Chicken Salad and Ghosts
by Melanie Spycher
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Apr 07 2016 | Archive Date Jul 04 2016
Description
This book is partially an autobiography and part female mystery adaptation. But first, let me introduce myself: I am Nonni in this book. As I am writing this, I can hardly believe it’s been over thirty years since the depicted events took place. You may not believe in ghosts, and I am not documenting these experiences to convince you. I’m simply writing this book because, when reflecting on these memories in my life, thought they were worth sharing with others, both believers and nonbelievers.
Back in the seventies I owned a shop in the basement of a three-story, early 1900s house for three years. Though the area was quite small, I managed to keep it well stocked with hand crafted items representing over one hundred consignors. Above my business was the two-story house that functioned as an antique store. As the strange events began taking place, and then increased in frequency, Cookie, who owned the antique store, and I assumed that someone was playing pranks on us. What other explanation could there be? But that was until we began sharing our experiences with other shop owners and found that they, too, had stories to share.
Author_Bio: Melanie was a nurse for thirty years, but ventured down a different path in 1976 when hearing a small consignment shop was for sale. While she expected some challenges in the new business environment, she never anticipated that ghosts would be amongst them. Though Melanie’s time as a small business owner was brief, the playful antics of a resident ghost changed her life forever. After just three years, she was obliged to return to her nursing career because of financial responsibilities. She expanded her knowledge base by taking several critical care classes and joined a CCU team. She found cardiac nursing to be challenging, yet fulfilling, and appreciated the opportunity to work so closely with the talented cardiologists and inspiring nursing staff in this area. Because of her physical limitations, Melanie found it necessary to leave the CCU after ten years, & found new fulfillment in an addictions unit, where she continued to nurse for eleven years. Her husband’s illness in 1996 forced an early retirement, which eventually led to a move to Tampa, FL, with her daughter, Cherish. While reminiscing about her life experiences, she was inspired to record the ghostly encounters for her daughter. Melanie found so much joy in the memories and writing that she decided to spread her creative wings once again and expand the experiences into a fictional novel.
A Note From the Publisher
Keywords: Women's Mystery, Supernatural, Ghosts, Paranormal, Chicken Salad, Friends
Marketing Plan
EBOOK , PBK, HC
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781506901367 |
| PRICE | $7.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Vicki J, Book Trade Professional
I really wanted to like it, but felt the writing was either stilted or too slang/informal. The ending didn't really answer my questions, and I felt there were a lot of things left unresolved.
Hayley R, Reviewer
Well where to start with this one. Firstly the idea of the story being based on a persons real life experiences really appealed to me. The story began with extremely detailed descriptions of characters and settings and I often felt like I was reading someone's diary entries, rather than a novel. I often got a bit bored of the detailed descriptions of objects and rooms. The dialog between charachters was often quite wooden and formal which jarred against the flow of the story. There was a point in the story where Nonnie saw something move, then the chapter ended and it wasn't mentioned again until much later, which seemed odd. And yet the book seemed to focus a lot on what people were eating and drinking, with detailed descriptions of what Nonnie had for lunch everyday. The end of the story, after pages of descriptions of food, what was being worn, and pages of mundane dialogue, just ended! It felt as though the writer had just had enough and ended the strory with a 3 sentence synopsis. I kid you not, after chapters and chapters of overkill with detail it just finished. I also felt the ending didn't fit with the rest of the book and got really silly. Sorry, just not worth the effort for such a poor ending.
Cathy H, Educator
I found the endless, inane, continuos dialog between characters to be extremely horrible. Do we really need to read a conversation about getting oil changed and putting starter fluid in a transmission? It has nothing to do with anything. I live in the south and have never heard so many people use the endearment "honey" in my entire life.
The story seemed to end very abruptly leaving many questions left unanswered.
Susan H, Reviewer
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. I never usually read the acknowledgements in a book, but for some reason I was drawn to the authors note (another thing I don't normally read). But I am so glad I did and would encourage everyone who reads this book to do the same. What a fantastic concept to turn 'life events' into a fictional story and give all those people who have been important in your life a mention as a fictional character in the tale. Melanie paints a wonderful picture of a fictional town called Ferryton. The shopkeepers all seem to run specialist stores (you know the kind you would pop into to have a browse and maybe find that one off gift). You get the feeling that this is a strong community of shopkeepers who look out for each other. It fantastic how following a natural disaster the shopkeepers pull together to help each other out. Although it does transpire that most of the stores have a spirit. Melanie does not ram it down your throat, I did not feel like she was forcing me to believe one way or the other and it was not all about the haunting's, but a lovely mystery book that kept me up very late into the night as I had such a hard time putting it down.
