No Kiss Good-bye

{NO KISS GOOD-BYE -- COMPLETE READ}

Words cannot properly express my admiration for this true-life novel and the depth and importance of the story told here! Here is the story of one young lady's journey and struggle through Communist Romania in the early 1980s and how God embraced her, held her and brought her through the darkness into a deeper connection with his love and from the chains of Communism into a better world!

I have never read a book on or off Authonomy that has touched me like this or has been so fulfilling and real! There is pain and beauty in these pages. It is a story that will keep you rapt as you read and teach you what it was truly like to be a part of Communist Romania at the time. This read is a blessing and is a testiment to the love of God and what Faith can bring to the world! I cannot recommend it enough and am extremely honored to have been able to read the full manuscript before it is picked up by a major publishing company! It will be! There is no doubt in my mind of that!

COMMISSIONING EDITORS PAY ATTENTION! No Kiss Good-bye is a unique read that takes hold of you and keeps you rapt until the final line!

BACKED to the desk!!!

Have a blessed day!

- Scott Justin Toney, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I believed this story would be good, but I had no idea that it would grip me and move me so deeply. This belongs with HarperCollins' imprint for true-life stories. Let me begin with the style - intimate, easy to for the reader to relate, informative, emotive. I learned so much reading this book. I also felt the book on a deep level, and this makes it a very important story. For those of us who have lived in the security of our countries and perhaps never questioned political policies for immigrants, this book can change us, and that's exactly what happened for me.

Beautifully narrated with strong visuals but never too much to change the pacing of the story. The book feels ready to go, edited and polished. I truly expect to hear excellent publishing news for No Kiss Goodbye very soon.

I'm not quite finished - now in Part III - but already I know I'll feel a loss when I'm finished, because this has been one of the best reading experiences I've had on Autho.

Brava,
Lizzi

Your opening chapter read like a gripping piece of fiction. Right off the bat you brought an energy to your life story that had me thinking it would make a great film.

Jumped to Chapter 34 and the ‘Without a Country’ section. Your first impressions of being in the ‘free’ world were wonderful to soak up. I was there in your experience—just as I was there in your tension as you waited in vain at the station in Frankfurt for someone to meet. The phone conversation with your mum was brilliant. It told me she was quite a personality.

What a story! So glad I stumbled upon it. Going by two chapters, I can’t help but feel it deserves to be in print.

All the best with it here.

{No Kiss Good-bye} – T. Donna Robison
Chapter 1:

This is a very engaging opening, well written and fast-paced. Your writing is polished and I love some of the images you create.

Excellent use of varied sentence structures to create a great rhythm to your story – particularly like this string of short sentences ‘I knew too well the face of oppression. I craved to see the face of freedom. And this longing trumped common sense and the fear of the grave consequences of leaving.’

I have a feeling this is going to unfurl into an excellent read. One of those books that tugs at your heart, and pulls you along down an amazing journey.

Six stars from me :)

Cara
The Awakening: Dawn of Destruction

I just finished reading No Kiss Goodbye. Sorry it took me so long. I am currently a returning adult graduate student in civil engineering, and am buried in my studies. I can't say enough good things about your book. It moved and touched me. I was born and grew up in Los Angeles...Redondo Beach. You opened up an entirely different world to me...one that Americans really have no way of knowing about. I have always known freedom of speech and freedom of religion, not to mention the wonderful weather we enjoy in Southern California.

I don't know if anyone from Harper Collins reads these comments, or if other publishers or agents read through them. The same time-crunch that created this vehicle of Authonomy probably limits the same acquisition editors from having the time to review these comments. I would like to see the Christian genre placed in its own separate category for manuscript review considerations, as it is difficult for books such as yours to complete against works of fiction, on the same playing field.

You are an exceptionally gifted story-teller. Your writing is excellent. A text-editor at whatever publisher your book ends up with will fine-tune the very few and hardly noticeable grammatical rough spots, as occurs with every published book. I think your book would have wide appeal within and outside of the Christian audience. Don't get discouraged..you have an excellent product...it just has to be recognized by the right editor or agent. I would love to read a sequel of your life...part two in the United States.

