Water Under the Bridge

My friend and writing associate, Verna Simms, has written a book which was published by Rocking Horse Publishing in St.Louis, Missouri, in February of this year.

Verna is 92 years old and this is her first book. It is captivating. If you want to read an excellent story that you won't be able to put down, you might want to go to Amazon and take a look at this book and at the reviews. I don't have permission from her to send a free one to the winner this week, but I know you will enjoy reading this book.

This book is historical fiction. It includes some things that happened in Verna's life, but it is not an autobiography. Amelia, the little girl who is the main character, does some things that Verna did as a child, and she very precocious. I was amazed at some of the things she was able to do--proving that this came from Verna's creative imagination.

You will be astounded by some of the things that happen in the book. I was amazed that a little girl could come up with such creative ideas, when she rescued her sister and herself from her father's plot to marry the two girls off to much older Mormon men. Amelia's brother was also creative as he helped the girls to hide out and escape.

The mother in the book is very creative in ways to take care of her family during a dark time in American history, the Great Depression. This was a time when family depended on each other much more than they do today. They had to, in order to survive.

Here's an interview with Verna about her writing and why she decided to become an author.

Question: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Answer: I'd say around 45 years of age or so, one New Years' Day I sat down to make a New Years' resolution and typed out ten things I would like to accomplish in my lifetime. I don't recall all ten but one of the dreams I had was to view both oceans. I did that. One was to learn to play the piano--no luck there--and the third that I remember was to write a novel and have it published.

Question: Why did you wait so late in life to start the project?

Answer: I'd say it was because I was too busy doing things that needed to be done, and wouldn't wait. I needed to help with my grandchildren and my aged mother. Also, I loved traveling and camping in the beautiful state parks in Missouri. No time for sit down projects.

Question: Is the novel in any way a story of your life?

Answer: Definitely not. I had the family live in the same town I grew up in and described the school I attended. I mentioned an aeroplane that came to town and Lindbergh's flight over the ocean.
These were happenings I remember. Also the mountain I loved in my youth, but Amelia's family and mine are no way related. All the characters and the life they led are 100% fictional. I created them from my imagination.

Question: How did you choose the topic to write about?

Answer: An article in the newspaper a few years ago touched my heart. It told about a dad that beat his young daughter unconscious because she ran away rather than marry her uncle who already had several wives. 

Question: Are you blaming the church for the problem?

Answer: No, I have no fault for the Mormon religion. You will find bad people in any culture. It just happened this girl's dad was a member of a cult that had spun off from the religion practiced today. 

 

I hope you will consider purchasing this book. I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

Verna will be having a book signing Saturday, March 22, at 100 Jefferson in Kirkwood from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. I'm sure she would be happy to sign a book for you if you are able to get there.