Resonant Blue and Other Stories - by Mary Vensel White (Paperback)

About the Book

The first collection of award-winning short fiction from author Mary Vensel White. Whether backed against a wall, reeling from a loss, or confronting a painful truth, these characters pursue the glimmer of possibility shining on the horizon.

Book Synopsis

The first collection of award-winning short fiction from the author of Bellflower and Things to See in Arizona; Mary Vensel White's writing reflects "how we can endure and overcome our personal histories, better understand our ancestral ones, and accept the unknown future ahead."

In "Driftwood," a woman in a sleepy desert town willingly jumps into the back of a stranger's pickup to escape her quiet house. In "Griffin," an organized wife struggles to keep her family together and keep the beast of her husband's mental illness away. And in the title story, "Resonant Blue," an egotistical architect shatters everything around him as he tries to connect with his loved ones and build a better life.

A game show for those seeking love, a family wedding that unveils another secret union, a woman's impulsive trip to Greece to find her first love-in these twelve stories, Vensel White's characters face turning points. Whether backed against a wall, reeling from a loss, or forced to confront a painful truth, each doggedly pursues the glimmer of possibility shining on the horizon.

Praise for the author's novels:

"Unique and powerful. I will think about these characters for a long time. -Jessica Francis Kane, author of This Close: Stories

"Vensel White seamlessly forms a tapestry of prose with...astute observations of the human dynamic (and)...shines light on the ways we imprison and ultimately release ourselves through the strength of our yearnings." -Cherie Kephart, author of A Few Minor Adjustments

"Each vignette comes as a surprise, and each is a testament to how, just like in life, everything is woven and fused and pulling toward the other." -Deborah Reed, author of The Days When Birds Come Back

Review Quotes

"Resonant Blue and Other Stories holds moments of discovery that also will appeal to book clubs and women's reading groups, revealing emotional ties that bind and growth processes that propel the characters towards new beginnings." --Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

"The stories flow neatly into each other, with the intimate atmosphere providing an underlying commonality to the otherwise unconnected characters. Similarly, each narrative builds to a crossroads--some dramatic and some much more muted--and provides an effective hook to grab the reader's attention. A quiet but captivating collection of stories with an affecting view of the commonplace." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Mary Vensel White is the author of the award-winning young adult novel Things to See in Arizona, and the novels Bellflower, Starling, and The Qualities of Wood. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in numerous publications. She is an English and writing professor, an editor and publisher, and the current president of the California Writers Club, Orange County branch. Born in Los Angeles, Mary has lived in northern California, Denver, and Chicago, and now resides back in SoCal. She believes in second chances-- in most cases-- and in our ability to imagine and forge a new paths.