Writer & Author
Books by Wilma Derksen
It was in grade six that I strung my first words together into a sentence, looked at it, felt it, wondered at it, and decided that I wanted to be a writer. The words created a new reality for me. Later - much later - I pursued journalism as my career choice. I don't think I'm particularly good at writing - I just find it fulfilling and therapeutic.
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True story - Crime Mystery

Dispelling the Clouds
Few dare to live out their lives as an experiment – much less a desperate experiment. Faced with the blunt reality of the murder of her daughter and the haunting presence of an overwhelming reptilian emotion, Wilma Derksen dares to choose a counter-intuitive way of dealing with it all. When her controversial choice hits the headlines, she is forced to defend it, redefine it, explore it, experiment with it, live it, fight with it and eventually accept it. Showing exceptional vulnerability through the use of personal story, Wilma draws us into this long, treacherous journey that took her into the Big House, the Court House, the Halfway House, God’s House, Government House and eventually the Candace House. In the end, this unlikely experiment results in the most unexpected findings.“
Available on Amazon.
Few dare to live out their lives as an experiment – much less a desperate experiment. Faced with the blunt reality of the murder of her daughter and the haunting presence of an overwhelming reptilian emotion, Wilma Derksen dares to choose a counter-intuitive way of dealing with it all. When her controversial choice hits the headlines, she is forced to defend it, redefine it, explore it, experiment with it, live it, fight with it and eventually accept it. Showing exceptional vulnerability through the use of personal story, Wilma draws us into this long, treacherous journey that took her into the Big House, the Court House, the Halfway House, God’s House, Government House and eventually the Candace House. In the end, this unlikely experiment results in the most unexpected findings.“
Available on Amazon.

Have you seen Candace?
With soul-wrenching honesty, this book describes a mother's agony and hope in the midst of the search for her abducted daughter. The book spans the events and learnings of one year, beginning with the day Candace disappeared and ending with the anniversary of that day. The book reveals both the earnest goodwill of a supportive community, the life of an average family, the horror of the aftermath of murder and the way one family tried to cope. Not only is it a book of insight, it remains a tension-filled story.
Available on Amazon
With soul-wrenching honesty, this book describes a mother's agony and hope in the midst of the search for her abducted daughter. The book spans the events and learnings of one year, beginning with the day Candace disappeared and ending with the anniversary of that day. The book reveals both the earnest goodwill of a supportive community, the life of an average family, the horror of the aftermath of murder and the way one family tried to cope. Not only is it a book of insight, it remains a tension-filled story.
Available on Amazon
Self-Help - Forgiveness Process

The Way of Letting Go
Maybe it was the sting of remarks from a relative or friend. Maybe a miscarriage ended your hopes for a family. For all of your heartbreaks, maybe you wished there was someone to help you through. For Wilma Derksen, letting go of the 15 misconceptions about grief led her back to hope. In this book she tells how you can do the same. Wilma’s world collapsed when her teenage daughter, Candace, was taken hostage and murdered. Wilma now shares her choices to “let go” of heartbreak, which gave her the courage to navigate through the dark waters of sorrow. Like Wilma, maybe your heartbreak forced you to retreat from happy expectations, of believing that life is fair, of finding closure for every circumstance. She encourages patiently: let go of the happy ending, let go of perfect justice, let go of fear, and let go of closure. Wilma's wisdom will help you overcome your broken heart, and her advice will enable you to break free of pain to live a life of true joy.
Available on Amazon.
Maybe it was the sting of remarks from a relative or friend. Maybe a miscarriage ended your hopes for a family. For all of your heartbreaks, maybe you wished there was someone to help you through. For Wilma Derksen, letting go of the 15 misconceptions about grief led her back to hope. In this book she tells how you can do the same. Wilma’s world collapsed when her teenage daughter, Candace, was taken hostage and murdered. Wilma now shares her choices to “let go” of heartbreak, which gave her the courage to navigate through the dark waters of sorrow. Like Wilma, maybe your heartbreak forced you to retreat from happy expectations, of believing that life is fair, of finding closure for every circumstance. She encourages patiently: let go of the happy ending, let go of perfect justice, let go of fear, and let go of closure. Wilma's wisdom will help you overcome your broken heart, and her advice will enable you to break free of pain to live a life of true joy.
Available on Amazon.
Fiction - two novels based on my childhood
Academic/Research

Confronting the Horror
This book is written in an easy-to-read conversational style. The book organizes the crime victim detour into stages and elements that most victims will encounter. Each chapter begins with a family-type story to gently introduce the theme or the element. This is followed by a description of the element, the underlying reasons for it, the consequences and then practical helps for dealing with the element. The book is accessible and applicable for anyone who has experienced a crime and for those who support them.
Subtitled: The Victim's Journey Through the 15 Elements of Serious Crime,
Available on Amazon
This book is written in an easy-to-read conversational style. The book organizes the crime victim detour into stages and elements that most victims will encounter. Each chapter begins with a family-type story to gently introduce the theme or the element. This is followed by a description of the element, the underlying reasons for it, the consequences and then practical helps for dealing with the element. The book is accessible and applicable for anyone who has experienced a crime and for those who support them.
Subtitled: The Victim's Journey Through the 15 Elements of Serious Crime,
Available on Amazon