Your story is a modern blend of Ruth, Joseph in Egypt, and David being chased by King Saul. Our self-in-charge nature has to be crucified alongside Jesus on the cross, so that He can replace it with eternally valuable faith and trust in Him. God bless you and thanks. Bart Jahn

Chapter 16 is so sad in the shortages you had to suffer, but I loved your story of carrying the big fish home from the market.

Donna,

I re-read Chapter 12 today and was struck by this line... "I prayed for her vision to be healed and yet feared receiving the answer." God answers this prayer in your life and (as with many prayers) he answers many many more! One of the things I love so much about God is that not only does he answer our prayers when we pray to him but he also answers prayers we never pray and gives us blessings we never knew were possible or could have dreamed of ourselves.

Your work always refreshes my day and reminds me of the love God has for us all!

Have a blessed day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

{No Kiss Good-bye} – T. Donna Robison
Chapters 10 to 15
The honesty with which you write is truly unbelievable, and it is such a privilege to read. You provide such insight into your life, and all its faces, and that takes great courage – I admire you for it!

In these chapters, we learn more about your childhood. What makes this book special is the focus on you – it is not just another story about growing up in communist times. Everything is so personal and you create an intimate connection with readers.

Chapter 11, with the earthquake, particularly touched me - I was marked by the way the earthquake make you think about life and reflect more about our existence!! I am also glad that you were able to go to church and had God to help you through these difficulties, although I’m so sorry that it caused the troubles that it did between your parents.

I loved your description in chapter 13 when you are playing the piano; ‘Music melted my nerves as it conquered time and space.’ Ooh fabulous, you know how I love those sensual sorts of descriptions! I felt your frustration though when you weren’t praised, and the hopelessness of not being able to please someone.

Thank you again for sharing your story! Have a lovely day and don’t worry about Authonomy too much :)
Cara
p.s. all my edit suggestions are in a word doc, so I’ll email that to you later! xx

Hi Donna, you are back on my shelf.
love
Brigitte

Donna, I completed "No Kiss Goodbye" most definitely one of the BEST books I've read here on Authonomy! To say that you had me swallowed up in it would be an understatement. Every entire bit of the book held me captive. As I've mentioned before I absolutely love true life stories. From Chapter 18 on wards I was absolutely enthralled by what you wrote, and I just kept feeling everything you shared, especially when the setbacks came time and time again, however, the Scripture that kept coming back to me was of Abraham in the book of Romans - "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed...." Romans 4:18

I also, believe as you stated in a comment on, Losing Me, that we have similarities in our stories. That's why I related to your story on a level of connection. I understand what it is to be put in a place with despair, despondency, knock back after knock back, blow after blow, occurs and you're left to pick yourself up and keep going. I do hope that a publisher will pick this book up and run with it to share it with the world!

Salwa. :)

Donna,

I returned for my re-read of Chapter 11 today and was especially reminded of something else I love about your book! Not only do you have a fantastic ability to bring us into the journey that God guided you on and held your hand through, but you also weave such wonderful description into your work that you really take this to such a great level for me! You began Chapter 11 with wonderful description that really took hold of my vision in your world!

"A massive moon hung precariously low, casting a moon so bright the streetlights seemed like fireflies. Not a leaf twitched. Not even so much as a faint sound cracked the silence." ...you take my breath away with your words.

Have a wonderful day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I went back and read chapter 11 again. It is my favorite chapter - there are so many elements to it. Mystery (in the beginning), fear, survival, sadness, history, and humor. It would seem hard to get so much into so few pages but you do a great job. An amazing chapter.

