The Twisted Road of One Writer: The Birth of the Bregdan Chronicles

The Bregdan Chronicles

by Ginny Dye

This book is not an actual continuation of The Bregdan Chronicles. It is an answer to the constant request to know how The Bregdan Chronicles started. If you're not interested, you can move ahead to more Bregdan adventures in Book # 14 - Misty Shadows of Hope.

Some days stand out in your mind so clearly that you can remember every moment.

You can remember every smell. Every thought you had. Every word that someone says.

You remember that the sky was cloudless, and the day was hot and thick with humidity. You remember it was a day that totally changed what you believed your life would be.

I had one of those days… My story of being a writer begins the day I vowed I would never write.

I’m going to warn you now that this book is not going to be a “straight line journey”. I don’t believe anyone’s life is a straight journey. I believe we all travel many twisted roads to get to where we are right now. We experience things we don’t believe are significant – only appreciating their significance years later when we are able to look back and see how each event fits into the grand puzzle of our complicated lives. It could be that my journey is more twisted than most, but if that is true it’s what was necessary to prepare me to write.

I savor and appreciate every moment now; even the ones I thought would destroy me.

I truly never thought I would never write this book because I am a very private person. A conversation with the person I trust most in the world convinced me to change my mind. She convinced me my readers deserved to hear the story of just how The Bregdan Chronicles came to be.

You’ll learn about the day I decided to never write again. And, the bedridden period of my life that finally made me write my first book.

You’ll learn about my years of living with a prejudiced family, enduring the bigotry and rioting of the Charlotte school system in the 60’s & 70’s, and my defiance that taught me the truth.

You’ll learn the family secret that almost devastated me when I discovered it. You’ll learn just why I decided to write about the Civil War & Reconstruction.

You’ll learn how long The Bregdan Chronicles will last. Maybe. I’m not sure I know!

You’ll journey the twisted roads of my life that have led me to now. And, you’ll learn the most important reason I’ve decided to make my life an open book to my readers…

My readers are part of my family. I look forward to sharing the adventure of this book with you!

Blessings, Ginny Dye

Genres: Historical Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2018

About the author

Has previously published books under the pseudonym Virginia Gaffney.

Reviews

[Barbara A. White · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ginny's Life Unveiled

I chose this rating because I had a hard time reading this book. I had to push myself to finish it & it seemed to last forever. I did not like the constant pushing of being a Bregdan Woman & what could I do to accomplish that. I would have liked it better, possibly, if it was just an autobiography. I LOVE the Bregden series & read through the books quickly but just didn't like this one. Looking forward to the upcoming historical saga.

[Kathy Rhode · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not part of the series. The author put this one in the middle to tell about how the series got started and her life. She is a remarkable woman. This book is a little frenetic, but so is her life! It was interesting.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ginnie Dye is a woman with unbounded energy, determination, and good will. In this book, she tells us about parts of her life and the genesis of her historical fiction series in a somewhat disjointed manner. As other reviewers have mentioned, her years in marketing might well have made her blind to the fact that she oversells her series when there is no need to do so: the Bregdan Chronicles are doing just fine. This is also a self-help book. As someone over 70, who has lived many of the principles Ginnie favors, I’d like to note what I see may be a contradiction in her thinking. There is a tug and pull between urging woman to be all they can be, to strive to be achievers, overcome all obstacles, and urging women (and men) to find a path that is their own and which does not necessarily involve constant efforts at (over) achievement. In my case, I have reached a contemplative state in my life. As a chronic disease and the pandemic keeps a home a lot, I enjoy reading, learning and… well… maturing, that is, shedding many worn ideas and contemplating the world and myself with more compassion than ever. Helping people has always been part of my life but I have no desire to ‘achieve’. I am not competitive and while doing my best is something I always try to do, I never had any desire to go faster, higher, whatever. And I think that’s perfectly legitimate way to be. The reason this ‘tug and pull’ in the book is important is that towards the end I can see some readers being discouraged; feeling that something is being asked of them which they cannot possibly achieve. Personally, I have thought enough about life to shake off that feeling but younger readers many not feel that way.

