By Chelsea Vance | The Selma Times-Journal

Selma native Ruth Fitts has mixed experiences of her upbringing to write a book that gives an inside look on 24 countries around the world.

“Australia to Zimbabwe” was released in November 2015 with a vision to introduce readers to different cultures and customs.

Countries are featured from every region of the world. The books is designed for those age 8 and up and includes recipes, crafts and games.

“This is so readers can kind of get the flavor of each country,” said Fitts.

Fitts said her family’s support gave her encouragement over the eight years it took to finish the book. She gave special credit to her parents, Alston and Anne Fitts.

She dedicated the book to the city of Selma and said she was inspired from her childhood there.

“When I was growing up in Selma, it was about 50/50 black and white,” Fitts said. “It gave me an appreciation for learning about different cultures and the importance of understanding. Selma is special in a lot of ways.”

The book is being used in a number of classrooms, but has not officially been adopted by any school systems.

It can be purchased for $24.95 and is available on Amazon.com and the book website at www.australiatozimbabwe.com/book.

Selma residents can get their copy at Carter Drugs located at 133 Broad St. Books can be bought with autographs, maps and stickers.

“All of us carry around a map of our world in our head and that map can be as big as we make it. We can live in a really wide, colorful world,” Fitts said. “I think giving a more interesting world to live in is one of the greatest gifts.”