When I come to read a chapter of "No Kiss Good-bye", I am taken away by Donna's words. She invites us into her life and it is such a privilege to read. Don't miss out on this beautiful book!
Cara

Donna,

I just finished my re-read of Chapter 10 and I am once again reminded of the similarities between chess and your journey. In chess everything has to move just right in order for you to win the game and in your life in this time everything had to move exactly as it did to get you where you are. God moved the pieces where they needed to be even when you didn't know why. That is so beautiful and I love having the opportunity to read about the blessings he has brought into your life!

Have a blessed day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

Hey, Donna,
I just finished rereading Chapter Eleven (about the earthquake). It's a good chapter and it certainly gives insight into your mother's character. "Ah, God knows your mother is a nut." Loved it.

"Not only could I not accept that God didn't exist, but the proposition raised a revolt inside of me."

I absolutely love that line... so inspiring and so true! Your work is beautiful! Your journey is beautiful! I know that I've said it before but I am completely honored to have the ability to read No Kiss Good-bye!

Have a wonderful day Donna!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

Dear Donna, I'm up to Chapter 18 and felt to let you know how thoroughly I'm enjoying your book. No Kiss Goodbye is written with ease and flows beautifully. I absolutely indulge in reading true life stories and other cultural lifestyles. Having the ability to reveal the Communist rule in your book was such a treat, to hear a personal account enriched the reader more in relating somewhat to what life under Communism would have been like.

The episodes of your Mama beating you left me quite saddened, however, I understood the strict, authoritarian reality in a culture that desire to excel, especially when it comes to living under such harrowing circumstances. Being a parent and desiring your children to have a better life than your own, a life of freedom and lack of restrictions can cause a parent to do things that normally would not be done under free will where life was not so hard. It truly broke my heart having to read these parts, yet something inside of me understood, even though I would never have wanted that to happen to anyone.

I recall in the 80's as a teenager listening to the news and hearing quite a bit about Romania, then having to read a personal account brought back certain news flashes.

You write with detail, consistency and effortlessly describing each situation enabling the reader to feel at home with you. I do have one request, maybe throughout the chapters placing in your age or date more frequently, thee were times when I wondered how old you were, or what year it was when you shared certain situations.

Thank you for writing this wonderful story. I hope to continue to read to the end. I feel like a broken record saying this, but I'm slotting in reading on my breaks and sometimes at night, therefore, I don't know when I'll finish. I can always let you know on Facebook. A job well done and a story anyone would have the pleasure to read.

I love the last half of the book! Everything culminates in the end and we see what care you took in the beginning chapters! The first chapters are so important to the development of this wonderful book and they too are so interesting to read and allow the reader to come as near as possible to being in Romania and in the environment you grew up in - in communism and the uncertainty of free will.

Chapters 10 and 11 offer an interesting look at your family life and your faith. I chuckled how American movies and Hollywood influenced your views toward America and desire to live there. In this day and age when America seems to be the world’s punching bag, it’s refreshing to read that. The earthquake sounds devastating. I can’t imagine being in something so, well, earth shaking. Once again, you put the reader into the story. Excellent work! I shall read on again soon.

Dear Donna

I am reading more of your story, chapter 8 and some of 9 though now I have to stop. I cannot believe your mother treated you so cruelly, and so harshly. Did she believe this was the best way to motivate a small child, when children only want to please their parents? Instead you were frightened out of your wits, and yet you carried on trying to learn and please her. You were very brave.

My dear, I hope you feel vindicated now! Your choices have finally asserted themselves. Not only are you speaking and writing English fluently and with evident love, but your experiences are built into a lovely book from which we can all learn and grow.

I shall shelve your book at my next rotation. Meantime, thank you for sharing your experiences. I am impressed with your bravery, your honesty. Your writing has a light, incisive touch.

Fran XX :-))

Donna,

I'm re-reading Chapter 8 today and as I read I am reminded about how your Mama had you learn German instead English and about the role that that played in your life and in your journey to the US. It is one of those things that makes you upset and confused at the time but that God is working through, you discover later, to take you on the path you are destined for. It is beautiful to witness the ways God has worked in your life!

