Wisconsin Writers Association Maria Alvarez Stroud and the immigrant experience

 

This review originally appeared here: https://wiwrite.org/book-reviews/10985425 

Brave Crossing: the Journey In-Between, by Maria Alvarez Stroud

Historical Fiction, 212 pp.

August 2021, Publisher: Little Creek Press

Reviewed by Keridak Silk

Amazon

$9.99 ebook

$18.95 print

About the Book:

This coming-of-age saga is told through the eyes of Ricardo, a young Spanish-Filipino, as he voyages to America in 1916. He embarked on his journey thinking he was leaving behind war, rampant disease, unspeakable deaths, and family secrets only to find a country on the cusp of race riots, World War I, and a global pandemic. He learns that each of these events has the power to define who he is and who he will become.

To succeed, he'll need to face memories of his past life of privilege, grapple with his own culture, and come to peace with the loss of his parents. He'll also need to confront his many attackers. His future depends on it.

In her ambitious debut novel, Maria Alvarez Stroud explores a never-ending question: How welcoming is America to the immigrants who leave everything from their previous lives behind? Richly imagined and vividly rendered, BRAVE CROSSING-A Journey In-Between offers a moving portrait of one man's search for home.

This novel reminds us that historical fiction is not just a view into the past but, in many ways, a mirror to our present.

Keridak Silk’s review:

An absorbing tale from beginning to end. Brave Crossing begins in 1916. Stroud’s father Ricardo Alvarez stands on the ship’s deck regretting his impetuous decision to leave the Philippines. He is barely able to speak English and has no plan for where to live or what to do once he arrives. Ricardo is fortunate to befriend a Filipino couple on the months long voyage. They invite him to stay with them in Chicago.

Ricardo has an ongoing yearning to go back home. Especially when he is met with frigid Midwest winters and ongoing racial inequality because of his brown skin. Warm clothing gets him through the cold. But it’s his ability to reach out to others and his tenacity that help him persist. His fears, curiosity and determination are what keep this novel fresh.

Letters from family and friends make them feel like our own. Ricardo alters how he responds to each. Understanding what he hides, what he gets off his chest, who he asks advice from and who he shares memories with are part of the rhythm of this story. Gradually daring to ask questions about his buried memories, Ricardo re-discovers his family history and his passion. He frequently flaunts expectations prepared to fail but desiring success and acceptance. 

Stroud includes letters to institutions complaining, often demanding, that Ricardo be removed or thought lesser of simply because he wasn’t white. The responses are thought provoking.

Ricardo writes his sister, “Nena, who are these people who think you can treat someone like an animal?” Ricardo also reflects on his own biases. He wonders how often he unknowingly treated people differently. Questions that resonate today.

I enjoyed the historical aspects from Ricardo’s perspective. World War One, Prohibition, the Spanish Flu Pandemic, and the rise of the Klu Klux Klan. Even simple, first-time adventures such as using a phone, riding a train, or tasting German beer.

Bits of Filipino culture, food and language are brought in. One of my favorite quotes is: “Kapag tinapunan ka ng bato, tapunan mo tinapay. If someone throws stones at you throw back bread.” Readers who enjoy discovering another cultural viewpoint will find Brave Crossing fascinating. I did.

His journey takes him from naïve teenager to late twenties. Then we flash to the end of his life answering our questions. Is Ricardo destined to fail or achieve his dreams? Will he ever fit in?

Reviewer Keridak Silk is a Wisconsin/Florida author: A kaleidoscope of magic, myth and reality. Intuitive counselor, tarot reader, and hypnotist, Keridak’s nature makes her a perfect pantser. Stories surprise her as much as they will you. Her fiction and non-fiction cover multiple genres. Discover her published and upcoming creations on her website.

About the Author: 

More than anything, I'm an avid reader and love historical novels. I've done many things throughout my career, from being an executive director of a non-profit to leading a national organization serving public broadcasting stations across the country, and being a producer and community engagement leader in-between. Writing and public speaking have generally been a big part of everything I've done, and so has

listening. What I discovered throughout, is the power of stories. We all have them and by sharing them, others can gain new perspectives, about the world and themselves. When I'm not writing, I'm doing something outdoors; gardening, out on a hike, or on my bike, kayaking or horseback riding. I also love to travel internationally. I live in Madison, Wisconsin with my longtime husband and partner and travel out west to visit our kids as often as we can, always with notebook, computer and kindle in hand.

