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.
“Resonant Blue and Other Stories gathers stories about survival, endurance, escape, and reinvention, examining twelve characters whose lives reflect efforts to strive for something better (and, hopefully, different)…
The emotional considerations aren’t all storms. Sometimes they are delivered in a wisp of windy portents of change or realizations. Other times, the stories are hard-hitting examinations of the undercurrents of change that surface in unexpected ways.
Libraries seeking short story collections filled with psychological connection, insights, solid characterization, and haunting inspections of quiet, desperate transformations will welcome the disparate lives represented in this collection.
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, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“What a delightful collection of stories that felt very much like life, love and heartache bubbling up from a corner of the world and then recessing back into the matrix… the last (story) brings everything full circle and confirmed the message that I had already gleaned from the author which is that a single moment in time can loom large enough to write an entire 500 page novel however when condensed into a few pages it cuts like a knife into the heart of a fellow lonely traveler.” —Patti, Goodreads reviewer
“A brilliant compilation of stories that are heartfelt, engaging and entertaining, while delivering astute observations of the human dynamic and profound insights into her character’s personalities.”—Maureen, Goodreads reviewer
“THINGS TO SEE IN ARIZONA is a satisfying blend of travelogue, romance, mystery, and teen coming-of-age. Arizona, with its history of alien sightings and new age outlooks, and its landscape that seems wide open but conceals quite a lot, is an excellent backdrop for a story centered on redefinition. Finally, Tuesday and Cristian make an entertaining couple whom the reader can’t help but root for. A well-written, imaginative and satisfying read.” ~ Anthony Aycock for IndieReader
“This engaging, contemporary fiction novel expertly combines familiar feelings of adolescence with the unknowns that naturally arrive after high school graduation. Though Tuesday’s medical diagnosis is not common for young adults, her desire for independence, love, and acceptance is universal. Filled with heart and self-discovery, this is a positive addition to library collections for young people who are preparing for the next steps in their lives.” ~ Mary Lanni for Reedsy Discovery
“A short but sweet road trip story that explores the relationships between family, friends, and our relationship with ourselves. It seamlessly blends serious themes with a light-hearted perspective and helps to show how we can endure and overcome our personal histories, better understand our ancestral ones, and accept the unknown future ahead.” ~ Laura’s Books and Blogs
“Tuesday embarks on a road trip that ends up opening her mind to many aspects of her life, personally as a girl with physical limitations, seeing myself reflected in a character was captivating. The author knows how to express very well the fears and indecision that as young people or adults we usually face throughout our lives.” ~ time4bookswithv
“Beautifully compelling and overflowing with artistic expression, a novel that captures the challenges and triumphs of the heart. Vensel White seamlessly forms a tapestry of prose with sharp yet lush descriptions and astute observations of the human dynamic. Starling shines light on the ways we imprison and ultimately release ourselves through the strength of our yearnings. A thoughtful and rich read that showcases the power of familial bonds.” ~ Cherie Kephart, author of A Few Minor Adjustments
“A riveting story with an unlikely hero. Gina is the kind of woman who often goes unseen and is rarely the center of a narrative. Vensel White’s novels offer no two-dimensional characters; all the people on the periphery have complicated stories and motivations. Like real life. You’ll think about these authentic characters long after the story is done.” ~ Katie O’ Rourke, author of Blood & Water
Bellflower is as sharp as it is nuanced, as nostalgic as it is foretold. These layered stories are filled with a yearning to uncover where the characters have been, and with an openhearted longing, accept all that is still to come. A small gem of a novel, 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
All the scenes in Bellflower are vivid and well-wrought; I was truly impressed by how quickly Vensel White drew the reader into these lives. A unique and powerful book. I will think about these characters for a long time. ~ Jessica Francis Kane, author of Rules for Visiting
These are the defining moments of life: the cancer scare, the mid-life crisis affair, the paternity test results that seem like the end of the world. Bellflower tells these stories about the human condition and reminds us that, in the end, we’re all connected. ~ Katie O’ Rourke, author of Blood & Water
Mary Vensel White has written a novel that captures the quiet poetry and repressed anguish of family life, much in the way Anne Tyler or Richard Yates can do, but with an experimental format that proves to be true to the nature of how memory works. A remarkable feat. ~ Scott Pack, author of Weightless Fireworks
“A haunting and provocative debut.”
~ Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train
“An ominous and psychological novel that manages both artful prose and an eerie plot.” ~ Linnie Greene, Flyleaf Books
“The Qualities of Wood grabbed me right away and held me in its thrall until the final page. The writing is tensely crafted and beautifully precise.” ~ Wendy Lawless, author of Chanel Bonfire
“How little we know our loved ones until faced with their families, both living and dead. Vensel White has packed a hornets’ nest of intrigue in The Qualities of Wood.” ~ Leslie Lehr, author of What a Mother Knows
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