Hilton novelist ready to launch her sequel
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AN Easter Ross writer whose debut novel was written and published as a surprise birthday present for her Western-loving husband is now getting set to launch its sequel.
Hilton-based Elizabeth Lyle, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), released unusual Western ‘The Mindwalker’ in 2015 after jokingly telling husband Jim she would do it after he complained about being unable to find anything statisfactory to read.
Perhaps it was a way of thanking him for his part in setting her on the road to literary achievement in the first place.
"Jim threw a writing course into my lap when I was going through a rough time with an MS relapse," she said.
"He told me, ‘You’ve got an English degree – use it.’"
Attending the You Time writer’s group at Tain Library, ‘The Mindwalker’ was completed at breakneck speed, telling the story of 17-year-old Kansas youth Buck Ross at the start of the Ameican Civil War.
Thinking it was a case of "goal accomplished" she put the story and the characters from her mind before Jim suggested she check to see whether she had any reviews on Amazon.
In general they were encouraging.
On reader said: "A bit out of the ordinary, difficult to put down, hope this author writes some more quality stories."
Another said: "Fantastic story. It was so difficult to put down. A lovely touch of Americana with a twist. The plot was wonderful.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the pages and getting to know the characters in the book, and it is full of great characters! I really look forward to a sequel."
Given this, Jim encouraged her to tell the next chapter in the story.
"I launched ‘The Mindwalker’ at his insistence,on October 17, 2015, but I self-published with Create Space so he could see it before he left," Elizabeth said.
"Jim made me promise to write this second book 10 days before he died.
‘He said ‘I told you it wasn’t a normal Western. I told you it’s a saga. Now, for my sake, let the hero fight in the Civil War.’"
The resulting tale, ‘The Journey With Two Eagles’, begins in January 1862.
Starting in Kansas again it moves further afield, however, as Buck seeks out a young stable boy who has run off to war.
It also incorporates the brutal Battle of Shiloh.
Born in Scotland but brought up in Canada, mid-1800s Kansas inspired Elizabeth she said, "because it’s smack in the heartland of the United States and its people embrace the solid work ethic the pioneers of the country had to have."
‘The Journey With Two Eagles’ gets its official launch at Tain Library at 12.30pm on Thursday, November 1.
Everyone is welcome to attend and teas and coffees will be provided.
