My children’s book and poetry book can be purchased on Amazon.
Poetry
My first novel, Apple Creek Farm came out in March 2016, and can be purchased from me directly.
After surviving two failed marriages, Sylvia is a recently divorced mother living in the Illinois wilderness struggling to raise two teenagers while trying to mend emotional scars meted out by domestic violence. Despite the odds, Sylvia faces the wilderness with a strong determination to keep her heart, mind, body, spirit, and family intact as she rebuilds her life on Apple Creek Farm and discovers the unknown possibility that love does not equal pain.
Illinois Native Gail Johnston to Debut Novel On Surviving Domestic Abuse
BELLFLOWER, Calif. – March 11, 2016 – PRLog — Gail Johnston, a resident of Modesto, Illinois will debut her first adult novel entitled Apple Creek Farm on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
Apple Creek Farm is the first breakout novel by Gail Johnston. Her debut work is a contemporary novel set against the rural untapped wilderness of Illinois.It is an inspirational work that chronicles the challenges of a recently divorced mother, Sylvia, living in the Illinois wilderness struggling to raise two teenagers while battling the emotional scars of two failed marriages wrecked by domestic violence. The psychological wounds she has received in her past relationships have now worn out their initial intensity making her stronger, surer, and steadier than before.
Reviews For Apple Creek Farm:
Apple Creek Farm
by
Megan Scheer (Editor)
The song of a free bird is different in its unbridled joy from the restrained song of a caged bird. Release the caged bird and you will notice that it surpasses the free bird in its celebration of its freedom. It flies higher since it is now stronger than it has been before and it is not afraid to live more fully anymore. It is somewhat similar with us. Release from a toxic situation or company or a relationship can open a whole new world before us, give us wings to fly, to explore life like we have not done before. What a fine morning that is to wake up and know you are far, far away and can never be hurt or insulted again; to know that you have rescued yourself from a savage island and can now enter into civilization again.
The situation is the same for Sylvia who stands at the heart of the novel ‘Apple Creek Farm’ by Gail Johnston. Sylvia has had a really dark past. The men in her life have never valued her and the psychological wounds she has received in her past relationships have now worn out their initial intensity, making her stronger, surer, and steadier than before. Once she frees herself from her past, she is filled with a whole new beautiful world of endless possibilities. Her love for Nature and Animals and her determination to hold herself and her kids together leads her to rebuild a healthy life in the wilderness of Illinois at Apple Creek Farm and she begins her new life with her two teenage children Alynna and Doug and her adorable pets Oreo, Buffy, Lexi, and Roxy.
These lives coalesce with the vast beauty of wild Nature and adventures come knocking with surprising frequency. Animals reveal their mischievous as well as as their untamed, dangerous sides as they gradually give recognition to the friendly intruders in their domain. Whitetail fawns, wild turkeys, black and yellow spiders, blue jays, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels all spin a warm and curious blanket of beauty around Sylvia’s daily life as she gets busy gardening, cooking, and coping with the tantrums of her kids. Hunting goes hand in hand with gratefulness for Mother Nature’s bounty and each day raises the veil from the face of Apple Creek Farm, revealing unexpected sides of the place.
Will Sylvia be able to rise from her past ashes fully to rediscover herself? Will she be able to leave her past behind to embrace the free spirit within her and within the vast flora and fauna before her or will her past hunt her down and defeat her? Discover ‘Apple Creek Farm’ by Gail Johnston to get to know the courage and the determination in a woman to live life to its fullest and the trials and tribulations that she will fight, to give a healthy and happy future to her children. Who knows, this novel might make you value your freedom and life much more and even lead you to see more beauty in the simplicity around you.
Review
“Gail Johnston has written survival like no other. For a woman to survive abusive marriages and the cruel hardships at Apple Creek farm, it takes a woman like Sylvia. She proved that to pull oneself through, you must have strength, courage, and a lot of heart. Gail has written what it took for Sylvia. Apple Creek is a fascinating story that keeps your attention to the end.” Sandra Kohlbrecher, Author of : “New Haden” “Graffiti Bridge” and “Words, An Anthology of Short Writings”
Dawn Loyd5.0 out of 5 stars True strength and determination Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2016
I loved the fact that the author had shown true strength and adventure. This was not easy after horrific and heart breaking times in her life. I truly enjoyed the true spirit that shows through when a women has no other choice but to be strong. I really recommend this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read! Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me interested and had surprises for me I didn’t expect. I hope this author continues writing and has success doing it. Good read!
Coming Soon:
“The Trees Are Watching” A collection of nature poetry.
“Blue Ridge Hill” The Sequel to Apple Creek Farm
Gail's Blog 