Ellen Gable's Blog

Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on for the past month.

When the World Fell Silent, a Novel of the Halifax Explosion

by Donna Jones Alward

Synopsis: 1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nora Crowell wants more than her sister’s life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corps. But trouble is looming and it won’t be long before the truth comes to light.

Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life.

When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy in its wake.

My review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed, and the plot engaging. Five stars.

The Little Kids’ Book on the Eucharist

Published by Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw

Synopsis: Little Books is excited to offer a book on the Eucharist just for kids. This undated booklet features 30 days of reflections and will nurture love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist for our youngsters, generally ages 7-11.  

Each day includes a Gospel passage (Good News Translation of the Catholic Children’s Bible) along with meaningful activities, prayer prompts, and fun surprises. The kids are accompanied by Bells the cat and Whisper the church mouse, two adorable prayer companions. 

My review: This is a wonderful book that helps children understand the importance of the Holy Eucharist. Although it’s not necessarily designed to prepare children for Holy Communion, it is an excellent way to instill a love of Jesus in the Eucharist for anyone, not just children. Teaching is learning twice, so any adult or older child would also benefit from reading this book to a younger child. While there are many books that explain the Eucharist to children, this excellent book hits the nail on the head with easy-to-read information, activities, and illustrations that keep the child (and adults) interested in learning. I highly recommend this beautiful little book.

Windswept House, a Vatican Novel by Malachi Martin

Synopsis: The Cold War has ended. With a scope and daring not possible until now, an unlikely international alliance of top-level political, financial, and religious interests sees the way clear at last to its ultimate goal: the establishment of a single global society. Utopia.

These are men with nothing in common but immense power and a towering ambition for still more. With world unity and prosperity as their slogan—and with betrayal, scandal, and murder as their ready weapons—they have the means and the will to capture as their own the perfect vessel for their plans: the oldest, wiliest, and most stable political machine in the world. The Vatican.

At the vortex of this lethal struggle stands the embattled Pope, a geopolitical genius whose elimination is the short-term solution to a long-term goal, and two American brothers, Paul and Christian Gladstone, one a lawyer and the other a priest, who appear to be the perfect pawns. One falls prey to the sharp teeth of greed for power. The other will become one of the Slavic Pontiff’s closest allies . . . and will discover the darkest secrets at the very heart of papal Rome.

From America to Europe to Russia, in broad landscapes and clandestine corridors, a rich and varied cast—presidents and politicos, simple saints and savvy sinners, popes and pope-makers—clash with one another amid dramatic and sometimes bloody events that will affect the destiny of every person alive today.

My review: This was a fascinating read (it’s supposed to be based on true events and real people). However, the author uses backstory too much. The last quarter of the book is the best part, as I was turning the pages quickly to see what happened. However, the ending was not at all satisfying. Recommend (3.5/5)

Dial M – The Murder of Carol Thompson by William Swanson

Synopsis: At 9:00 on the morning of March 6, 1963, in the quiet St. Paul neighborhood of Highland Park, Mrs. Fritz Pearson glanced out her window and saw something almost unimaginable: slumped on the front steps of the home across the street was a woman, partially clothed in a blue bathrobe and bloodied beyond recognition. The woman, Mrs. Pearson would come to learn, was her beloved neighbor Carol Thompson, wife and mother of four.

Earlier that morning, T. Eugene Thompson, known to friends as “Cotton,” dropped his son off at school and headed to the office, where he worked as a criminal attorney. At 8:25 am, he phoned home, later telling police that he did so to confirm evening plans with Carol. Mr. Thompson lied.

Through police records, court transcripts, family papers, and extensive interviews, William Swanson has re-created Middle America’s “crime of the century,” the deadly plot by a husband that made headlines around the world. But Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson also tracks the lives of the Thompsons’ children. Their journey from disbelief to acceptance culminates in a private family trial where they decide whether their father truly was responsible for the violent act that crushed their childhood and forever altered their views of the world.

My review: I’ve read this book before, but the author does an incredible job describing the aftermath of the murder of a suburban housewife and mother of four. Excellent read. 5/5.

Lent, with its 40-day design, is an ideal time to grow in virtue, especially the virtue of self-sacrifice.  Through each year’s Lenten journey, we’re called to grow closer to Christ and to increase in virtue.