New historical fiction from Jane Yunker

 I'm pleased to welcome back Janet Kay reviewing Jane Yunker's newest historic fiction. This review originally appeared on Wisconsin Writers Association book review forum.

Alice, The Betrayal, Jane Yunker

Historical Romance, 280 pages
Published: May 3, 2021
Publisher: Self-published
https://wiwrite.org/book-reviews/10637512 posted June 14, 2021

 
Buy on Amazon Barnes and Noble
Ebook $3.99; print $12.99
 
About the Book:

It's 1918, and Alice, Betty, and Lizzie have been best friends for as long as they can remember. But everything changes when one goes on a campaign to lure away the fiancé of another. How can they remain friends when one betrays another? Harry Barnes returns from France with half his face damaged and his nights haunted by the friends he lost on the battlefield. How can anyone love the monster he has become? Alice Armstrong wanted nothing more than to be Harry's wife. But when he returns from the Front wounded and angry, he repeatedly pushes her away. How can she convince him their love is all that matters? Harry's brother Jack has secretly loved Alice since they were children. When Harry is caught spending time with Betty, Jack sees his chance and declares his love. How can he make Alice see that he's the one who can make her truly happy? When one brother offers the dreams of the past, while the other promises all the possibilities of the future, how does a girl choose? 

Janet Kay’s Review:

The author takes us back in time to the year 1918, to a devastating time in our history as our country was being ravaged by the Spanish flu pandemic. A time that those of us who survived the Covid-19 pandemic, or lost loves ones to it, can all relate to.

The tranquil rural community of Pine Lake in Northwest Wisconsin anxiously awaited the safe return of their brave soldiers who were away fighting for their country in World War I. That included Alice Armstrong and her “best friends forever,” Lizzie and Betty.

Alice could hardly wait to become Harry’s wife. They planned to wed immediately after his return. But Harry came home severely disfigured, missing one eye, haunted by nightmares of bomb raids, friends dying, and untold horrors of war. Angry, explosive and psychologically damaged, he couldn’t believe that Alice would still want to marry a man as disfigured as he was.

The pandemic hit Pine Lake just as a weary Harry arrived back home. Alice caught the flu but survived. Her parents did not. With everyone locked down in their own homes, Alice and Harry could not spend any time together. She had to rely on Harry’s brother, Jack, to help her through her grieving process and tend to the farm chores that her father would have done – if he had survived. Jack had been her father’s right hand man for years.

But Jack was secretly in love with Alice. He had been since they were children growing up together. It angered him greatly to see the way his brother now treated the woman they both loved. Harry began to drink heavily and was prone to outbursts of anger and violence. Surely, Alice deserved better than that. Surely, he, Jack, could make her happier than Harry ever could. He finally declared his love for her and did his best to claim her as his wife.

Alice struggled with her conflicting emotions. She loved them both in different ways. Harry represented the past, their many dreams of a life together. But he had changed and seemed to be on a self-destructive track that she was unable to help him out of. Jack offered a lifestyle on the farm she loved along with permission to pursue the nursing field she felt strongly called to after assisting the local doctor throughout the pandemic.

Which one will she choose? Or, will the choice be made for her? As she struggles with this decision, one of her “best friends forever” betrays her by making a devious play for Harry. The outcome will change all of their future lives.

Jane Yunker has written an intriguing novel, beautifully written, with very well-developed characters. She captures the historical essence of what it was like to live through those times as well as the family dynamics and conflicts that resulted. I highly recommend Alice, The Betrayal. 

