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Rushton Wins Two Medals for No Paved Road To Freedom

No Paved Road To Freedom Selected as Book of the Month

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“The universe delivered No Paved Road To Freedom to my front door, and it has literally changed my outlook on life. If Mr. Dolana can do what he did, then any of us can achieve our dreams and goals. Truly a life changing read!!! I'm very proud and honored to have the option rights. This is the ultimate American dream story!”   Michael Cuccolo, 36Films President

Ruston Wins Two Medals for No Paved Road to Freedom

Author Sharon Rushton took home two medals at the end of 2012 for her book No Paved Road To Freedom – Based on a True Story.

Stars and Flags Book Awards awarded Rushton the Gold Medal, and the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) awarded Rushton the Bronze Medal in the national organization’s annual award competition. Earlier in the year, MWSA selected No Paved Road To Freedom as its Book of the Month.

MWSA reviewer Weymouth Symmes had this to say:

No Paved Road to Freedom by Sharon Rushton is a gripping page-turner about one man’s quest for freedom against overwhelming odds…. It is a remarkable and powerful book… It is an inspirational story about a remarkable man who gave up everything (family, career, fiancée) to escape the horrors of communism. Sharon’s book is also a cautionary tale of what governments can do in the guise of “helping” their people. … Sharon’s story brings the horrors of the purges down to the individual and family level. … Sharon Rushton’s book should be widely read. It is a reminder of how easy our life is, but how fragile and precious our freedoms are.  Either the soft tyranny of the welfare state or the hard tyranny of communism erode freedom and take away initiative. This would be a particularly instructive book for high school students; it would be a revelation for them.

No Paved Road To Freedom continues to grow in popularity as readers give it 5-star reviews, and schools, libraries and book clubs discover that it is gripping story that keeps reader’s interest and helps them comprehend an historical period rarely shared.
Find more information at www.nopavedroadtofreedom.com

No Paved Road To Freedom Selected as Book of the Month

Kimberling City, MO – The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) selected Sharon Rushton’s book No Paved Road To Freedom as its Book of the Month.

MWSA reviewer Weymouth Symmes said, “No Paved Road to Freedom by Sharon Rushton is a gripping page-turner about one man’s quest for freedom against overwhelming odds. It is an inspirational story about a remarkable man who gave up everything (family, career, fiancée) to escape the horrors of communism. Sharon’s book is also a cautionary tale of what governments can do in the guise of “helping” their people. Sharon’s story brings the horrors of the purges down to the individual and family level. It is a remarkable and powerful book.

“No Paved Road to Freedom is listed as a fictionalized historical biography. It is the story of Cornel Dolana, a real person who escaped Communist Romania. Sharon has done her homework; the book is based on many hours of interviews with her subject, and is backed by solid historical research.
“Sharon Rushton’s book should be widely read. It is a reminder of how easy our life is, but how fragile and precious our freedoms are.  Either the soft Military Writers Society of America Book of the Monthtyranny of the welfare state or the hard tyranny of communism erode freedom and take away initiative. This would be a particularly instructive book for high school students; it would be a revelation for them,” Symmes concluded.

Others agree. Amazon and Barnes and Noble readers have given No Paved Road To Freedom a 5-star rating.

Dr. Andrew Cline, a professor at Missouri State University said, “Cornel Dolana's story reminds us that freedom is precious. His example makes it difficult for contemporary readers to take the fruits of our liberty for granted.”

Dr Lavina Stan, director of the Center for Post-Communist Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada said, “A gripping and emotional tale of human frailty, perseverance and endurance under totalitarian repression, Rushton's book captures like no other the essence of Romanian Stalinism and the remarkable courage of a peasant family. The story of young Cornel Dolana and his relentless quest for freedom is an inspiration for us all.”

Jan Simpson with Yale University had this to say, “This gripping account of a young man's escape from Communist Romania has so many switch-backs, you'll have to hold on tight. The young Cornel determines to get to a free country or die trying.  Despite careful, cunning planning, the wrenching events of the long run to a new life make clear that the gulf between freedom and death is more terrifying than anyone so young could have imagined.”