In the CTB Anthology Ashes: Visible & Invisible, my short story, No Greater Love, tells of 15-year-old Lexie Dugan, the oldest of five children and the family’s only daughter. Her mother is pregnant but has complications. The mom is on bed rest, and her parents rely on Lexie to help with extra chores and babysitting. Although it’s Lent, Lexie feels like she’s giving up her entire extracurricular life and, in a moment of selfishness, blurts out to her mother that she’s “never having kids.”

This short story is based on my experience many years ago as a pregnant mother on bed rest whose oldest son was forced by circumstances to do extra chores.  It also happened to be Lent. My son was only 12 at the time and hadn’t yet fully embraced the virtue of self-sacrifice.  One day was particularly difficult. There was a flood in the basement, and dishes and laundry were piled high. Even if I hadn’t been on bed rest, it would’ve been a challenging day. I had to depend on my oldest to do some of those chores.  After a few weeks, like Lexie in the short story, my son said, “That’s it. I’m never having kids. It’s too much work.” I remember thinking, Uh-oh, this wasn’t what I wanted to teach my kids. The beauty of being open to life and having children is that babies are always great gifts to their families, despite the sacrifices. I knew self-sacrifice brought great joy because I had already had four children and worked part-time from home. Parenting is tough, but the overwhelming joy has always made it worthwhile.

Weeks later, when my fifth baby was finally born, I had just finished nursing him and placed him in his bassinet in the living room. My oldest son, the one who proclaimed, “I’m never having kids!” went over to the bassinet and gently picked up his tiny baby brother. The baby started cooing and making adorable sounds. My oldest son spoke in a high-pitched voice. “Well, aren’t you the cutest baby?” The baby smiled. My son turned to me and said, “I’ve changed my mind. I want to have kids.” This son grew up to marry a disabled woman and has been her primary caretaker for many years. His devotion and dedication are remarkable.

Adolescence is a time when teens struggle with self-centeredness, and this struggle is very evident in the story about Lexie. Like my son, she at first resents the extra responsibilities, but, like her real counterpart, she eventually realizes that self-sacrifice brings great joy. This theme is prevalent in my Great War Great Love series, and all books in the series are available through CatholicTeenBooks.com.

This Lent, let’s try to practice self-sacrifice, even in small ways: allow others to go before you in line, wake up 30 minutes early once a week to help a family member, give away items to those in need, visit the local seniors’ home, and fast from treats.

Left: My oldest and youngest, 1999.

I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been working on for the past month.

My Road Goes Ever On: Rise Again by A.K. Frailey

Synopsis: The internet may be the first word in information gathering, but can it save one soul from despair or the human race from self-destruction?

Science offers insight into who we are, what we are made of, but it is through personal reflections that we can consider our extraordinary ability to live as both physical and spiritual beings.

Embrace the beauty in life and love generously with unwavering hope and faith.

Believe in renewal—undaunted and unafraid.

No matter the trials of our times, we will rise again.

My review: This is a wonderful collection of short stories that encourages readers to think about, reflect, and discover the world. I edited and formatted the book for the author. Highly recommend.

The Twilight Zone: The Original Stories

Synopsis: Thirty fantasy and science fiction short stories that were the basis for episodes of the Twilight Zone television series.

My review: While cleaning out my office, I happened to find this book I bought many years ago. Rereading it again made me realize why the Twilight Zone was such an incredibly compelling series. Highly recommend.

His Wounds – Our Woundedness by Robert LeBlanc

Synopsis: His Wounds – Our Woundedness is a nine-part reflection based on the wounds Jesus suffered during His Passion, which asks the reader to contemplate how our own human woundedness leads to our need for Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.

My Review: This is a beautiful reflection and an ideal book for Lent, helping us meditate on the wounds Jesus suffered during His Passion. I edited and formatted the book for the author. Highly recommend.

Accompanying a Dying Soul by Michael Seagriff, O.P.

Synopsis: On Ash Wednesday we are asked to remember that “we are dust and unto dust we shall return.”

Since we know not the hour God will call us to stand before His Throne of Justice, we should not wait until Lent to reflect on the current condition of our souls and the end of our lives.

Let us never forget the horror of so many souls who died during the worst of the COVID restrictions without the benefit of the Last Rites and without their loving family at their bedsides.

We must also remember that so many in our own families know not what to do spiritually as a soul approaches the end of life. Some may be unfamiliar with or have forgotten the recommended prayers.

