Nothing Is As It Seems: A Novelette

by Victoria Ichizli-Bartels

Always careful and planning ahead, PhD in statistics under her belt, Elizabeth leaves her past in Germany and flies to London, the city she knows to be her birth place. Other than that and her English first name, Elizabeth knows nothing of her early childhood, before she and her Ukrainian father left for Germany. With her father’s recent death, Elizabeth visits the place of her childhood, wanting to know more. What will she find out in the majestic house? Will she regret coming here, or is there some hope that the deeply entrenched melancholy in her heart could finally melt away?

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2016

About the author

Victoria Ichizli-Bartels is a writer, coach, and consultant with a background in semiconductor physics, electronic engineering (with a Ph.D.), information technology, and business development.
While being a non-gamer in the traditional sense, Victoria coined the term self-gamification, a gameful and playful self-help approach bringing anthropology, kaizen, and gamification-based methods together to increase the quality of life.
She approaches all areas of her life this way. Due to the fun she has while turning everything in her life into games, Victoria intends never to stop designing, developing, and playing them. Inspired by a friend's tip, she now likes to call everyone who approaches their life gamefully, including herself, a “life gamer.”
Victoria is the author of more than ten books and the instructor of two online courses on turning life into fun games and living gamefully.
Victoria grew up in Moldova and has lived in Germany for twelve years. Since 2008, she has lived in Aalborg, Denmark, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is as it seems, by Victoria Ichizli-Bartels is an appropriately named short drama about Elizabeth, a young lady who returns to her childhood home in London in the hopes of gaining some closure with her past, only to discover what she never thought was possible. A simple, yet surprising read about a life that took a different road, one that eventually circled back to the beginning, where everything is revealed. This is the type of story that reminds us that we can never assume anything and that if one is willing to see the truth, it is standing there in the broad daylight.

[Jenna Scribbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to rate this book. The storyline is interesting and creative.

It was also choppy and confusing in many spots.

Give it a try and see what you think. I believe it is permanently free on Amazon.

[marian pollard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wierd

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough to keep me reading to the end, but a little confusing