Krueger bringing book to Camrose

Former Camrose school teacher Gladys Krueger will be reading from her book False Love, True Love at Wisemen's Way Bookstore in Camrose

June 1.

I'm looking forward to coming back," said the Didsbury resident. "I have a lot of good memories of Camrose from my time there."

False Love, True Love is a fictional novel about Jill Jackson, a first-year teacher at a school in rural Saskatchewan who becomes caught up in the dark secret of Melissa Weber, a student in the third grade.

"She wonders what has caused this girl to become so withdrawn and finds it has something to do with the girl's father," said Krueger.

The book also deals with Jill's relationship with Dan Fischer.

"He intrigues her and she wishes that he would propose but something is holding him back," said Krueger.

First Love, True Love carries an important message about God's protection and the need to forgive.

"My first thought was that I was going to write a murder mystery and deal with forgiveness in that way, " said Krueger, "but the ending I wanted worked better with a romance. The way that Jill puts together all the pieces is very effective."

Krueger wrote the rough draft of the 264-page novel in a couple of months.

"I knew that I couldn't keep putting it off," she said, "so I just went to work one day on the computer. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing. I thought to say that I was writing a book would be too pretentious."

Krueger assigned characteristics to each of the students and teachers, then asked herself how they would react to certain situations.

"I would go to bed at night and thinking about all the challenges Jill was facing," she said.

Krueger is grateful for the support she received from her husband throughout the writing process.

"He was so helpful," she said. "He would tell me to go to work and ask me to call him whenever I needed something to eat."

Krueger is thrilled with the response False Love, True Love has received from those who have taken the time to read it. Leah H., from Carstairs, described it as a thought provoking read, while Greta U., from Edmonton, said the characters were so real that she almost felt she knew a couple of them. The most effluent review came from Joyce F., from Cayley, who said it is a great story.

"I can see your zest for life," said Joyce, "your high moral standards (without preaching), and the way you speak for the hurting and oppressed. There are definitely endless possibilities for a whole series of stories based on the characters you chose for your first novel. I am going to read your book again – it is a mood lifter."

Krueger taught elementary grades at Sparling School, and junior high at Charlie Killam.

"The kids were wonderful and I found we were always able to relate well with each other," she said. "I remember one time the Grade 3s coming to my house when I had laryngitis. They told me it was okay if I just wrote on the board and that they would be good."

Krueger had great respect for Jack Stuart when she was at Charlie Killam.

"Jack was the principal when I was there and he was amazing," she said. "He always knew and remembered the kids. He was a great man to work under."

Along with False Love, True Love, Krueger has written several articles and poems. She has also done volunteer work in Africa, Asia and South America.

The Wisemen's Way reading and book signing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Copies of the book have been ordered by Camrose Public Library.