My mate's book

When you share years of writing time with someone, a bond forms like no other. Over a decade and a half ago Sylvia and I sat in the same writing class of the Geneva Writers Group. She talked about her worries of her family back in Australia where her parents still lived.

Since we worked across from each other, we began meeting regularly, comparing writing and offering comments to move the process along.

We shared our disappointments at our all too many rejections, joy at a rejection with a positive comment, ideas on how we could advance our craft, marketing sources. Sometimes I would publish something, sometimes she would. The shared joy of these early successes was never marred by jealousy on either side, we knew if one of us could, the other could.

Now she is bringing out a second short story collection down under. I share her reviews:

Sylvia Petter is a cartographer of dislocated lives. With compassionate precision, she charts the detours, the disruptive incursions of passion, loneliness and loss, the ever-shifting conceptions of home and of the self. Her characters are always on the move through complicated terrain, and the journey is richly rewarding for the reader.– Janette Turner Hospital

In simple, direct and compelling language, the stories reward the reader with a variety of distinct and memorable experiences: from the complexities of love (and unfaithfulness) to those of history and the way it treats, mistreats and selects its victims, building its ironies on the accidents of race, nationality, personality, place and parentage. With its broad geographical span and array of venues, this book would make a fine companion for a journey. Not only does it entertain; it makes you think, it makes you feel, it makes you appreciate the humanity of its many characters.– Thomas E. Kennedy, Advisory Editor, The Literary Review

Sylvia Petter’s second collection is storytelling at its best. Each story presents a mini-world complete in itself—with real-to-life characters, heart-aching situations, and “visions of wings”. Petter takes the reader for a fast moving, eclectic tour around Europe, and back and forth to Australia. Crossing cultures with every page, and shifting between generations, Petter slowly builds a world of human goodness and trust in the midst of shadows. The reader is won over by Petter’s sharp wit, polished craft and honesty. Bravo for this tour de force.– Susan M. Tiberghien, author of One Year to a Writing Life

Her publisher's website: www.ipoz.biz/Titles/BB.htm

I am so proud of you Sylvia. Congratulations...