THE POWER OF A BAD REVIEW

Years ago I wrote my first novel, Broken Chords, the story of a dysfunctional Appalachian family at the turn of the 20th century. For me, it was a special story, because it was written not only from the heart, but because it was a true story of two women, a mother and daughter, whose lives separate and come together again after a decade of adversity; each fighting their own battles to find tranquility in their lives. The matriarch deserts her family in mid-life to travel the west, eventually homesteading alone in Wyoming; the daughter struggles with the wild side of her nature and her disastrous love for a rascal mountain boy.

This is a lovely, fun, and exciting story of  the resurrection of a broken family. The mountain dialect is carried throughout the book to lend authenticity to its characters.

"Four people saw an elephant four different ways".  I live by this. Everyone has their own specific tastes and preferences; this is what makes us unique.  However, the power of a scathing review is showing its ugly head in reference to Broken Chords. I could say "three people saw an elephant three different ways," as there are, sadly, only three Amazon reviews for this wonderful story: two likes, and one very serious dislike. The very serious dislike, may sink the sailing of Broken Chords, and unfortunately, that is the power of a bad review.

The top photo is the matriarch and her husband in happier days. The bottom photo is the tar-paper shack where she lived for 22 years on the lonely Wyoming prairie.