It is for all these reasons, that I have written and compiled this little booklet of basic directions that anyone can easily follow as death approaches a loved one, a friend or even a total stranger. That we Catholics be prepared spiritually to help a dying soul is even more crucial today given the fewer number of priests available to be present at death beds.

My review: This is an essential book for every Catholic family to have on hand when preparing a dying person for eternal life. This is another manuscript I edited and formatted for the author. Highly recommend.

Revelations of Catalina on the Holy Mass by Catalina Rivas

Synopsis: In this book, Catalina reveals the spiritual dimension of the Holy Mass. Beyond what the eye can see, there is a mystical celebration that the Virgin Mary unveiled to this Bolivian mystic. From the host that mystically takes on the face of Christ, to the wine that becomes the image of the crucified Jesus, the Virgin Mary reveals the marvelous design of her Son’s love for humanity, which reaches its summit in the Holy Mass. Reading this book will transform the way you experience Mass—your participation will never be the same again.

My review: I learned about this book by watching Fr. Dan Reehil giving a presentation on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is an excellent way to view the supernatural elements of the Holy Mass. Highly recommend.

The Wonders of the Holy Name by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P.

Synopsis: Few Catholics today know about the amazing power of the Holy Name of Jesus. Urges us to invoke the name of Jesus often. By reverent use of the Holy Name, we can glorify God, call on His aid, pay our spiritual debts, assist the Poor Souls, etc. Remarkable!

My review: This short little book can help any Catholic or Christian understand the reverence and holiness of Jesus’s name. Highly recommend.

Wild at Heart and Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (two books)

Synopsis: Two Groundbreaking Books in One Volume – In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge challenged Christian men to trade in an apathetic life for a life of passion. In Captivating, John and his beautiful bride Stasi encourage Christian women to recover their heart, beauty and strength. These life-changing volumes have the potential to transform individuals, marriages and the church!

My review: A friend at church lent me this two-books-in-one volume. I enjoyed it, although I felt a lot of the material sounded very much like Theology of the Body but each book focused on either man or woman. Recommend.

Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday. Here are a few books I recommend for the season of Lent.

A Season of Mercy Lent and Easter by Catherine Doherty

Synopsis: “The Lenten spring has come!” proclaims the Byzantine Church. It is a luminous time, a time of repentance and of opening our hearts in preparation for the fullness of God’s mercy poured out through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Catherine Doherty opens for us the spirit, liturgy, traditions and customs of Lent, Holy Week and the Triduum, Easter, and Paschaltide.

Fast with the Heart by Fr. Slavko Barbaric

Synopsis: Fr. Slavko: Most respected reader, in this book, I entrust to you reflections about fasting and experiences with fasting. I desire to help you understand that fasting is necessary and that it is good to fast both for the body and the soul. Moreover, I desire to help you decide to fast and to experience how good it is to fast. As I entrust these reflections and experiences to you, I implore God to give you the grace to start fasting and praying so that you may yourself experience that Our Lady is right in calling us to fast and pray.

From the Hub to the Heart by Andy LaVallee

Synopsis: This book tells the story of what happened when a movie star known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel, looked into this successful man’s eyes one day and challenged him just as Christ challenged the rich young man. He dared Andy to visit Medjugorje, an obscure, poor village in Croatia, where for over thirty years it has been alleged that the Virgin Mary has been visiting earth and calling her children to live lives of prayer, penance and fasting. Andy’s first reaction was predictable; “No way am I flying fifteen hours to pray a Rosary!” But little by little, Our Lady’s call to Andy opened his heart and he boarded that plane, prayed that Rosary and his life has never been the same.

Reviews: “The past decade of Andy LaVallee’s life shows the power of Men’s Conferences, the impact of good Catholic friendships, the help of the Blessed Mother to draw near to Christ Jesus, the power of fasting, and the positive impact of Catholic social teaching in the workplace. We are fortunate in the Archdiocese of Boston to have leaders such as Andy LaVallee who actively reach out to invite others to experience the joy of living as a disciple within the Catholic community.” Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archdiocese of Boston

“In 1994, Saint John Paul II wrote: ‘The whole of the Christian life is like a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, whose unconditional love for every human creature […] we discover anew each day.’