I am loving the re-read! Have a fantastic day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I am enjoying the Romanian culture in your book...it is especially interesting to see communism from the "inside-out". Definitely eye-opening and I am looking forward to the future chapters!

Dear Donna,

It is no surprise your amazing, well-written, deeply touching book is flying up the ranks! I love seeing your happy green arrow... the success of this piece is so well-deserved. It is a story that will inspire many, many people.

All the best,
~Faith

Donna,

As I re-read Chapter 7 today I was thinking about how much I enjoy your ability to write converation in No Kiss Good-bye! You write conversation in a way that is real to me and really makes me feel a part of where you were at the time. That's a great talent and one that serves you and your readers well throughout the book! I also loved the final sentence...

"Muffled behind the facade, my heart beat expectant that someday I would find a way to escape communism to live in freedom." :D

Have a wonderful day! It's always a pleasure to return and read! You have a fantastic book here!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I am reminded in my re-read of chapter 6 of the parallels between your Mama's relocation to Bucharest and your journey out of Romania. There are parallels here in some ways and it makes me smile to know that your Mama's strength and determination were passed on to you and amplified. I always love returning to No Kiss Good-bye! You have a wonderful, very publishable book here!

Have a blessed day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I only read two chapters but will read the rest when I have more time. This is a gripping story, made more so because it is a true story and If anyone has forgotten how repressive the communists governments were, this is a real reminder. I am giving it five stars.

Donna,
The book is better the second time through. I'm up to chapter 11 and I love what you're doing with the updates. IThe book read very easily the first time through, but it reads even tighter now.

Ch. 9 is somber and chilling. I can sense the desperation and hopelessness welling up inside you and how cruel life was for you at home and at school. The brutality, especially at school, is difficult to read about but offers an accurate portrayal of what you went through. Even the dentist! You end the chapter on a hopeful note mentioning faith. While you talk of the communist government cracking down on churches, it offers a hint of faith that could sustain you. Well done! Looking forward to reading on. It’s an immense pleasure.

BHCG review – No Kiss Good-bye:

I’m going to forego the usual outline for a BHCG crit because I think this book kind of transcends it. It can’t be put into a frame or structure, it has a life of its own. Although your pitches didn’t haul me in, I was interested enough to read on. With the first couple of paragraphs, you had me.

This is wonderful writing. I was drawn along into your world by the excellent way in which you tell your story. I haven’t read it all but I will come back at intervals to finish it.

Books like this are essential to tell the truth of what living is like for those born in a country that denies freedom to its people. Unless we experience something first hand it is difficult to understand, to have true empathy. Being able to wake up in a relatively free country, live a relatively free life is something many of us take for granted.

This is a well-written, very emotive, and highly charged story. It deserves to be told and read by many. Good luck with it.

Mick

P.s. What I learned about Romanians through your work was how deep their hearts run and about how strong their souls can be. You are a wonderful friend and fellow writer! Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story with us!

Donna,

I returned today to enjoy more of No Kiss Good-bye, which has enriched my day once again, and I was disturbed by the comment by "Jesus Speaketh" below mine. I see that he has backed your book, which I am happy about, but I think he missed the larger picture. Romanians arn't and were not close minded and clannish. They were opressed by Communism and there are many wonderful Romanians I have had the pleasure to get to know through your work. They are a wonderful people who were forced to endure much. What this book is about, what it emulates, are the blessings God has brought into your life and the truth of what he can bring to our lives. That is what your work emulates and that is the truth of what we witness as we read!

Have a blessed day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

Oh, those Romanians, so Romanianic! You capture the essence of their close minded clannish society.

CCRG review - I came back for Chapter 7 and you continue to paint a detailed picture of communist Romania and to build the frustration of Dana growing up in that repressed environment. At first, when I read the exchange between Dana and her parents (you and your parents), I thought "abusive", but then I remembered that Romania at that time was a very dangerous place full of paranoid people who actually would imprison, even kill to suppress thoughts of liberty. Again, I find myself wanting to march into the textbook committee of our local school system and say "this needs to be read in our schools."