About the Author:
Married with two adult children, Jane Yunker is a poet and fiction writer living in northwest Wisconsin along the beautiful and inspirational St Croix River. In her spare time, Jane enjoys cross-stitch, jigsaw puzzles, golf, and walking the trails around her home. And, of course, reading. Books are her passion and it has been her dream for as long as she can remember to write some of her own. Mary Bishop is her first, and will not be her last. Find her blog at: https://janeyunkerauthor.com

Reviewer Janet Kay (Jan Jenson) lives and writes on another pristine lake in Northwest Wisconsin. She is the author of four psychological suspense/wilderness adventure novels with a supernatural twist. Her latest, Rainy Lake Rendezvous, was endorsed by New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger. Check out her website at www.novelsbyjanetkay.com

 

 

The Lacquered Talisman by Laurie Dennis

The Lacquered Talisman, A novel of 14th-Century China by Laurie Dennis 

Historical fiction, 300 pp

Published by Earnshaw Books Ltc. (Hong Kong), March 1, 2020

Reviewed by: Bill Mathis,

https://wiwrite.org/book-reviews/8954247

$19,99 Print

$9,49 eBook

Buy on Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the Book

A sweeping coming-of-age epic, The Lacquered Talisman launches the story of one of the most influential figures in Chinese history. He is the son of a beancurd seller and he will found the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368-1644. Known as “Fortune” as a boy, Zhu Yuanzhang has a large and doting family who shepherd him through hardship until drought ravages the countryside and heralds a plague. Left with nothing but a lacquered necklace from his grandfather, Chen the Diviner, Fortune is deposited in the village temple and is soon wandering the countryside as a begging monk. He encounters pockets of resistance to the ruling Mongol dynasty, studies the stars, and tangles with Taoists as he seeks to understand his destiny. Signs and dreams leave him convinced that he has a special fate. Is he to be the abbot of a monastery? A general? What matters most is that he prove himself to be a filial son.

Bill Mathis’s Review

A fascinating and intriguing historical novel of tragedy and fortitude! 5 Stars!

From the poorest of families emerges the filial son; From the worst of times emerges the hero…

Called Fortune as a boy, later called Vessel as a teen Buddhist monk wandering the country side, Zhu Yuanzhang did not appear to be destined for greatness. At least not to my Western mindset. Yet, later he grew up to found China’s Ming Dynasty.

The autumn dew has just turned white,

The moon is the same one shining on my old home.

I have brothers but they are all scattered,

No place remains for me to ask after their fate.

Zhu’s extended family made and sold bean curd, something he probably would have continued as an adult if his family wasn’t forced to leave the city due to drought. Moving from their tiny shop to the countryside, Zhu’s father sold a younger son to a farmer for money to purchase food. Tragedy upon tragedy occur in this well written and detailed novel. A plague kills most of the family and the orphaned Zhu is taken to a Buddhist monastery where his life is still a struggle due to the plague and political turmoil. He wears a lacquered box around his neck, a small talisman given to him by his beloved grandfather who bestowed much wisdom on the boy. The box serves as his constant remembrance of his family.

We part on the road, mist rising in the air,

Around the pavilion, leaves are now rare,

I sigh – oh, how we differ from the wild geese,

When they set off to travel, no one is left behind. (Bidding Elder Brother Goodbye)

A coming-of-age book, we follow Zhu from childhood to young adulthood. He makes several lasting friends that will later appear when he leaves the monastery. Along the way, he learns from the monks to read and write, to study the stars and become a leader.

Cut it doesn’t break,

Straightened, it still tangles,

This sorrow of separation,

It is no ordinary flavor in the heart…

The Lacquered Talisman is a rich, detailed look into 14th century China. Filled with accurate descriptions of the poverty, military and political turmoil, along with the religious customs, family congruity, respect for elders and dedication to one’s parents, the book drew me in and held my interest. There are a lot of details, but Laura Dennis presents them in a manner that I did not feel overwhelmed. Her scholarship and research is astounding.

This book deals with Zhu’s life from childhood into young adulthood. The prologue and epilogue set the stage for the next book of Zhu’s adult life. I can’t wait for it!

