What people are saying about Ghost Words and other Echoes
A true exploration of a woman's emotional and erotic life.
— Warren Adler, New York Times bestselling author of The War of the Roses, Random Hearts, and other novels.
Adina Pelle rocks!
— Tom Robbins, New York Times bestselling author of Another Roadside Attraction, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and other novels.
Ah, Adina, so much emotion in so few words! I flat out adored the tiny details in here, the gray ceiling, the scent of deodorant, hand cream, shampoo, the perfume bottles with narrow spouts. Deep and wonderful.
— Pat Shaw, author of A Pocketful of Ashes
Wow. Great imagery in your writing, Adina. These sentences are works of art.
“What he never admitted was how Matilda’s passion was cathartic and quite an aphrodisiac traveling through his blood like opium, lighting the smoldering fire in the green pits of his eyes and warming his bones.”
—and—
“Every night while sleeping, she thought she heard the colors dancing in between the sheets, always starting the morning soaked in colorful dewy light.”
Sentences like these are what I'd like to produce, but I think my writing talents (assuming I have ANY) lie elsewhere. But I'm green with envy! Impressive.
— Jill Lynn Anderson, author of Sweet Interference and Exceptional Lies
Wow, can you make a novel of this? That would be fantastic. Something to do during the lean years ahead of us, and when the lean years are over with, it will be published.
— Kathryn Esplin-Oleski, author of The True Adventures of Little Kathy
[Your] stories are captivating, I can dip into your book as and when I please, perfect reading before bed, though some are a bit creepy for that. You have a wonderful voice, the stories flow and are an easy read. Great stuff!
— Annabelle Page, author of Adelaide Short and the Extraordinary Journey
I just got done reading The Wedding Ring and As a Dying Man Thinketh. While I’m no expert on the short story, I do recognize that you have a powerful writing style which draws me into the worlds you create. The writing is smooth and economical, no wasted words and wonderful rhythm.
— Matt Rogers, author of God’s Checking Account
These are amazing stories, thoughtful, delicate yet at the same time melancholic and Chekhov like in their simplicity. Others are indeed spooky! A very interesting collection. Some beautiful lines in them. Different kind of writing, [with] a style all your own and a unique voice.
— Loretta Proctor, author of The Long Shadow
Very creepy stuff...your words are enough to chill the hairs on the back of my neck...good stuff, right up my alley! Even when the intention is not for this to be creepy...it is! Something about it...the title is brilliant too...sets the scene nicely.
— Shaun Gill, author of The Torment
This is the second time in a span of twenty-four hours that I had wished a book was in paperback so I could curl it up and take it with me. Such gripping writing. I love the take-no-prisoners narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is deep and insightful— and I haven't even touched upon the ghost stories yet, which were brilliant. I get the feeling that we're all ghosts to some degree and can appreciate the analogy.
— Suzanna Fletcher, author of Ashton's Treasure
Extraordinarily addictive writing; beautiful, confident, truly original. Reading it reminded me of the first time I discovered Dylan Thomas' poetry—the more I read, the more I wanted to write, and if I read too much at a time I ended up drunk on words. The confident way you've presented this—very much on your own terms (or its own terms) suggests that you know how good it is. This is not just good as in accomplished, it's good as in talented—and there is a very important difference in my mind. You've produced something very unique and sometimes painfully honest, I would very much like to see a more mainstream novel written with the same hand and heart.
— Katie Carr, author of Going for It
This is really, really a lovely compilation of stories and thoughts which is what I felt these to be: a philosophical wandering of the imagination over all things poetic and fanciful...true literature.
I loved the little girl dangling her legs wearing the paper earrings—magic is everywhere to them, how true. Another description that hit me was in likening Saul's voice to a weapon...ooh, that says it all!
— Johanna Balkowski, author of Scream Out Loud
Superb Prose. This is like poetry. Loved the line: She could hear his colors dancing between her sheets. Beautiful descriptions. This is poignant, original, and just plain brilliant.
— S. A. Stone, author of Eden Falls
You are a poet first and foremost in my mind, or an artist, painting different textures (many of them painful and tinged with regret) across the page. I fell in love with your words but I know these comments will get lost amongst the platitudes before long, so I just want to say I see you.
— Drew Cross, author of BiteMARKS
Such a skillful writer! Amazing prose. I enjoyed my tour of your stories, skittering here and there. Particular lines that jumped out include Ghost Words: scratches on your back are the clearest signs of control and The image the mirror reflects in the morning...monochromatic pajamas. Don't Mind the Naked Man on the Couch, Part 3: she could hear his colors dancing between her sheets. Mutt: He walked as if his steps would leave deep imprints in the asphalt.
