This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
I've come to believe that our parents' dysfunction is one of our greatest inheritances. This belief is deeply intertwined with my journey as a writer.
I began writing The Boloney Trail while in college, encouraged by my English professor to pursue it full-time. Instead, I took a different path. After college, I became an ad copywriter for national agencies, working with Blue-chip tech companies. It was rewarding—I won nine awards from the Society of Technical Communication and led a national committee on translation standards in D.C. But during a meeting, I realized I had taken a wrong turn.
A global layoff gave me the push to change course. I downsized my life, moved into a mid-century Airstream on a Northwest island, and started a small production company. I produced over forty short segments on small-space living and a ten-episode documentary, Where Small Business Grows, now on Amazon. The first two books in The Boloney Trail Trilogy were selected for Cambridge University’s Alumni Reading Challenges list.
Accepting inherent flaws as part of our inheritance, sometimes our only inheritance, allowed me to see the beauty in imperfection. It freed me from the need to polish the voices of my true-life characters, and instead, I learned to revel in their raw beauty. I hope you will, too, as you journey along The Boloney Trail.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Imaginary Gravity: Livin’ Like a Hurricane Along The Boloney Trail by Shelah A. Johnson is a literary fiction novel set in the 1960s, exploring the turbulent lives of Monroe and Dora as they navigate poverty, societal norms, and risky ventures. Monroe, driven by a desire for respect and a better life, drags his family into the heart of Mexico and the dangerous world of the Sinaloa Cartel. Meanwhile, Dora, determined to uphold her middle-class dreams, tightens her grip on Monroe. Their young daughter, Shelda, becomes the family's unlikely protector as they face perilous choices and the consequences of their actions.
Author Shelah A. Johnson offers a deeply realistic work that is all about the detail, atmosphere, and attitude of life in the 1960s. Her ability to create vivid, lifelike characters and scenes draws readers into the story, making every moment feel real and immersive as she brings Monroe and his family into being from the recent past. Johnson’s mastery of dialogue and dialects adds an authentic element to the narrative that helps the characters feel more and more like they’re part of your own family as the novel develops, and I got very attached to them all despite their quirks and flaws. The novel’s exploration of complex themes like societal prejudice, immigration, and morality is handled with depth and nuance, resonating with contemporary issues while remaining true to the attitudes and misunderstandings back in the historical setting. This fine balance allows readers to appreciate the issues but also respect the learning journey of people at the time without it ever offending. Overall, I would definitely recommend Imaginary Gravity as a gripping, emotional journey that is both thought-provoking and unforgettable.