About the Author:

I am a writer of historical fiction focused on the founding of China's Ming Dynasty. Why fixate on something that happened over 600 years ago? The early 1300s, when the Mongols ruled China, was an era of political crisis, lawlessness, and natural disasters. (Sound familiar?!) Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋, who emerged out of a large cast of contenders to claim the Dragon Throne, was one of the major figures in Chinese history. He has been written about extensively in Chinese, including fiction, drama, film, poetry, and more. And yet, his remarkable story is almost unknown in the English-speaking world. I want to change that. Visit https://www.lauriedennis.com

The Reviewer, Bill Mathis:

Bill Mathis writes about diverse families, warts and all. His fourth novel will publish in December of 2020. Follow him on Facebook—Bill Mathis Writer Etc or his website: http://www.billmathiswriteretc.com. Bill resides in Beloit, Wisconsin and is looking forward to traveling again when it’s safe.

WWA Book Review Jenny Knipfer historical series

Blue Moon, By the Light of the Moon series, book 2 by Jenny Knipfer

Inspirational Historical fiction

self-published, September, 2019, 382 pp

Reviewed by Joan Bauer of Wisconsin Writers Association

Print: $15.99

EBOOK: $5.99

Buy on Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Goodreads 

About the Book

The year is 1885 and unwed Vanessa Gulet must surrender her newborn son to her married twin sister, Valerie, to raise. A seed of bitterness grows in Vanessa. When the opportunity arises for her to have what she’s always wanted, Vanessa takes it despite the consequences to her family. Will Vanessa and Valerie remain at odds or will they allow the power of forgiveness to heal their strained relationship?

In a new town and reunited with her son, Vanessa finds more than she bargained for: love, friendship, and a home. Vanessa and Michael (the manager at her newly inherited business) feel the pull of attraction towards each other. Vanessa trusts him, but comes to question this trust when she finds he’s kept something from her.

Valerie, overcome with loss and grief, faces the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis just as her identity as a mother is threatened. Will she and her husband forge through these trials together or will these upsets cause them to drift apart?

Love seems to bloom in the most unlikely of places in Webaashi Bay for an old friend of Jenay’s and a woman who owns the local dress shop. A parallel tale of love, forgiveness, and reuniting lost things is spun by a local author adding another dimension to the tale of the Gulet twins and their saga

Joan's Review 

My mother was a twin, and while she and her sister were not identical, we always joked that they had a certain telepathy between them. This phenomenon is central to Jenny Knipfer’s Blue Moon, where the special relationship between identical twins Vanessa and Valerie--born to a life of privilege in late nineteenth-century Toronto--is perhaps irrevocably broken.

Valerie has chosen a conventional life with her husband Felix Wilson, a wine merchant. Her sister Vanessa falls in love with Renault La Rue, a dashing rail magnate, but their love does not last: she bears his child, Luis, without his knowledge, and her politically ambitious father demands that she allow childless Valerie and Felix to raise the boy as their own. Ten years later, when Vanessa inherits Renault’s business, she spirits Luis away to Webaashi Bay on the shores of Lake Superior to teach him about his father and claim her privilege as his mother.

Life in Webaashi Bay is fresh, romantic, and wild. The town “is attractively set, almost like a well-dressed lady. Superior is as her swishing gown of azure, the buildings as her waist, and the cliffs as her head and shoulders with the trees as her headdress.” Here, Vanessa finds a welcoming community of strong, independent women. But her new friend Jenay is linked to Renault’s mysterious death, and when Vanessa learns the truth, Jenay must work to overcome the harm her silence has done.

In the same way, Vanessa must find a way to repair the terrible rift she has created in her own family. Back in Toronto, Valerie is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Vanessa is called upon to help her adjust to her new limitations. In the process, the two of them will learn new ways to parent the son they both cherish.

Each section of Blue Moon is rigorously time-stamped; while this technique ensures clarity, it can also be a little distracting. But Knipfer creates a strong sense of place, and she draws on her own experience with MS to depict the course of Valerie’s illness with great sensitivity. As the twin sisters seek to recover their special relationship, each finds solace and redemption in a faith based solidly on gratitude.

Author

Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Jenny’s education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions. She spent many years as a librarian in a local public library but recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability.