Hi Donna, what can I add that hasn't been already said about your amazing book? Simply excellent deserving of it's rank good luck to the ED you deserve it. 6* Karen x

"And I didn't know about the God the government declared didn't exist, but I felt in my heart there had to be much more to life than the ticking of the clock."

And what a wonderful role he's played in your life since that time! It just makes me smile to re-read your work and experience what God did for you in those days and in the days to come... the blessings that emerged from the darkness.

Have a wonderful day! I always look forward to returning!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

P.s. Your review on Amazon meant the world to me and really made my day! And I was SO EXCITED to read that No Kiss Good-bye will be available later this year!!! I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy and I'm already planning on gifting another copy to my mom for Christmas!!! :)

ancient animosities lead to modern tragedy

I read chapters 7 and 8. The book keeps getting better and better! I see the suspense starting to build slowly with threads of dread about living under communism. I really love how you ended the chapter with “I would find a way to escape communism to live in freedom.” The last two paragraphs are very poignant. Bravo! I was surprised by how stern your mom is in chapter 8 and makes me glad I didn’t have it so tough as a child. I can see the dread building living under both communism and the pressure to succeed. I read a hint of desperation too, that you need to be the best pianist and German speaker you can be to live a better life in the West (West Germany). I’m glad to see these bubbling up and am looking forward to read how you’ll do in your new school.

I love this story, sometimes I have to come back and read bits of it - rarely do I feel like that about other stories I read. Great job again!

Hope you finish soon. No, seriously, it is great.

I love this book. I am reading on and am putting on my bookshelf, high stars, and backing it. It's the kind of story line I love and you tell it so well. Thank you.
BillyD
The Life Inside Maggie Pincus

a wonderful account

T. D. I found 'No kiss Good-bye' a sombre read that promised hope in times of adversity under an evil regime. It is a dour story, I guess it has to be. It certainly has a place in Historic and Biographical writing and offers an insight into a world that many people have only experienced through snippets of news reports. Your writing is mature and well constructed. I'm not sure on the footnotes and their italic number references. For me they slowed my reading down, certainly I remained longer on each chapter reviewing each notation. I think learning the Romanian laguage is wasted on me. The pronunciation is certainly helpful, but perhaps it is better placed at the end of the book. When I encounter a name of foriegn language I often brush over it , but retain it mentally as an identifier. Certain terms explained is also useful and more likely to benefit if kept as a footnote on the bottom of the page. Depending on what you choose to do with the footnotes, I think numbering them in consequetive sequence throughout the book would be better than starting the count anew at each chapter (perhaps a summary/glossary would work well). I was a little deturbed when the footnotes continued after dozens of chapters - I was hoping by this point that most names etc had been encountered and explained. I know I've dwelt a long time on the footnotes but it is a relativley unusual approach on Autonomy, especially in the Biographical area and this is because it is rich in history, a commendable trait. The footnotes can add a lot of credibility to your work and certainly convey a lot of research. I think 'No kiss Goodbye' is an important work and will appeal to a lot of readers. It deserves a shot at the Editors Desk. Best regards, Andrew Esposito / Killing Paradise

T. Donna Robison,

This story is amazing. It paints a sobering picture of Romanian culture under a totalitarian government. I can't imagine how hard it must have been. Struggling to be safe, struggling to find food.... It's hard to imagine that hardship. However, Dana's dream of making it out of the country, of finding better life in America is inspiring, as well as her love for her Tati; the bond of whole family is overwhelming. I'm drawn to her strength. Thank you for sharing your story! I believe it has a definite home on many bookshelves.

