art for a mutual fundraiser. Local artists came together to build, throw, and glaze over 200 bowls that were purchased for $20 each and could be filled with food from 6 local vendors.
  • Adoptable pets were the highlight of the event. The Adventures of AsparaGUS was one of two retail vendors (non-food) selected to participate.
  • 9/1/2014 Labor Day Book Signing and Reading at Ohr-O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi, MS.