Three Author Reading Event and Joplin Independent – Book Review
I am honored to be one of three Northwest Authors invited to read and discuss our work at an upcoming event hosted at Parkplace Books in Kirkland, Washington – August 22nd at 7:00. These are similar, yet distinctly different works and I will discuss the event and my impressions of the differences in our work in a future blog entry. I have read Lance Weller’s Wilderness, and Shannon Polson’s North of Hope. Both are poignant and profound. This should be a lively event.
Triple Author Evening
Thursday, August 22nd 7:00 pm
Gerard Lasalle, Shannon Polson and Lance Weller
“These three talented newcomers to the PacNW book scene will discuss and sign copies of their individual books that are all set in our region. Widow Walk by Gerard Lasalle and Wilderness by Lance Weller provide two historically based adventure fictions that highlight fascinating bits of Washington lore while North of Hope by Shannon Polson is a poignant memoir of healing that was written following the tragic death of her parents by a grizzly bear in Alaska.
Join us for a memorable evening talking about literature, life and the Pacific Northwest.
Gerard LaSalle has a MFA in film/video from CalArts, an emergency medicine residency at UCLA and is an award-winning documentary and animation filmaker who works from his studio on Maury Island in Puget Sound.
Shannon Polson has a BA from Duke University, MBA from Tuck School-Dartmouth and MFA from Seattle Pacific University. She served 8 years as an attack helicopter pilot in the army and sings with the critically acclaimed Seattle Pro Musica. In 2009, she was awarded the Trailblazer Woman of Valor award from Senator Maria Cantwell.
Lance Weller has published short fiction in several literary journals, won the Glimmer Train’s Short Story Award for New Writers and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He lives in Gig Harbor with his wife and several dogs.”
New Review for Widow Walk published today in the Joplin Independent
“Book is treat for historical fiction fans”
– jkennedy
by Jack L. Kennedy
History is basically made by people.
Recalling the narrative, we cite big events, headlines, global crises, wars and tragedies. But Widow Walk by Gerard LaSalle (Greenleaf) reminds us that individuals should be a significant part of the most memorable recording–whether geographical, political, scientific or environmental.
There are many interlaced threads of a variety of frontiers in this humanized history of the early days of the American Pacific Northwest. It is exciting, testing historical fiction, based upon fact.
Each chapter reveals an individual or two, making their own sense of the new frontier. Mainly based upon the very personal tale of colonist Colonel Isaac Neff Ebey (Isaac Evers in the story) and his strong, resourceful wife, the book has British and American territorial governments arise, test each other, and face natives who do not accept the intrusion on their way of life and adventuresome spirit.
History must be written of, by and for the survivors.
–Anonymous
Author LaSalle is a medical doctor, filmmaker of some note, teacher and storyteller. The tale is centered in the 1850s. The new settlement is surrounded by lush, initially placid lands until unrest, gunfire, doubts and danger emerge and threaten the new colony. The young family grows as they face a variety of trials, learn to appreciate if not fully understand native residents, and find new barriers human or natural at every turn.
As they share burdens, Emmy and Isaac grow closer. But Isaac’s death forces Emmy to be even more strong and resourceful, facing life after her once eager, hopeful husband in no longer able to share it with her. She learns to evaluate situations, then rely on others, British interlopers, native Indians or scraggly people with cloudy pasts. She demonstrates that all frontier battles were not fought by the military.
LaSalle masterfully balances storytelling, lively characterizations and action with history, fact and plausibility. The style he utilizes is strong, not overdone, and the tone is revealing and understanding and powerful. He mixes historical fact and fiction into a dish many should want to devour.
Title – Widow Walk
Author: Gerard LaSalle
Publisher: Greenleak Book Group Press (May 1, 2013)
$4.61/Kindle/551KB; 16.48/hard copy at amazon.com
ASIN: B00CLGVG9U
ISBN-10: 1608324400
ISBN-13: 978–1608324408
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– Book Review | Widow Walk”. Thx ,Penelope
Thank you. I had the opportunity to learn about the events when I worked as an ER director on Whidbey Island many years ago. I have been fascinated by the lore about the “Northerners” who were masterful navigators and fearsome marauders. Learned much about George Pickett as well, walked the Gettysburg fields and tried to find a way to bring him in to the story. And I love the Haida and PNW coastal native art. The heroine is a composite of many women I know, some whom I have loved deeply.