Heather Latter
Atikokan author Sophie (Hajdu) Fogg will be at the Fort Frances Public Library tomorrow (July 30) to do a book-signing for her book, “One Our Father: Protected the rest of my family from more gunshots,” which was published earlier this year.
“This simple and true story is written by the youngest girl in a family of 11 children, inviting you to relive her adventure from childhood into adulthood,” notes the book’s blurb.
“You will witness her faith as a seven-year-old in the power of ‘One Our Father’ that protected 12 people from being killed or wounded.”
The book not only describes the family tragedy that occurred in Rainy River District in 1956 but all of Fogg’s life.
“It’s about my life from the day I can remember to today,” she remarked.
“It’s a story of my life.”
Fogg said she was first inspired to write as a teen after leaving a busy restaurant at noon hour.
“I wanted to write everything I heard, seen, and smelled in the restaurant,” she recalled.
“But I didn’t recognize it as a gift.”
Then after the death of some loved ones in her family, Fogg started drawing on all the good memories she had living in the farmhouse on the hill.
“The hardest part of the book was writing about the murder-suicide of my parents,” she admitted.
“And the reason I chose the title was because the first thing I remembered was that I prayed the one ‘Our Father’ and right after the prayer, one more shot and then my aunt said, ‘It is over.’
Fogg added she realized the prayer had protected the family from something but she didn’t know who.
She also noted that due to the sensitivity of the story, names, places, and timelines were altered to protect family, friends, and all those involved.
Fogg said she grew up as “a bit of a nervous person.”
“When I had to deal with the real stress in my life of raising children, I realized I needed a self-help group,” she admitted.
“I started reading books. And I got fellowship and prayer with Christians and evangelists in churches.
“I gradually felt better,” Fogg said. “In time, I was able to write the memories of my childhood because of the help and healing I got from churches.”
But it still took her 15 years to complete the book.
“There was two people who tried to write the story about what happened to my family and they couldn’t do it, so I felt pretty strong when I was able to do it,” Fogg said.
“I was going to keep it to myself as my own little treasure, but I was encouraged by friends and family to be strong and share it with the world.
“In my mind, it’s going to help children overseas who have seen their parents blown up and are still suffering inside,” she noted.
Fogg held a book-signing back in May in Stratton, where she grew up after her parents died.
She said people were overjoyed, even with tears, to see her after so many years.
“The emotional feeling and watching them cry as I was signing their book was really overwhelming and exciting to me,” she remarked.
“I didn’t realize that publishing a book was such a big deal.
“If you write a story, it touches the heart,” she noted. “But if you write an idea, it only touches the mind.”
Fogg said she’s received a positive response from her book.
“I’ve had ministers and evangelists commenting on my Facebook [page] and they were so proud because they were the ones who helped me years ago,” she noted.
“They are pleased with how God is using me to help others.”
The book also has garnered some strong reviews.
“A wonderful read for all,” wrote Karen Gouliquer. “It brings emotions to life and keeps you captivated from the first page to the last.
“Fantastic story.”
“I admire her courage and faith to relive a painful time in her life and share her story,” echoed Elaine Bonnell, saying Fogg’s family survived the worst possible tragedy ever.
“Go back 60 some years and learn how a community came to the rescue of 11 little orphans,” she noted.
“Take into account there were no places to guide you, direct you, or to counsel these young minds.
“These children, in just a matter of minutes, lost their mother and their father,” Bonnell said. “They witnessed this tragedy . . . yet they went on and endured their trials and persevered.
“I wonder who ever asked them along the way how they felt about the loss, how they felt about being separated, and how they got past their darkest hours,” Bonnell mused.
“Read this heart-warming story and learn from the past, and realize what is available now for families,” she urged.
Fogg said she’s had people from Fort Frances trying to connect with her about the book.
She has sent some books here but has not reached everyone, which is why she decided to hold the book-signing.
It will run tomorrow from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Fort Frances Public Library.
Copies of her book will be for sale there.
They also are available at www.essencebookstore.com
