Comfort of Fences by Stacy Overman Morrison Review, and Guest Post

Publisher: Telemachus Press (October 17, 2013)
Category: Contemporary Fiction/ Women’s Fiction/ Family Saga
Tour Date: April, 2014
ISBN: 978-1939927569
Available in: Print & ebook,  244 Pages

Comfort of Fences explores the unconditional love between a trio of women: Ruth, the matriarch and builder of boundaries; Denise, her special-needs adult daughter with powerful secrets of her own; and Georgia, Ruth’s best friend and source of strength and practicality. The dynamics of their relationships expose the ironies that the people we love the most can also be the people we most underestimate and that the strongest of loves has nothing to do with romance.

Praise for Comfort of Fences:

“I enjoyed reading Stacy’s book very much. It was a very strong story of a mother’s love for her daughter from birth to adulthood and how being protective can be a double edged sword. I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t go into detail. If you are or have ever been a single mother, this story will hit home with you however, that doesn’t mean that any mother wouldn’t appreciate what a mother does for her child. From my own personal experiences so many years ago, it’s also a story about how friends can come through when family doesn’t. All I can say is read it!! You won’t be disappointed!”-Barbara, This and That, As I Bounce Thru Life

“The dynamics of mother and daughter, the ties that bind together family and friends, the way we try to protect ourselves and the ones we love from pain suffering only to realize that we’ve isolated ourselves… These themes and so much more resonate through this very powerful book that stands as a wonderful and unique pillar in the women’s fiction genre.  Ruth is an unforgettable character and as you follow her on the long and trying journey of her life, watching the difficult and often infuriating choices she makes (which of course are always for the right reasons, at least to her), you get the sense that she is a very real person. The same goes for the other characters in the book, Georgia and Denise. You laugh and cry with them. You don’t want it to end. I appreciate the vibrancy and the wisdom with which Morrison writes, and the way she weaves together a tapestry of textures that imprint themselves on your mind and stay there for the long haul. I guarantee five years down the road, you’ll still remember Ruth and Denise.”-Allison Dickson, Author

“I am always searching for a book that I can fall into; one that wraps itself around me like a warm, comfy blanket that doesn’t let me escape so easily from its soothing fibers. Stacy Overman Morrison’s novel, Comfort of Fences, pulled me in from the very first paragraph and kept me intrigued into the wee morning hours. This is a story about the intensity of relationships that weather life’s most difficult battles. In today’s literature, there are so many weak female characters that it was refreshing to find three female protagonists that exemplified strength, yet conveyed a myriad of emotions that made them as familiar to you as your own mother, daughter, or best friend. If you are looking for an honest tale that makes your heart sing and cry at the same time, this is the novel for you. Comfort of Fences is a smart novel that will leave you examining your own female relationships.”-Piper Punches, Author

“In writing her novel, “Comfort of Fences,” Midland author Stacy Overman Morrison has reached a higher level of literary expertise. She moves the reader emotionally as nuanced feelings either suppressed or forgotten rise from what the characters say, feel or experience.  Morrison’s writing style is such that when Ruth speaks the reader feels a two-way conversation with her. When she is speaking to a third person, the reader is included as a witness to what’s being said. Denise is an absolute delight with not only wit but simple logic and wisdom. Then, there is Georgia, the outside anchor of unwavering friendship, who is practical and there to help when stress peaks or emergency arises.  Even as these players may be so characterized, there is an irony that underlies the unconditional love between this trio of women. The people we love the most can also be the people we most underestimate. You will recognize this underlying current when you read the book, and read it you must. “Comfort of Fences” will touch your deepest emotions, yet comfort you with real-life understanding.”-Glen Aaron, My West Texas

About Stacy Overman Morrison:

Stacy Overman Morrison was born and raised in Texas. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Arts degrees in English from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Upon completion of her Master’s, she taught secondary English and adjuncted at the University. She took time off from her teaching career after the birth of her second daughter and has pursued her writing since. She continues to live in Texas with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two horses. This is her first novel and she is hard at work listening to the voices of her characters in her second.

