I am featuring more than one author. throughout the hop. There are simply too many I admire. I chose Carmen because she has a wonderful writing style and clever imagination. I also chose Carmen because she has compiled such an impressive list of bloggers and tools which she so generously shares with all authors.
CARMEN STEFANESCU is from ROMANIA
the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world that of the books.
She has dreamt all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing.
She has joined the volunteer staff at MFRW blog.
By Paulette Mahurin on December 9, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
Carmen Stefanescu's Shadows of the Past was a great read that I enjoyed from the first page through the last sentence, that I was sorry to see end; I tried to savor this one, make it last, that's how entertaining a read it is. The author writes a tightly worded, intelligent, story, a story within a story, then and now, from a past that needed resolution in a modern day couple. The dreams and visions the protagonist, Anne, experienced set the stage for the unfolding of a story, brilliantly told, moving through her as a past life apparition, Genevieve. The character development of Anne and her partner Neil, and other story counterparts is really well done, but the star of he story is the tragic Genevieve, as if taken from the pages of Shakespeare, one can not imagine less unfortunate issues to befall a human being, and in counterpoint is the lusciously evil antagonist the Abbess, who you read page after page hoping she gets hers. The pages invite the reader in with a wanting to know what is going to happen to Anne, to Genevieve, and page after page as the tension builds the reader is not disappointed. This is an excellently crafted work, by an author who clearly knows how to write, who understands literature, and knows how to tell a compellingly great story. I loved this one.
Carmen Stefanescu's Shadows of the Past was a great read that I enjoyed from the first page through the last sentence, that I was sorry to see end; I tried to savor this one, make it last, that's how entertaining a read it is. The author writes a tightly worded, intelligent, story, a story within a story, then and now, from a past that needed resolution in a modern day couple. The dreams and visions the protagonist, Anne, experienced set the stage for the unfolding of a story, brilliantly told, moving through her as a past life apparition, Genevieve. The character development of Anne and her partner Neil, and other story counterparts is really well done, but the star of he story is the tragic Genevieve, as if taken from the pages of Shakespeare, one can not imagine less unfortunate issues to befall a human being, and in counterpoint is the lusciously evil antagonist the Abbess, who you read page after page hoping she gets hers. The pages invite the reader in with a wanting to know what is going to happen to Anne, to Genevieve, and page after page as the tension builds the reader is not disappointed. This is an excellently crafted work, by an author who clearly knows how to write, who understands literature, and knows how to tell a compellingly great story. I loved this one. 
Wow! A pleasant surprise, THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about your endeavor.
You are also a dedicated author who gives a helping hand to fellow authors, Catalina. It means a lot to me.
Best of luck with your writing!
Always a pleasure to feature you Carmen.
DeleteIt's great to fine SHADOWS OF THE PAST featured here. I loved this book and how cleverly the author wove tales of past and present with mystery, history and suspense. A richly textured tale, and a wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by.
DeleteThank you, Mae, for your permanent support! I love that you enjoyed Shadows of the Past.
DeleteWow, this author has an amazing story of her own, no wonder her work is desribles as 'excellently crafted" and that she "knows how to tell a compellingly great story."
ReplyDeleteShe truly is fascinating and do visit her list of tools, she is so generous with her finds.
DeleteI think you'd also enjoy Shadows of the Past, and, as Catalina says, do visit my comprehensive lists, useful to both aspiring, as well as established authors.
DeleteGreat Post! Following you on G+:)
ReplyDeleteThanks followed you back.
DeleteInteresting post about an author I'd never known about. Great info. Thanks! Love your banner! Nancy’s Blog
ReplyDeleteHer Blog is such a helpful tool to ALL authors
DeleteNice book review, Maria. Bram Stoker's book, Dracula, was one of the first novels I remember reading when I was in fifth or sixth grade. I remember liking it, although not as much as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This book sounds like a good addition to that genre. Thanks for posting, have a blessed week. - Robert
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to feature multiple authors! Who can pick just one?
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo, Carmen!
ReplyDelete