“That is the pilgrimage that Andrew LaVallee took and journeyed through. In this pilgrimage, we each can experience the fullness of our conversion when the new life of faith from within intersects with the old world from without. For Andrew LaVallee, writing and publishing this journey is yet a testimony of his desire to reach the fullness of his conversion, not only for himself but to share its grace with others. May God’s Name be glorified and many people be inspired by this conversion pilgrimage and journey deeper into their own conversion through this book.” Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, Mother Servant and Foundress of Daughters of Mary of Nazareth

I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on for the past month.

In His Hands: A Study of Trust and the Book of Job by Denise Mercado

Synopsis: What is the point of suffering in this world – especially innocent suffering? And where is God when the innocent suffers?
The Book of Job is an Old Testament treasure packed with answers to the grief we experience in life. As we journey through life, we often experience suffering firsthand. Other times, suffering occurs as we try to comfort a friend facing dark times. Denise Mercado invites readers to discover the truth about God through a deep dive into the Book of Job and the benefits of trust.
Denise shares her personal journey through grief in the loss of both her husband and son, along with the experiences of many others who grappled with suffering on all levels. This is an engaging book of light and truth where Denise encourages the reader to reflect on God’s goodness and presence during suffering. This book provides an opportunity to see the challenges of life as God would have us see it.

My review: This is an outstanding book using the Book of Job as a template for how God uses suffering to build our trust in Him. Highly recommend.

Subverted: How I helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement by Sue Ellen Browder

Synopsis: Contraception and abortion were not originally part of the 1960s women’s movement. How did the women’s movement, which fought for equal opportunity for women in education and the workplace, and the sexual revolution, which reduced women to ambitious sex objects, become so united?

In Subverted, Sue Ellen Browder documents for the first time how it all happened, in her own life and in the life of an entire country. Trained at the University of Missouri School of Journalism to be an investigative journalist, Browder unwittingly betrayed her true calling and became a propagandist for sexual liberation. As a long-time freelance writer for Cosmopolitan magazine, she wrote pieces meant to soft-sell unmarried sex, contraception, and abortion as the single woman’s path to personal fulfillment. She did not realize until much later that propagandists higher and cleverer than herself were influencing her thinking and her personal choices as they subverted the women’s movement.

The thirst for truth, integrity, and justice for women that led Browder into journalism in the first place eventually led her to find forgiveness and freedom in the place she least expected to find them. Her in-depth research, her probing analysis, and her honest self- reflection set the record straight and illumine a way forward for others who have suffered from the unholy alliance between the women’s movement and the sexual revolution.

My review: A fellow Catholic book-lover recommended this book to me last week, and I’m very glad she did. This is an excellent book that tells the backstory of how the abortion and reproductive rights lobby became part of the women’s movement and sexual revolution. The author, a former writer for Cosmopolitan Magazine, wrote articles under the guise of facts but were, in fact, propaganda, in which she made up facts, figures, and fictional surveys. She fell under the propaganda herself and lived much of her life as a “free” woman, taking the Pill and having an abortion. After all, she thought, it’s legal now, why don’t I take advantage of it? However, she never expected to experience such overwhelming loss and emptiness, and after years of searching, found herself entering the Catholic Church. Highly recommend.

We are Here by Deanna Klingel

Synopsis: In 1816, in a swampland in northeastern North Carolina, Josiah Collins plants his dream. This is the story of how his unlikely dream becomes the third largest slave-holding plantation in North Carolina, and one of the largest plantations of the upper South. Eighty years pass under the ownership of Josiah Collins, I, II, and III, hundreds of acres of swamp become fields of crops and sawmill operations. The plantation is changed forever by the Civil War, and Josiah Collins IV becomes the first Collins to own no slaves.

Here you will find the stories of just a few of the 800 enslaved who lived and died at Somerset Place. They leave their indelible marks of language and humanity, lives of love, laughter, sorrow, songs, and tears on these pages. The museum is where you learn the history. This book is where you meet the people who wrote that history, planting, harvesting, cooking, healing, birthing, and burying. Finally, the last of the descendants must decide how to live with the freedom they have coveted for a lifetime, and is now theirs. Who are they now? Can they leave here? Where will they go? Where are their people? Along the now abandoned canal, dug by the enslaved so long ago, the tall grasses whisper in the breeze, we are here. Remember us.

