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Man in the Blue Moon
“He’s a gambler at best. A con artist at worst,” her aunt had said of the handlebar-mustached man who snatched Ella Wallace away from her dreams of studying art in France. Eighteen years later, that man has disappeared, leaving Ella alone and struggling to support her three sons. While the world is embroiled in World War I, Ella fights her own personal battle to keep the mystical Florida land that has been in her family for generations from the hands of an unscrupulous banker. When a mysterious man arrives at Ella’s door in an unconventional way, he convinces her he can help her avoid foreclosure, and a tenuous trust begins. But as the fight for Ella’s land intensifies, it becomes evident that things are not as they appear. Hypocrisy and murder soon shake the coastal town of Apalachicola and jeopardize Ella’s family.
377 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
48 people are currently reading
1095 people want to read
About the author
Michael Morris
4 books76 followersA fifth-generation native of Perry, Florida, Michael Morris knows Southern culture and characters. They are the foundation and inspiration for the stories he writes.
His latest novel, Man in the Blue Moon, is based on a true story about a man on the run for murder who was shipped in a crate to his grandfather's family in the Florida Panhandle. The novel was named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Publishers Weekly and received the Book of the Year Award for Fiction by the Alabama Library Association. Man in the Blue Moon was also named a top three book club recommendation by the independent bookseller's association.
While working in the pharmaceutical industry and taking night classes with author Tim McLaurin at North Carolina State University, Michael started the story that would eventually become his first novel, A Place Called Wiregrass. The debut book won the Christy Award for Best First Novel.
Michael’s second novel, Slow Way Home, was compared to the work of Harper Lee and Flannery O’Connor by the Washington Post. It was nationally ranked as one of the top three recommended books by the American Booksellers Association and named one of the best novels of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Michael is also the author of a novella based on the Grammy-nominated song “Live Like You Were Dying,” which became a finalist for the Southern Book Critics Circle Award. His essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Morning News and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
A graduate of Auburn University, Michael also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. He lives in Alabama with his wife, Melanie.
His latest novel, Man in the Blue Moon, is based on a true story about a man on the run for murder who was shipped in a crate to his grandfather's family in the Florida Panhandle. The novel was named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Publishers Weekly and received the Book of the Year Award for Fiction by the Alabama Library Association. Man in the Blue Moon was also named a top three book club recommendation by the independent bookseller's association.
While working in the pharmaceutical industry and taking night classes with author Tim McLaurin at North Carolina State University, Michael started the story that would eventually become his first novel, A Place Called Wiregrass. The debut book won the Christy Award for Best First Novel.
Michael’s second novel, Slow Way Home, was compared to the work of Harper Lee and Flannery O’Connor by the Washington Post. It was nationally ranked as one of the top three recommended books by the American Booksellers Association and named one of the best novels of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Michael is also the author of a novella based on the Grammy-nominated song “Live Like You Were Dying,” which became a finalist for the Southern Book Critics Circle Award. His essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Morning News and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
A graduate of Auburn University, Michael also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. He lives in Alabama with his wife, Melanie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
October 2, 2019
Read this if you like books about: historical fiction, land disputes, greed, faith, evangelism, religion, seemingly endless tribulations, rumormongering, pistol fights, healing, family, loyalty and betrayal
2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge #33—A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title
2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge #33—A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title
September 6, 2012
now have a new favorite author and his name is Michael Morris. The reason is the book Man in the Blue Moon. In the story we meet Ella Wallace. She was young when she met a wonderful charming man (Harlan) that her Aunt did not like. So what did she do ,she threw away an education and married this man after all she was in love, fast forward he leaves her with three children one that is sick and a load of debt on her family property. She is forced to work in a time when most women did not. She was left with a clock bought by her scoundrel of a husband that she is hoping will save her the loss of her family home and business. Now this clock bought by Harlan Wallace is not just any clock but you will have to read to find out more.
We also meet Lanier Stillis he is a man on a mission, he is leaving his home town because he is being accused of something he did not do. The two cross paths and make this story fun. The author starts this book as a sad drama but he makes you laugh throughout the book and it changes. I loved this book. It is set in the panhandle of Florida and the way the author writes, he truly takes you there to the town of Dead Lakes and it is like you know these characters. His writing style makes you picture the story so well that you just can’t put his book down. This book has a little of this and a little of that for those who like a little who done it with a southern flare, a lot of drama, a little comedy and a lot of fun in reading a book.
I just could not put this one down. I wanted to see what was happening and I wanted to be there. I will be getting Michael Morris’s other novels to read. I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers for my honest review. If you want to read more on this author Michael Morris you find it at http://www.michaelmorrisbooks.com/
We also meet Lanier Stillis he is a man on a mission, he is leaving his home town because he is being accused of something he did not do. The two cross paths and make this story fun. The author starts this book as a sad drama but he makes you laugh throughout the book and it changes. I loved this book. It is set in the panhandle of Florida and the way the author writes, he truly takes you there to the town of Dead Lakes and it is like you know these characters. His writing style makes you picture the story so well that you just can’t put his book down. This book has a little of this and a little of that for those who like a little who done it with a southern flare, a lot of drama, a little comedy and a lot of fun in reading a book.
I just could not put this one down. I wanted to see what was happening and I wanted to be there. I will be getting Michael Morris’s other novels to read. I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers for my honest review. If you want to read more on this author Michael Morris you find it at http://www.michaelmorrisbooks.com/
Want to read
September 18, 2012From press release: SOUTHERN STRENGTH
Michael Morris spins an excellent yarn about a Deep South community circa World War I in Man in the Blue Moon. As a young woman, Ella Wallace was a promising art student looking forward to furthering her studies in France—but that was before she became infatuated with the charismatic, free-spending Harlan. Eighteen weary years later, Ella is disillusioned and raising three boys alone after Harlan ran away to escape his debts. Local banker Clive Gillespie can’t wait to get his hands on her piece of Florida property, which contains a natural spring with reputed healing powers, and Ella is on the verge of foreclosure when she receives notice that a clock has been delivered for her. When Ella and her boys unpack the crate, it isn’t a clock they discover but a man: Lanier Stillis, a distant cousin of Harlan, hiding from his ex-in-laws. And this is only the first of the surprises Lanier brings.
