Two New Reviews of Timely Novel by MLHolton, TRILLIUM

--- Opps! A short apology, dear friends! 

I've just had my ancient laptop refurbished, (new keyboard), and upgraded with new software (Windows 10), and am now boldly stumbling forward. (... ach!  the filing system is sooo different, passwords have 'disappeared' and one drive of info will not 'link' ... arg!) - Still, I did what to get out this brief shout-out to two very kind book reviewers who recently penned their thoughts about my latest novel effort, TRILLIUM.

First up, California-based writer, Veronica Cline Barton. Veronica is a prolific writer in her own right with a very intriguing and active writing blog. Under her #amreading and #amreviewing hashtags, she very kindly wrote the following: -

- TRILLIUM by Author M. L. Holton - ***** 5 STAR REVIEW

'This week I traveled 250 years through time with an historical fiction, multi-generational masterpiece! - Three men, three families, and 250 years of life stories and secrets flow through this masterful tale by author M.L. Holton. 

War between the British and French comes to an end, at the dawn of a new Canada. Land is royally granted, setting up the beginning of unimaginable fortunes and business opportunities for the few, agricultural livelihoods supporting generations for others, and power schemes fueled by jealousy and envy for some that will do anything to get their way.

The TRILLIUM story line is magnificent in the way it has been structured, moving the reader seamlessly through the happenings in each family generation and disclosing the decisions that will impact descendants in the future. Author Holton cleverly ties in historical events to the fictional families and agricultural details of the region that yield surprising new ventures, giving you several ‘ah-hah’ moments that this reader enjoyed.

As the family destinies play out, the lives of the rich and famous, as well as those of more modest means unfold over the decades, giving you an insight to their love lives, fated relationships, family tragedies, scheming personalities, joys and dreams as the generations within the families grow and adapt to this wondrous land. The sadness of lives lost, cruel deeds, revenge driven intentions, illness and lost hope will keep you turning page after page to see how the characters will react—and who will survive and thrive, or not.

The surroundings detailed in TRILLIUM pull you in to witness the beauty and splendor of the land, grand homes, and the drama as it unfolds. I couldn’t put this book down–I was enchanted and mesmerized by the story lines of the families, the characters, and settings from beginning to end. The scope and depth of this story is fantastically told, taking you through generations of family love, hope and drama—slowly revealing the secrets that will bind these families together forever. --- A fantastic read, highly recommended!'

---
Cool, eh? Veronica also, unprompted, added her 5 STAR review to Amazon, Goodreads and BookPub. - That was very decent of her! - Thank you V! 

Then, a few days later, marvelous Mel, who writes for 'Book Reviews From Canada' blog had the following to say - 

'TRILLIUM follows the stories of several families from different backgrounds as their lives intersect across generations in the Niagara region. This is a very well-done book. ... Holton has crafted a beautifully written and incredibly detailed novel. I loved how character-driven the novel was ... and ... Holton vividly describes the scenery so that you can clearly imagine it  ... Holton has managed to intersect the story lines of so many varied characters and plot points.  ...  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in character focused historical fiction spanning generations.'

---  Cool too, no? 

It is fascinating how people do perceive and interpret this new work through their own perceptual prisms. - Each sees, resonates and amplifies something slightly different. I am so glad that readers are enjoying this timely historical fiction.

Please do feel free to add your thoughts about your read of TRILLIUM too to either Goodreads and/or Amazon (via Amazon CA in Canada, or via AMAZON. COM for American and global options.

(Kindly note, if you're thinking of picking up either an e-book or paperback please note that the currency exchange rates fluctuate from country to country.)

THANK YOU One & ALL! 

Humber School for Writers Grad, Margaret Lindsay Holton

    

   Delighted to be profiled in Humber Alumni News! 

For the FULL INTERVIEW  -  that includes a timely digression on the designing and making of 'The Four Canadian Fireside Chairs' as seen below - 

The article also mentions a few of the book projects I've done over the years ...  Note, links wont work on the screengrab below. - If looking for my most recent title, TRILLIUM, go to Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2q0iEeL /  - Older commercial titles can be found via my Amazon author page. Other MLH art & poetry book projects can be found HERE.
 

Finally, minor point, it is not clear in the article that I was a 'Graduate' student at the Humber School for Writers. I had already finished my Bachelor of Arts years before at the University of Toronto. I was most fortunate to receive the President's Scholarship to understudy in the 'Graduate Creative Writing Program' with 2x Giller prize winner, M.G.Vassanji.

Noteworthy nugget for die-hard Canadian literary historians - I still have all his notes!  