My review: Like any story of slaves, this is a difficult read (although not graphic). However, it describes slaves as human beings and as anything but “chattel.” Young people need to hear more stories about the tragedy of slavery and that slaves were unique and irreplaceable images of God. Highly recommend.

Rescued II: True Stories for Catholic Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart

Synopsis: Do you like to read adventure stories filled with excitement and real heroes? Of course you do! In this treasury of true stories, you can read about St. George and his battle with a dragon, Mother Cabrini’s perilous trip across the Andes Mountains, and the famous dog sled teams that carried serum to dying children in Alaska. Also included are stories about Mother Angelica’s rescue by her guardian angel and Sister Blandina’s showdown with cowboys in the Wild West. Don’t miss this book! The excitement never ends. Illustrated. For ages 7 and up.

My review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book of true stories by Kathryn Swegart. While it is written for ages 7 and up, adults will find these stories fascinating as well. Highly recommend.

The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse

Synopsis: “To dive into a Wodehouse novel is to swim in some of the most elegantly turned phrases in the English language.”―Ben Schott

Follow the adventures of Bertie Wooster and his gentleman’s gentleman, Jeeves, in this stunning new edition of one of the greatest comic novels in the English language. When Aunt Dahlia demands that Bertie Wooster help her dupe an antique dealer into selling her an 18th-century cow-creamer. Dahlia trumps Bertie’s objections by threatening to sever his standing invitation to her house for lunch, an unthinkable prospect given Bertie’s devotion to the cooking of her chef, Anatole. A web of complications grows as Bertie’s pal Gussie Fink-Nottle asks for counseling in the matter of his impending marriage to Madeline Bassett. It seems Madeline isn’t his only interest; Gussie also wants to study the effects of a full moon on the love life of newts. Added to the cast of eccentrics are Roderick Spode, leader of a fascist organization called the Saviors of Britain, who also wants that cow-creamer, and an unusual man of the cloth known as Rev. H. P. “Stinker” Pinker. As usual, butler Jeeves becomes a focal point for all the plots and ploys of these characters, and in the end only his cleverness can rescue Bertie from being arrested, lynched, and engaged by mistake!

My review: This was recommended by one of my daughters-in-law. She had received the gift for Christmas and invited me to read the first few pages. I was hooked. This novel, written in the 30s, is a sometimes laugh-out-loud story featuring quirky, well-developed characters and exquisite language. Highly recommend.

During this month of January and the March for Life, it’s important to remember the prolife witness of my mother.

“Nothing great is ever achieved without enduring much.” St. Catherine of Siena

If the struggles my mother endured are any indication of her achievements in life, then what she achieved here on earth can be considered great, indeed.

My mother (Betti) was born in 1934 and died in 2007, but her influence in my life and in the lives of my children, their spouses, my nieces, nephews, siblings, and grandchildren has continued.

On the one hand, she was generous to a fault, often going into debt when we were young so that my siblings and I could have plentiful presents under the Christmas tree. She loved coming up to Canada and especially enjoyed surprising my boys with unexpected trips (and she never missed a baptism, a First Communion, or a musical performance until she became terminally ill).  She had a unique, wry sense of humor and was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.  Even today, she still makes me laugh when I think of one of her funny sayings.

On the other hand, she chain-smoked most of her life (she quit when she was 61), could swear like a sailor, and wasn’t always faithful with church attendance.

But as a young mother with three small children and nine months pregnant with another, my mother watched her husband (my father) spiral into a full-blown psychotic breakdown and watch as he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. That same day, she went into labor with my youngest brother. With the help of extended family, she endured, and Dad finally came home, although as Mom said, “He was a different person.”

Mom survived a critical illness when she was 33 years old and was not expected to live. I was only seven at the time, but I remember how thin she was. She weighed eighty pounds and at five feet, six inches tall, she was a walking skeleton.  She beat the odds, though, and lived a fairly healthy life until her sixties when chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caught up with her.

She became a widow at age 44 when my father died suddenly and tragically.

Mom later remarried, got pregnant at the age of 47, and had the audacity to be thrilled. When her doctor suggested she have an abortion (because it was too risky and the baby might be deformed), she refused. When he demanded she have an abortion, Mom swore at him. Then he told her to find another doctor because he wouldn’t be delivering the baby. I’m thankful that she and my stepfather were open to life. Again, Mom beat the odds, had an uneventful pregnancy, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (my youngest sister, Laurie, now 44, and a Consecrated Virgin in the World).

