Sara, a Canadian Saga

 https://www.amazon.ca/SARA.../dp/B00H0H33JG/ref=sr_1_1...

And the first shall be last! Sara, a Canadian Saga, apart from a few articles and short stories, is my very first important publication. Sara is my first novel published by Wynterblue Publishing Company. This post about Sara shall be my last post about my publications in 2023. Sara received many positive reviews and, because of Sara's success, I have continued to write creatively over several years.

If you haven't read Sara, a Canadian Saga yet, then I do hope you will order a copy. Sara is available in Kindle, Paperback and Audiobook formats exclusively on all Amazon sites.

The time is 1916. Sara is a 10 year old girl in rural Prince Edward Island. Roy is a 10 year old boy in mining town, Nova Scotia. Through their eyes we see, feel and experience their childhood challenges. We follow them through adolescence and their turbulent teen years. We celebrate their courtship and suffer their lost innocence in the wedding ritual. They take us through the Great Depression and share with us the frustrations, dreams and challenges they face in adulthood. As parents they introduce us to their children. This story appeals to all ages because Sara and Roy hold up a mirror and ask the reader to recognize truth about the human condition for many Canadian families through difficult economic times. We witness love that does not come neatly wrapped and experience the quiet, sometimes desperate, drama of lives unfolding.

Some of the many positive reviews received by SARA:

Top reviews from Canada

Rhonda Woodworth-Tardif

4.0 out of 5 stars A very real story

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2014

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Sara, A Canadian Saga is a poignant story about life during the depression on Prince Edward Island, Canada. One feels the hopes and dreams, and also the disappointments of Roy and Sara. I found the story to be so real I wanted to give Roy a shaking for his temper tantrums and Sara for acting like her mother. Their love, through all their trials, was refreshing. The author didn't tell you they still loved one another, but showed it, which takes some skill. It's not an exciting, edge of your seat kind of story, but a story about people who seem so real they could be your mother or sister. People who do ordinary, stupid things. I found myself wishing that Rebecca could have seen the good things in her life before they were gone, but understanding how the same thing happens to so many people. The author does a great job of creating very real characters. I liked the story.

Nadia E. Toski

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!

Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2014

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So enjoyed reading this book! Very well written! My first time reading Audrey Austin's books and will definitely read more of them!

Top reviews from other countries

Barbara Mojica

4.0 out of 5 stars STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2014

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This novel of historical fiction begins in the maritime provinces in Canada in 1916. It features two protagonists Sara and Roy, who are both age ten at the time. The reader experiences their struggles as children determined to succeed in troubled families whose lives are complicated further by the Depression years. Roy vows to “make something of himself”: Sara works hard to be an independent woman able to support herself.

When Sara and Roy meet and fall in love, circumstances will force them into the same unhappy lives that plagued their parents. Sara’s father is broken by the loss of his business; Luke loses his mother and detests his father’s remarriage. After Roy and Sara marry, the economy will turn sour, Luke loses one job after another. Sara gives up her good secretarial job to follow Luke. Not long after children are born who turn out to be much like their bickering parents. Eventually, Sara and Roy will be separated as he is forced to move to the city of Toronto to find employment. Finally things seem to be improving economically, but their personal struggles intensify.

Despite the turmoil, their family seems to be able to overcome one obstacle after the other. Luke and Sara both have conflicting personalities which are mirrored in their offspring, yet the family always manages to survive, The novel ends in 1942 with Sara rediscovering her childhood journal and reflecting upon her life.

I enjoyed learning about the history of Canada during this time period. The characters are well developed and true to life. This novel is a wonderful coming of age book for children age twelve and older. It is realistic family fiction that is an engaging quick read. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong compelling characters, this book is a good choice.

Michelle cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a superb book,the story of Sara and Roy is told so beautifully,I thoroughly enjoyed their story through their courtship.to adulthood,it was nice to read,and couldn't put it down at times,Audrey has become one of my favorite authors,and I have already downloaded a couple of freebies of hers today and will be using my Prime library to download one each month in the future,well done for an excellent read.

Visit my Amazon author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

My Books on Goodreads

 https://www.goodreads.com/search?page=1&q=Audrey+Austin+&qid=K2I2CvOkrN&tab=books

Setting a Goal for 2024

Another Christmas is over.  And we look ahead to a new year.  

I also look ahead to a new year and pray that it will be a better one for our world than the one we are currently sharing.   For too many of our neighbours, the gifts received during 2023 are hunger, poverty, illness, violence, hatred and war.  

Yes, there are pockets of light in this dark world.  We all need to let our light shine.

Setting a goal for the new year is always a good idea.   Mine is to write THE Great Canadian Novel.  I have my idea.  I've begun my research and I plan to have my 26th publication available before Christmas of 2024.  I don't have a title yet.  Once I do, I'll let you know.

If setting a goal is too big a challenge in these difficult times, then having a direction is a good place to start.   Take the first step and then the next.  If there is the occasional backward step, that's okay.  It's okay because you have your direction firmly in your mind and sometimes, surprisingly, what seems like a backward step is a necessity allowing you to see greater possibilities.

Despite personal losses, periods of illness, moments of indecision, 2023 has been good to me.  I hope it has been good to you too.

