Book Review of Lily Sanders' Where Eagles Soar

 

Jacket Blurb: In 1947, Lily Sanders and her family moved to a homestead in the edge of an Athabaskan village in the Alaskan Territory. It was an ideal location for her father, a mountain man and hunting guide. It also provided a place where the world could not see his brutality. A heartless act by her father leaves Lily brokenhearted and strips away any thread of hope that one day he might love her. She vows to never forgive him and turns to the powerful bond of love she shares with her sweet-spirited mother and her many sisters. Together they share the adventure, beauty, and heartache of their wilderness life.

Where Eagles Soar is the true account of Lily Sanders written in beautiful story form by Author Bonnie Leon. I’ve never before read a book that gripped me by the heart like Where Eagles Soar. Lily tells her story in such a way that brings Glory to God, shows the life-long struggles of the girl Lily, and ends with the mature Lily longing to know and then finds the love of Jesus Christ.

Where Eagles Soar quote: There are people in this world who walk around all scarred up inside—angry and never able to find their way. But for some, scars make them stronger and show them a better way to live. I’m one of those. And I want to tell you my story.

How anyone could survive the wilds of Alaska by the hand of a father such as Lily’s makes this a miracle of God, but there’s so much more. The story’s setting begins in the lower states, where Lily moves at age one to Alaska. Over the years she encounters hardships. Lily almost dies several times. Someone with whom she was very close does die. And Lily’s once innocent heart is torn to shreds by the bitterness she feels toward her father.

Where Eagles Soar quote: When we walked away from her grave, hate burned inside of me. I’d never forget. I’d never forgive. Never.

But life is not always dismal. Lily’s blessings include her love of Alaska and her sisters with whom she plays and works beside her sisters with whom she plays and works beside in the great wilderness of Alaska. Then there’s her mother who makes the most delicious bread and teaches Lily about the Prayer Jar and the Great White God.

Lily learns to hunt, trap, and run sled dogs and even wins the races when girls were not allowed to be in a sled contest. Though Lily has a stubborn nature, she meets every single demand of her father’s in hopes to gain his respect and attention.

Even after Lily’s father arranged her marriage to a much older man, she hunts and traps with her father. When Lily’s bitterness toward her father escalates and she fears for her own children’s safety from him, Lily makes plans to leave. Years pass, though, and Lily is stuck under a tyrant’s thumb otherwise known as Daddy.

After Lily’s children are grown and on their own, Lily and one of her sisters escaped to Southern Oregon. The two women hid inside a vehicle until they crossed into the boarder of Canada. At first Lily and her sister suffer from culture shock. They end up living on the banks of the Rogue River, which makes them feel more at home. The question that haunts and batters Lily’s heart came with her to Oregon: Why doesn’t my father love me?

Change comes by way of a Christian lady named Joy. Joy takes Lily in under her protection. She gives Lily a job and shares the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Lily determines to attend a worship service, she becomes fearful of going inside and being in a crowd of people. Lily stands outside the church building and watches the door so she could meet one special person.

Where Eagles Soar quote: I kept waiting for Jesus, but I never seen him.

Instead, a kind man approached Lily after the service and began to teach her about Jesus Christ. Is Lily able to forgive her father right away? That takes time. The day comes when glory of God shines, as Lily allows him to cleanse her heart from the bitter root of unforgiveness.

Lily ends her memoir with this statement: Life is good. It’s a gift. And the One True God has lifted me high up so I can soar on wings like eagles.

Until next time . . . read a book that inspires your love for the Lord Jesus

Freelance Editor Susan Lakin

Freelance editor Susanne Lakin

 An update on the process of hiring a freelance editor to edit my two books is the topic of today.

I've been silent for too long, folks. Ah, yes, that's right, I do have a good excuse.

My freelance editor Susan Lakin has kept me busy with homework. Yes, it's just like school, folks. I sent in my pages, she edited them and sent them back. She noted in Track Changes things like this: "Do you mean to say . . .". Or she would write this, "I don't know what you mean here."

I got too many of those from my wonderful editor, but I bit my lip and rewrote.

Ninety-nine percent of the time I took her suggestions, even when I thought I wouldn't at that moment I was reading what she thought. I'd let the edits sit overnight and come back to them the next day. I'd think, "Well, Susanne's correct. I'll do as she suggests."

The hardest part came at the end of my first book, Just Claire. Susanne felt it needed a resolution. Resolution? But I thought I did well with that. I let that idea sit for more than overnight, grumbling that I wanted to be done with book one. Sure enough, Susanne was spot on right. Of course.

Susanne and I began the process of edits in February 2014, and over the five months, we finished up the two books. Both are not terribly long, one is an upper middle grade and the other is a memoir devotional.

BTW, at the end, at the very last few page edits, Susanne, writes, "Don't you think it needs a more kid friendly title?"

What?

Then I nodded. Of course. This is Susanne talking. I'll look over my story and see if it's not already there. Sure enough. I found it.

The title changed from ClaireLee A.D. (After Denial) to Just Claire. The title is perfect in my and Susanne's opinions.

For the moment.

Until.

A publisher might come along and want to rename the book. But then that's another story and one I'd be all too happy to shout out.

Find Susanne on Twitter and her blog Livewritethrive.

Until next time . . . seek a freelancer and get to work writerly friends.

My Experience in Hiring a Professional Freelance Editor

At my writing desk

Nearly four months ago I hired a professional freelance editor, and I can't say enough for how much she's helped me and my work. She edits and proofreads, and she's thorough. I'm pleased as can be. We're half way done with my first book, and she recently began work on my second book.

I highly recommend my freelance editor, Susanne Lakin. 

The best part is I'm learning from her. Now I don't remember by heart all the places in my sentences that she's taken away the comma or added in one, or why, but I'm getting the rules into my brain just the same. I've learned to take what I do learn and add it into the next chapters before I send those to her. It saves her time and me money. All because I'm learning from a professional.

I bought Susanne's book Say What? The Fiction Writer's Handy Guide to Grammar and I'm reading it a little at a time. Some of the rules of grammar are sticking in my brain from there, also. And if I have a grammar question when I'm working, I go to Susanne's book.

I prayed for a long while before I found Susanne, and God answered my prayer. I was ready to stuff my first book into a file never to look at it again. But I prayed about doing that and in the process found Susanne on Twitter. Then, I read over her website in detail. Afterward, I asked her a few questions and she replied. I was pretty sure she was an answer to prayer and that it was high time to hire an editor.

Susanne is just right for my needs as a writer. I needed someone who would work hard and yet take a moment along the way to encourage me. I needed someone who is honest and not afraid to tell me where I'm not clear in my story. I didn't want an editor to tip-toe through my story, but to go in and clean up what isn't working. Someone that makes me take the time to think of how better to phrase a sentence.

Making the decision to hire a professional editor took me too long. Go here if you want to learn more about Susanne Lakin's editorial service.

Until next time . . . hire a good editor before you decide to trash your story.