A lifetime of smoking caught up with her in early 2004, when she contracted a particular virulent strain of pneumonia, was on a ventilator and in a coma (and supposedly “brain dead.”)  Once more, she beat the odds and eventually woke up and endured eight months in rehab and lived an additional three years (which she never took for granted).

I had never known Mom to be anything but determined and tenacious. And she always tried to find the humor in everything. Just before she died, she called me up to tell me that she had just watched a TV program on the Little People of America. “Did you know you could join them, if you wanted?”

“Um, okay.”

“Yes, the maximum height is four feet, ten inches.  You’re four-nine.”

“Why would I want to join them?”

“So you could go to conventions and feel like the tallest person in the room!” Then she burst out laughing.

People were always surprised when they met Mom because she was tall (five feet, six inches) and I’m so short (now four feet, eight inches).  If we were doing dishes together, she would look down at me and say, “El, are you standing in a hole?”

In the months before she died, we had many wonderful conversations.  We talked about her life, her memories, her faith.  We talked about Jesus and heaven and how exciting it would be to meet Jesus.

When she was within hours of death, Laurie called me, and I made the trip to New Jersey from Canada.  After a two-hour wait at the border, we arrived in Cortland, New York, so I called to let her know I was halfway there.  My sister answered the phone and told Mom that I was in Cortland. I could hear her say, “She’s only in Cortland?  Tell her I love her and to be careful.”

Shortly after that, she went into a coma. I arrived that evening. She was still alive but unconscious.  She had asked my sister and I to recite the Litany of the Saints and the Divine Mercy Chaplet when her time was close, so we did that and then I went to bed. The next morning when I checked on her, her breathing had slowed and she was cool, but she still had a weak pulse.  I whispered in her ear, “It’s okay if you need to go, Mom.  We’ll be all right.  I love you.”

An hour or so later, my other siblings had assembled around her bedside.  I was sitting next to my brother and all of a sudden, I felt as if Mom were on the ceiling looking down at us.  I was about to nudge my brother on the shoulder and tell him when he said, “Hey, El, I feel like Mom is on the ceiling looking down at us.”

Mom entered into eternal life on the Feast of St. Dominic, August 8, 2007, and was buried on the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, August 14th.   It’s been nearly nineteen years since she died, and her influence and humor are still being felt by our family.  If Mom’s endurance and tenacity are any indication, great things were definitely achieved with her life.

I wrote a book about Mom, entitled, Remembering Mom. It’s available on Kindle and in print.

Copyright 2026 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading or working on for the past month.

Pilgrim Tales by the Catholic Writers Guild

Synopsis: A pilgrimage is often thought of as a journey towards God. It can take many forms, as this collection of short stories from the Catholic Writer’s Guild shows. Here we have pilgrims journeying through frozen mountains, through life, through outer space, through grief, through dinosaur-infested crags, through history, through love, and even through purgatory. Containing fifteen brand new short stories from fifteen Catholic authors, this anthology showcases work from established, award-winning novelists, alongside work from relatively unknown authors, displaying the breadth of talent within the Guild today.

Who says Catholic literature is dead? Stories by:

G. M. Baker, Nancy Bechel, Isabelle Wood, Karen Meyer, Karina Fabian, John Ruberto, Laura Ruberto, Corinna Turner, Rietta Parker, Judy D’Ammasso Tarbox, A.R.K. Watson, Mary McWilliams, Andrew Seddon, Jane Lebak, Mary Jo Thayer

My review: I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology of beautiful pilgrim-themed short stories. I finished the book in one sitting and I highly recommend it!

A Book of Christmas Miracles

Synopsis: Christmas and Miracles! Two of our favorite things. There’s no better way to celebrate the season! Anyone who loves the holidays will enjoy these magical stories of joy and wonder.
 
We’ve chosen our favorite holiday miracle stories from our past books. You’ll love these heartwarming and awe-inspiring tales of answered prayers, divine intervention, holiday angels, joyous giving, family forgiveness, and the wonders of gratitude.

These true, personal stories will deepen your faith and show you the blessings in your life. They’ll leave you smiling and inspired, ready to share your renewed Christmas spirit. And we didn’t forget that miracles happen during the rest of the season, too, with stories about Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and New Year’s.

