Echoes of Ellen

Echoes of Ellen launched my career as a published novelist. It did not start out as a novel, it began as a collection of eighteen short stories that I had written over a several years. With high hopes and great expectations and no little trepidation I mailed twenty-four query letters to publishers who indicated they were willing to accept submissions from previously unpublished authors. I fully expected to receive in return twenty-four rejections. (On the bright side, having heard that I probably wouldn't find a publisher until I had papered at least one wall of my office with rejections, I would have at least twenty-four with which to start decorating.)

I received twenty-two rejections during the following six months. One of two publishers showing interest was a pay-to-publish company; the other was Debi Staples, publisher of SynergEbooks at e-Publishing House. Unwilling to publish my stories as a collection, she suggested that I place them within the context of a novel. Two weeks later I had a novelistic home for my stories and e-mailed the manuscript to her. There followed several back and forth e-mails before Echoes was ready for publication. Debi felt Echoes worthy of nomination for a National Book Award and an Epic Award so she published it both as a trade publication and an e-book. I saw my name on a book cover, something I had always dreamed of. Debi's faith in my ability as a writer has been heartening and encouraging. She has published four of my other novels.

When I am not writing, I read a variety of authors and genres; I have yet to come across a novel as unique as Echoes of Ellen. It does not fit comfortably within any one genre. Donald C. Lee, author of A Fool's Disciple and Eclipse of the Bright Moon, both books I highly recommend, wrote the following very succinct review. I hope that it will encourage you to read Echoes.  

"After his wife, Ellen, dies, a man discovers her trove of short stories, never accepted for publication, of which he had never been aware. The writings open new aspects of their relationship as he reconstructs their probable sources and is reminded of people and events in their lives that must have inspired them. This is the theme that ties together a large number of tales about selfishness and generosity, love and loss, deception and truth, fear and courage, and anger and forgiveness. Several stories deal with overcoming the wounds or guilt of one's youth; others involve self-discovery with psychological dimensions. It may bother some readers to be left hanging in ambiguity on several occasions, but this reader enjoyed considering a variety of possible endings (making the book an interactive experience) and being able to chose his own ending. I recommend a slow read: this reader put the book down to digest each story awhile before going on to the next."

Look for me on FaceBook and visit my website, http://www.bfoswaldauthor.com, to read more about Echoes of Ellen.