Morris encapsulates the hypocrisy, pettiness, greed and outright meanness that are often a part of small-town life, yet his story manages to avoid being too dark or depressing despite the bad things that happen to some of its characters. Don’t miss this thoughtful, poignant tale of love, loss and redemption steeped in the heat and natural beauty of the Deep South.
Michael Morris spins an excellent yarn about a Deep South community circa World War I in Man in the Blue Moon. As a young woman, Ella Wallace was a promising art student looking forward to furthering her studies in France—but that was before she became infatuated with the charismatic, free-spending Harlan. Eighteen weary years later, Ella is disillusioned and raising three boys alone after Harlan ran away to escape his debts. Local banker Clive Gillespie can’t wait to get his hands on her piece of Florida property, which contains a natural spring with reputed healing powers, and Ella is on the verge of foreclosure when she receives notice that a clock has been delivered for her. When Ella and her boys unpack the crate, it isn’t a clock they discover but a man: Lanier Stillis, a distant cousin of Harlan, hiding from his ex-in-laws. And this is only the first of the surprises Lanier brings.
Morris encapsulates the hypocrisy, pettiness, greed and outright meanness that are often a part of small-town life, yet his story manages to avoid being too dark or depressing despite the bad things that happen to some of its characters. Don’t miss this thoughtful, poignant tale of love, loss and redemption steeped in the heat and natural beauty of the Deep South.
November 19, 2012
I read Prince of Tides because the author of this book stated that he was inspired by Pat Conroy. There is a similarity between Prince and Man in that they are both set in the South and are based around a family in a struggle. Yet Man in the Blue Moon confidently stands on its own. I believe I liked it better than Prince of Tides. It was a slow read in that I took my time soaking up every word and description. I found myself cheering for Ella and despising Clive. I wanted to wrap my arms around Ella's three sons and love on them.
Man in the Blue Moon is about a woman who followed her emotions into a marriage that left her emotionless. We meet Ella as she is trying to save her livelihood, her family and her self. We struggle along side her as she fights to save what belongs to her. We cheer when we she finds that she is SO much more than what others have led her to believe. I closed the book and sighed, satisfied and happy that I had been allowed to partake of something so well written.
Man in the Blue Moon is about a woman who followed her emotions into a marriage that left her emotionless. We meet Ella as she is trying to save her livelihood, her family and her self. We struggle along side her as she fights to save what belongs to her. We cheer when we she finds that she is SO much more than what others have led her to believe. I closed the book and sighed, satisfied and happy that I had been allowed to partake of something so well written.
October 5, 2012
In his 2012 novel, Man in the Blue Moon, Michael Morris crafts a novel of the love, life, heartache and ultimate triumph of the strong-willed debutante turned lumberjack, Ella Wallace.
It is 1917 in the small Northwest Florida town of Apalachicola, Florida. Abandoned with her three young sons by her opium-addicted husband, Ella Wallace fights to keep the land passed to her by her father from looming foreclosure at the hands of the greedy and lecherous town banker, Clive Barker. Her only hope comes packaged in a freight box marked Blue Moon Clock Company.
Lanier Stillis is on the run from bloodthirsty in-laws who hold him responsible for the death of his wife. Armed with saws, a mule, three boys and a Creek Indian, Lanier and Ella set out to conquer the natural perils of the Florida wilderness. At stake are their very lives.
In this fast-paced historical, Morris does what he does best: immerses the reader in a world poetically rendered and believably wrought. With the pacing of a Hollywood script, and powerful imagery, the reader can see, smell, even taste the Dead Lakes area of this silent Gulf Coast wilderness. From the flight of a white crane to the slithering menace of a water moccasin, the flora and fauna of the early 20th century natural environment springs to life. We hear the whippoorwill; we smell the turpentine, we feel the oppressive heat.
But most importantly, we get to know the characters of this small town—from the pathetic baton-waving town crazy to the sympathetic preacher—each character is painted with the deft strokes of a gifted artist.
The hallmark of a wonderful read is getting to the end of the novel and being bitterly disappointed that it’s over, that there is no sequel, that I don’t get to follow the lives of these intriguing characters further. So it was with the final sentence of Man in the Blue Moon.
It is 1917 in the small Northwest Florida town of Apalachicola, Florida. Abandoned with her three young sons by her opium-addicted husband, Ella Wallace fights to keep the land passed to her by her father from looming foreclosure at the hands of the greedy and lecherous town banker, Clive Barker. Her only hope comes packaged in a freight box marked Blue Moon Clock Company.
Lanier Stillis is on the run from bloodthirsty in-laws who hold him responsible for the death of his wife. Armed with saws, a mule, three boys and a Creek Indian, Lanier and Ella set out to conquer the natural perils of the Florida wilderness. At stake are their very lives.
In this fast-paced historical, Morris does what he does best: immerses the reader in a world poetically rendered and believably wrought. With the pacing of a Hollywood script, and powerful imagery, the reader can see, smell, even taste the Dead Lakes area of this silent Gulf Coast wilderness. From the flight of a white crane to the slithering menace of a water moccasin, the flora and fauna of the early 20th century natural environment springs to life. We hear the whippoorwill; we smell the turpentine, we feel the oppressive heat.
But most importantly, we get to know the characters of this small town—from the pathetic baton-waving town crazy to the sympathetic preacher—each character is painted with the deft strokes of a gifted artist.
The hallmark of a wonderful read is getting to the end of the novel and being bitterly disappointed that it’s over, that there is no sequel, that I don’t get to follow the lives of these intriguing characters further. So it was with the final sentence of Man in the Blue Moon.
May 6, 2025
While I have loved the author's other books, I really did not like this one. I kept waiting for it to end well but even the ending was not that satisfying. So much evil in the book and the theme of Christ was just too weak for me to enjoy it. The characters were also not great for me. This is not one that I would read again.
February 21, 2017
Review to follow.
