Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Saturday 25 August 2012

Reviews scare me a little

When asked to offer my book for review  during the publishing process, I was very hesitant , but I decided "in for a dime, in for a dollar" and allowed the publisher to send it out . I  received my first review a while back, and while it was overall positive , there were a couple item the stung. But  I am not now nor do I claim to ever be Hemingway so , I knew my review would not be perfect.
I received an email today ,to advise me the I had another completed review. I thought about it , and thought about it , and finally opened it . And WOW!!! Glad I did
Here it is , on the actual site Review 
or as pasted here;


Tails, Trails and Campfire Stories:
Photographs, Poetry and Musings of an Alberta Farm Girl
by Sherry Sikstrom
Trafford Publishing
"Roses fade and chocolates spoil, nothing lasts forever/but raising horses and raising cows is what we do together."
What Sherry Sikstrom does well in her volume of poetry is capture succinctly the life a woman growing up in rural Canadian farm country. This is a collection of poetry and photographs that capture the affections of family, animals, and the land that Sikstrom so dearly adores. It is inspirational and personal, with an emphasis on the simplicity of rustic living, the determination of both people and animals to thrive and survive, and the observations of the cycles of the seasons as well as an homage to heritage and tradition. Her poems are lessons that are close to the heart of the author, and she shares with the reader in the spirit of sitting around a campfire and trading stories—a kind of intimacy you'll find throughout.
The author reflects on the dual aspects of nature: the wonderful and the frightening. Many of the poems are filled with sentiment for lost loved ones, while others explore the "good old times," sharing the world with other people and creatures, fading cowboys, personal dedications to family, and how animals can teach you as you are teaching them. Sikstrom is one of the very few "cowgirl poets," as there are a number of poems written about the cowboy, farm, and rural way of life that reflect the male perspective—but not as many for or by women. the author adds in her own photographs, which makes this collection very distinctly and uniquely hers.
RECOMMENDED


I will still always be nervous of reviews , but this was sure nice to see .
Stay safe everyone

16 comments:

cdncowgirl said...

That review is much better, and more accurate.
TBH the other review, to me, felt like it came from someone who was rather condescending to the country way of life.

Shirley said...

High five! Now that's more like it!

aurora said...

Nice review!

Anonymous said...

Very nice - congratulations!

Ami said...


cdncowgirl said what I thought, too... first one was pretty condescending.

And I have fallen in love with your animals through what you have to say about them, so you must be a pretty good writer.

:)

Cheyenne said...

So darn proud of you. I'm sure this is spot on.

kden said...

Sometimes it just take the right person to review your writing. Maybe she has a little cowgirl in her and got exactly what you were writing about.

So sorry to hear about your kitty too :-( A nice poem very fitting for her personality.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Thanks so much , I will tell you that your opinions as my friends matter so much more to me than that of a stranger, but I have to admit this review felt good!

WishIHadAHorsey said...

Much better!

Crystal said...

How nice!! That is much more like a review for your books!!!

Paint Girl said...

Very, very cool!! So happy for you!!

GoLightly said...

Standing ovation here!!

C-ingspots said...

That is something to be very proud of Sherry! Such a wonderful accomplishment, and even better when someone in the industry recognizes your efforts with valid praise. Well done!!

Sherry Sikstrom said...

thanks so much everyone

Nicole said...

Fabulous! Well my 9 year old likes it :) Isn't this the same one I won in a drawing a while back?

Cut-N-Jump said...

BOOYAH! You go girl.