The Story of Sixteen Missing Pages

Hi, Ruth Ann here.

I own two copies of Could I Have This Dance? by fellow ICFW blogger, Harry Kraus. I won't part with either book, they're both keepers.

Two copies of the same book?

That's right, two copies.

I've read my second copy from cover to cover-it's one of those unputdownable books that I'll read again. And again.

So why not read one and give away the other?

Well to answer that, I'll have to tell you a story.

Last year I entered a competition-the prizes were several Christian novels by well known authors. When I received an email announcing that I was a winner, I requested Harry's book. I love books with a medical background and I knew Harry was a surgeon and writer who peopled his novels with doctors and other medical personnel. A week or two later Could I Have This Dance? arrived in the mail.

Late one evening I sat reading my prize. After several chapters I was engrossed in the story and couldn't wait to see what happened. I turned a page and-

the next one was blank.

As was the next.

And the next.

And the next.

Four pages without a word.

I sighed, but decided to continue reading and tried to work out what had happened in the missing part. Soon I was caught up in the story.

Then it happened again. Four more blank pages.

I flipped through the book and saw there were 4 sets of blank pages. Sixteen missing pages.

I stopped reading, there was no ways that I was going to miss out on so much of the story.

A few days later I showed my little granddaughter the book and said, "I'm sad because all these pages are empty. I don't know what happens on them."

 "Gran, just write your own words," said she.

 I guess she realized I didn't think much of that idea because she took one look at my face and made another suggestion.

"I'll draw pictures on them for you."

And so she did.

Here's one of her picture stories- the facial expressions say it all.

Now the first copy with its original illustrations drawn specially for me is one of my treasures.

The second copy? The organizers of the competition sent me a new book with all its pages present and correct. At long last I was able to read and enjoy the whole story.

If you would like to stand a chance of winning one of Harry's novels, pop back on the 25th March when Harry will be chatting about his new release, The Six-Liter Club, and giving away a copy of Salty Like Blood.

Ruth Ann Dell writes children's stories and international Christian fiction from her home in a sunny South African suburb. She is a member of several writing groups including the American Christian Fiction Writers and Writer's Ink. Her desire is to craft gripping stories to draw her readers into a closer relationship with God.

Ruth Ann and her husband have lived in several countries and are renovating a cottage in the heart of Ireland.

Find out more about Ruth Ann at www.ruthanndell.blogspot.com