Wilmont Kreis

9-29-18
Book Fifteen, PHILOMENE’S DOLL
A late middle aged lady living in a classic Grosse-Pointe home on the shore of Lake Saint Clair, Kathy has been asked by her late father’s attorney to look for some documents. This leads her to a luxurious third-story room once used as a children’s’ bedroom but now as a private retreat for Kathy. She opens an old ornate chest now used to store various old mementos. She finds the records, but along with them she discovers a mysterious painting of her mother and an enormous diary from her French-Canadian Grandmother. Intrigued by the diary, she sets out on a long path to sharpen her French skills and read the story of her enigmatic grandmother who lived nearly 100 years. This will occupy her evenings for some time with an amazing tale of poverty and hardship leading ultimately to an amazing life. Read More 

PHILOMENE’S DOLL
The trailer I will be off doing research next week, see you on the 29th
Six years after the American Civil War ended, six-year-old Philomene sees her mother die horribly in childbirth. Soon she is sent from her home near Detroit to Belle-River, Canada, where, following a series of moves to various families and convents, she ultimately finds a stable home near the place of her birth and marries a young man. Together they build a successful farm and begin a family. We follow her through Prohibition, the Great Depression, and two World Wars, raising a large and varied family through the best and the worst of times. All along, she is comforted and stimulated by a simple rag doll that was the single great gift of her childhood. Based on a true story, it’s a tale of the highest and lowest points of a long life. You will not want to miss it! If you enjoyed 1634-Return to the New World, The Beaver Wars, Fearful Passage North, The Allard Series, or other novels by Dr. Kreis, you will love this one. Read More 

Here it comes: PHILOMENE’S DOLL
Six years after the American Civil War ended, six-year-old Philomene sees her mother die horribly in childbirth. Soon she is sent from her home near Detroit to Belle-River, Canada, where, following a series of moves to various families and convents, she ultimately finds a stable home near the place of her birth and marries a young man.
Together they build a successful farm and begin a family. We follow her through Prohibition, the Great Depression, and two World Wars, raising a large and varied family through the best and the worst of times. All along, she is comforted and stimulated by a simple rag doll that was the single great gift of her childhood. Based on a true story, it’s a tale of the highest and lowest points of a long life. You will not want to miss it!
If you enjoyed 1634-Return to the New World, The Beaver Wars, Fearful Passage North, The Allard Series, or other novels by Dr. Kreis, you will love this one. Read More 

September 1, 2018
SO IT ENDS, SO IT BEGANS: In the final chapters of THE BEAVER WARS, Noel Langlois meets a young man “fresh off the boat” from France. His name is Francois Allard and he is the star of my very first historical fiction novel, THE ALLARDS BOOK ONE: THE NEW WORLD which was my foray into novel writing more than fifteen years ago. Interestingly, it remains my best seller! It was only after finishing the eight book in the Allard series, three action novels on health care fraud and one on the Deerfield Massacre of 1704, FEARFUL PASSAGE NORTH, that I decided to return to the real beginning of French Canada with 1634-RETURN TO THE NEW WORLD, followed by THE BEAVER WARS. My latest, PHILOMENE’S DOLL is now on the market and awaiting your perusal. I will begin blogging it next week. All books are available on Amazon in print and kindle, Happy trails!
Photo Philomene’s Doll. Read More 

August 25, 2018
THE BEAVER WARS, Daniel de Remy de Courcelles: Was sent as Governor General of New France in 1665. More interested in killing Indians than growing a nation, he led—or ordered a number of raids on the Iroquois nation. Although many of his raids were poorly planned with disastrous results, history gives him a pass as Canada did eventually prosper. I hear readers are anxious to hear about my new book Philomene’s Doll, and am pleased to report it is doing well. It is available on Amazon in print and Kindle and I will begin its blog in two weeks.
Photo: de Courcelles Read More 

August 17, 2018
THE BEAVER WARS, Jean Talon: Sent to Canada in 1665, Talon became the first Intendant of New France. Talon tried with some success to change the Canadian economy from Beaver pelts to farming. Realizing a much greater population was needed, he helped arrange for 800 young French women to come to Canada as the now famous Filles du Roi, greatly enlarging the Canadian population. One of his greatest accomplishments (in my opinion) was starting the first commercial brewery in Canada, La Brasseries du Roi in 1668. Read More 

August 10, 2018
THE BEAVER WARS, Courcelles, Talon, and deTracy: These three important (and very different) men were sent from France to manage Quebec at the end of the book. Daniel de Remy de Courcelles as Governor General of New France, Jean Talon as the first Intendant of New France, and Alexandre de Prouville de Tracy as Lieutenant-General of New France. Appearing at the end of the Beaver Wars story, I will spend some time discussing the roles and importance (for better and for worse, to New France. But don’t worry; I won’t forget Philomene and her Doll.
Photo Beaver Wars Read More 

July 28,2018
Back to THE BEAVER WARS (boats and Noel): Noel Langlois was said to be a ship’s captain and a builder of boats in Quebec. I used a little imagination placing this in the story, but I believe it is relatively accurate. If you are finished with Noel, don’t forget PHILOMENE’S DOLL In print and kindle from Amazon. Read More 

It's been a hectic week preparing for the appearance of PHILOMENE'S DOLL. So I am taking some time from blogging to prepare for talks, presentation and sending copies to people who will review and promote the book (writing is much more simple!)
At any rate, during this time I may miss a few blogs, but I am not going away. I will return to finish blogging THE BEAVER WARS, adding some PHILOMENE to the mix. I also don't want to get ahead of my readers.
So in the meantime I will be eternally grateful if you will order PHILOMENE'S DOLL in print or kindle (lots cheaper) from our friends at Amazon
Thanks as always. Bill Read More 

PHILOMENE’S DOLL
The trailer

Six years after the American Civil War ended, six-year-old Philomene sees her mother die horribly in childbirth. Soon she is sent from her home near Detroit to Belle-River, Canada, where, following a series of moves to various families and convents, she ultimately finds a stable home near the place of her birth and marries a young man.

Together they build a successful farm and begin a family. We follow her through Prohibition, the Great Depression, and two World Wars, raising a large and varied family through the best and the worst of times. All along, she is comforted and stimulated by a simple rag doll that was the single great gift of her childhood. Based on a true story, it’s a tale of the highest and lowest points of a long life. You will not want to miss it!

If you enjoyed 1634-Return to the New World, The Beaver Wars, Fearful Passage North, The Allard Series, or other novels by Dr. Kreis, you will love this one. Read More