I'm in awe of your language. And its, dare I say, haunting, slow, poetic imagery. This is a collection to be savored, reminiscent of Poe.
— Kimberly Gadette, author of So Much for True Love
Adina, you are an artist. Fresh, original and unpredictable—the way prose should be written. I love the way that your words tumble in my head. Many of the writers whose books line the shelves at Barnes and Noble could learn from you.
— Tom Geyer, author of The Sorcerer and the Dreamer
I really like First Story, you set a nice tone, a good place to start. You've got a good overall perspective on the feeling you want to give the reader.
— Jason Rice, author of I’m the Strangler Here
This is a poetically-written, very original work. Your use of language is beautiful. If I had to sum up your first collection of stories by choosing one phrase, it would be this one: Memories, the relics of experience, are the only things wholly owned by the individual. Wonderful that you have taken your own memories and made them a layer of your stories.
— Elizabeth Lindberg, author of Dionysus
…your short stories are rather haunting, in a good way. The stories are all very different but hold the same air of thought-provoking universal questions.
— Mardi Johnson, author of Booty Call
Love these stories. Simply transported me. Needed them at this time. A wonderful find. (Giving myself a pat on the back.)
You write so well. Effortlessly, but you're not kidding me ‘cos I know your feet are paddling away there under the water. Right? And the results are stunning. Flowing. Lyrical. A joy to take part in ... ‘cos reading doesn't quite get to what's been going on for me with your work on my lap. I kinda have that inane grin across my face as I delve into your world. That grin means you have me. Story upon story. Great stuff.
You, and these sumptuous stories deserve recognition and success.
— James Stephen Rice, author of On Your Feet
I had a chance to read some of your stories…I particularly liked Ellie Tsar and The Revenge. I read many short stories, so it was a pleasure to find your collection. I found your stories to have a common thread of sadness in them. I liked many of your turns of phrases such as “old memories can be decorated with tears.” In Ellie Tsar, I liked how you repeated the painter/painting motif (Dali, charcoal, etc.). Well done!
— Michael Whatling, author of The Last Coming Out Story and The Song No One Heard
Some lovely, poetic prose here. These are even better than short stories, in my opinion. The latter tend to get me too involved. Yours were almost like epigrams, though far much longer, of course. Delightful little snippets of insight and humour (pull me back, idiot!).
— Matthew Dick, author of Pistols for Two…Breakfast for One
Moody and dreamlike, these stories drew me in and were reluctant to let me go. There's quite a hypnotic quality; a storyteller's voice that's part-magician, part-poet. Very nicely done.
— Shayne Parkinson, author of Sentence of Marriage
I think you write with great intelligence and you have a flowing lyrical style.
— Riva Shaw, author of Taking Care of Rosie
I've had your book of short stories on my watch list for a bit now. Had I known the treat in store for me, I would have read them much, much sooner. They are excellent. Absolutely excellent. Tell me you've been published. Every one of them tingled my spine, piqued my curiosity and kept me scrolling down. Congrats on a very fine collection. Keep at it—you are good.
— Canadian Girl
I think you've written a new myth, There are shades here of Toni Morrison's Beloved (in which a mother's love calls her dead daughter back as a ghost) as well as Peter Pan.
— Ann M. , author of Surrealism: Speaking the Language of Dreams
Adina, what wonderful reviews! I'm so happy for you.
I've been working my way through the ARC copy and enjoying it. Some I read before or parts of but now I'm seeing some of your other work.
Adina, you are truly a gifted writer. You have the knack of capturing the essence of life, that moment in time, a moment in your character's life and bringing your reader in to appreciate and savor it. You have a fine eye for observation and it shows in your writing and the building the characters around those observations.
I've been a bit behind in reading the ARCs I have because of my summer's building and repairing projects. What I like about your book is I can skip about and read the things that capture my eye. I haven't read one that I haven't liked yet.
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Sia,
Your words go straight to my heart. It’s comments like yours that make the whole process of writing rewarding .
I am touched and humbled , thank you so much.
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It's conventional wisdom that collections of short stories can't be sold, but the reading public is changing. It seems to me that short, pithy stories might very well appeal to the modern, fractured-attention public. We have to try.
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I think we'll reach some and miss some but the journey , at least from my perspective , was spectacular....
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