There’s something for everyone in these joy-filled pages, and you’ll be supporting Toys for Tots as well, creating miracles for children all over the U.S.

My review: This has become a favorite of mine over the past few years. I thoroughly enjoy reading about true-story miracles. Highly recommend!

Christmas Miracles

Synopsis: An inspiring seasonal read

Perfect for reflective moments throughout the holidays

Makes a thoughtful Christmas gift

My review: This is another book I always read in December. Heart-warming stories of Christmas miracles. Highly recommend.

What was the inspiration for A Serpent’s Pursuit?

That’s a logical question that I’ve tried to fully answer in my own mind. I wanted to write a book since I was in my late twenties–not exactly yesterday. You might say A Serpent’s Pursuit came together like pieces of a puzzle. I liked the idea of a story involving people who can be referred to as salt-of-the-earth types. To have characters fit that mold, it seemed to make sense to use a third-world country setting where fewer official safety nets exist for people. This would result in people having fewer expectations to receive something for nothing. Obviously, being a cradle, and yes, to the grave, Catholic was a key factor in my being motivated to write this particular book.

What do you hope the reader will take away from your book?

It would be nice to think a reader who has drifted a bit from his or her Catholic faith might get even a slight nudge to get back to fully practicing their faith.  Hopefully, even a person not practicing any faith at all could get some positive motivation to reconsider his or her approach to life. Second, it would be fun to have the reader look forward to the next page of the novel and find an exciting, adventurous, even surprising event that keeps them from setting the book down. Third, the novel hopefully reminds us that redemption can be part of the human experience.    

George/Blos is such a beautiful character.  Did you base him on a real person or persons?   

Blos can be considered as a representation of the challenges and successes of the Church’s saints, martyrs, missionaries and laypersons. Saint Padre Pio being attacked by demons is one example. Actual miracles that have taken place keep A Serpent’s Pursuit within the bounds of reality. The neat part is that many of us may see some characteristics of Blos in the religious and clerical community, friends, neighbors and family members.  

Are you working on any other writing projects?  

No, writing A Serpent’s Pursuit has been a long, but worthwhile experience. My interest now is experiencing what level of acceptance the reading public has for A Serpents Pursuit.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Giovanni Guareschi, via his priest protagonist, Don Camillo, provided hours of light-hearted short story entertainment. G.K Chesterton’s short stories about priest and part time detective Father Brown is recommended, especially for fans of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I have enjoyed autobiographies of “ordinary” people in extraordinary situations, celebrities, historical figures etc. such as General U. S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, P.T Barnum,  and Yogi Berra.  One autobiographical example brings to light Church history that might be described as generally unnoticed: Father John Gerard’s documentation of his adventures and persecution as a hunted Catholic priest  in 16 century-17 century England.    

To purchase A Serpent’s Pursuit, click here!

Today, I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and CatholicMom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been working on or reading for the past month.

A Serpent’s Pursuit by M. P. McBride

Synopsis: George Abiola, a Nigerian boy, is nicknamed Blos (blessed little old soul) due to his wise, positive, Christian approach to life. His chosen life’s path brings unwanted attention from a dangerous antagonist, an evil presence who mysteriously appears throughout George’s life.

At a young age, he joins his grandmother in America, setting him on a trajectory destined for both humble service… and fame. After George has unwillingly gained international notoriety, the manifestation of his antagonist is further motivated to destroy the innocent target of its hate.

George must gain the courage to confront evil face to face.  Who will prevail?

New from FQP!

The Cries of Jesus from the Cross by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Synopsis: As death approaches, the human heart speaks its greatest words of love to those it holds most dear. So it was with Jesus who in His final hours gave us seven last “words,” rich with spiritual meaning for every human soul.

For the first time ever, Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s complete writings and reflections on Christ’s last words have been compiled into this one book. Sheen shows how the seven words are, in fact, a full catechism on the spiritual life. From them, you’ll learn the secrets to living the Beatitudes, ways to avoid the deadly vices of anger, envy, lust, and pride, and how to cultivate the heavenly virtues of fortitude, prudence, justice, and charity.

My review: I know it’s Advent, but Advent can also be a “little Lent.” A friend of mine lent me this book, and as soon as I started to read it, I knew I had to buy it. The following quotes jumped off the page for me. Regarding others’ hatred of you, he says, “Be glad and rejoice for their hate. It will harm only our pride but not our character; it will cauterize our conceit but not blemish our soul–for the very insult of the world is the consecration of our goodness.” And this, “If you have enemies, if they hate you, if they revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil things against you, and you wish to stop their hatred, to release the hatred from their clenched fists–there is but one way to do it: love them!”