Website: http://www.stacyomorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacyomorrisonauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StacyOverMorr
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+StacyOvermanMorrison

Guest Post:

Finding your voice or author’s choice for Deal Sharing Aunt. Choosing how I find my characters.

          My writing is very character-driven and so I am always on the lookout for interesting people. Whether I am at the grocery store, the bank, the post office, or sitting in traffic, I am looking for something different about people.

          In my novel Comfort of Fences I wanted to explore how even lives that society may see as “small” are still incredibly powerful. Denise exemplifies that for me. She has a quiet life and an easy manner yet she was incredibly powerful in her own way. As I begin to write from her perspective, I found that I looked at the world differently. I still catch myself wondering what Denise would say or do in certain situations.

          The book I’m working on now was inspired by a street musician in Seattle. I have no idea his story, his name, or his history but I watched him singing his heart out and playing his guitar on the pier and I wondered how he got to that place in life. Barefooted, rag-tag, roughened voice and callused fingers, playing for change and tourists’ attention.

          I love people. I love characters. I love the detective work of uncovering why a character does what he/she does. It is part intuition, part psychology, and part luck when those characters begin to reveal themselves. 

          So truth be told, my characters find me. I just have to keep my eyes, ears, and most importantly, my heart open to see the beautiful nuances in everyday lives of extraordinary-ordinary people!

Buy Comfort of Fences:

Amazon (Currently discounted on Kindle for only $2.99, normally $9.99!)
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Smashwords

Follow the Tour:

Chicklit Central Mar. 31-Apr. 7  Bookshelf Feature
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Apr 1 Spotlight & Giveaway
Reader’s Muse Apr 2 Review
Reader’s Muse Apr 3 Guest Post
Jody’s Book Reviews April 3 Guest Post
From L.A. to LA Apr 4 Review & Giveaway
Indie Review’s Behind the Scenes Apr 5 Live Interview 11am cst
Wall to Wall Books Apr 8 Review & Giveaway
Books, Books, & More Books Apr 11 Review (Postponed)
Manic Mama of 2 Apr 10 Review (Postponed)
From Isi Apr 14 Review & Giveaway
Dr Bill’s Book Bazaar Apr 15 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Apr 16 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Apr 17 Guest Post
Tracy Riva Books & Reviews Apr 22 Review
Tracy Riva Books & Reviews Apr 22 Guest Post & Giveaway
The Eclectic Reader Apr 23 Review
Heck Of A Bunch Apr  24 Review & giveaway
Jersey Girl Book Reviews Apr 25 Review
Jersey Girl Book Reviews Apr 25 Guest Post
Melissa’s Midnight Musings Apr 28 Review
Aspired Writer Apr 29 Review
Aspired Writer Apr 29 Guest Post
Open Book Society Apr 30 Review
Crystal’s Many Reviewers May 1 Review
Giveaways & Glitter May 2 Review

My Review:

This was a heart wrenching story about a special needs girl that lives with her mom, that is dying. My favorite part was Ruth writing down her story for her daughter. I was drawn to her story and wanted to tell her that husbands are stupid (sometimes), and marriage is something you have to work at. Ruth went through so much. I was glad that Georgia was there to talk to. I did not like all the drinking that Ruth did while she was pregnant, and the book never even mentioned fetal alcohol syndrome. I also disliked the take on the handicap. The expectations of Denise's future were negative, and I would have liked a more positive outcome. For example, When Denise tries to get a job she is stuck cleaning feces. There are a lot more jobs that people with her disability are capable of doing. I do understand that the book was focused on the bond of these three women, however Ruth deserved a better influence on her daughter. It also upset me when Georgia told Denise that she would have to start to take care of herself. I was upset because throughout the book she did take care of her own basic needs. Her character was really held back. With all that being said, the overall plot reminded me of "Beaches", and I did cry at the end. I am giving this book a 3/5, because I did like the story. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.