Healing Historical Fiction
/
Historical Novel Society Review
Praise for Water Lily Dance! I’m beyond grateful for this touching, beautiful review from the Historical Novel Society, to appear in their November issue of Historical Novel Review.
Water Lily Dance by Michelle Muriel
Review by Viviane Crystal Historical Novel Society
"Missouri, 2014: ‘I have to find what's missing so I can move beyond those memories, find what they stole from me, what I lost. Maybe that's why it's called loss.' This is the core of Sophie Noel's journey in this warm, passionate, and life-changing story. Sophie is the daughter of a famous artist, Josephine du Lue, and both are obsessed with Claude Monet's art and his famous Water Lily Garden.
Paris, 1865: It's also about Camille, Monet's wife, a woman torn between her needs and the love of the man who preferred to be alone, so enmeshed was he in the art he was creating, an art that moved beyond the acceptance or rejection of Paris's famous Salon Judges.
Light and color are everything to these three women. Monet is Sophie's imaginary friend and as important to her as he was to Camille, long gone. But Sophie has also lost her father, [husband] and her mother and is paralyzed by grief.
Monet's goal is perfectly described: ‘I wish to record our time, nature as it happens before my eyes. Not as a day – in moments, with feeling in the vibrant palette God provides.' Lavender, blue, pink and yellow were colors adored by Monet and all three women, along with light shining on and through water and objects in water – lily pads, toads, etc. Muriel's novel lets readers dance and drink with them in the famous Mirabelle ball of Paris, enjoy the talks and fun with friends Renoir and Bazille, and visit Monet's exhibitions with Sophie, beauty personified. Imagination is at the heart of this superb novel, imagination that builds, rends, and immortalizes. Muriel offers a story beyond words – exquisitely sad, loving, and healing historical fiction." — Historical Novel Society
“Muriel offers a story beyond words – exquisitely sad, loving, and healing historical fiction.”
November ushers in the holiday season! Can you believe it? For a limited time in November, you can read my new historical novel Water Lily Dance (eBook) Kindle or Nook for only .99! Also in print (hardcover & paperback) at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and Indiebound.
To learn more about Water Lily Dance and to read an excerpt visit my Books page. A great time to gift Water Lily Dance to a friend. Hurry! Sale ends soon.
Visit me on Goodreads, Facebook, or sign up for my newsletter to watch for the latest updates, book giveaways, and more! I love hearing from you!
THANK YOU!
Sweet friends, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and love you’ve shown since the release of my new novel Water Lily Dance. Thank you again for all you do to help my books reach more enthusiastic readers and gifting me the motivation I need to keep writing. I’m grateful for every kind word, review, and cheer.
A sweet new Facebook friend reminded me of something precious when she shared my post from years ago: we are never alone. When I stepped a foot on this journey of writing, I never imagined meeting so many beautiful, kind, and giving people. Friends I never met in person who offer me timely encouragement and support. To me, it’s beyond writing and sharing my books, but also my heart. It’s about offering a spark of light when someone is suffering in quiet darkness. So thank you, friends, for always sharing the love.
Tragedy & Triumph
I’m turning the corner on an awful month of sadness and drama. It’s tough going through loss and unexpected situations that steal our joy, peace, health, and finances, especially when “the hits just keep on coming!” When I find myself stuck in the muck of negativity and sadness, I purpose to fix my eyes on the good—on thanksgiving—no matter who or what is screaming not to.
“We can’t prevent storms from falling, but when they do . . . look up.”
I don’t believe “trouble comes in bunches of three” and all that jazz. In fact, it’s a little joke in my novel Water Lily Dance. Sometimes, we can’t help getting stuck in the dramas and tragedies of life, but we can’t stay there.
Determine to protect and hold onto your faith and hope. Purpose to see the good in the worst times, and bit by bit your heart awakens, brightens, comes back together, and you begin to see and believe: this too shall pass. I’ve been through difficult challenges and seasons in my life. The hard times, yes, they’re difficult, life-altering, and sad, BUT, they are only temporary. Good things will come your way, but only you can change your focus and watch for and expect them.
Believe in the best, friends. Keep your eyes on the sunshine. And above all, stay thankful. Thankful for life, loved ones, and yes, a cozy read in a secret garden . . . any garden! <3