Sam Cronin

Your story is very touching, I have been reading through Part 1 and it's amazing to hear about your personal experiences... they teach us so more than reading a history book would. Thank you for sharing it with us, I'll be reading on :)
Dan

Hi Donna,

I just re-read chapter 4 of your wonderful book. It is one of my favorite chapters, primarily because we see so much of your relationship with Mama. Also, your desire to "learn English" is in such conflict with Mama's ideas of German, which highlights the tension and shows us your heart. I really love this book. It is staying on my shelf for as long as it takes...I have no doubt this WILL be on the desk very, very soon!

All the best,
Faith Rose
Now To Him

What a great opening chapter. The fact this story stems from Romania, a country I am sure I will learn more about as I read further chapters, only adds to the mystery and expectancy of the read. Well paced and exceptionally well described, I felt as though I too was on that train and heading for freedom. Top marks.
RMA
Sea Spray and Stars.

Chapter 10 shows how the seed of freedom and escape to America was planted in your young girl brain. John Wayne! Who would have thought?

Chapter 8 is chilling in how it reveals your life as a young girl. Your mother, your school, your dentist. How did you endue? Your writing puts the reader right in your shoes.

Donna,

Today I came back to re-read chapter 4 and smiled when I read about you learning German, knowing how handy it would be later and how God was working in your life! It really made me smile and I can vouch for your English now because I absolutely love No Kiss Good-bye!

Have a wonderful day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

I read chapters 5 and 6. Once again, a superb job! I liked how you’re starting to build the suspense in ch. 5 with allusions to the communist regime and its heavy-handed monitoring and control. Also saw my first glimpses of the family leaning toward escape from Romania. The detailed description of the food in the package made me hungry!  In ch. 6, I enjoyed the bits of foreshadowing…how Mama escaped the village to Buchurest and your parents’ discussion over your future as a possible professional pianist who could leave Romania to travel the world. Most of all, ch. 6 offered excellent description of parents’ doting over children in Romania and of life in the village. Your descriptions are second to none. The story is moving along, and I can’t wait to read more!

Chapter 6 - the look at subsistence farming in Romania reminded me a lot of my mother's childhood stories, except that Grandpa and Grandma were free to do what they wanted on their own land and with their own land, while Dana's aunt was not.

I concur with a commenter below about Mama's strong-willed personality. I suppose only the strong-willed survive a society that tries to strip people of their individuality. Still, she is very domineering; the dance-mother of the piano. Lauri

This is a timely and important book. Backed!

Randall
The STRIKERZ

Your mother keeps amazing me. She is so strong willed. Since this is my second reading of your book, I can see that her harshness and strong will is what will make a difference in your life later on.

"...despite the language barrier, the distance, the cultural differences, and the vast economic disparity between us as citizens of the third world communist country..."

Donna,

I was re-reading chapter 3 today and came across this in a sentence. It speaks so much and despite all of these things mentioned God's love and grace showed the way to freedom! So wonderful! I just love this book!

Have a wonderful day!

- Scott, The Ark of Humanity, Eden Legacy and Lazarus, Man

{No Kiss Good-bye} – T. Donna Robison
Chapter 9
The dialogue in the opening was so powerful because of the way it moved along, and I really felt you were speaking to me here
You portrayed emotion so visibly, with the hate and despair, truly captivating and heart-wrenching

My small suggestions :
1) I’d say → ‘Mamaia never remarried after my grandfather’s fatal ox cart accident left her widowed at twenty-eight, with Uncle Florica four years old and Tati only two.’
2) I’d say; ‘talent was knitting and crocheting, and she made us blouses and dresses…’ → avoids repetition of ‘knitting’
3) I’d say; ‘I despaired, becoming cognizant that …’ → fewer words, sharper?
4) ‘Nights I lay in bed, emptied of purpose.’ → comma breaks up the sentence, creating a pause and thus emphasizing the ‘purpose’
5) I’d just say; ‘The teachers’ talk reminded me of weeds choking plants, starving them of nutrients.’ → I think it’s clear from this that the weeds overcome the plants, and it’s more effective to just keep it simple maybe?

Have a terrific day Donna! Thank you for sharing this, you will touch many people
Cara