Saturday, July 6, 2019

Ellen and The Hummingtree free in the Kindle store

To celebrate my 12th creative writing anniversary, I offer Ellen and The Hummingtree free in the Kindle Store for your reading enjoyment Sunday, July 6, 2019.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EODG06M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i10



Ellen and the Hummingtree
by 
Audrey Austin

A strong woman of faith, Ellen sits beneath her Hummingtree and talks to God through the yellow quartz rock.

She gifts us with glimpses of her life and shares the import of her personal relationshipwith family, friends and with God.

She allows us to witness her vulnerability and invites us into her heart where we experience her joys and sorrows.

In a few instances the author has drawn from her life’s experience but, in essence, Ellen is a composite of many beautiful, spiritual women the author has known and loved throughout her journey.

It is hoped you will welcome Ellen into your heart and it is hoped you will enjoy the stories she shares with you in this book; her fictional, magical, mystical memoirs titled Ellen and The Hummingtree.

At the outset of this writing journey we met. I became acquainted with her and now I can say that I truly like Ellen. She has the courage of her convictions And no matter what life threw at her, she never lost faith.


Ellen is a woman I came to know well during the writing of my third novel Ellen and The Hummingtree.    She often puzzled me yet she also had the ability to make me laugh and cry.  I grew to love her.  And the more I came to know her I began to realize that she truly is a composite of the many caring spiritual women I have known throughout my life.  Alzheimer is a dreadful disease and Ellen's victimization is a heartbreak.  My writing of Ellen and The Hummingtree comes straight from the heart.  I hope you will love her as I do.


Some reviews of Ellen and the Hummingtree




A review by Celtic Frog Reviews:
February 20, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition
Ellen and the Hummingtree is the story of Ellen and a rock 
through which she speaks to God. The rock moves with her
 as she lives her life. Ellen doesn't have an easy life, but the 
rock encourages her and gives her courage. Through Ellen
 we meet her family and close friends, and especially the voice
 of God that whispers to her through the chunk of yellow quartz.

Ellen is very human with her share of flaws. The story is as

 much about her learning to accept those flaws in herself 
and others as anything else. She grows substantially by the
 close of the book. There are times when I wanted to give her 
a good talking to, and other times when she shows grace and humility.

Audrey has created a memorable character in Ellen. She is very

 well portrayed and has a wonderful complexity. The story moves
 back and forth in time as Ellen explores her life. The important
 movement isn't chronological but her development of love and
 faith through the rock in her garden.

I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it for those

 who like strong women characters.


Phyllis Humby:   My books have been gathering dust and creating stress. Yes, 
it stresses me out when everything seems to take precedence
 over reading. Anyway, today I finished a book that I couldn't 
wait to receive in the mail - months ago − 
Ellen and the Hummingtree by Audrey Austin, a writer from Elliott Lake.

I had the good fortune to meet Audrey online and become 

acquainted with her writing. If memory serves correctly,
 I first noticed Audrey's work on Commuterlit.com, a site that
 has featured my work as well.

Ellen and the Hummingtree is an interesting book about a woman

 of deep faith who has a unique coping mechanism. She speaks to 
God. Now, I know you will argue that many of us speak to God. 
But Ellen believes God lives inside a large yellow quartz rock 
in her backyard. Oh, and of course He speaks to her too. 
There's a little hole in the top of the rock. Never mind, just read the book.

It is a collection of well-written stories that weave back and forth 

through the emotional circumstances of a woman's life. These
 stories delve into her relationships as a daughter, wife, mother, 
grandmother, and friend. Oh, and cousin - I forgot about her 
cousin Marielle.

In my opinion - only my opinion - the theme of this book is fear.

 I know that some of you who are familiar with this book
 may harrumph at that statement but a book is very personal. 
It's interpreted differently by each reader. That's why I love 
talking to my first readers. I'm fascinated by the interpretation
 of my work. Each person sees something different or relates
 with a different character. I digress (as always).

Audrey's character, Ellen, is on her own to raise two children. 

Fear. Her grandson, who has a learning disability, is bullied at school. 
Fear. God lives in a rock in her backyard. That would scare the crap
 out of me. (My attempt at humour - I'm sorry)

Ellen has many fears, as do we all. The fear of growing old and senile,

 the fear of having to give up a home to live in a facility. Then there is
 the ultimate fear. Of growing older and older and older, when all she 
wants is to re-unite with all the loved ones that have passed on. 
You do remember that I said this was strictly my opinion.

Near the end of the book there is a chapter I Need You to Remember Me.

 I remember reading that story, or at least an edited version, some
 time ago. Please tell me, Audrey, that this was a published short story
 at some point. If not, I had an incredible déjà vu moment. I liked the
 story the first time I read it - otherwise I never would have remembered
 it - and it will remain indelible in my mind.

The last chapter Time to Go Home is melancholy and poignant. 

I have witnessed death and thought about life after death. I 
appreciate Audrey Austin's rendering. This chapter was a fitting
 ending to a thought provoking book with a unique approach.

Ellen and the Hummingtree by Audrey Austin; a good read for

 a wintry afternoon.










No comments:

Post a Comment