September 7, 2021
While this book didn't blow me away, it was an enjoyable read. I always enjoy stories with strong heroines and this story had some good twists and turns.
September 7, 2012
Ella Wallace's opium addicted husband Harlan has left her to raise their three children on her own in the small Florida Panhandle town of Dead Lakes, outside of Apalachicola. Harlan has also left Ella deep in debt, and she struggles to run a country store and pay the mortgage before the bank forecloses on the family's property. The property has a valuable spring filled with cypress and pine, and local banker Clive Gillespie, a greedy and unscrupulous man, teams up with a shady evangelist to hatch a deceptive scheme to take the property away from Ella. Just when it looks like Ella is about to lose her family's property, a mysterious man named Lanier Stillis, who has a gift of healing powers, shows up and offers to help Ella save her property. When the townsfolk learn of Lanier's special healing powers and his living with Ella, his past catches up with him, and sends the town into an uproar with events that will change their lives forever.
Man in the Blue Moon is an intriguing Southern Fiction story that has a mystical quality that is guaranteed to hold you captive. Written in the third person narrative, the author masterfully weaves a tale of a family's struggle to survive heartbreak, betrayal, and deception while finding redemption. Set in the 1918 Florida Panhandle, this riveting story has enough drama, suspense, betrayal and mystical ingredients to keep you guessing as you turn the pages. Rich in details and vivid descriptions, the author easily transports the reader to the turn of the century Florida, engaging the reader to experience the mystical springs, the pull of the cypress trees growing in the swamps, and the sway of the Spanish moss that hangs from the trees.
The author has created a cast of quirky characters that leap off the pages. He brings them to life with interesting personalities and complexities that draws the reader into their lives. I admired Ella's strength, willpower and determination to survive, especially in a time period when women were not dominant figures. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite character, Lanier. This mysterious man with the mystical gift completely fascinated me, I loved following his story and was touched by his sensitivity, faith and love for Ella. I really enjoyed how the author included a nice lighthearted romance into the storyline, it provided a balanced to the emotional family drama, and made the story that much more of a powerful and compelling read.
Man in the Blue Moon is a fascinating tale that will resonate with you long after the last page has been read. The story is based loosely on a 1920 story that was told to the author told by his grandfather. Author Michael Morris has woven a tale that is classic southern storytelling at its best!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by JKSCommunications.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Man in the Blue Moon is an intriguing Southern Fiction story that has a mystical quality that is guaranteed to hold you captive. Written in the third person narrative, the author masterfully weaves a tale of a family's struggle to survive heartbreak, betrayal, and deception while finding redemption. Set in the 1918 Florida Panhandle, this riveting story has enough drama, suspense, betrayal and mystical ingredients to keep you guessing as you turn the pages. Rich in details and vivid descriptions, the author easily transports the reader to the turn of the century Florida, engaging the reader to experience the mystical springs, the pull of the cypress trees growing in the swamps, and the sway of the Spanish moss that hangs from the trees.
The author has created a cast of quirky characters that leap off the pages. He brings them to life with interesting personalities and complexities that draws the reader into their lives. I admired Ella's strength, willpower and determination to survive, especially in a time period when women were not dominant figures. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite character, Lanier. This mysterious man with the mystical gift completely fascinated me, I loved following his story and was touched by his sensitivity, faith and love for Ella. I really enjoyed how the author included a nice lighthearted romance into the storyline, it provided a balanced to the emotional family drama, and made the story that much more of a powerful and compelling read.
Man in the Blue Moon is a fascinating tale that will resonate with you long after the last page has been read. The story is based loosely on a 1920 story that was told to the author told by his grandfather. Author Michael Morris has woven a tale that is classic southern storytelling at its best!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by JKSCommunications.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
September 4, 2012
Harlan Wallace has disappeared; first into an opium-induced haze, and now he has disappeared completely. His wife Ella has been left on her own to finish raising their three sons in the Florida Panhandle town of Dead Lakes, just outside of Apalachicola. The banker, Clive Gillespie, can't wait to get his hands on Ella's property, and when it seems that Ella won't be able to meet the mortgage, a mysterious man appears and begins to help. Soon, everyone is talking about the new man in town and his healing gift. When his past catches up with him, the town of Dead Lakes is changed forever.
If Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor had a son who was taught by Harper Lee and he sneaked a few Stephen King novels when they weren't looking, you would have Michael Morris. Since I assume this didn't happen, I was left speechless. First , it was set in my favorite Florida town, Apalachicola, and even mentioned my favorite island, St. George Island. The Florida Panhandle has a feel and a flavor to it that you will never find in The Land of the Mouse or farther south in Miami. Michael Morris has captured that feeling and flavor in one fantastic novel. I could see the swampy areas, the cypress, the Spanish moss hanging from the trees in the town, and the bay emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. His characters are so well-drawn that I could see them. And he has developed some really quirky, interesting characters. Characters like this only come along once...well, once in a blue moon!
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blogger Network book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
If Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor had a son who was taught by Harper Lee and he sneaked a few Stephen King novels when they weren't looking, you would have Michael Morris. Since I assume this didn't happen, I was left speechless. First , it was set in my favorite Florida town, Apalachicola, and even mentioned my favorite island, St. George Island. The Florida Panhandle has a feel and a flavor to it that you will never find in The Land of the Mouse or farther south in Miami. Michael Morris has captured that feeling and flavor in one fantastic novel. I could see the swampy areas, the cypress, the Spanish moss hanging from the trees in the town, and the bay emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. His characters are so well-drawn that I could see them. And he has developed some really quirky, interesting characters. Characters like this only come along once...well, once in a blue moon!
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blogger Network book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
October 17, 2012
Michael Morris, Your Granddad Would be Proud!
Michael Morris shows his skill as a writer from the first page of Man in the Blue Moon. By the time the reader completes that opening page, she’s bound to read on. Not only is the protagonist introduced (Ella Wallace, age 35), but in the smoothest possible way, he also tells us essential elements of the setting (Dead Lakes Florida), the time period (during WWI), a minor plague in Ella’s life (the annoying cat that stalks her store), and most importantly, her struggles (raising three sons alone in the midst of threatened foreclosure).
