The Long Shot: A French-Canadian Saga

A Klondike Gold Miner's Life, Book 1

By: Joyce Derenas

Narrated by: Stone Smith

Nazaire Poulin, a grain grower from Quebec, wants his old life back, but the sudden death of his spouse and the removal of his children have flipped his world upside down. He can’t afford seed money for his coming summer crop.

He is a man lost.

His spouse is dead—his children are taken—his land is at risk.

What man wouldn’t fight for what is his?

A dog-eared letter written in 1900 sits on the kitchen table. The last line reads, “If things bad at home, tell brothers come.” Come to the Dawson gold fields.

The Klondike Gold Rush has been over for a decade. Is it too late to find gold or a job rumored to pay six dollars a day? A spark of hope flashes in Nazaire’s body. Dare he go?

Everything that Nazaire has is at risk as he ventures thousands of miles from home on a long shot. Many men have gone. Most returned broken, while some starved on the way.

Nazaire Poulin embarks on a 4,000-mile journey with his youngest brother, Raoul. They cross Canada from Quebec to Winnipeg, walking through the Prairies to Edmonton, and then bridging the Rocky Mountains. Heartbreak, insult, and anger follow him, but an unlikely friendship with an Ojibway shaman turns his loss to hope. This exciting adventure story based on the real lives of five brothers brings Nazaire from despair to joy as he fights through the challenges that would flatten a lesser man.

This novel, The Long Shot, is Joyce Derenas’ debut novel about Nazaire Poulin’s incredible courage and resilience during one of Quebec’s darkest hours. It’s a slice-of-life portrait of a nation as it struggles to create stability amidst the chaos of a world depression.

©2019 Joyce May Derenas (P)2022 Joyce Derenas

Story of Loss, Danger and a Chance for a New Start

This tale of early 1900s Quebec and the large Poulin family trying to save their family farm amidst every imaginable trial is riveting. Based on the true story of the Poulin brothers, and well researched, their descendant has brought us their story. It is one of heartbreak, but also one of grit and stamina. After Nazaire Poulin's wife, Victoria dies shortly after giving birth to their fifth child, his in-laws take his children to raise them, and Nazaire is filled with dismay and sadness. He cannot make a living on his farm and is in danger of losing it. His only chance seems to be to travel the 4000 miles to the gold mines and hope that he can find gold there. Naizaire's youngest brother, Raoul finally agrees to go with him, leaving his wife, Lucia and two children behind. Their father, Varis, already had two sons in the Klondikes (Romeo and Gaudia) and was set against two more leaving, but with no way to save his farm and reclaim his children, Naizaire will not hear of any arguments. The two brothers endure untold danger as they cross the way to the gold mines, meeting both friend and foe. Once there it is unsure if they will find gold. Death, extreme weather and temptations face the brothers. The author has done a great job of describing just what they faced. Excellent book.

STUNNING

have just finished this wonderful novel, and im still overwhelmed by both, the author compelling writing style and the narrator warm voice that actually has fused life into Joyce Derenas 's words. The first moment i saw the audiobook on Audible, i felt that i need it in my life, im glad that i got it. Can't talk more, this book has really left me speechless.
Looking forward your next novel, and i really hope that it's gonna be narrated by stone smith, because he is a really great story teller.