A new 'bi-weekly' MLH column & other freelance writing gigs

NB: My short story, The FROZEN GOOSE, has been made into a short film, watch it online here.  --- Plus, a new sesquicentennial project of spoken word & music, CANADADA: TAKE TWO, was released in the spring of 2017. Give a listen here. 

 

For other MLH published works see my Author's Page on Amazon. 
 ---
Published Stories by MLH
2012 

UPDATE: All former links to MLH stories on 'OurBurlington'
have been redirected to the re-named 'BURLINGTON GAZETTE'  front page.
To locate my following stories at that location, search via
'By Margaret Lindsay Holton' by-line. 

1. What's the Buzz? Tell me Whatsa happenin'

Title rewritten by blog editor.

Published in OurBurlington.org, March 8th, 2012

2. 'Lessons from Pre-Contact Culture: Cootes Paradise Revisited'

Published in Raise the Hammer, June 18^th, 2012

http://www.raisethehammer.org/article/1624/lessons_for_today_from_pre-contact_civilization_at_cootes_paradise

3. 'A Customer Service Connundrum'

Published OurBurlington  August 3rd, 2012

4. 'Men Really are Wonderful, even when Proud, Stubborn & a little bit Pig-Headed'

Published OurBurlington. August, 2012

5. 'Burlington's Forgotten Pier' – Title changed by blog editor

Published OurBurlington:: September 4th

6. 'Help Wanted: Public Art Seeks Burlington  Imagination: Apply Elsewhere.'

Title changed by editor …

Published in OurBurlngton

7. 'In the Age of the Internet, is the Burlington Public Library a Luxury we can No Longer Afford?' – 

Title changed by editor …

Published: September 27th 

8. 'Riding Horses: Chomping at the Bit'  - No title change.

Published: Oct 12th , 2012 - OurBurlington

9. 'Pythons' Pit is Fishing for Your Good Ideas: Rewards Offered

Title changed by editor …  

Published: Oct 26th, 2012, Our Burlington

10. ‘Not all Soup Bowls are Created Equal’

Title changed by editor …

Published, November 13^th, 2012 – OurBurlington

11. ‘Meetups Popping Up All around Burlington. Should City Hall host a‘Meetup?’

Title changed by editor – marginally. Editor failed to add supplied captions to images. sigh. 

… Published, Nov22^nd, 2012 - Our Burlington

12. ‘The RBG hosts the “Mechanical Botanical” Exuberance of Paul Busse. All aboard!’

Editor goofed on placement of photos ... 

Published, Dec 5th  - OurBurlington.org 

13. It certainly is a ‘Merry Christmas!’ on the world wide web … 

Published OurBurlington.org. Dec. 20^th, 2012

14. A quick dip in Lake Ontario at this time of year? Are you NUTS??? But, hey, Congrats!!    

Published OurBurlington.org, Dec 29th, 2012

2013

15.  'Burlington: Talking Turkey. Lots of Turkey. Really. I’m talking turkeys here … '

Title changed marginally ...

Published OurBurlington, Jan 14^th

16. Don't miss the Winter Market @ TERRA Greenhouse in North Burlington

Published OurBurlington, Jan 29th

17. Local artist, Steve Pilcher, in line to win an Academy Award 
with fellow Pixar/Disney artists & animators 
Published, then deleted from OurBurlington, within a week.
(Editor wouldn't make necessary editorial changes as requested by Pixar)  Read it here: 
http://canadadaphotography.blogspot.ca/2013/02/local-artist-steve-pilcher-in-line-to.html  

18. Harold Sikkema - Trickster? or Master in the Making?
Published on CanadadaPhotography, February 2013
-http://canadadaphotography.blogspot.ca/2013/02/harold-sikkema-trickster-or-master-in.html 

19. 'Stephani Vegh: Beating a Dead Horse? Or, Emerging from an Academic Chrysalis?'
Published on CanadadaPHOTOGRAPHY, March 18th, 2013. 
http://canadadaphotography.blogspot.ca/2013/03/stephanie-vegh-beating-dead-horse-or.html

20. 'The Artful Craft of Public Speaking ... '
Published in Raise the Hammer,April 1st
 http://raisethehammer.org/article/1814/the_artful_craft_of_public_speaking
and BurlingtonBeat.ca -March 29th, 2013

21. 'Hamilton Beach Community Cleans Up Its Patch of Our Planet'
Published in Raise the Hammer, April 29th, 2013
 http://raisethehammer.org/article/1838  

22. 'Baranga's on the Beach: this ain't no beach side 'hut' ...
Published in Raise the Hammer, May 16th, 2013
 http://raisethehammer.org/article/1855/  

23. Tall Ships coming into Hamilton Harbour - Black & White Photography
Published in Raise the Hammer, June 28th, 2013
 http://raisethehammer.org/blog/2735
and, in part, in the Burlington Gazette (formerly OurBurlington) 

24. Hamilton's Historical Beacon: A Lighthouse Well Worth Saving
Published in Raise the Hammer, August 26th, 2013
http://raisethehammer.org/article/1938
The Lighthouse Digest of Maine, USA is also running a 
condensed version of this story in their November, print issue. 