In the hands of a less skillful storyteller, the pieces Morris puts in place--a woman in peril; a no good husband who deserted her, an aunt who tried to warn her about that man and whose voice remains in Ella’s mind, offering typically unheeded advice; three sons, each with his own pack of troubles; a greedy banker bent on repossessing her only remaining asset, a parcel of land that was her father’s; a business barely afloat; and a stranger who arrives in town, hidden in a box Ella believed held a grandfather clock that would sell for enough to save her land--could spell the perfect melodrama, a form I never enjoy.
Instead, the tale unfolds seamlessly. Morris deftly develops characters and enchants the reader into seeing and smelling the setting where the action takes place. He never takes the easy course of manipulating the reader’s emotion. Every response or concern for the characters this reader felt grew from legitimate elements of plot and character. There’s definitely no element of melodrama here.
According to the author, this novel stems from a family story and his fictional telling of it is in part a way to honor his grandfather. After reading Man in the Blue Moon, I can only say, Michael Morris, your granddad would be proud!”
Michael Morris shows his skill as a writer from the first page of Man in the Blue Moon. By the time the reader completes that opening page, she’s bound to read on. Not only is the protagonist introduced (Ella Wallace, age 35), but in the smoothest possible way, he also tells us essential elements of the setting (Dead Lakes Florida), the time period (during WWI), a minor plague in Ella’s life (the annoying cat that stalks her store), and most importantly, her struggles (raising three sons alone in the midst of threatened foreclosure).
In the hands of a less skillful storyteller, the pieces Morris puts in place--a woman in peril; a no good husband who deserted her, an aunt who tried to warn her about that man and whose voice remains in Ella’s mind, offering typically unheeded advice; three sons, each with his own pack of troubles; a greedy banker bent on repossessing her only remaining asset, a parcel of land that was her father’s; a business barely afloat; and a stranger who arrives in town, hidden in a box Ella believed held a grandfather clock that would sell for enough to save her land--could spell the perfect melodrama, a form I never enjoy.
Instead, the tale unfolds seamlessly. Morris deftly develops characters and enchants the reader into seeing and smelling the setting where the action takes place. He never takes the easy course of manipulating the reader’s emotion. Every response or concern for the characters this reader felt grew from legitimate elements of plot and character. There’s definitely no element of melodrama here.
According to the author, this novel stems from a family story and his fictional telling of it is in part a way to honor his grandfather. After reading Man in the Blue Moon, I can only say, Michael Morris, your granddad would be proud!”
January 1, 2013
Let’s pause, for just a moment, and go back to school for a minute. I think you’ll need this educational break to appreciate this book, a refresher on the definition of tragedy:
There is no getting around the fact that Man in the Blue Moon is a tragedy, and one of epic proportions. This is a well written novel, a story that will haunt you until you finish it. A story that burdens you with the harsh realities of life. Ella Wallace is left with the burden of raising her family, running the store that she and her husband, Harlan, owned, merely existing, and repaying the second mortgage Harlan took out on her land all on her own. Her husband left her. Out of the blue, Lanier shows up. Literally. And things just get worse. You can tell things are only getting worse, but you’re still not prepared for it. Morris sets the story up in such a way that you get a feel for what’s going to happen, but leaves you guessing a little bit. There are surprises along the way, but not a single thing redeems this tragedy.
There’s a scene toward the end of the book, where all the character’s demons that have haunted them throughout the story come together, melding into a glorious brouhaha that marks the change in the tide of Ella’s life.
To find out more, you need to read this book. It is good, no great. But it is heavy. I had to read it in small chunks over the coarse of about 45 days.
The craziest part of all, is that parts of the story are based on a true story!
trag·e·dy/ˈtrajidē/
Noun:
1. An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.
2. A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, esp. one concerning the downfall of the main character.
There is no getting around the fact that Man in the Blue Moon is a tragedy, and one of epic proportions. This is a well written novel, a story that will haunt you until you finish it. A story that burdens you with the harsh realities of life. Ella Wallace is left with the burden of raising her family, running the store that she and her husband, Harlan, owned, merely existing, and repaying the second mortgage Harlan took out on her land all on her own. Her husband left her. Out of the blue, Lanier shows up. Literally. And things just get worse. You can tell things are only getting worse, but you’re still not prepared for it. Morris sets the story up in such a way that you get a feel for what’s going to happen, but leaves you guessing a little bit. There are surprises along the way, but not a single thing redeems this tragedy.
There’s a scene toward the end of the book, where all the character’s demons that have haunted them throughout the story come together, melding into a glorious brouhaha that marks the change in the tide of Ella’s life.
To find out more, you need to read this book. It is good, no great. But it is heavy. I had to read it in small chunks over the coarse of about 45 days.
The craziest part of all, is that parts of the story are based on a true story!
January 8, 2013
When I first had the pleasure of hearing Michael Morris describe his new book, I was skeptical. Healers, the Garden of Eden, a man in a box, drug addicts, drunks, murder, magic waters, conspiracies....I thought "How in the world is he going to pull this off"? I should kick myself. Not only does he "pull it off" but he manages to get the reader so involved in the characters and the town that I found myself thinking about the story anytime I took a break. While it was definitely hard to put the book down, the laundry doesn't wash itself. I cheered for Ella and wondered about Lanier. I wanted to give Myer Simpson a tongue lashing and I wanted to...well, what should I say about Clive Gillespie?
To read my entire review check out
http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
To read my entire review check out
http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
May 21, 2012
Butter...that's what I kept thinking....the writing is soooo smooth. And the story of a man in the early 1990s who has been mailed in a box to a family that desperately needs his help, is so creative. But, on top of all of this, the author was inspired by this very thing happening in his family in the early 20th Century. Readers discovering Michael Morris for the first time are in for a real treat. There's enough quirkyness in this novel to tickle fans of Southern Lit and anyone who has been to Florida will learn things about this state that you never learn in travel books - and considerably more fascinating!
