Book Review: novella, Miss Fishfly, by Linda Glaz

Miss Fishfly by Linda Glaz

White Rose

c. July 2013

$2.99 eBook

Romance novella

 

A companion piece and sequel to Polar Bear Plunge, Glaz’s romantic novella explores the story of Aleni and Brice’s friend Christie Hayes, also a nurse with a past, and Colton Keller, a fellow book subject.
 

There’s chemistry at first sight when Christie meets Cole at Aleni and Brice’s wedding. But Christie is unsure of herself and her track record with men, and convinces Cole that they can be just friends—without benefits.

 

Since Cole is coming away from a bad relationship with a woman who left him during his captivity in Iraq, he can go with Christie’s suggestion—until his own feelings start to get in the way. He is torn between being able to trust someone who takes such care of his grandfather, someone who is so caring and good to her patients, even after they’re no longer her patients.

 

Grandfather Hartway helps knock their heads together so they can see how good they’d be for each other, even with all the misunderstandings. Setting the example by doing all he can at the end of his life to see forgiveness and to forgive family members who have wounded him and each other, he shows Colton how good it is to live and die free in Christ.

 

Help each other look past the hurts and choices of their pasts, the rough events that have shaped them, and look to the future where they are stronger together than selfishly alone, clinging to wounds instead of the Healer.

 

A romantic quick-reading novella, those who love a sweet, fast clean read about hurting souls finding faith and romantic love, will enjoy this Miss Fishfly.

Jolly Days of Reading

And now...
The Jolly Days of Reading
a special Hop with the clients of literary agent Linda S. Glaz, of Hartline Literary

December 7, the Day After St. Nick's...

I belong to two local book clubs because I need to keep my reading habits expanded beyond me...like, if given a choice, I'd probably just eat chocolate chip pancakes for the rest of my life (although there are a lot of things one can do with a pancake....) and need to read some classics and non-fiction instead of a steady diet of fiction that includes dragons.

So, in the month of December in each club we're reading a different holiday book.

Fannie Flagg's Redbird Christmas, and
Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child



I loved the Russian fable of the snow child, so I was excited to read The Snow Child, a story about Alaskan homesteaders in the 1920s who couldn't have children of their own, thier dreams and play, and the little girl, Faina, who shows up on their doorstep. It's new, published 2012 by Little, Brown, and Co.

And honestly, after I read it, this book is my favorite of the year. I read quite a lot...so that tells ya something. I don't generall recommend books, either: BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.

Fannie Flagg has a different take on life, for sure...but we had a good discussion about her story, published 2004, about Oswald T. Campbell who leaves Chicago one winter after getting a stunning diagnosis, to head south to Lost River for what he believes will be his last Christmas. The book was sort of cute, probably set during the fifties, had nothing to do with Christmas and was rather two-dimensional. I liked it okay, don't get me wrong. It was okay to sit down and have someone tell me a story. There were not layers nor enchantment. It was just a little story.

Other favorites of mine include Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. I love all the different interpretations of it over the years on television and in the theater.

O Henry's Gift of the Magi is another one - irony, fable, warning...we're treating ourselves to a live performance of the play this year for our Christmas gift, to American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

And finally, besides, of course, Luke's version of the birth in a stable, I think often of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Match Girl. I remember being absolutely horrified and weeping when I first read it as a little girl, and my mother having to comfort me, but now, I think of it fondly as a lesson in reality and comfort in knowing what comes after this life.


Enjoy a couple of chapters from The Map Quilt

Map Quilt 2 chapters

Merry Christmas!

Two of my books are on sale for the season for $2.99 each

http://tinyurl.com/kindlemeanderscar

http://tinyurl.com/kindlesummerinoakville

And my co-conspirator on A Summer in Oakville has a very, very sweet Christmas novella for .99:
Grudges Not Included

Visit these sites to learn about other favorites!

6 - Linda Glaz -  http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com

7 - Lisa – http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com

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9 - Susan Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
 

10 - Gail Kittleson –  http://gailkittleson.blogspot.com
http://gailkittleson.blogspot.com

11 - Linda Maran –  http://lindamaran.blogspot.com
 

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14 - Karen Wingate – www.graceonparade.com/blog
http://www.graceonparade.com/blog
 

15 - Karla Akins http://envisionpublishing.tumblr.com

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19 - Patty Wysong --http://www.pattywysong.com  

19 - Davalynn Spencer – http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
 

20 - Tamara Lynn Kraft  - www.tamaralynnkraft.com

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop, following Linda Glaz

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

 

I’m following the fabulous Linda Glaz from http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-next-big-thing-day-late.htm , who shared about her prequel to her World War II novels, the romance that led up to the characters in those stories. Sounds like fun!

I’m sharing today about the next book in my Buried Treasure series, due out in 2013. Writing has finally become an okay full-time business for me, nine years after I said I'd give it a year and a half. Keep writing, keep producing, keep doing the best you can, network, like this, make friends, help others. Use common sense, and have fun!

What is the working title of your book?