25. A Picnic on the High Level Bridge? Do We Dare? 
Published in Raise the Hammer, November 2nd, 2013
http://raisethehammer.org/article/1997

26. Forget Santa. Slam Poetry is Coming to Town!
Published in Raise the Hammer, December 18th, 2013
http://raisethehammer.org/article/2034

2014 

27.   Believe it or not, a well-crafted knot could save your life. 
Published in Raise the Hammer, (with video) February 7th, 2014 

28. Interview with Canadian Illustrator Tara Krebs: A Provocative Batterfly
Published in Raise the Hammer, March 28th, 2014

29. Location, Location, Location: Valley City in Dundas is Back. 
Published in Raise the Hammer, May 1st, 2014 
http://raisethehammer.org/article/2167

and in  The Hamilton Spectator - May 26th, 2014
and in Cambridge Times and Niagara This Week 

30. 'Lets Go Fly a Kite!
Published in Raise the Hammer, June 3rd, 2014 
http://raisethehammer.org/article/2203

31. Harold Dickert's Man Cave: Table Saw, Hand Tools & His Custom Made Guitars
(with VIDEO embed)
Published in Raise the Hammer, (with 14 min video )June 30th, 2014

and in The Hamilton Spectator, July 8/9th, 2014
as well as Cambridge Times, Niagara This Week and InsideHalton

32. A Whale of a Tale: The Scrimshaw Artistry of Dennis Sinclair (with VIDEO embed)
Published in Raise the Hammer, (with 9 min VIDEO), Oct 6th, 2014

33. A few thoughts on the recent municipal election ... 
With Less then 35% Voter Turnout - Did We Get What We Deserved?
Title changed by editor to 'Energy, Art & Cultural Engagement: Barry Lord with 34% voter turnout ... 
Published in Raise the Hammer, Nov. 7th, 2014

2015

34. Freelton Antique Mall: Eclectic, Exquisite & Eccentric 'Canadiana' 
Published in Raise the Hammer, (with 13:10 min VIDEO), Jan 15th, 2015

35. Sugaring Off! at Westfield Heritage Village (with VIDEO embed)
Published in Raise the Hammer, March 10th, 2015.

36. The Boob Tube: 3 Generations Talk TV
Published on Raise the Hammer, May 13th, 2015

37. The Frozen Goose Film Project: The DO's & DON'Ts of CROWDFUNDING 
Published on Raise the Hammer, September 10th, 2015

2016 

38. Words, Photos & Story-Telling: The Extreme Librarian  (with VIDEO embed)
Published on Raise the Hammer, May 20th, 2016 - 

39. Impressions of the Telling Tales Festival 2016  (with VIDEO embed)
Published on Riase the Hammer, October 5th, 2016

40. Studio of Metal-Worker, Doris Treleaven - 12 minute Documentary
Published on Raise the Hammer, October 7th, 2016  

2017 
41. Artist Frida Kahlo's Blood Bath Enshrined at Casa Azul
Published on Raise the Hammer, January 14th, 2017  

42. LAST FOLIO: Yuri Dojc - Exhibition Review at the Art Gallery of Hamilton
Published on Raise the Hammer, February 3rd, 2017

(Sidebar: Editor, Ryan McGreal, of Raise the Hammer, wrote great critical review of my latest musical offering, CANADADA:TAKE TWO - and published it on June 26th.

43. Book Review by M.L. Holton: All's Well by John Lefebvre
Published in Raise the Hammer, July 5th, 2017

44.  Book Review by M.L.Holton of  'CAST: Art & Objects'  
Published in Raise the Hammer, August 18th, 2017 

2020

45. Opinion by MLHolton - Arts Section - We'll Make It!
Published in Burington Gazette, May 5th, 2020 

 

2021

46. Creators Interview - MLHolton

Published on James Strecker Blog

 

 Recent book & CD production -  HERE
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