February 7, 2013
Finished this book today. It was the kind of book that it's hard for you to lay down cause you just want to keep reading. The title is so unique, and the explanation in the story causes you to raise your eyebrows and say "what???". Ella, the main character, is a fantastic person and I commend the author for creating such a masterpiece. This woman has a world of troubles, which makes for a very interesting plot. Her no good husband leaves Ella with 3 children and a store to take care of. The author's smooth flowing prose just makes this book read so easily. I loved this book!!
October 22, 2012
Excellent book, now want to read more of Michael Morris's books. The main character was strong and brave, husband ran off and left her with debt, a business to run and 3 sons to take care of. And she has to work hard to keep her land that had been left to her by her father. Through it all her and her family strives despite the banker trying to ruin her and neighbors talking about her.
May 27, 2013
Engrossing story of Ella Wallace, a hard working woman whose husband has abandoned his family. Set in 1918, Ella is a store keeper raising 3 sons. When Banker Clive Gillespie threatens to foreclose on her land Ella is determined to raise funds to pay the mortgage. Lanier Stills enters Ella's life in a very odd manner and as the story unfolds, he becomes is an integral part.
April 18, 2012
This is such a fantastic book!! I literally read it on one Saturday morning, could not put it down. Michael's writing is so easy-flowing and enjoyable. An entertaining story based on a true story his grandfather once told him!
April 3, 2013
This book was an excellent, southern-style novel about a woman and her three kids after her husband ran out on them. Morris's characters are deep, real, and believable. Plus, there is a mysterious man who comes to town in an unusual way, creating a lot of buzz because he has a particular gift.
January 22, 2014
I struggled through this book, but we had a good book club discussion about it.
September 16, 2012
Q & A with Author Michael Morris
So who does Pat Conroy read when he’s in the mood for a good story? Michael Morris. Conroy calls Morris one of his favorite Southern writers. Man in the Blue Moon, Morris’s latest, “is reason for great celebration –a beautifully wrought portrayal of small-town Southern life,” says Conroy. Publishers Weekly praises Man in the Blue Moon as the perfect book club read.
It was Morris’s grandfather who first told the young boy about a man being shipped to town inside of a box. Listen in as author Karen Spears Zacharias chats with Michael Morris about his grandfather and the stories that birth writers.
KAREN: The genesis for Man in the Blue Moon was a story your grandfather told you. Tell us about your grandfather.
MICHAEL: My grandfather was a character and of course everybody in the south knows what that means. He was absolutely the best storyteller I’ve known. In fact, he was so good at it that you might have to get him to tell the story two or three times to discern fact from fiction. When any discrepancies were brought to his attention he would shrug and say, “well, I was just trying to dress it up a little bit.”
One story that he always told was of a man who was shipped in a crate to his family in Florida. The man was a distant cousin and his in-laws were out to kill him. They blamed him for the death of his wife and her lover. Even though the man had been exonerated of the crime, his former in-laws were powerful people and were seeking their own form of justice. My grandfather said that their father told them not to ask any questions. The man stayed on the property for about three months and then one day vanished. Years later my grandfather discovered that the man had moved to Vero Beach and made a new life for himself.
As a child, I was always fascinated by that story and then as an adult, I knew I had to write it. I started outlining the novel on my grandfather’s 99th birthday. I am glad that he lived long enough to see the manuscript completed. Man in the Blue Moon is dedicated to his memory.
KAREN: The man in the box, Lanier, is said to possess the gift of healing. Who has played the part of the healer in your own life?
MICHAEL: The portrayal of Lanier’s healing ability can be attributed back to my grandfather too. He had the Foxfire series that chronicles the people of the North Georgia Mountains. In one of the books there is a section about those from Appalachia who are believed to have the ability to cure certain ailments like thrush or even the ability to pull fire out of someone who has been burned. Reading Foxfire helped me to develop the character of Lanier.
While I have not had physical healing, I have certainly had emotional healing. My mom and I fled an abusive household and lived in a trailer steps behind my grandparent’s home. While my mom went to vocational school to learn a trade to support us, my grandmother went to work on me. Every afternoon after lunch she would have me list out all the people in my life who loved me. If I forgot a cousin or great-aunt, she would remind me and have me to include them the next day. She helped to heal the scars to my soul. She had an eighth grade education but she remains the wisest person I’ve known. She died twenty-six years ago and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her.
KAREN: Ruby is one of my favorite characters in the entire story. Something about her vulnerability makes my heart soar and lament at the same time. When did Ruby first present herself to you?
MICHAEL: Ruby was a fun character to write. She came about as a result of a conversation I had with a woman at a book festival. Like me, the woman had grown up in a small town in North Florida. Somehow we started talking about the interesting, eccentric characters in small towns – not the eccentrics of today who blend in with the community but those who stood out and held court. The woman at the festival shared that there was a young girl in her hometown who would prance down Main Street once a week, twirling a baton and leading an imaginary parade. Cars would pull over and wait for her to complete her journey. The vision of this girl, who many in the town probably discounted even though she had this power over them, captivated my imagination. I could not get her and her parade out of my head. The idea for Ruby then came into being.
KAREN: Do you sketch out the plot or the characters in advance? And if so, which do you do first?
MICHAEL: Typically I will sketch out the characters first. I have a list of questions I answer about each character – everything from their favorite color to what is the darkest secret they are keeping. Of course, not all of the information will make it into the novel but it helps me to know the characters inside and out and to hopefully make them come alive on paper. Then I scratch out an outline of the story. I write one or two sentences about different scenes and places where I see the story turning. I tell people that for me the outline is like a map. When I’m writing a novel I will go back and look at the outline but that doesn’t mean I don’t take side trips and venture into other areas I hadn’t planned.
KAREN: Brother Mabry is such a low-down dirty-dog greedy scoundrel but I know you are a man of deep faith. So why did you make the preacher the bad guy?
MICHAEL: When I was researching the novel I uncovered something that took me on one of those side journeys with plotting that I just mentioned. In the early 1940s there was a preacher who tried to make the claim that the part of Florida I am writing about in Man in the Blue Moon was the original Garden of Eden. Of course, his claim never took off but I couldn’t resist using that whole idea as an element to the story. During 1918 when Man in the Blue Moon is set, there were spas centered around springs that were thought to provide medicinal healing.
