IAG (Interior Authors Group) Christmas at The Dunes Restaurant, Kamloops, BC, Dec 11, 2024

 

Country Mennonite Christmas

A Country Christmas near Elbow & Loreburn, Saskatchewan helped inspire my novel SONG FOR SUSIE EPP, also my article MENNONITES, CHRISTMAS SONGS, AND GOOSE published by the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society. To read the whole article & see the photos, please:

1 click following link

2 click down arrow in upper right

3 when title shows in upper right, click on it

Thank you. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gSTR28Z2k7fliPHQYng4kpAo4mzW0lfC/view?usp=sharing

SONG FOR SUSIE EPP in WordWorks Magazine

Here's my novel SONG FOR SUSIE EPP announced in WordWorks, British Columbia’s Magazine for Writers (2024, Volume 3, page 25). 

SONG FOR SUSIE EPP might make a nice gift for someone on your list. You could ask for it in a bookstore. Or order online.

In Canada: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=elma%20schemenauer&searchType=typeahead&searchTerm=elma%20scheme

OR

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/song-for-susie-epp-elma-schemenauer/1145304815?ean=9780921718079

In the USA: Song for Susie Epp - Kindle edition by Schemenauer, Elma. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com

OR

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/song-for-susie-epp-elma-schemenauer/1145304815?ean=9780921718079

In the UK: https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/song-for-susie-epp/elma-schemenauer/9780921718079  

The online edition of WordWorks is free to read at this website: https://bcwriters.ca/latest . The focus of the current edition is creative nonfiction including memoir. Here's the table of contents.

HILLSIDE NOTES by Lloyd Jeck reviewed by Elma Schemenauer

Born in 1931 and raised in British Columbia's Robson Valley on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, Lloyd Jeck has much to tell us about life in the early days in that area. For example, what did people do for fun? See his stories about skiing, curling, hiking, camping, mountain climbing, square-dancing, outdoor games, and more.

How did people make a living? Jeck's stories about logging, lumbering, making railway ties and telegraph poles, farming, maintaining roads, fire patrols, trapping, and hunting are vivid and informative.

A multi-published author, Jeck writes with honesty, careful attention to detail, humour, and a deep understanding of emotions and motivations—his own and those of other people. Among my favourite stories are "Mountain Goats," "Token of the Past," "1949 B.C. Road Maintenance," "Country School," "Bare-Bear Facts," and "Ladies—Pull up Your Socks." My favourite poems include "Tomorrow," "Who Am I?" and "Love Beyond the Water." The author's love and respect for his family, especially his late wife, Ev, shine through many selections in the book.

Hillside Notes is a 232-page paperback illustrated with a number of photographs, most of them historical. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/share/p/SPyYS86urXUth7tK/ or https://majeckbooks.weebly.com/new-books.html

Writers' newsletter...plus what to do if Mom doesn't want you to publish your memoir

The Write Life monthly online newsletter helps writers hone their craft & encourages them to move forward with their writing. It sometimes includes tips on possible places to get published. The newsletter is written from a Christian worldview but includes much that's relevant to any writer. You can subscribe for FREE here. https://writelifeworkshops.com/the-write-life/ . 

I'm delighted to be featured in the Subscriber Spotlight of their November 2024 edition. 

Subscriber Spotlight Elma Schemenauer

I grew up in a Mennonite family, inspired by my relatives' stories. They told riveting tales about the "Old Country" (Russia), immigration to Canada, and early life in our farming community on the Saskatchewan prairie.   Years later, I wrote a memoir based on these stories and my own childhood experiences. I told my mother I planned to have it published.   "Oh no," she said, "you can't do that. There's too much private information in there."   "Okay," I replied, "I'll change all the names and have it happen in Montana."   "Oh, no," she said. "You can't do that. It happened here."   So, I used my memoir as a springboard for two novels, Consider the Sunflowers and Song for Susie Epp. If you'd like to know more, please visit my website. And if you've reached a roadblock in your writing career, take heart. Maybe there's a way around it.

Patricia Ochoa's review of Song for Susie Epp

Big thanks to Patricia Ochoa for this encouraging & perceptive review of my latest novel. She posted it on The BOOKLounge for Readers and Authors (Facebook group), also on Goodreads. 

Book Review

Title: Song for Susie Epp

Author: Elma Schemenauer

Genre: Christian/Women Fiction

#bookloungereviewteam

This book was a fantastic read. Sometimes with Christian fiction the hard topics which leads to difficult conversations are usually skirted about or completely ignored. Not so in Song for Susie Epps. It was refreshing to read a relatable version of marriage, family relationships, personal demons and how it was navigated. I was so heartbroken for Susie during her disillusionment but rooting for her through it all knowing she will be the better for it.

I loved Mrs. Elma Schemenauer writing style and settings. Will read more of her work as this was my first book by her.

Plot in trouble?

Is your plot in trouble? This article has interesting suggestions. https://janefriedman.com/5-plot-hacks-that-just-might-save-your-novel/