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Greetings to you all,
After a busy 2024, I took some time to dabble in writing short stories. Currently, I am working on another novel. We've now been in Orlando for almost four years, and it was a good decision to be near family. I'm also enjoying a new critique group (after participating in great writing groups in Houston) as well as volunteer opportunities. Best wishes to all of you, and happy reading! Meg
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Greetings to you all, May 16 has finally arrived! I’m happy to announce that Frozen Girl of Spirit Lake is published and available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Black Rose Writing, and other online bookstores. So, I hope you’re ready to be transported back in time to 1950s Minnesota. Yes, it’s set in winter, but I’m sure you’ll feel comfortable wherever you are. A huge thank you to those who post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, or anywhere. If you need instructions on posting reviews, as two of my friends did, please email me. Meanwhile, please take care, and I truly appreciate your support. Happy reading, Meg  1955, Eklund, Minnesota, on the shores of Spirit Lake: College student, Barbara Gruen, is found frozen to death in a snowbank. Presumably, she lost her way in a blinding snowstorm resulting in a tragic accident. Or was it? Nancy Borg, a college senior, becomes entangled in the aftermath. Roland Nightbird unwittingly becomes linked to an investigation surrounding Barbara's death and is victimized by the town's prejudices. Loreen Sandberg, social-climbing faculty wife, reveals her deep-seated bigotry, threatening to destroy those around her. The fallout will alter the town and nearby Native American reservation for years to come. Early Praise for Frozen Girl of Spirit Lake
“Tragedy, social dynamics, and personal aspirations converge against the backdrop of a harsh winter in Minnesota...a mystery with all the golden hallmarks of literary fiction. Very highly recommended.” --Readers’ Favorite Book Review “...an engaging read, expertly creating themes of small-town bigotry and its fallouts.” --US Review of Books “Lelvis’ deft hand with mystery draws us into the Northern Minnesota of the 1950s. Conflicts among generations, classes, and especially whites vs Native Americans deepen after the tragic death of an innocent.” --Goodreads Reader, 5 stars  Greetings to you all,
It’s been quite a while since I've written, and now I’d like to tell you about my new book, Frozen Girl of Spirit Lake. As you can see from the story description, the setting is northern Minnesota where I grew up. I tried to reflect the culture, weather, and quirks of the region, including the residents of a nearby Ojibwe reservation. It was both enjoyable and challenging to stroll down “memory lane” trying to do justice in capturing both characters and setting from my own perspective. The book will be released on Thursday, May 16, and is available for preorder from Black Rose Writing (see discount info below), Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online bookstores. Black Rose Writing: order prior to the publication date of May 16, 2024, and use the promo code: PREORDER2024 to receive a 15% discount. Take care, and I hope you're enjoying lovely spring weather wherever you are. Happy reading, Meg  Greetings to all of you, I hope you’re all doing well as we come to the end of summer, at least for those living in cooler places than Orlando. We’re still happy in our new home and city after a year since moving to Florida. In July, we adopted a sweet dog, Chloe, a rescue Pyrenees who’s about four years old. She’s certainly an added pleasure to life when she’s not trying to run away again, but that’s another novel. I’d like to tell you about a two-day, 99-cent price deal on Back of the Yard for Kindle, which will run today and tomorrow, Sept. 15 and 16. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the story of Betty O’Leary and her family as they struggle to overcome the Great Depression, family tragedy, mental illness, and their realization that love, hope, and family can heal most wounds. I just received word that the book is a finalist in the 2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Award Contest, which is its fourth book award. Yay! Hope you enjoy the book, and/or any other reading you’re doing right now. Sending warm (or cooler) wishes to you! Happy reading, Meg  “Born in 1944 on south side of Chicago into an Irish Catholic family I related to this story so much. Got pulled right into this family's story. Brought back so many memories of life back then. Thank you for writing this story. It is a time capsule.” —Patricia R., Amazon reader Hi, Everyone, I hope you're all well so far in 2022 and keeping warm in the northern states. I grew up in northern Minnesota but must admit I don't miss the frigid winters. We moved to Orlando and continue to enjoy moderate weather and tropical landscapes. I'd like to tell you that Back of the Yard is free today on Kindle, so if you haven't read it, here's your chance. Many of you can remember stories from relatives about the Depression years, from Hoover stew to fireside chats listening to FDR. Please take care of yourselves during our ongoing pandemic challenges. I send warm wishes from Florida to wherever you may be. Happy reading, Meg  “I grew up in Chicago, so all the landmark and neighborhoods in this book are all very familiar to me.
Chicagoans are a very special breed of people, and I enjoyed the characters portrayed in this story.” —Amazon reader “I loved reading this. A great story about growing up in the Depression and overcoming depression and mental illness in a family. We have all known someone with depression or perhaps experienced it ourselves. Insightful..” —Goodreads reader “This book gave me hope that families can be healed. She wrote in such a believable way. Each character was so real. I really enjoyed this.” —Amazon reader  Greetings to all of you, I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying lovely weather (in some areas, anyway). We’re finally settled in Orlando and really like our new house and neighborhood, as well as living near family. I’d like to tell you that A Letter from Munich is being offered free on Kindle today, December 1. Just click here for this special deal. Another bit of good news is that my newest book, Back of the Yard, just won best adult fiction in the Indie Author Project, Texas. I wish you all an early happy, relaxing holiday season with lots of good books! Happy reading, Meg  “I was intrigued by the characters & the plot was different! I read this one in a couple days…acceptable for readers of all ages!” —Amazon review “...not only a journey across The Atlantic, but a journey of discovery for a character for whom hope and understanding had become an afterthought.” —Goodreads review  Greetings to all of you, I hope you’re doing well, although these times are still unsettling. After months of planning, we finally moved from Houston to Orlando in late July. It’s great to be near our daughter and family, but I really miss my book club friends in Houston. I hope to find a group here. We’re also still dealing with moving issues like damaged furniture and a missing sofa. Oh, well, it’ll pass! I’m dropping a line to tell you that Back of the Yard will be free for Kindle from today through Sunday, September 26. I’m sure you can relate to the characters and themes in this family tale of the Great Depression. All the best to you, and happy reading. Meg  Set in the south Chicago neighborhood of Sinclair’s The Jungle, Betty O’Leary grows up during the Depression, struggling to scrape by in this harsh, foul-smelling, yet compassionate area. The youngest in her Irish Catholic family, Betty is overshadowed by her pretty older sister, and when tragedy threatens to shatter her world, Betty is sent away to stay with relatives.