Brother Mabry is a nationally known radio evangelist from New York and he sets his sights on developing a similar retreat on Ella’s property. He plays a crucial role in the battle Ella is fighting to keep her property. To me Brother Mabry is a P.T. Barnum type of character who might have started out with good intentions but got swept up in greed. And of course, we still have those types of evangelists in our culture today. However, the community minister, Reverend Simpson, becomes the one who finally stops the persecution Lanier faces when Brother Mabry tries to exploit Lanier’s ability to heal. I wanted to present a balance in the story – the good and the bad in society, even in religion.
KAREN: One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Bonaparte and the neighbor men come across Ella’s field with their rusty saws in hand, to help cut the cypress. Their actions really speak to what community ought to look like, what it means to be a neighbor to one another. It reminded me of the way the folks in Cullman, Alabama pulled together following the devastating tornado in 2011 that cut a swath through town. What’s your thoughts about the way we do community nowadays?
MICHAEL: For some reason there is a common theme woven in all of my novels that family is more than blood kin, it’s also the people in the community who stand up and help us when we are going through difficulties. I certainly experienced that in the town I grew up in – a town not unlike Dead Lakes where Ella lives in Man in the Blue Moon.
It’s interesting that you bring up the way the people in Alabama came together when the tornados tore apart the state last year. I was talking to a man the other day about it and he pointed out that sometimes we might wave to our neighbors as we pass by their homes but when there is devastation that is when we really get to know them. A friend recently made the comment that Facebook is the new “front porch” where folks would gather in the afternoons to escape the heat and visit with their neighbors. I see people chatting back and forth on Facebook and they only live a couple of miles from one another. It keeps a dialogue going about the latest news in the town. I just hope it never replaces that face to face companionship that is so needed when tragedy, sickness or death show up at someone’s doorstep.
KAREN: You and I have both grown up with strong mothers, women whom others have viewed as vulnerable because they didn’t have husbands in their lives taking care of them, or helping them care for children. Like our own mothers, Ella has to battle against the notion that a woman is incapable of handling her own affairs successfully. And yet Neva Clarkson looks at Ella and sees a survivor. When did you come to recognize your own mother as a survivor?
MICHAEL: Ella grows as a character and I purposefully put the woman’s suffrage movement as a backdrop in the novel. While Ella is changing, the world around her is changing too. At the beginning at the novel when she received the foreclosure notice for her property, she feels that she can barely stand. She has always deepened on someone else to protect her and now she must protect herself and her sons. Although Ella’s battle to keep her land makes her realize that she is stronger than she believes, those around her see the transformation long before she does. Her friend, Neva Clarkson, is the first person to point it out.
I grew up around strong women. My mother, grandmother, and great-aunt were all strong women in different ways. After my mom and I fled my abusive father, she took a low paying job as a typist and still managed to save twenty dollars a week for my education. She was determined that I would be the first in our family to graduate college. My wife says that she cannot picture my mother being hit by a man, thinking that the woman she knows today would take down any man who assaulted her. But like Ella, my mom evolved. And like Ella, she didn’t give up. She fought to make a better way for us.
KAREN: When did you know that you would write Man in the Blue Moon?
MICHAEL: As a boy I was always captivated by the story of the man in the box that my grandfather used to tell. I would ask question after question. In fact, my grandfather said that his father told the children not to ask any questions about the man’s arrival in a box. I don’t think I would have fared to well in that time period!
After writing A Place Called Wiregrass and Slow Way Home I would visit bookstores and book festivals and the question I most often got was “did you always want to be a writer?” I really wish that I could say yes, but I didn’t consider writing until I was 32 and working in the pharmaceutical industry. After pondering the question, I came to realize that while I was not a reader or around readers, I was around storytellers. My grandfather chief among them. I then came to understand that my grandparents had led me to become a writer. All of those stories I heard as a child and pictured in my head were stories to be mined and written. I felt that I just had to explore the story and see where it led.
KAREN: Once you knew that you wanted to tell this story, how did you go about getting it down? Did you research first or just start writing?
MICHAEL: I started out by interviewing my grandfather, not only about all the details surrounding the man who was shipped in a crate, but day to day life for them living in a crossroads community in the Panhandle of Florida. I asked him what their town celebrations were like and about their trips to Panama City or Apalachicola. He talked about the way that they used to raft timber to market. All of these elements made the time and place come to life for me. Man in the Blue Moon is truly a novel based on oral history.
I also did a great deal of research reading about the time period: World War I, the woman’s suffrage movement and the 1918 flu epidemic. I sought out books about Apalachicola’s history and the South’s role in the war and the suffrage movement. Documentaries about these topics were helpful, particularly a PBS documentary on the flu that included survivor stories.
I’ll tell you how great libraries are. I was all set to travel to the University of Florida to spend time reading the 1918 Apalachicola, Florida newspapers. The Birmingham Library was able to arrange a loan with the university and the newspapers were sent on microfiche to Birmingham. I spent a couple of weeks combing through every issue. That was a big turning point for me in feeling that I was completely in the environment I was writing about. Through the newspaper searches, I was able to discover a claim that the area was considered by a few to be the original Garden of Eden and that the state was encouraging folks around Apalachicola to grow rice. Both of these elements became important parts of the story.
KAREN: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
MICHAEL: I love how writing will transport me to another time and place. I love the days when it is going so well that my fingers feel like they can barely type fast enough to record the images and dialogue I am imagining. I also love it when a reader will tell me that she thought about the story or the characters long after the last page was finished. When I hear those words, I feel that I have done my job.
KAREN: What did writing Man in the Blue Moon teach you?
MICHAEL: Man in the Blue Moon taught me to appreciate my Florida Cracker heritage. It’s funny because those of us from North Florida will often hear people tell us that we can’t possibly have this thick of an accent and still be from Florida. In fact, one reviewer said until he read the novel he had never even thought of Florida as a Southern state. So I’m proud that I was able to capture a part of my family’s story and to show a part of Old Florida that was hardscrabble – the part of Florida that my family helped to pioneer.