Donkey Bells: Advent and Christmas by Catherine Doherty

Synopsis and Review: One of my favorite Advent books and one that I read every year at this time is a book by Catherine Doherty called “Donkey Bells,” published by Madonna House Publications. I love to read this inspiring book curled up in a comfortable chair by the wood stove, a hot chocolate or apple cider beside me, Advent and Christmas music playing quietly in the background. This lovely book is filled with heartwarming stories, customs, and traditions (such as the Advent wreath, baking, the blessing of the Christmas tree) and moving reflections for the season. It is a beautiful way for children, teens and adults to prepare their hearts for Christmas.

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Synopsis: The award-winning, best-selling book that changes the narrative of the “Ripper” murders forever

Polly, Annie, Elisabeth, Catherine, and Mary Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from some of London’s wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods, from the factory towns of middle England, and from Wales and Sweden. They wrote ballads, ran coffeehouses, lived on country estates; they breathed ink dust from printing presses and escaped human traffickers.

What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888. The person responsible was never identified, but the character created by the press to fill that gap has become far more famous than any of these five women. Now, in this gripping narrative of five lives, Hallie Rubenhold finally sets the record straight and gives these women back their stories.

My review: This was a compelling, fascinating story of the five women who were murdered by Jack the Ripper. The narrative has always been that these women were the lowest of the earth, prostitutes who sold their bodies. But the narrative is much more complex than that. The last two lines of the book illustrate the tragedy of these women’s deaths: “The victims of Jack the Ripper were never ‘just prostitutes; they were daughters, wives, mothers, sisters. They were women. They were human beings and that surely in itself is enough.” Highly recommend, although the history sometimes got a bit tedious when describing the women’s backstories. (And kudos to the cover designer for this incredible cover!)

Karen: A Brother Remembers by Kelsey Grammer

Synopsis: On July 1, 1975, Kelsey Grammer’s younger sister, eighteen-year-old Karen Grammer, was raped and murdered. In Karen, Kelsey reveals their past, celebrates their youth together, mourns her loss, and unearths his struggle for faith and healing in the decades since her death.

Karen by Kelsey Grammer delves into the tragic story of the author’s sister, Karen, who was brutally murdered at the age of eighteen. Kelsey was just twenty years old when his younger sister, a recent high school graduate, moved to Colorado Springs, where she was kidnapped by several men who had intended to rob the Red Lobster where she worked. They instead kidnapped Karen, raped her, and ultimately stabbed her to death.

Through this memoir, Grammer poignantly recounts the memories of his sister and the impact her loss had on his life and family. With raw honesty, Grammer explores the profound grief and devastation that followed Karen’s death, as well as the long and arduous journey toward healing. He bravely confronts the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of coping with such a profound loss.

Karen also serves as a testament to Grammer’s lifelong journey with grief and his struggle to defeat the sting of death with the memory of a life filled with joy—irreplaceable joy. In sharing his story, Grammer aims to help others who have experienced similar loss, offering solace and encouragement to cherish the love they knew, however brief, on their own path toward healing.

This book is a moving tribute to Karen and the brother’s love that survives her.

My review: Overall, I found this book intriguing, not only in the way Grammer writes (disjointed but filled with incredibly rich prose), but also because his entire adult life has been lived through the lens of a brother of a murder victim. Although he seems to have faith in God, he also uses mediums and psychics. When he talks about his girlfriend having an abortion, he writes with a sadness that’s hard to describe (and yet remains pro-choice.) Recommend.

A Serpent’s Pursuit by M.P. McBride is now available on Amazon!

Synopsis: George Abiola, a Nigerian boy, is nicknamed Blos (blessed little old soul) due to his wise, positive, Christian approach to life. His chosen life’s path brings unwanted attention from a dangerous antagonist, an evil presence who mysteriously appears throughout George’s life.

At a young age, he joins his grandmother in America, setting him on a trajectory destined for both humble service… and fame. After George has unwillingly gained international notoriety, the manifestation of his antagonist is further motivated to destroy the innocent target of its hate.

George must gain the courage to confront evil face to face. Who will prevail?

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