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Blue Flamingo: A Novella
When his father dies, 24-year-old Dylan Ryker finds a matchbook his dad had hidden in a drawer. Could it be a clue to the identity of his mystery birth mother? The matchbook, from a bar called the Blue Flamingo, takes him from Chicago to a village in the Florida Panhandle where he goes to work for the owner, Rita Cornwall. He’s sure this woman knows something but she’s not telling.
In his search for answers to where he came from and where his future lies, Dylan finds himself in harm’s way, threatened by a local troublemaker and warned by a religious fanatic to stay away from his daughter, conflicts that will lead him to the truth but not the one he imagined.
In his search for answers to where he came from and where his future lies, Dylan finds himself in harm’s way, threatened by a local troublemaker and warned by a religious fanatic to stay away from his daughter, conflicts that will lead him to the truth but not the one he imagined.
111 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2015
About the author
Joyce V. Harrison
4 books3 followersI come from a decades long career as a writer in ad agencies (Chicago, Nashville) and prior to that in broadcasting (Canada & U.S.) A long time songwriter as well, I am a Grammy voting member of the Recording Academy.
Book #1, "Slag", set in the far North where I was born and raised, takes Anna Sorenson back to 1955 and her traumatic senior year in high school. The title of #2, "Long Plastic Hallway", comes from a quote by Hunter S. Thompson about the music business. The story, set primarily in LA, deals with the turmoil in the career and personal life of a young musician. "Blue Flamingo: A Novella" , #3, is about a young man's search in FL for the identity of his mystery birth mother. I'm please to announce the arrival, as of Aug. 12, 2024, of book #4 on Amazon. Here's the synopsis:
"What Now?" tells eight short stories of individuals dealing with the unexpected that can seriously impact their life.
Ella Mae: the money she accidentally finds may put her in danger. Jasper: a haircut leads him to consider a new road for his future. Caroline: a coworker is on a mission to get her fired. Logan: as high school ends, the devil wind comes to collect his dues. Tara: her boyfriend reveals a dark side. Luke: what he's been hiding hits home. Lori: her addiction is private until her husband surprises her. Marshall: diagnosed with a fatal disease, he is torn about his beloved Harley.
The question is: what would you do?
Book #1, "Slag", set in the far North where I was born and raised, takes Anna Sorenson back to 1955 and her traumatic senior year in high school. The title of #2, "Long Plastic Hallway", comes from a quote by Hunter S. Thompson about the music business. The story, set primarily in LA, deals with the turmoil in the career and personal life of a young musician. "Blue Flamingo: A Novella" , #3, is about a young man's search in FL for the identity of his mystery birth mother. I'm please to announce the arrival, as of Aug. 12, 2024, of book #4 on Amazon. Here's the synopsis:
"What Now?" tells eight short stories of individuals dealing with the unexpected that can seriously impact their life.
Ella Mae: the money she accidentally finds may put her in danger. Jasper: a haircut leads him to consider a new road for his future. Caroline: a coworker is on a mission to get her fired. Logan: as high school ends, the devil wind comes to collect his dues. Tara: her boyfriend reveals a dark side. Luke: what he's been hiding hits home. Lori: her addiction is private until her husband surprises her. Marshall: diagnosed with a fatal disease, he is torn about his beloved Harley.
The question is: what would you do?
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 25, 2015
If you're looking for a superbly written, well-crafted piece of contemporary fiction, they don't get much better than Blue Flamingo by Joyce V. Harrison.
The story begins when Dylan Ryker -- a young man in his early twenties -- leaves Chicago after the unexpected death of his father. Dylan doesn't really have a destination in mind. But, eventually, he winds up in Pelago, Florida, clutching a matchbook carried around for years by his dad. It has the name of a bar on it -- The Blue Flamingo.
Dylan, desperately searching for his mother, who took off when he was a toddler, finds the seedy nightclub, and strikes up a friendship with the lounge's owner -- Rita Cornwall.
Rita takes pity on the young man who washes up at her front door one day in dirty dungarees and several days shy of a shower. He becomes her new bartender and bouncer. Trouble is, the first person he bounces is a local half-wit with a biker buddy. Not good.
Dylan winds up in the hospital several days later, courtesy of his new enemies. But one benefit of the beating is the visitation of a seventeen-year-old beauty who befriends him.
Well, there's a little more to it than that but, hey -- this is something of a romance, after all.
Things get complicated when Jena -- Dylan's new girlfriend -- leaves home after her super-religious father becomes abusive. She stays with a friend until her eighteenth birthday, but, on the night of her party, the bad boys return for revenge, and a host of surprises surface in the encounter's aftermath.
Blue Flamingo is a story of lost hope, complicated relationships, and, ultimately, the power of love, both new and old. Its characters are flawed, but imminently believable, and the novella's pacing is spot-on.
Five stars-plus to Blue Flamingo. Come on in for a cold draft beer. You'll be glad you did.