The novel also taught me the importance of tolerance and what a big issue that is still today. Lanier’s ability to heal becomes a dividing force within the community and Brother Mabry uses it as a way to push his own agenda. There are a lot of topics in the novel that we are grappling with today – economic downturn, foreclosure, addiction and certainly tolerance of those we might not understand and those we disagree with.
KAREN: What’s next?
MICHAEL: I’m really excited to hit the road and visit my SIBA friends with Man in the Blue Moon. We are going from town to town for about two months. SIBA really got behind my first novel, A Place Called Wiregrass, and I am so grateful for all of the support they have given me through the years.
I am also looking forward to my next novel, The King of Florabama, which is about the longest serving sheriff in Alabama who at 80 loses his license, his office and then has to come to terms with a hidden 40 year old murder that has divided his family.
So who does Pat Conroy read when he’s in the mood for a good story? Michael Morris. Conroy calls Morris one of his favorite Southern writers. Man in the Blue Moon, Morris’s latest, “is reason for great celebration –a beautifully wrought portrayal of small-town Southern life,” says Conroy. Publishers Weekly praises Man in the Blue Moon as the perfect book club read.
It was Morris’s grandfather who first told the young boy about a man being shipped to town inside of a box. Listen in as author Karen Spears Zacharias chats with Michael Morris about his grandfather and the stories that birth writers.
KAREN: The genesis for Man in the Blue Moon was a story your grandfather told you. Tell us about your grandfather.
MICHAEL: My grandfather was a character and of course everybody in the south knows what that means. He was absolutely the best storyteller I’ve known. In fact, he was so good at it that you might have to get him to tell the story two or three times to discern fact from fiction. When any discrepancies were brought to his attention he would shrug and say, “well, I was just trying to dress it up a little bit.”
One story that he always told was of a man who was shipped in a crate to his family in Florida. The man was a distant cousin and his in-laws were out to kill him. They blamed him for the death of his wife and her lover. Even though the man had been exonerated of the crime, his former in-laws were powerful people and were seeking their own form of justice. My grandfather said that their father told them not to ask any questions. The man stayed on the property for about three months and then one day vanished. Years later my grandfather discovered that the man had moved to Vero Beach and made a new life for himself.
As a child, I was always fascinated by that story and then as an adult, I knew I had to write it. I started outlining the novel on my grandfather’s 99th birthday. I am glad that he lived long enough to see the manuscript completed. Man in the Blue Moon is dedicated to his memory.
KAREN: The man in the box, Lanier, is said to possess the gift of healing. Who has played the part of the healer in your own life?
MICHAEL: The portrayal of Lanier’s healing ability can be attributed back to my grandfather too. He had the Foxfire series that chronicles the people of the North Georgia Mountains. In one of the books there is a section about those from Appalachia who are believed to have the ability to cure certain ailments like thrush or even the ability to pull fire out of someone who has been burned. Reading Foxfire helped me to develop the character of Lanier.
While I have not had physical healing, I have certainly had emotional healing. My mom and I fled an abusive household and lived in a trailer steps behind my grandparent’s home. While my mom went to vocational school to learn a trade to support us, my grandmother went to work on me. Every afternoon after lunch she would have me list out all the people in my life who loved me. If I forgot a cousin or great-aunt, she would remind me and have me to include them the next day. She helped to heal the scars to my soul. She had an eighth grade education but she remains the wisest person I’ve known. She died twenty-six years ago and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her.
KAREN: Ruby is one of my favorite characters in the entire story. Something about her vulnerability makes my heart soar and lament at the same time. When did Ruby first present herself to you?
MICHAEL: Ruby was a fun character to write. She came about as a result of a conversation I had with a woman at a book festival. Like me, the woman had grown up in a small town in North Florida. Somehow we started talking about the interesting, eccentric characters in small towns – not the eccentrics of today who blend in with the community but those who stood out and held court. The woman at the festival shared that there was a young girl in her hometown who would prance down Main Street once a week, twirling a baton and leading an imaginary parade. Cars would pull over and wait for her to complete her journey. The vision of this girl, who many in the town probably discounted even though she had this power over them, captivated my imagination. I could not get her and her parade out of my head. The idea for Ruby then came into being.
KAREN: Do you sketch out the plot or the characters in advance? And if so, which do you do first?
MICHAEL: Typically I will sketch out the characters first. I have a list of questions I answer about each character – everything from their favorite color to what is the darkest secret they are keeping. Of course, not all of the information will make it into the novel but it helps me to know the characters inside and out and to hopefully make them come alive on paper. Then I scratch out an outline of the story. I write one or two sentences about different scenes and places where I see the story turning. I tell people that for me the outline is like a map. When I’m writing a novel I will go back and look at the outline but that doesn’t mean I don’t take side trips and venture into other areas I hadn’t planned.
KAREN: Brother Mabry is such a low-down dirty-dog greedy scoundrel but I know you are a man of deep faith. So why did you make the preacher the bad guy?
MICHAEL: When I was researching the novel I uncovered something that took me on one of those side journeys with plotting that I just mentioned. In the early 1940s there was a preacher who tried to make the claim that the part of Florida I am writing about in Man in the Blue Moon was the original Garden of Eden. Of course, his claim never took off but I couldn’t resist using that whole idea as an element to the story. During 1918 when Man in the Blue Moon is set, there were spas centered around springs that were thought to provide medicinal healing.
Brother Mabry is a nationally known radio evangelist from New York and he sets his sights on developing a similar retreat on Ella’s property. He plays a crucial role in the battle Ella is fighting to keep her property. To me Brother Mabry is a P.T. Barnum type of character who might have started out with good intentions but got swept up in greed. And of course, we still have those types of evangelists in our culture today. However, the community minister, Reverend Simpson, becomes the one who finally stops the persecution Lanier faces when Brother Mabry tries to exploit Lanier’s ability to heal. I wanted to present a balance in the story – the good and the bad in society, even in religion.