[Linda Kawtoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous read! Ginny is an amazing writer. I have read all 12 of her books in The Brendan Chronicles and have loved them all! I just finished reading #13, The Twisted Road Of One Writer, which is not a continuation of the series. Ginny tells her own story. She writes about how she came to write The Bregdan Chronicles, about the characters, the Civil War, what it means to be a Bregdan Woman and so much more. I chuckled when I read about how she keeps track of all of the characters as that is something that I have always wondered about and…..now I know. I throughly enjoyed learning so much about Ginny, her love of the great outdoors, her dreams of a better, kinder world, a world where we are all equals. She shares with us the things she is most passionate about and about her own family history. You can feel her struggle in dealing with her own health issues and her strength and fortitude to become healthy again. Having read this book, I feel as though I have actually met Ginny and that we are good friends. We haven’t met, of course but regardless, I feel as though we have. What a remarkable woman and definitely someone I respect and admire. I am in awe of everything she has accomplished and how much she continues to do so. Thank you, Ginny for being a voice for all those in need, for making a difference and showing us how we can strive to do the same. I am so looking forward to #14 of The Bregdan Chronicles, Misty Shadows of Hope. I have no doubt that it will be amazing!

[Donna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Was expecting another Bregdan Chronicles book, instead it is an interesting journey of Ginny Dye. Her ups downs and illnesses that brought us this Bregdan's.

[Kathleen K. Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great! It covered her life and showed how she worked her writing and in her own way!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable to "meet" the author this way.

[Valerie L. Rider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring

I have loved all the Brendan Chronicle books and was lucky enough to read them consecutively during the tough time of the pandemic. Even though both my husband and I got the virus, we were able to stay home and take care of each other and our pets and horses while recovering. These books provided hours of entertainment and really helped keep me from getting depressed while having to stay isolated or socially distanced from friends and family. Thank you Ginny for writing so many wonderful and thought-provoking stories. You quickly became one of my favorite writers.

[D.K. Ricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait!

Your life is a spectacular, glorious, testament of a well lived, appreciated, humble, giving, loving, bold, determined to succeed, Listening to the Spirit's whisper, trusting and not judging and Truly being a Bregdan Woman. Thank you for taking the bold step to share your life with your readers. Thanks for challenging us to be better, do better because through knowledge we know better. Thank you for letting us know that dreams can come true. We can't stop pumping the well until the water flows or until our dreams become reality. Your funny yet inspiring way of daring us to step up, makes me more determined to follow the path to fulfill my purpose. The Bregdan Woman in you makes me proud to be a Bregdan Woman too! In this day and time we need to bring each other up, look for the positive and discover the blessed gifts we have and share that with the world. I Love how you do that everyday, and in your books!

[John Kottelenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opportunity

If you are reading the Bregdan Chronicle series, you will want to read this book. You will getsome straight talk from and valuable insight about the author. Simply said you will know that the books that will be written by her will be reveal truths about history that we never knew before. You will get an appeciation for the amount of research and dedication that will go into each book. You will also get an appreciation of an author who has not had an easy early life and yet never gave uo on her paasion. Thank you Ginny for your contribution to make this a better world by sharing your experience, your wisdom and your lifes story via this book. God bless you.

[Alice Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life well lived!

Like all of us, her life has had its ups & downs but how she responded to them is what makes her special. She is her own definition of a Bregdan Woman!
I enjoyed reading about all the interesting and exciting experiences she had & could relate to some of them. Her positivity shines throughout the book. I agree with much of what she says especially regarding love & acceptance! I like the encouragement given to improve my life. She has been blessed with a gift that gives her a voice to many & she uses it to uplift people.
Thank you Ginny for sharing your life with us!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of a talent author and marvelous woman

A very insightful book filled with information, encouragement, and thought provoking stories. Ginny, you truly have a God Given gift! I am so glad you realize this in time to write all those books that have helped and guided so many people young and old. I have preordered the next Brendan book and can't wait to read and be inspired.

[Debbie Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational. God has put a purpose in my life. To be quiet and listen. I did and He gave the answer I moved beyond my fear of what will they think of my texted. I told them to find a quiet

Place and listen. Jesus will help you find the answers. Thank you for the courage to push forward. I love my journey. D. L. Gibson

[Sue Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

No.

Ginny writes about her life the good and the bad.She tells about how she was inspired to start writing again after a few years of denying that she could write and be successful. She also tells his she researches each novel to try to get the history correct. I enjoy reading her novels.

[Karen Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating work of Ginny Dye journeys to writing

Ginny Dye is enthusiastic about everyone living their passion. She encourages finding it and going for it. Doesn't let doubt and fear stop you.
I really liked her writing style and how she keeps my interest.
I love all of her B... Woman Series. Her character development and factual history are amazing.

[Elsie Nilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting!!!

You often envision an author and sitting at a computer struggling to write ! I changed my opinion totally. It's a breath of fresh air to learn about the research searching for facts and combining in a fiction story. I enjoyed learning about the struggles I can realize the connections of her life and in her books.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Made me cry, made me laugh, made me ponder, but, most of all, it made me think! What is my purpose in life? What am I good at? How can I make a difference in people’s lives? Doesn’t have to be a huge change, but, how can I make the world a better place? Interesting concept and one I will have to be quiet about and listen!

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is billed as a book in the Bregdan series, but it's not. It's an author bio/commercial for the series. Parts of it were ok, but the author was selling pretty hard. I was hoping for more insight into the how the series was born, but basically all she said was she writes fast and researches a lot. If you aren't an uber fan of the series, you can skip this one.

[shirley ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted road

Ginny I really enjoyed this insight as to why you write the way you do and please continue on with the Bregdan series as long as possible! You are at the top of my list for favorite authors❤️

[Marcia Huntting · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read about the story behind the wonderful stories Ginny writes was very enjoyable! And if you don't know about the Bregdan Chronicles, please get the first book now and join us in learning the real history!

[Shirley Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’ve had quite a twisted road.

I really liked the book. It gave more history and help to identify your personality better. You are an amazing lady.

[Suzanne]

I've really enjoyed the Bregdan Chronicles thus far, including the historical accuracy and the philosophy embedded in the characters. But, there were a couple of hints in books 10 & 11 leading up to the author's revelation of her personal sexual orientation in this book. I've done a lot of reading and praying regarding this topic (before reading this book) and believe the Bible teaches that marriage is for one man and one woman to come together and sex belongs only in the marriage relationship. I believe this is God's plan for us. I also have people in my life that do not agree with me and have same sex relationships. I still love these people. An even bigger concern is her embracing all gods in all religions. The Bible is very clear that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father, except by him. I might continue to read the Bregdan Chronicles, but it does sadden me that I can no longer whole heartedly recommend these books to other people. I do believe that books have a lot of influence and Ginny's position regarding things that I believe are clear in Scripture concerns me.
With the above disclaimer, I still have several quotes from this book, that I thought were amazing.
p. 90, "I think it should be a crime for people to use textbooks to push their own agenda. The truth, taught well, should be the litmus test for education. Unfortunately, that is rarely done..The result is the fear that people live with because too many schools teach a curriculum that is meant to put forth their own agenda. The result is the ignorance that continues to inflame bigotry and prejudice in our country. It makes me furious and determined to fight back by telling the truth in my books."
p, 96, "When the truth is hidden in shadows of greed and personal agenda we don't know what we're fighting. When the light of truth reveals the reality of our past, suddenly we look at attitudes and actions with new eyes and a deeper understand. We develop new passion to right the wrongs.
p, 97, "Believe people can change - don't see them as a hopeless case, but as someone who needs an opportunity to be different. It doesn't happen with ridicule, disdain or name calling. Transformation is made possible by a love and compassion we don't deserve."
p. 108, The abolitionists in the North believed slavery was wrong. The slave owners in the South believed slavery was ordained by God and it was their responsibility to have slaves because blacks couldn't take care of themselves. These people were taught completely different things, but they couldn't both be right. I don't believe either side took the time to understand why they believed it and why the other side believed what they did. If they had, I don't believe close to one million men who have been slaughtered or injured in the Civil War."
p. 140, Mary Engelbreit, "If you don't like something, change it: if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."
p. 144, "Nothing is ever wasted. No time in my life is a waste - no mistake, no experience, no relationship. They may be painful or not pleasant, but I have learned something from every single moment of my life. While I wish with all my heart that the years of abuse never happened, they were also not a waste. Every year of my life shows me the lessons and blessing of the fact that I survived. That I choose love and hope. I didn't just survive. I THRIVE. The scars remain, but most often they are simply a reminder of how far I've come."
p. 196, "Hope is the bird that sings to the dawn while it is still dark."

[John-Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until

Ginny is an incredible author. I chose to read The Twisted Road of One Writer #13 until ...
The stories of her life, the hours of research for her books, how she almost did not write was all very intriguing until ...
Until I read something that I had a very difficult time with. I stopped reading for about a week, as I pondered on what I had read. As the writer, Ginny, of course, has the right to put into print a story as she see it. It is not my place to judge how she writes her
stories. I did finally finish book 13. I did give consideration to writing a review. I have enjoyed reading the Brendan Chronicles and, will continue. Once again I will say that Ginny is an incredible author. I will say, Ginny, that I would have preferred the one story had been left out.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Ginny, thank you for story on your life. It allowed me to see you and I don’t think I’ve ever had that with an author. Your books are so informative and I LOVE the characters. I’m trying to read them at a little faster rate than I usually do so I can catch up. We are always so busy that my reading has to take second place but I love settling down in the evening with your Bregden chronicles. You are someone I could be good friends with even tho I’m quite a bit older than you. Im 72. Anyway thank you for these books.I LOVE them. Sincerely Jean

[Cara Noyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strange sort of autobiography.
The key word at the end of many sections/chapters/pages was UNTIL...
While some may find that unnerving, I rather enjoyed the foreshadowing of some change to come.
Dye shared how the Bregdan Chronicles came to be, her struggles as a writer, her spirituality, and above all her love for life and acceptance of others.
I've not yet read all the book in her fiction series. I enjoyed finding ot her inspiration, research process, and character development.

[Mickey Jetpur · Rating 5 out of 5]

How encouraging!

Ginny you are as crazy as me. So many similarities! I’ve followed my heart and dreams, built businesses, raised my son and now am a grandma! But the burning desire to do more still continues. For a while things got stagnant but after reading Twisted Road you have again instilled in me the desire to travel and do more!
Thank you Ginny!

[Suzy E Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a journey!

Thank you Ginny for sharing these real life stories with us, it makes the fictional characters I've grown to love seem even more real after hearing the story behind the story. Keep following that twisted road, I'm sure there are many delights and insights waiting to be discovered around the bend.

[Linda Creswell-Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother of the Bregdan Chronicles

Ginny Dye leads us along her path to becoming a writer. Along the way she shares how she came to create the Bregdan Principle. She wants us to learn from her experiences..such of what Ginny has written is so very relevant today.

[Stan Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

I do have words to describe my moment of learning in dreading the twisted road that Ginny had accomplished so many challenges to become the gifted writer she is I am thakfuln read Kindle unlimited that I found the Bregdan Chronicles.

[Linda Driesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

Love knowing what you as the author felt about your work. I have really enjoyed the 20+ books. It was also a learning experience for me.