I wish my readers all good things coming your way in 2024.  Most of all, I wish you peace and love - just like the hippies back in the sixties.    Loving one another!  What a victory that would be for our world!  To love our neighbour as we love ourselves sounds like a simple matter, doesn't it?

But most of us have learned the lesson.  We have learned that it is not always easy to be simple.

To my fellow authors, keep that ink flowing!  Don't be discouraged.  Take the first step.  Set your writing goal for 2024.

One of my favourite movies from back in the nineties, is The City of Joy.   I think of Hasari's father who said to his son,  "Remember, a man's journey to the end of his obligations is a very long road.  It may not be what you expect." 

When we set a goal, choose a direction, take the first step, we are demonstrating intention.   

Having said that, I immediately think of my dear mother who often shared the cliche, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Still we take the steps.   Set your goal.  Choose your direction.  Mostly, I wish you peace as we look ahead with hope to a new year.

MORE POartRY and PROSE

 I am very excited to announce my new release exclusively on Amazon.  MORE POartRY and PROSE  is now available in both Paperback and Kindle formats.

In this book I celebrate the trinity of creative writing, painting, and poetry.    The second book in a series, MORE POartRY and PROSE joins POartRY and PROSE for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Although these books come in both Kindle and Paperback formats I recommend you choose the Paperback to enjoy the artwork in colour.  Kindle is okay but the paintings are presented in only black and white.

I hope you will enjoy both books and thank you to my readers for your continued encouragement and support.   

My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1979092613/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ETP5CYTQ8V0Y&keywords=Audrey+Austin&qid=1703204371&s=books&sprefix=audrey+austin%2Cstripbooks%2C118&sr=1-5

Life is good and life goes on..........

 My dear sister, Eleanor, passed away this morning, December 17, 2023.   I'm one of six siblings.  My elder brother, Ken, passed away in 2017.  My lovely sister, Muriel, passed away in 2005.   My husband, John, father of my children, died fairly recently.  My dear Brian passed away August 29, 2017.   My mother made her transition in 1990 and I was just a child of thirteen when my father died.

I have also lost grandparents, mother-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, many dear friends and many precious pets who have passed away.

I am well acquainted with grief and loss.  There are many beautiful people I have been blessed to know and love.

Still, I believe that life is good and life goes on.

I believe in life after death - life everlasting.   

Very recently I was quite ill with covid which, combined with COPD, gave me a very nasty month to endure.  At one point prior to my trip to our local hospital's emergency department I seriously thought that perhaps it was my time to leave.    Thankfully, I have survived.

I've always said that I am unafraid of death but I do fear pain and suffering.  I know that fear is the opposite to love.  I am trying to release myself from that fear because, for most humans, pain and suffering is the inevitable introduction to death.  

Once we die, we are alive again, and we are able to leave all pain and suffering behind as we continue our life adventure.

I loved my dear sister and I have loved many who have passed.  My love for them is alive and well.

Rest in peace, dear Eleanor.  May you be peacefully reunited with all those you have loved who have passed before you.  Life is good and life goes on.  xoxoxox

Covid

Today is Saturday, December 9, 2023.  Here in Elliot Lake, it is a mild but rainy day.  

Thankfully, my covid experience is on its way out.   Symptoms like a cough, shortness of breath, and tiredness remain but each day I am feeling a little more like my healthier self.

Covid has given me a most undesirable, sometimes frightening, month.  At one point, when I could not catch a breath, I was most grateful to my grandson who wasted no time getting me into the emergency department of our local hospital.

My underlying COPD condition assisted the nasty covid to do its best to stop me in my tracks.   I truly thought maybe it was time for me to exit the planet.

Believing transition was a good possibility, my biggest concern was my little cat, Misty.  Who would care for her?  Who would love her as she deserves to be loved?

Today I know I need to do one of two things.  I must outlive my adorable little Misty.  Or I must find someone willing to share their home with her should I need to leave.

I found no pleasure in feeling unmotivated to paint, to write, to cook, to clean, to do anything.   At the same time, I allowed myself to slip into the tiredness allowing it to be what it needed to be.  

I do not like to take medication but I am very grateful for that received.   Breathing became less a challenge in time.

Finally, I tested negative for covid.  I wish it on no one and I pray I will never experience it again.

I am living in a complex, complicated world.  It isn't always easy to remember to be in the world but not of the world.   But I try.  I'm told God loves a tryer and I know I must be found very trying.

I am an old lady, yet even this old lady can attest to the fact that life is very short.  Monday, Friday, Monday, Friday over many years, many events, many discouragements, many successes, many memories have come and have gone.  

I think of my friend, Jane, who asks why.  Why do we have war?  Why is there hunger?  Why can't we all just get along?    

When will we ever learn?   Never?  Too much time is squandered.

The most wise man said, "love one another".   It sounds like a simple thing to do.  But, I guess, it's not always easy to be simple.

In this world of darkness please keep your light shining.  

Sing your songs, paint your pictures, write your stories, love your neighbour, and take good care of yourself and those you love.

Trust the power of love, the power of one.   Do your best!  That, I guess, is all any one of us can do.

And, since this is my books' blog, thanks for buying a book or two.  

Thanks for listening.