Does it give joy?
I just want to entertain in this novel.... No heavy teaching, no statements - just enjoyment....Have I done it?
Here are some of the responses....
Well Wilma, you have outdone yourself. Talk about a page turner….. The story is so enthralling that one can’t wait to read each page. I literally had the next page in my hand while reading the one before me. I loved all the characters. You have definitely found your forte’. Please write more of these. I can only dream to be as good a writer and creator as you are. Will be no problem selling this book. (a promising fiction writer)
I finished your book yesterday and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. I wanted it to be longer!! … I have never read a romance about Mennonites and I enjoyed that there was an authenticity to the characters in the community. I liked that they weren’t perfect and made mistakes and bad choices. It was just the right amount of suspense to keep me reading. Lots of action too!! Thank you so much for sharing your story! You have an amazing gift! (family)
I was spellbound. You obviously have done a lot of research - at least it seemed that way. The references to both the tzars and the Mennonite colonies in Russia seemed accurate. Even the brief inclusion of the Gypsies! Where do you do your research? I loved the creative first chapter - and that the conflict is immediately evident…. (instructor type)
Wow, the conflict of the pacifistic Mennonites and the need for Russian Boris and his guns. It was great that he had PTSD! I loved that the outliers were the ones who befriended the Russians. I was surprised that you could write about Nadia’s horror in such detail. That must have been so hard given your life experiences. I think you can spend the rest of your days writing fun historical novels. (friend)
All of these reviews are somewhat biased - but I love them. I read them over and over again. More joy.
Thank you for your encouraging interest. Such fun to be moving towards something new.
The manuscript is currently being formatted and in the process of being printed. It will be launched on November 26, 2023 at the Maplecrest Creative Arts Celebration at the Prendergast Budling 906 Cottonwood Road here in Winnipeg. More details to follow.
Believe you can and you're halfway there. - Theodore Roosevelt