2018
Book Review: “Sold on a Monday” by Kristina McMorris
Book reviewed by Bev Scott
Sold on a Monday is Inspired by a photograph of children with the sign “2 Children for Sale” from 1948 which the author Kristina McMorris stumbled upon. The story challenges journalistic integrity, tugs at your heartstrings and offers a sweet love story. Ellis, an aspiring newspaper reporter in the early 1930’s, desperate to advance his career takes a chance on a staged photo. Casually assisted by Lily, another employee of the newspaper, who is guarding her own secret, he gets his big chance. But guilt pursues him, and he takes more chances with his career to assuage his worry about his contribution to what happened to the children. Lily with her own burden of shame, and a need to balance motherhood and a career, also pursues a dubious path in search of information about the children. Their individual and joint efforts both separate them and bring them together.
McMorris writes a touching yet gripping story. I turned the pages anxious to learn the compelling mystery of the children. The characters are realistically developed and the plot drew me in immediately. My only criticism of the book, is what seems to me to be unrealistic illegal risks taken by Ellis and Lily. Although the country was less suspicious and legalistic than it is today, I wonder if the actions they take to recover the children would have been realistically possible in the 1930’s? On the other hand, it is fiction and a good read.
I recommend this book which I purchased at a reading by the author.
2016
Why Do You Write?
I have been asked recently why I am writing especially since I am retired and I am not building a career. Here are my thoughts in answering that question.
I was standing in the Heritage Center in Dodge City, Kansas looking fo
r clues about the life of my grandfather before he met my grandmother. We had also been to Weatherford, Texas where he lived with his first wife.
I had been on a search to find information about my mysterious grandfather for several years. Although I had easily been able to find information on my grandmother’s family, I had reached dead ends in my search for information about my grandfather. The documents in the National Archives had been an exciting find and had provided clues I wanted to explore further. (See my blogs on my genealogical search)
But I found nothing. I could not fill in the gaps in the intriguing family story that many friends and family had encouraged me to document. Could I write the story as fiction using the facts I had uncovered and creatively fill in the missing pieces? I lacked confidence that I could be creative and write fiction since my previous writing experience had been non-fiction.
After taking a couple fiction writing workshops which built my confidence, I decided to try writing a historical novel inspired by the lives of my grandparents. It has now been almost five years since I visited the library in Dodge City. As I reflect back, I discover how much I have enjoyed the experience.
I loved the research and learning the historical details of longhorn cattle drives from Texas to Dodge City. To my surprise, I have treasured my alone-time, writing and the opportunity to imagine the life of my grandfather in 1878 or my grandmother in 1911. I am excited when the words flow and I have written a description that creates a vivid picture of a character or the surroundings. Working out the plot brought days of frustration and then delight in resolving the arc of the story. I thrill when someone tells me they like my writing style. And there is nothing like the satisfaction and exhilaration of completing a final draft.
I not only needed to learn about writing fiction but as I have described in a previous blog, I needed to learn about building an “author’s platform”, the following of friends and colleagues interested in one’s writing. Recognizing the importance of marketing and promotion, I reluctantly plunged more fully into social media. I have increased my knowledge of publishing as I explored the options of self-publishing. In fact, my forays into learning…learning to write fiction, book promotion on social media and choosing a publisher…have also brought new friends and colleagues into my life. It turns out becoming a writer doesn’t have to be a totally lonely existence.
I’ve discovered that I write because I want to tell the story, because I found rewards in writing, because I found opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge and because I met new friends.