She authored and performed a self-published musical CD entitled, Scrapbook of a Closet Poet. Jenny acquires joy in the journey as an author. Ruby Moon, the first title in her historical fiction series: By the Light of the Moon, earned a five star rating from Readers' Favorite. Her books are available in eBook and paperback formats through Amazon and Ingramspark.

Jenny holds membership in the: Historical Novel Society, Wisconsin Writers Association, and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.

Reviewer

Joan Bauer holds a Master’s degree in English from Marquette University and has worked as a trust officer in a bank. In the course of raising three children, she has chaired fundraisers, served on boards, and volunteered frequently at church and school. She is working on her third novel.

Tying the Scot debut historical romance by Jennifer Trethewey

Tying the Scot

Jennifer Trethewey

Historical Romance

Series

c. November 2017

Entangled Amara

Ebook $3.99

Print – coming soon

Audible

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes and Noble 

About the Book:

At age eleven, Alex Sinclair pledges an oath to the Duke of Chatham promising to serve and protect his illegitimate daughter, Lucy FitzHarris. Nine years later, the duke unexpectedly takes Alex up on his vow, offering the future Laird of Balforss his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Now a man, hotheaded Alex has difficulty convincing Lucy—who would rather starve to death than marry a vulgar Scot—to go through with the arranged marriage. Once Lucy arrives in Scotland, she cannot resist the magic of Balforss or the allure of her handsome Highland warrior. But when Alex seemingly betrays Lucy right before their wedding, she is tricked into running away. Alex must rein in his temper to rescue his lady from unforeseen danger and Lucy must swallow her pride if she hopes to wed the Highlander she has come to love.

My review:

Charming and delightful debut novel, wonderfully done. As described, it’s a marriage meant to be in the best interest of all parties—the illegitimate daughter of a Duke will never be accepted in London society, so is given to her father’s good friend and business partner’s son. Unfortunately, Lucy must travel north, away from everything she’s loved and known. Fortunately, Alex has grown up into a fine man. Lucy learns quickly there is much to love about Balforss, Alex’s home, and Alex, too—temper, playfulness, loyalty. Never having had a mother, she quickly takes to Alex’s family and their ways, and just when she’s decided that marriage better come fast before she and Alex get carried away, her past catches up to her.

I must say, with all the hype anticipating this book I was prepared for a bedroom romp, but the story is far from it. Sure, there’s sensual tension, but nothing out of the ordinary, and leads up to a highly anticipated wedding night. Well done, well crafted story to avoid being another cliché romance.

Told in multiple viewpoints from several characters, the author’s first book in the series shows adept, organic handling of customs, language and historical events without banging the reader over the head with brogue or unusual, unexplained practices or words. Some language. Tender and tough in all the right places. Recommended for those who enjoy Scottish or otherwise early nineteenth century historical romance and intrigue.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jennifer Trethewey and I write about men in kilts because, hey, what’s not to love about a man in a kilt? I was lucky enough to travel to Scotland twice. I have fallen in love with the Highlands and all things Scottish: the people, their language, cuisine, customs, idioms, humor, history, intense sense of pride, and, most of all, the land—the perfect setting for sweeping romantic tales of love, strife, and glory. As they say, Scotland is pure dead brilliant!

I’m an actress, former co-artistic director of a professional theater company, and my husband and I operate an improv comedy club. I live with my comedian husband in the Midwest where I’ve been ever since college.

I write both contemporary and historical fiction full time. I like to read romance, mystery, fantasy, and paranormal, as well as literary fiction and non-fiction. I love movies and music and dogs and good wine and I love to enjoy them all with my friends.

Wisconsin Logging Camp, 1921

Meet Jim Bastian of Brookfield, and his debut book, Wisconsin Logging Camp 1921

published by Big Earth Publishing, Boulder, CO

November, 2015
Historical Fiction

ISBN: 9781934553541
$18.95 Print only
Buy on Amazon
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About the Book: A beautifully written historical fiction novel set primarily in the north woods of Wisconsin during 1920 and 1921. The narrative entwines the fictional story of an eight-year-old boy, Will, within that period's rich historic context. The story meticulously incorporates the history of logging in Wisconsin, the flu pandemic, Prohibition, World War I, and post-war American culture, specific to that time and place. Will's story reflects the challenges, hardships, and ethnic discrimination faced and overcome by American immigrants, then and now. These themes remain as relevant today as they were in 1920, and portray an archetypal immigrant experience, which is part of the proud, shared heritage of all Americans. The colorful language, rich history, characters, and Wild West atmosphere of the region will appeal to all readers.