As grief and loss take its toll on family members, Betty eventually meets Phil, who offers hope for long-awaited happiness. But secrets begin to unravel, and depression gradually descends on Betty. Is a family history of asylums and madness the cause? And unlike her disturbed mother, will she ever find peace and fulfillment? “Being from Chicago and Irish made this book somewhat relatable. The author did a good job describing time and place.” —Jeanne B., Amazon review Hi, Everyone, I hope you are doing well during this time, and I think we can all finally see an end in sight to the pandemic. Meanwhile, only two weeks until June 3rd when my new book, Back of the Yard is released. So I'm offering you a free sample of the book so you can meet Betty O'Leary and begin her journey through the Great Depression and into the 1950s. Click the link below. Early reviewers say, "...a beautifully written story with vivid imagery, characters that come off the page, and a narrator that could pass for a chat with an old friend." "A story of struggle, compassion, and the determination to overcome life's obstacles. The reader is cheering for Betty through every step of her journey. A must-read book." "The first chapter had me hooked because there was so much I could relate to personally. The timing, dynamic and language come together here to build suspense and a compelling desire to read on. What is going to happen? Where are we heading here?" Not that I'm old, but I recall roller skating with the wheels clamped on my shoes, hopscotch on the sidewalk, and my cousin's grandma had a collection of dishes that actually came in flour sacks! For those of you who'd like to write a review or quick blurb on Amazon and/or Goodreads on June 3rd or after, I'll send a reminder right before with a direct link to the page. Thanks so much for reading this, and I hope you all stay safe and in good health. Happy reading, Meg  Set in the south Chicago neighborhood of Sinclair’s The Jungle, Betty O’Leary grows up during the Depression, struggling to scrape by in this harsh, foul-smelling, yet compassionate area. The youngest in her Irish Catholic family, Betty is overshadowed by her pretty older sister, and when tragedy threatens to shatter her world, Betty is sent away to stay with relatives.
As grief and loss take its toll on family members, Betty eventually meets Phil, who offers hope for long-awaited happiness. But secrets begin to unravel, and depression gradually descends on Betty. Is a family history of asylums and madness the cause? And unlike her disturbed mother, will she ever find peace and fulfillment? The story gives voice to those struggling with emotional pain and shows how families can heal with love, courage, and promise. It tells of a neighborhood reflecting America’s cultural changes and how one’s childhood is forever present. Greetings, everyone. It’s been many months since I’ve written, and I hope you all are doing well during this time. I’d like to tell you about my fourth book, Back of the Yard, publishing on June 3. The story begins during the Great Depression and ends in the late 1950s. The main character is a young woman who faces huge challenges in life, as many folks did during those times. If you’ve read the previous Jack Bailey books, you will recognize some familiar names, but otherwise it’s a brand-new story. The story gives voice to those struggling with emotional pain and shows how families can heal with love, courage, and promise. It tells of a neighborhood reflecting America’s cultural changes and how one’s childhood is forever present. I’ll be writing again in a couple weeks to offer you a free sample of the book. Meanwhile, please take care. Best thoughts to you, Meg  Set in the south Chicago neighborhood of Sinclair’s The Jungle, Betty O’Leary grows up during the Depression, struggling to scrape by in this harsh, foul-smelling, yet compassionate area. The youngest in her Irish Catholic family, Betty is overshadowed by her pretty older sister, and when tragedy threatens to shatter her world, Betty is sent away to stay
with relatives. As grief and loss take its toll on family members, Betty eventually meets Phil, who offers hope for long-awaited happiness. But secrets begin to unravel, and depression gradually descends on Betty. Is a family history of asylums and madness the cause? And unlike her disturbed mother, will she ever find peace and fulfillment?  Greetings to all of you, Once again, I hope you have been keeping safe and healthy in these uncertain times. I'm happy to offer you a $.99 deal for A Letter from Munich on Kindle. This will run from today, June 11, through Saturday, June 13. My thanks to all of you who have read the book already and posted a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews mean so much, and I truly appreciate your time. My next book will feature Jack Bailey's Aunt Betty as she grows up during the Depression era in south Chicago. It's taking more time than I'd like, but it's a worthwhile project. I hope you enjoy your summer reading, and please stay safe. My best to you, Meg  “A Letter from Munich is touching, frightening, and revealing...” —Author's Reading “...thoroughly engrossing as Jack Bailey searches for meaning by way of memories...against the backdrop of the Third Reich and war from the perspective of ordinary German citizens like Ariana...” —Midwest Book Review “There are family skeletons and secrets. It is a powerful novel.” —Amazon Reader Review |
Author Meg Lelvis
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