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Recent Reviews for Elise R Crawford
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A Promise Kept (Book) - 3/12/2010 3:32:45 AM
Congratulations Elise on your emotionally profound memoire. Your personal journey to recover from the past traumatic events within the embodiments to salvage your own emotional wealth from this tragic event is also a priceless gift to others whom also suffer from trauma(s). Tragedy has many numerous debilitating effects to our inner spirituality as it does our physicality and mental well being. Writing avenues are such a healing element to everyone just as your readers will find closures to their own wounds through your sharing of yourself as you do here within “A Promise Kept” Also your book cover is amazing…
Love’s Bounty & Healing Balms
Vickie
A Promise Kept (Book) - 1/20/2010 11:13:38 PM
A Promise Kept by Elise Crawford begins with a chapter called Ground Zero. Crawford uses vivid description, peppered with actual news clips, photos, and details from witnesses, emergency crews and survivors to tell the story of Seattle Metro bus operator, Mark McLaughlin, who was shot and killed by a transit rider on November 27, 1998. Crawford details how Mark wrestled the man for control and how the 72 foot bus, along with 32 passengers, went off the Aurora Bridge and landed on an apartment complex.
We are instantly captivated with the rescue effort and search for Mark, missing from the crash scene. Slowly, the police realize that the crash isn't a terrible accident but is actually a crime scene as survivors tell of several gunshots just before the bus went off the bridge. A friend calls Elise at work and asks, "What route was Mark driving today?" As the story unravels in the media, Elise goes home to wait for Mark's call to say he's okay-a call she knows will never come.
Next we learn about Mark the person and how he was large of size and of heart. He cared about people, loved animals and wanted to make everyone happy. He had numerous quirks that entertained some and irritated others. Elise and her two young children rode his bus each day. The two quickly became friends, but this isn't a tale of love of first sight. Elise first sees Mark as only a friend, as he is much older and also married. Soon the pair cannot ignore their feelings for each other. A now single Mark and Elise become closer each day and fall in love. Mark sees Elise's unlimited potential. With Mark's support, Elise feels that anything is possible.
We see how Mark's larger than life personality touched the lives of so many when his memorial is held at a sports arena. Police and firefighters consider him a hero. Thousands of transit operators from across North America come to pay their respects. However, Elise is unable to acknowledge any of it and holds fast to her belief that Mark will soon come home. Trapped in denial, offers of condolences only served to taunt her.
For years Elise would exist only for her children. Her anguish cripples her and health problems mount. Although lost in a fog of despair, and despite the job losses, money shortages and constant moving, a dream to write a book about her experience will not go away. She knows she must write this book, but is unable to begin. Only when she is able to accept Mark's death can she finally put pen to paper and start a book that would rescue her soul and perhaps help others also suffering with the torturous ache of grief.
This is Elise Crawford's first book; however, she writes with the skill of a seasoned author. Her powerful description and willingness to show her own mistakes, weaknesses and fears make this a wonderfully inspiring read. The strength needed to write her story, reliving each painful moment, is remarkable. Difficult to put down or forget, I highly recommend A Promise Kept. This is a must-read for those struggling with the loss of a loved one. This reviewer suggests you keep a box of tissue on hand as you read.
A Promise Kept
204 pages
978-1441510389
Xlibris
April 2009
A Promise Kept (Book) - 1/14/2010 10:02:46 AM
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Allen, Author of Gone Away Into the Land
The description on the front cover of A Promise Kept by Elise Crawford reads, “The Story of One Widowed Bride’s Journey through Grief.” I would write that statement and then times it by two. But, what do I know about going through such a horrific life experience? What do most of us know? Maybe it should be times ten. Fortunately for the majority of us we are spared tragedies such as the one Crawford experienced. Fortunately, very few of us go through them, and very few of us even know someone who has experienced a personal tragedy on the magnitude described in Crawford’s journey through grief.
Elise Crawford tells a tale that one could just as easily credit to an experienced writer of fiction. Except the story she tells is absolutely true and, therefore, cuts to the bone so much so that at times the heartbreak makes it necessary to stop reading just to gather your emotions.
Crawford tells her story with straight-forwardness, and with such a sense of purpose that anyone who has, or is currently experiencing, a devastating personal loss will no doubt draw inspiration from reading her story. She brings an honest strength into her writing that keeps us engaged.
Crawford does not lay out the facts of her story in a foreboding manner, or with any hint of self pity, but with tenderness and brevity. She writes in a journalistic style, always conveying to the reader her perspective on the events and imparting the feelings and thoughts that were racing through her mind in a surreal way, like a bad dream that mixes into a tangled disconnect from reality. She explains, with great passion, her grief as she tells how the uncontrollable onset of depression caused her to almost lose her children.
Although, I appreciated the well written and organized accounts of what happened on the day of the tragedy, what impressed me most about A Promise Kept were the ways Crawford went about depicting her fall into the bottomless pit of sadness. I was heartened by the few, yet significant, fortunes that came her way, but then dashed by the awesome weight of her misfortunes during the months and years that followed her fiancé’s senseless murder.
I commend Elise Crawford for writing her story. It must have been very difficult to recount the events of Mark’s death, and I can only try to imagine the many emotions that were replaying as she wrote the words on the pages of her book.
There can be nothing left for this humble reviewer but to recommend A Promise Kept to all adult readers; not just to those who may have had, or are currently going through a similar tragedy, but to all people. This inspirational story will help some of us to uncover in our hearts what we know is already there - true compassion for our fellow man.
A Promise Kept (Book) - 10/12/2009 5:13:03 PM
“As our new relationship unfolded, I gradually relaxed and let my guard down. I let myself fall head over heels and blindly in love with Mark. I proudly exposed my heart on my sleeve. He was everything I had hoped for and everything I believed that didn’t exist.”
Elise Crawford has masterfully told the story of love, loss, not just a love, but also of self and the means of how that self was found again. Elise weaves a tale of herself, all the raw emotional anguish, hurt, and utter devastation that comes from tragedy. She goes further. She tells how she overcame adversity and learned to survive after a senseless act of unprovoked violence.
“A Promise Kept” is a love story, true. But it is also a ray of hope for those that are traveling the same, if different, road of recovery after a tragic loss. With just a few well chosen words, Elise can draw out the readers’ emotions, making them laugh at Mark’s antics, cry with her in her pain, and suffer the hurt that comes with a test of faith.
Yes, “A Promise Kept” is a love story, but so much more. It is a road map for recovery. This is a true book to anyone wanting to find a way back from the abyss of despair. I highly recommend this work and commend, nay praise the author for her courage, openness and willingness to tell her story to help others in their struggle with grief and recovery.
As a writer, I was amazed when I found tears running down my cheeks, wetting my shirt and laughing so hard my sides hurt with just a few words. This is a must read for anyone!
Don Drake, Author of The Coming of the One
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