Monday, November 21, 2011

The Golden Sky by E.C. Stilson

 

                                           The Golden Sky

  • Advance Proof Paperback: 284 pages
  • Genre:  Personal Memoir
  • Publisher:  Wayman Publications 2011
  • Source: Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
  • First Paragraph : Entry#1 Being pregnant isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread. On the days I don’t feel like I have Alzheimer’s, I’m like Hercules journeying from hell. Here I am at the age of nineteen, with a seven month old girl and another kid on the way.
  • My Opinion: This true story about the death of a baby hit me in a way I did not quite expect it to, it was emotionally draining.

     

    I defy you not to be moved by this memoir written by a young woman who at times seems so innocent and others so wise. It might not be a great literary work but it is truth and real and something that happens to far too many people. When Elisa was just nineteen her second born child, a son died, she and her husband Cade became a sad statistic, which sadly many thousands of others can relate to. We have all experienced grief and loss but the acute pain of losing a child was just so hard to imagine, until I read this.

    One day Elisa Stilton aged 26 found the strength to reread the journal she wrote at the time of his death, when she was hurting more than most of us can ever imagine! It was painful and difficult to read her journal again but it helped Elisa at last find peace with Zeke’s death. Grateful that she had written down her experience at the time this brave young lady decided to share her families pain with the world. Published on November 18th 2011, the anniversary of Zeke’s birth she hopes that by doing so she can help others that have experienced the loss of a child.

    The memoir is written in a very honest and personal way and Elisa bares her soul to the world in this diary, leaving nothing out. There are a lot of personal details about her relationships, her pregnancies, her thoughts when they discover the baby may be handicapped, the trauma of his birth, personal letters from her family on his birth and how her marriage nearly falls apart because of all the trauma. However Elisha is one amazing young lady who never gives up, seems to remain cheerful through it all and is determined to find a way of keeping her husband and daughter Ruby together as a family. She is willing to work hard to do so and her fighting spirit and humour will draw you to like this young woman.  In Elisa’s own words I echo that publishing this memoir In honour of Zeke, was a wonderful thing to do, ‘because after every storm, there is a golden sky’.

  • I was hoping to share a video trailer with you but have been unable to get the embedding to work, so I am just including the link The Golden Sky Trailer - You Tube. It is just 1min 24 sec, do pop over and take a look.

    Author Profile – Elisa Stilson

    bookThe autobiographical information and photo published here was kindly provided for me by the author herself.

    Elisa Hirsch has her degree through the University of Phoenix. Her particular degree has a counselling emphasis and she finds it very useful when leading grief counselling groups for parents who have lost children.
    For the last six years she owned and operated EC Boutique. Her company received various awards including, Best of Show at the Utah State Fair, Top Ten Award from Boutique Customs Mini Mall and last year on e-bay it was even rated as the fifth largest custom handmade kids' clothing store in the world. Elisa designed and created outfits for children, but has since decided to close her business and work on her writing career.
    Elisa plays six instruments; the violin, piano, drums, alto sax, tenor sax and the clarinet. Her husband is also a musician. They love to play at weddings, funerals, coffee shops and restaurants.
    She also enjoys speaking publicly and meeting new people. She has spoken at M.O.P.S., been Juliet in the local play and made it to the final three for the Salt Lake Story Tellers contest in 2001. She hopes to continue being asked to speak at functions and counsel people who need help overcoming grief.
    Her husband and four beautiful children are a blessing. She is so proud to have them in her life especially since one of her little boys passed away eight years ago. He was born with birth defects and he changed her life. Since his death, writing has become an even stronger passion of Elisa's. She always wrote, even finishing a ninety page manuscript at the age of ten, but now writing is one of her best driving forces. She tries to write for at least two hours each morning and is in a writing critic group as well as the Writers League of Utah.

    Elisa has also put together a selection of the private family photos of her son’s birth,  Zeke Jackson

    Elisa and her husband Cade are also musical, listen to some by visiting  Our Music

    A young writer to watch take a look at her blog The Crazy Life of a Writing Mum.

    A talented couple who went through so much so young, I wish them a successful and happy future together, also thankyou Elisa for asking me to review The Golden Sky, it was a privilege to do so.

  • 18 comments:

    1. Thank you for the wonderful review! This meant so much to me.

      I'm going to share it on twitter and facebook :)

      ReplyDelete
    2. Hi LindyLou,

      Wow! What a powerful and moving review, it brought a lumpt to my throat, just reading it!

