When the Ocean Flies by Heather G. Marshall | Book Review~ The Author’s List of Walking Paths that Inspired the Story ~ Excerpt ~ $20 Gift Card | @GoddessFish @heather_g_marshall #WomensLit #Adoption
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
When the Ocean Flies by Heather G. Marshall Published by Vine Leaves Press on 02/27/2024
Genres: Fiction, Women's Literature
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 330
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions★★★★★ “This book brought me to tears and a greater understanding of my own possibilities.” Terresa Cooper Haskew, author of Winston’s Book of Souls
An email from a stranger tells Alison Earley that her natural father, whom she has known for only six years, has died suddenly. What begins as a short trip back to Scotland for a funeral soon becomes a journey that puts adoption, sexuality, and identity on a collision course as Alison finds herself caught between the life and family she has so carefully constructed on one continent and the family from which she was taken on another.
Shunned by her father’s family, reunited with her natural mother, and reconnected with a long-lost love, Alison finds herself trying to shepherd her youngest child towards college while questioning everything she thought she knew about herself.
When her natural mother uncovers a series of letters written to Alison from the grandmother she never knew, resurrecting the stories of generations of women—stories long buried by patriarchal rule—Alison realizes that she must find the courage to face and reveal the secrets of her own past. At what cost, though? And who and what will be left in the aftermath?
When the Ocean Flies explores the pain of separation and abuse, and the power of love to heal even over huge gaps in time and geographical distance.
Content Considerations:
Adoption, Abusive Relationships, Family Rejection
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Excerpt from When the Ocean Flies
Outside after, I say a quick goodbye to Husker and Moira, then turn to look for Maeve. Hunched under the awning, having survived most of the receiving line, she dabs her eyes with a disintegrating tissue.
Her purple skirt billows. A dark cardigan droops from her shoulders like a wilted blossom; the frayed ends list at mid-thigh. Meaty fingers scrunch the tissue. Her hair, thin and short, is tousled by wind and grief. Squat and broad, rooted in, she has an air about her, a stuckness, as though she is an oversized ballerina on top of an ancient music box that has not turned in so long that the whole thing has rusted itself solid. To try to turn the knob, make the music play, make her dance, would break something.
She dabs her cheeks as I walk over, stop inches away. I look into the pool of her eyes, same as my father’s. I want to dive in, submerge. I extend my hand; Maeve’s eyes shift down, look as though I’ve offered her a rotten fish. The same look Elizabeth gave me all those years ago. And Wade, when I suggested that I might be entitled to alimony. Maeve turns, takes the arm of the man next to her, walks away, towards her car, revealing a slimmer, younger version of herself standing behind her. Morag, her daughter.
She leans towards me. I reciprocate.
“They said you were a miscarriage,” she whispers. She lurches towards her mother.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for When the Ocean Flies
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- G. Marshall, Heather (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 356 Pages - 02/27/2024 (Publication Date) - Vine Leaves Press (Publisher)
- G Marshall, Heather (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 330 Pages - 02/27/2024 (Publication Date) - Vine Leaves Press (Publisher)
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My Thoughts on When the Ocean Flies
“When the Ocean Flies” explores themes of separation, abuse, and the redemptive force of love amid the expanse of time and geography. Through its dual timeline narrative, readers are transported alongside Alison as she embarks on a poignant journey back to her birthland for her natural father’s funeral.
The novel navigates the complexities of abusive relationships, shedding light on the triggers and repercussions of such harrowing experiences. Due to some of these factors, I would list a content warning for abusive relationships, adoption, and intense emotional responses.
Adding long-lost letters from Alison’s grandmother, a figure she never had the chance to know, brings a new dimension to the tale. These letters are poignant reminders of familial ties and the enduring power of connection, even in the face of separation and estrangement.
While the narrative unfolds seamlessly, there are moments of slight confusion due to abrupt character switches. However, this doesn’t detract from the story’s emotional resonance, which explores the universal questions of identity, belonging, and reconciliation.
“When the Ocean Flies” tugs at the heartstrings, prompting readers to ponder their journeys through life and the enduring impact of love across time and distance. With a compelling narrative and profound themes of searching for your true self, this novel will linger in readers’ minds long after turning the final page.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Heather G. Marshall
Heather G. Marshall is an adoptee, author, speaker, teacher, coach, and traveler. Her short fiction has been published in various journals, including Black Middens: New Writing Scotland, and Quarried, an anthology of the best of three decades of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel.
Her first novel, The Thorn Tree, released in 2014 (MP Publishing). Her TED talk, “Letting Go of Expectations,” centers around her adoption and reunion. Her second novel, When the Ocean Flies, released in February 2024 (Vine Leaves Press).
In her writing, Heather explores family, adoption, women (especially older ones), the natural environment, and how these intersect.
When she isn’t writing, she likes to hike, travel, practice yoga and meditation, do a wee bit of knitting, and, of course, read. Originally from Scotland, Heather is currently based in Massachusetts.
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Guest Post by Heather G. Marshall, Author of When the Ocean Flies
When the Ocean Flies combines imagined and real settings. My top ten list is of places and walks/hikes that are either mentioned in the book, like Glasgow City Centre, or that have elements that inspired some of the fictional places in the novel, like Tursa and Inverkiven
- Glasgow Central Station
- The Paps of Jura
- Great Cumbrae
- Isle of Arran
- Isle of Lewis
- Table Rock State Park, South Carolina
- Largs, Scotland
- Ullapool, Scotland
- Raven Cliff Falls and the Dismal Trail Loop, South Carolina
- Lake Jocasee, South Carolina
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Giveaway!
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for When the Ocean Flies
Full Tour Schedule:
March 27: Boys’ Mom Reads!
April 3: Sandra’s Book Club
April 10: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
April 17: Fabulous and Brunette
April 24: Karma Zee Readz – review
April 24: Straight From the Library
May 1: Hope. Dreams. Life. Love
May 8: Kenyan Poet
May 8: Long and Short Reviews
May 15: Gina Rae Mitchell – review
May 22: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
May 29: The Avid Reader
June 5: Literary Gold
June 12: Westveil Publishing
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Very nice cover and also sounds interesting.
Heather G. Marshall is a new author to me, but I want to thank this blog for the introduction.
I look forward to reading this book.
Serene cover
The blurb and excerpt sound good.
Do you have any favorite summer writing spots that inspire your creativity?
Thanks for the question! In general, being outdoors, especially in nature, inspires me. A walk or run almost anywhere will do, but a hike is even better. I particularly like coastal hikes, like the ones you find on the west coast and islands of Scotland as well as some places in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This year, I’m exploring new (to me) hikes in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.
Sounds like such an interesting book, will definitely check it out.
Thanks for stopping by Pooja. Let me know what you think of it.
Will do.
This looks like a good read. Thanks for sharing.
I liked the excerpt.
Thanks so much for reading When the Ocean Flies and for the review! If anyone has any questions, I’ll be popping back in throughout the day.
You are most welcome. I hope you have a wonderful tour!
Thank you so much for hosting today!