Comments & Reviews

A Bill to Pay

Ideal for community and school performances

“I’d love to see A Bill to Pay on stage, to feel more of what my brother, Tim Paleczny imagines as he draws audiences into life’s dramas. Obviously very familiar with the Waterloo area, Tim describes scenes in the late 1980s of a small group of family and friends at a local gathering place, helping all feel at home no matter how far they’ve come to get there. In both the lasting and the fluid relationships, the playwright shows he cares about who and how each character is. As it unfolds, the drama becomes relaxing and often humorous.

“Regardless of your political views – or your interest in politics at all – you will find this play grounded in familiar forays in and out of people’s dealings with their ordinary daily awareness and encounters. I find it interesting that Tim heard and took notice of different perspectives about Free Trade, a concern not necessarily shared by many of his peers. Without dwelling on details or burdening the audience, he captures key, practical issues such as the loss of opportunity generally and vital industries specifically, along with the environmental impacts that come with opening our doors to foreign competitors.

“A Bill to Pay is ideal for community and school groups who want plays that spark feelings and discussions about the consequences of small decisions that are symbolic of the really big ones that continue to dog us today. I look forward to seeing where and when live performances will be staged.”

Barbara Paleczny
Kitchener, ON

Tim’s sister, Barbara, painted “Flowers” that Tim used to create the front cover (see cover image above). Barb also created the art for the front and back covers of The Tale of Indigo and the fourteen paintings that appear in the e-book version of The Tale of Indigo. Is Barb a biased reviewer? Heck, yes!

A Bill to Pay: The price of life’s little decisions

A Bill to Pay is about generational family relationships mixed with the politics of the day—Free Trade and environmental protection. Readers responded with favourable impressions.

“I read the whole thing great book tim like the story and ending that will be a hit keep up the good work.”

Patrick Blackler, Barrie, ON, artist of Park Bench and Light Post illustration on the back cover.

“For me, the best part of the play was the last few pages. It came together beautifully! Heartwarming! Positive closure for all.”

Shannon Connor, Calgary, AB

“I just finished reading A Bill to Pay. It was a nice little read, enjoyable. … This will be a good piece of content to add to your list of publications.”

Aidan Paleczny, North Bay, ON

The Tale of Indigo

"I have read The Tale of Indigo. Your poems are wonderful! I love them."

Rachel Hamilton, Barrie

REEDSY Book Review

“Loved it! 😍

“In the tradition of Ovid's Metamorphoses, The Tale of Indigo is a love poem that commemorates humanity's deepest and most enduring myth, and confronts the greatest issues of our time: greed, COVID, and climate change.

“You don't have to be a poetry enthusiast to understand and appreciate the message behind Timothy Paleczny's words.

. . . “At less than 90 pages, The Tale of Indigo is a [book] … that I hope everyone decides to purchase.”

Kameron Brook
REEDSY Discover on 1/8/23

Breath of the Adamastor

More Graham Greene than James Bond, but more charm and warmth than either of them

“I’m a sucker for wartime shenanigans and science, so this was great for me, with spying and marine biology against the backdrop of WW2 Portugal, plus walk on parts for Ian Fleming and Kim Philby. ​The characters all came off the page. Pulling off multiple viewpoints and timelines is tricky but worked. The story weaves together a cast of characters as a nuanced way into the humanity and morality of the hard moral choices forced by wartime, more Graham Greene than James Bond, but more charm and warmth than either of them.”

Matthew Hurst
Norwich, UK / Barrie, ON

Engaging, hard to put down

“I found this book very engaging and once I started I had a hard time putting it down. The characters are strong, the dialogue is very well written and the story is excellent. The various storylines are built carefully and each is engaging. You almost feel that you know the characters. As they start to connect and weave together the overall effect is excellent.

“I would highly recommend this book and hopefully there are more to come in the future.”

Mark Skalin

Perfect mix of religion, spirituality … enjoyed it more 2nd time

“A Life on the Water has a perfect mix of religion and spirituality. It blends in perfect for the time period and the war in progress. I have just reread it and enjoyed it more the 2nd time as I rushed through it the 1st time. I really like your reference to Fran's Restaurant. … Your reference to Sauble Beach also brought back many memories as I remember spending some great childhood times there with you.”

Rick Mroz
Bracebridge, ON

A wonderful tale

“Reading Tim’s new book allowed me to spend many enjoyable hours immersed in Portugal's history and people, especially in the era of the Second Great War, with Germany. . . . I was so impressed with the adventures of Ardis, the young heroine of the story and her passion to study sea turtles. The romance and friendships added much to the story. My friends and I are all looking forward to your next book.”

 Marilyn Thomas,
Kitchener, ON

“What a wonderful tale ... full of detail, complex characters, and really interesting factual info that is not well known concerning the activities of neutral countries during the war, the involvement of the church, etc.

“I like the way it ends ... events are wrapped up but open enough for a sequel!

“Something that really stands out for me about your writing is how visual it is ... you create a strong image of the time and place. I hope you are planning to write it as a screenplay. The imagery is magical ... especially of the village and religious events ... it would make a fantastic Netflix series.

“Anyways ... huge congratulations ... what an accomplishment.”

Suzanne Paleczny
Whitehorse, Yukon

Breath of the Adamastor meets an essential need of our time

“Breath of the Adamastor is an ambitious novel in which Tim Paleczny weaves together several stories of people in Canada, Italy, and Portugal. Descriptions of the people and settings are natural, like seeing for oneself those we’re meeting and where we are so that we gradually feel at home, part of the group, wherever the adventure leads. We share the author’s stance as ‘the omniscient knower,’ an insider to the most intimate thoughts and feelings. However, this novel is far more than social gatherings or character studies.

“Unfolding action twists and turns in the unknown waters of relationships and lures the reader to become immersed in a significant, ecological discovery of the time as well as the dangers of war-torn Europe.

“While reading this novel, we meet and care about real-life people of different ages and backgrounds. The story immerses us in unknown, uncharted seas of risk and fear, and in the challenge of following one’s inner compass through war and friendship. The characters sort out what fits for them. Like other good literature through the ages, this novel meets an essential need of our time; namely, for all of us to become aware of what energizes and beckons us, and to risk following the star that rises in our hearts.”

Barbara Paleczny SSND, Phd/SThD
Kitchener

“I just finished your novel A Life on Water [now titled Breath of the Adamastor]. Wonderful story which catches the essence of WW II. I particularly appreciated the Canadian reference around Camp X. Well done.”

Margueritte Main

A captivating story

“Breath of the Adamastor is a fascinating story that is very engaging. The backstory sets the stage for the interplay of characters, with depth and variety.

“In reading this book, I enjoyed being transported to places in Ontario and British Columbia, Italy, and across Portugal. The reader is also transported back in time to 1941 and ‘42, and includes historical aspects such as the Nazi need for wolfram to maintain their arsenal of weapons.

“Another insight I gained was the fearful plight of Jewish people during those years, even in the neutral country of Portugal. And, as a neutral country, Portugal had to play its cards to avoid being invaded, so the story presented some tricky dynamics with politics and the church. Fact was blended with fiction, promoting characters and events to become entangled as the war progressed.

“Breath of the Adamastor draws you in on an intimate level to the characters, exposing their thoughts and hopes, and even their actions that are required and justified during war. It is an entertaining and memorable read that I hope you enjoy.”

Deb McLaughlin
London, ON

“Finished reading Breath of the Adamastor the other day, and enjoyed it. Good job! Some strikingly good passages where you describe people's thoughts in the moment.”

Nick Toth
Toronto

For more reviews, see my book pages on Amazon

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