The Newspaper Code

Where did the idea come from for the book?
The third in a series, this story clears up some leftover questions in the second book. Judy found an old quilt in a trunk in her attic that turned out to be stuffed with an old newspaper, one that had some letters circled in an article. The circled letters, were, of course a code. I came up with the idea from studying about the Civil War era in American history, how messages were created and sent during that time.

What genre does your book fall under?

Cozy mystery.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Ah…I don’t often think this way, so…Judy is kind of a sensitive Amy Adams-type; while Olivia is clueless but engaging Ellen Page-ish.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Judy Wingate’s NOT-BFF, Olivia Hargrove of the Robertsville Reporter, discovers a Civil War-era secret newspaper code that may lead to seven million dollars of missing city money.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It’s contracted by the publisher who picked up the mystery series from Barbour.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Four years – which is terrible of me; but I took a three-year break after I got half-way; in reality, less than six months. Brenda Hendricks (see below) was my supporter and loyal critique partner during the first half, and Gail Pallotta (also see beloe) has stepped in as chief accountability and critique partner during the second half. It’s been a joy and relief seeing my story unfold through the eyes of these wonderful authors.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
A little like the Cat Who mysteries, and Hannah Reed’s Queen Bee mysteries.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The mysteries were initially inspired by Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents: Mysteries book club. As I met other mystery writers and learned about the style of writing, I was inspired by people like Deb Baker and re-explored Agatha Christie with fresh eyes, reminded myself of the Nancy Drew-type stories and pacing for the coziness of approach.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The story is one of learning to fit in and make friends. Olivia is a bit clueless about how to deal with people, and Judy isn’t sure she wants anything to do with Olivia on a personal level, but the women come to respect and help each other, and to step away from their prejudices.

I encourage you to visit these authors who will post about their upcoming work next week:

Gail Palotta - http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com - whom I've had the pleasure of working with both at Other Sheep and Clash of the Titles (http://www.clashofthetitles.com), writes a lot like me, certainly a challenge to keep all our genres in order. I enjoy her sense of outside the box, as well as her vulnerability.

Shelley Wilburn - http://www.shelleywilburn.org - really, friends, just visiting Shelley's site and seeing the picture and reading about her and her husband's activities is worth the visit!

Brenda K Hendricks - http://www.myquotesofencouragement.com - who's working on a very, very cool story, one you won't want to miss: Maggie’s greatest worry is a leaky roof before her estranged niece Dawn shows up unexpectedly with more baggage than she could squeeze in the trunk of her Volkswagen bug.

 

Polar Bear Plunge!

Polar Bear Plunge

by Linda Glaz

White Rose Publishing eBook, 12/5 2011

ISBN: 9781611161175
95 pp

About the Book:

Angry with God, she finds herself even angrier, when hero, Brice Taylor, author of The Human Shield, arrives in the Emergency Room with a concussion and hypothermia after participating in the Polar Bear Plunge. Aleni wants nothing to do with a man who willingly takes chances with his life.Brice doesn’t understand how God could bring him through being a captive in Iraq, when he failed his troops so miserably. Writing about his escape brings fame he would rather avoid. And by meeting widow, Aleni Callan, his feelings of failure only increase.Megan Callan with the help of her three-year-old grandson, Ty, scheme to bring Aleni and Brice together. And while the best laid plans often go awry, Megan isn’t one to accept no.

Linda says:

I love the idea of a returning war hero and a war widow finding each other.

Most importantly, my oldest daughter, Brandy, a nurse, herself, always wanted me to write a story about a nurse named Aleni. So, when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn't resist. I did learn one VERY important thing: women like their purist romances. I've tried all types of edgy and different takes on the genre, but have learned that when certain readers sit down, they expect specific things.

So, you can teach an old dog new tricks!

About Linda:

Linda served in the military during a time when it wasn’t a politically correct thing to do. Her years as a meteorologist during Vietnam were filled with travel, teaching, and pure enjoyment for being part of the Armed Forces. Winning awards, many of which were “firsts” for a woman in the Air Force, she experienced an array of unusual opportunities normally reserved for men. Breaking down barriers was a must in the seventies.

She taught karate and women’s self-defense off and on for thirty years, refereed soccer for twenty-five, fifteen of which she was one of eleven National Instructors for the largest youth soccer organization in the world.

Now, she works part time in a physical therapy clinic, which seems appropriate after all her soccer/karate injuries.

She spends relaxing time writing, directing, and singing in church musicals as well as directing community theatre.

As she enjoys reading other peoples’ novels and encouraging them in their writing, she works as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency.

Linda is married to a terrific guy and is the mother of three amazing children, three wonderful grandchildren, and a foster cat (who has found her way, in name, onto the pages of two books).

Who wouldn’t want to hear about an Ophelia?

After all, it was good enough for Shakespeare.

Linda Glaz, Agent
Hartline Literary Agency
http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/
http://hartlineliteraryagency.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

WHEN YOU HAVE TO WRITE AS SURELY AS YOU HAVE TO BREATHE, THEN, AND ONLY THEN ARE YOU A WRITER...