About the Author: Upon graduation from Michigan State University, with a history and psychology major, Jim was a high school teacher. He subsequently converted to capitalism, earned an MBA and went on to have a thirty year business career. Writing became increasingly more appealing and the grind of business travel less so. This lead Jim to transition to writing as his vocation which resulted in the publication of his first book Wisconsin Logging Camp - 1921. His next project, also a historical novel, takes place in 1971 with an archaeological link to 1712. The title and publication date will be announced in 2016. 

Web: www.wisconsinloggingcamp.com

Waters of the Dancing Sky, a love story

"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge is love - the only survival, the only meaning." Thornton Wilder

About the Book: Sometimes you must tiptoe across that bridge linking this world with the next. Sometimes, it is the only way to put the twisted pieces of one's life back together again.

Beth Calhoun is a middle-aged woman haunted by a tragic past - the drowning death of her young mother, the shame of having no father. Escaping from an abusive marriage, she retreats to her family's wilderness island home on Rainy Lake along the Minnesota/Ontario international border. Here she embarks upon a journey of self-discovery that flows through a series of wilderness adventures, past and present. As she delves into her mother's old diaries, she discovers long-held family secrets including the identity of her mysterious father. Spirits of the past emerge as she struggles through a complex web of emotions and shifting relationships. Can she forgive and put the past behind her? Can she learn to trust and to love again?

Waters of the Dancing Sky is an inspirational love story, an intriguing blend of fact and fantasy that weaves an appreciation of nature and local Ojibwe culture into mankind's eternal search for meaning.

About the Author: Janet Kay lives and writes on a lake in the North Woods of Wascott, Wisconsin. Drawn to nature since she was a child, she sees it wonders as a source of renewal, reflection, and connection with something greater than oneself. Her lifelong passions include creative writing, photography, travel, and spending time with family.

Waters of the Dancing Sky is her debut novel. It has earned excellent reviews and a 5-star rating on Amazon.com. It is available for $16.95 through her publisher, Llumina Press, via her website; Amazon.com; Barnes & Noble; Ingram; Baker & Taylor; and many bookstores. E-books are also available for $5.95 through Smashwords, Kindle, Nook, Apple, Diesel, Sony, and Kobo.

For more information, check out her website. It includes her blog, Janet Kay's Journey, a photo gallery, and opportunities to enter her promotional contest.

She is currently working on her next novel, tentatively titled Amelia 1868. It will be set in the antique country town of Walnut, Iowa and the old western ghost town of Virginia City, Montana. A sequel to Waters is also in the works, based upon numerous requests from readers.

What Others Are Saying About the Book:

"An elegantly told story filled with twists and turns, pain and tenderness, conflict and resolution. Touched by spirits of Native Americans long passed from this world, emboldened by the majesty of the North Woods, this is a story about the universality of life - a book about the magic of the human spirit and the often wisp-like will of the humann mind. Highly recommended reading for lovers of life everywhere." Don Bacue, Executive Editor, International Features Syndicate

"All great storytelling is about love, death, and birth. This book transported me into Beth's world, making me feel its mysterious magic and stark reality. Not since Tolkien's Trilogy have I fallen into a book so completely." Gary Hetts, Member of St. Croix Writers, Solon Springs, WI

"The hero seeking light in the fog of an unsettled past, in the swirl of a disturbing present, and finding courage to embrace the unknown future...all elements of a true mythic story. Waters of the Dancing Sky is a soul journey that unfolds like a plot of a Hallmark Channel movie." Frank Zufall, Spooner Advocate

"...a true communion of place, character, and plot. Waters of the Dancing Sky is a complete vision, one with reverberating depths and serious surprises." Laura Kasischke, author of The Life Before Her Eyes