      I don't tend to read biographies, as I really don't want to know the 'ins and outs' of someone's personal life, however, I can see that it may be a form of catharsis in such a traumatic instance as this, although personally, I would have wanted to keep it private once I had written it.

      I checked out all of your great links and have nothing but admiration for Elisa and Cade, a very talented and inspirational couple, who should enjoy every success and happiness in the future.

      Yvonne

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    3. Wow. This sounds like a very powerful memoir. I'm not sure it's my usual fare, but it's certainly intriguing.

      ReplyDelete
    4. Elisabeth@ It was a pleasure to be able to review the book for you. I think you were very brave to share your harrowing life experiences with the world.
      Fiction-books@ Welcome and thankyou for taking the time to comment. I agree that Elisa has shared a very private and harrowing experience, but has has done so in a brave move to try and help others in similar situations discover that things can get better.
      Talli@ Very powerful, surprisingly so when you know it was written when she was still a teenager.

      ReplyDelete
    5. What a sad story. I'm sure it was painful, but rewarding to have put down the story first in the journal, and then to read the journal to write the memoir.

      I wish you the best, Elisa.

      ReplyDelete
    6. A beautiful review, would love to read this one even though it will be painfully close to home. Our first baby a little girl, Taleah, died 19hrs after she was born. I got through with my heart forever changed. My heart goes out to Elisa and her husband

      ReplyDelete
    7. Theresa@ It seems to have become an important part of the grieving process for her doing this.

      Teddyree@ Thankyou for your comment, I think you would indeed find this a very moving and painful read, my heart goes out to you, as it did to Elisa when i read her journal.

      ReplyDelete
    8. Greetings from Finland. This blog is nice to explore, through other countries, people, culture and nature. Come and look at you Teuvo kuvat- Teuvos Images and tell us why you friends visit the Teuvo blog, because that will be the blog of the country flag of your country's flag collection to rise higher and higher. Thank you very much Teuvo Vehkalahti Finnish

      ReplyDelete
    9. Wow what a review!

      Sounds really interesting and I hadn't heard of it before - one for the wishlist I think.

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

      I'm your newest follower :)

      ReplyDelete
    10. Teuvo@ Welcome, although you not actually mention the book?!

      Somanybooks@ Thankyou so much for becoming a follower and for commenting, it is appreciated. I hope you will find more of my reviews of interest.

      ReplyDelete
    11. I am sure I will LindyL, thanks for heading back my way and the adds. I don't normally do memes but yesterday I had loads of time on my hands and I am so glad I did as I have found so many new and interesting blogs. Its is good to dip in and out of. My blog as you will see is 99% reviews too and did my first author interview the other day :D

      Thank you so much for sharing my button - I will return the favour. Are you on Bookmooch too?

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

      ReplyDelete
    12. No no, not at all, just didn't want to loose a potential regular incase you thought I was one of those blogs :) - I do pre-loved giveaways every month and sometimes a little extra (which your more than welcome to participate in if any of them interest you) but mostly it is all reviews.

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

      ReplyDelete
    13. Yeah when I first started people said they are great for increasing your volume but after I did a few I noticed very very few came back and thought it was pointless. I always return visits and comments and some of the blogs (as you can see I have a fair few I follow) I always try and visit. However there are people who never return the favour and I think there is no point in either of us having big numbers yet never reading the material or visiting.

      That said the downside is I often end up adding tons to my wishlist and going after them lol. Despite having a kindle my bookshelves are increasingly getting new books added.

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

      ReplyDelete
    14. LindyLou I just changed my button blog url - just incase you have already taken it. Also I took yours but it isn't to this blog but your picture one, did I take the right one?

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

      ReplyDelete
    15. Hi Linda

      Thre is an award waiting for you, on my blog
      http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com/

      Anne x

      ReplyDelete
    16. Lainy@ it doesn't really matter, the one for here is books, I will check your blog again. I am not very technical and need to get my badges sorted out!

      Anne@ Thanks I will call by and explain that this is an Award Free Blog, sorry.

      ReplyDelete
    17. What a great review I am reading it now and I love it even though it makes me cry...........

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Hi Jo-Anne I am so pleased you called by to check out my review, it is indeed a very emotional read.

        Delete

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