The story begins when Dylan Ryker -- a young man in his early twenties -- leaves Chicago after the unexpected death of his father. Dylan doesn't really have a destination in mind. But, eventually, he winds up in Pelago, Florida, clutching a matchbook carried around for years by his dad. It has the name of a bar on it -- The Blue Flamingo.
Dylan, desperately searching for his mother, who took off when he was a toddler, finds the seedy nightclub, and strikes up a friendship with the lounge's owner -- Rita Cornwall.
Rita takes pity on the young man who washes up at her front door one day in dirty dungarees and several days shy of a shower. He becomes her new bartender and bouncer. Trouble is, the first person he bounces is a local half-wit with a biker buddy. Not good.
Dylan winds up in the hospital several days later, courtesy of his new enemies. But one benefit of the beating is the visitation of a seventeen-year-old beauty who befriends him.
Well, there's a little more to it than that but, hey -- this is something of a romance, after all.
Things get complicated when Jena -- Dylan's new girlfriend -- leaves home after her super-religious father becomes abusive. She stays with a friend until her eighteenth birthday, but, on the night of her party, the bad boys return for revenge, and a host of surprises surface in the encounter's aftermath.
Blue Flamingo is a story of lost hope, complicated relationships, and, ultimately, the power of love, both new and old. Its characters are flawed, but imminently believable, and the novella's pacing is spot-on.
Five stars-plus to Blue Flamingo. Come on in for a cold draft beer. You'll be glad you did.
November 12, 2015
This Novella had a lot going on for such a short book. The author manages a surprising amount of character depth and drama with so few words. Unlike other novella’s I have read this one was not lacking in anything.
The protagonist is male which I always enjoy and he is flawlessly written. He is so real in my head I swear I can compare him to people I know in real life.
The trials he goes through are written with compassion but also exhibit the confusion and listlessness that he is experiencing. Imagine losing the only person you have in an instant and while you’re still reeling from your loss you find a thread (or matchbook in this case) of hope.
I really enjoyed how the author sprinkles in the witness statements from the private investigator throughout the story. As a reader, I always like having knowledge the character doesn’t and watching their reactions as opposed to focusing on my own as the character discovers them.
To see my full review check out my blog https://alliesopinions.wordpress.com/
The protagonist is male which I always enjoy and he is flawlessly written. He is so real in my head I swear I can compare him to people I know in real life.
The trials he goes through are written with compassion but also exhibit the confusion and listlessness that he is experiencing. Imagine losing the only person you have in an instant and while you’re still reeling from your loss you find a thread (or matchbook in this case) of hope.
I really enjoyed how the author sprinkles in the witness statements from the private investigator throughout the story. As a reader, I always like having knowledge the character doesn’t and watching their reactions as opposed to focusing on my own as the character discovers them.
To see my full review check out my blog https://alliesopinions.wordpress.com/
December 23, 2015
Blue Flamingo is the name of a bar. The name was printed on the back of a matchbook. At first glance, the place seemed to be nothing special. But...could it be a possible connection to a mystery, a mystery concerning his mother?
This is the aimless journey of a young slacker. What he expects to find, I do not know.
Our main character, Dylan, certainly carried an airy, witty demeanor, and it was amusing seeing him interact with various eclectic characters throughout. However, the story progressed rather slowly, even for a novella. For a while, we simply forget about the mystery and focus on a budding relationship in the midst of a deserted, ratty community. And why did Rita's story (Rita is the bar owner) get mixed in here? Was she Dylan's mother? Oh, that would be a hoot.
I liked the way it started with the character's snarky comments, but it just sort've waned from there. Overall, I thought the concept was okay, but the read wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be.
This is the aimless journey of a young slacker. What he expects to find, I do not know.
Our main character, Dylan, certainly carried an airy, witty demeanor, and it was amusing seeing him interact with various eclectic characters throughout. However, the story progressed rather slowly, even for a novella. For a while, we simply forget about the mystery and focus on a budding relationship in the midst of a deserted, ratty community. And why did Rita's story (Rita is the bar owner) get mixed in here? Was she Dylan's mother? Oh, that would be a hoot.
I liked the way it started with the character's snarky comments, but it just sort've waned from there. Overall, I thought the concept was okay, but the read wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be.
October 25, 2015
Latest review (#9) on Amazon, 5 stars:
The author grabbed my attention immediately. The depth of characters and attention to detail is second to none. The story begins with a young man finding a box of matches in his father’s desk drawer. That box of matches led him on a life changing journey. The Novella is filled with mystery, suspense, and is a true coming of age story. I highly recommend Blue Flamingo: A Novella. I look forward to reading the authors other works, as well.
The author grabbed my attention immediately. The depth of characters and attention to detail is second to none. The story begins with a young man finding a box of matches in his father’s desk drawer. That box of matches led him on a life changing journey. The Novella is filled with mystery, suspense, and is a true coming of age story. I highly recommend Blue Flamingo: A Novella. I look forward to reading the authors other works, as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews