The Flutist And The Dancer

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This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

THE AUTHOR

Marilyn Stark, a business college graduate, has written her husband’s family history — was feature writer for a senior’s paper and author of a fabulous local county pictorial history.

This novel is her answer to an often asked question, “what’s it like to grow-up in a children’s home?”  

This title was nominated for the Frankfurt eBook Awards.

This novel is set in the 1940’s and 1950’s, in a Christian farming atmosphere in rural northwest Ohio.

Clutching her doll and nursery-rhyme book, six-year-old Shannon begins her life at this Children’s Home the morning her Grandmother leads her through the front door of the Main Building and leaves without saying goodbye. A generally obedient girl, Shannon quickly adjusts to: “her personal” number marked or stitched on each item assigned to her—the prospect of eating meals with eighty people—playing and sleeping with eighteen little girls and dealing with the intimidating Bully Bramble.

How will Shannon find her twin brother, her nanny or grandmother when she can’t even remember the name of the town where she previously lived? She questions why her name and birthday were changed but assumes it is just part of the Children’s Home routine.

Shannon is seated at the same table with ten-year-old David at breakfast the day of her arrival. They have an off-and-on romance throughout the story.

Shannon’s continual search for her family and curiosity as to who the flutist is—snowballs. The results? Intriguing!

"Marilyn's stories are so very real that I feel I know what the characters are feeling. As I read what is happening -- her words put me there and I get a catch just below my ribcage -- that something important is going to happen and I can't put her books down." —Review Thoughts by JoAnne Treglia

"The characters in "The Flutist and The Dancer" are so real, and the details were never boring. I don't skim through a book. If a good book is worth reading, it's worth reading every word.

"I enjoyed the light mystery. You just knew something was going to happen! An enjoyable read!" -- Mary Belle Fairall, retired Executive Secretary of Lima's Encore Theatre, on stage in 1959, Production Manager, Stage Manager, volunteer at Encore.

"It's a sit-by-the-fireside and read book. I didn't want to put it down. The writing style is warm. I think it would give encouragement to young people to read that you, (the author) grew up in this environment; and grew up to be successful." -- Alice Cummins, Assistant Public Relations in a County Public Library.

"I've enjoyed reading this book and find the similes and metaphors effective -- they provoke smiles and nods from to time; very apt. The writing style is smooth." -- Catherine Bauer, Creative Writing Teacher and author of "One Day On Earth - A Third Eye View" - a collection of a small percentage of previously published essays.

"It keeps you spellbound. You can't wait to see what happens to the characters who become so real that you care about what happens to them. Wonderfully written." -- Kathy Stark, BookMobile Driver and president of Library Union (OAPS) Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

"Real emotional. It takes you there with its continual turns and continual surprises." "This most descriptive book took me on a journey back 56 years -- through each door, up each step, into each room -- of vivid wonderful and painful memories." -- Donna Breker, RN.

"It made the emotion of this little girl come alive for me. I felt I was there. I loved it. It was wonderful from beginning to end." -- JoAnne Treglia, a friend.

"I liked the seed of mystery from beginning to end. It kept me guessing and interested. Marilyn has a unique candor as she reveals the characters and allows the reader to feel akin to Shannon's soul." -- Grace Grant, Secretary of Lima Area Writers Club.

"I enjoyed this book very much. I think the best parts have to do with the impact of the childrens' home on Shannon/Sheri. This author does a marvelous job of evoking Shannon's emotions at losing the only family she knows, being abandoned by her grandmother and forced to accomodate herself to strange new surroundings.

"I feel the writing is best when it renders the inner life of the main character and the wonderful way she has of experiencing the world around her. The reader comes away with a clear and moving experience of what it must be like for children in foster home situations.

"Her struggle is to find her identity and gain a sense of family and a feeling of being at home on this earth. It's a struggle we all go through in one way or the other.

"Of course, the author wraps it all up with the rainbow image at the end, solving all the mysteries...

"The novel definitely has a universal appeal."

  —Richard Messer, Professor Emeritus of English and Creative Writing, is a native Coloradan and received his Ph.D. at the University of Denver. A writer of fiction, poetry and scholarly articles relating literature to Jungian psychology, Dr. Messer has published in many magazines, including, The Nation, The Christian Science Monitor, The Black Warrior Review, The Sun, Anima, Pigiron, South Dakota Review, The Journal of Evolutionary Psychology and on the Internet at University of Oklahoma Review.edu, Kota.com, Ascent.com and Carve.com. He is the author of a book of poetry and prose, Murder in the Family, Bottom Dog Press, 1995, which was awarded the 1996 Nancy Dasher award by the College English Association of Ohio.

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book. I couldn't put it down. This would make a fantastic movie."
—Lori Armentrout is an avid reader and genealogist, who also enjoys bowling, gardening and working with stained glass.

I believe the book, "The Flutist And The Dancer" would make a good family Hallmark movie. Sure would be for the whole family from ages 7 to 107. "The Pianist and The Locksmith", takes up the characters and story and continues for more entertainment. —Gwendolyn Filsinger

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