KAREN: One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Bonaparte and the neighbor men come across Ella’s field with their rusty saws in hand, to help cut the cypress. Their actions really speak to what community ought to look like, what it means to be a neighbor to one another. It reminded me of the way the folks in Cullman, Alabama pulled together following the devastating tornado in 2011 that cut a swath through town. What’s your thoughts about the way we do community nowadays?
MICHAEL: For some reason there is a common theme woven in all of my novels that family is more than blood kin, it’s also the people in the community who stand up and help us when we are going through difficulties. I certainly experienced that in the town I grew up in – a town not unlike Dead Lakes where Ella lives in Man in the Blue Moon.
It’s interesting that you bring up the way the people in Alabama came together when the tornados tore apart the state last year. I was talking to a man the other day about it and he pointed out that sometimes we might wave to our neighbors as we pass by their homes but when there is devastation that is when we really get to know them. A friend recently made the comment that Facebook is the new “front porch” where folks would gather in the afternoons to escape the heat and visit with their neighbors. I see people chatting back and forth on Facebook and they only live a couple of miles from one another. It keeps a dialogue going about the latest news in the town. I just hope it never replaces that face to face companionship that is so needed when tragedy, sickness or death show up at someone’s doorstep.
KAREN: You and I have both grown up with strong mothers, women whom others have viewed as vulnerable because they didn’t have husbands in their lives taking care of them, or helping them care for children. Like our own mothers, Ella has to battle against the notion that a woman is incapable of handling her own affairs successfully. And yet Neva Clarkson looks at Ella and sees a survivor. When did you come to recognize your own mother as a survivor?
MICHAEL: Ella grows as a character and I purposefully put the woman’s suffrage movement as a backdrop in the novel. While Ella is changing, the world around her is changing too. At the beginning at the novel when she received the foreclosure notice for her property, she feels that she can barely stand. She has always deepened on someone else to protect her and now she must protect herself and her sons. Although Ella’s battle to keep her land makes her realize that she is stronger than she believes, those around her see the transformation long before she does. Her friend, Neva Clarkson, is the first person to point it out.
I grew up around strong women. My mother, grandmother, and great-aunt were all strong women in different ways. After my mom and I fled my abusive father, she took a low paying job as a typist and still managed to save twenty dollars a week for my education. She was determined that I would be the first in our family to graduate college. My wife says that she cannot picture my mother being hit by a man, thinking that the woman she knows today would take down any man who assaulted her. But like Ella, my mom evolved. And like Ella, she didn’t give up. She fought to make a better way for us.
KAREN: When did you know that you would write Man in the Blue Moon?
MICHAEL: As a boy I was always captivated by the story of the man in the box that my grandfather used to tell. I would ask question after question. In fact, my grandfather said that his father told the children not to ask any questions about the man’s arrival in a box. I don’t think I would have fared to well in that time period!
After writing A Place Called Wiregrass and Slow Way Home I would visit bookstores and book festivals and the question I most often got was “did you always want to be a writer?” I really wish that I could say yes, but I didn’t consider writing until I was 32 and working in the pharmaceutical industry. After pondering the question, I came to realize that while I was not a reader or around readers, I was around storytellers. My grandfather chief among them. I then came to understand that my grandparents had led me to become a writer. All of those stories I heard as a child and pictured in my head were stories to be mined and written. I felt that I just had to explore the story and see where it led.
KAREN: Once you knew that you wanted to tell this story, how did you go about getting it down? Did you research first or just start writing?
MICHAEL: I started out by interviewing my grandfather, not only about all the details surrounding the man who was shipped in a crate, but day to day life for them living in a crossroads community in the Panhandle of Florida. I asked him what their town celebrations were like and about their trips to Panama City or Apalachicola. He talked about the way that they used to raft timber to market. All of these elements made the time and place come to life for me. Man in the Blue Moon is truly a novel based on oral history.
I also did a great deal of research reading about the time period: World War I, the woman’s suffrage movement and the 1918 flu epidemic. I sought out books about Apalachicola’s history and the South’s role in the war and the suffrage movement. Documentaries about these topics were helpful, particularly a PBS documentary on the flu that included survivor stories.
I’ll tell you how great libraries are. I was all set to travel to the University of Florida to spend time reading the 1918 Apalachicola, Florida newspapers. The Birmingham Library was able to arrange a loan with the university and the newspapers were sent on microfiche to Birmingham. I spent a couple of weeks combing through every issue. That was a big turning point for me in feeling that I was completely in the environment I was writing about. Through the newspaper searches, I was able to discover a claim that the area was considered by a few to be the original Garden of Eden and that the state was encouraging folks around Apalachicola to grow rice. Both of these elements became important parts of the story.
KAREN: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
MICHAEL: I love how writing will transport me to another time and place. I love the days when it is going so well that my fingers feel like they can barely type fast enough to record the images and dialogue I am imagining. I also love it when a reader will tell me that she thought about the story or the characters long after the last page was finished. When I hear those words, I feel that I have done my job.
KAREN: What did writing Man in the Blue Moon teach you?
MICHAEL: Man in the Blue Moon taught me to appreciate my Florida Cracker heritage. It’s funny because those of us from North Florida will often hear people tell us that we can’t possibly have this thick of an accent and still be from Florida. In fact, one reviewer said until he read the novel he had never even thought of Florida as a Southern state. So I’m proud that I was able to capture a part of my family’s story and to show a part of Old Florida that was hardscrabble – the part of Florida that my family helped to pioneer.
The novel also taught me the importance of tolerance and what a big issue that is still today. Lanier’s ability to heal becomes a dividing force within the community and Brother Mabry uses it as a way to push his own agenda. There are a lot of topics in the novel that we are grappling with today – economic downturn, foreclosure, addiction and certainly tolerance of those we might not understand and those we disagree with.
KAREN: What’s next?
MICHAEL: I’m really excited to hit the road and visit my SIBA friends with Man in the Blue Moon. We are going from town to town for about two months. SIBA really got behind my first novel, A Place Called Wiregrass, and I am so grateful for all of the support they have given me through the years.
I am also looking forward to my next novel, The King of Florabama, which is about the longest serving sheriff in Alabama who at 80 loses his license, his office and then has to come to terms with a hidden 40 year old murder that has divided his family.
November 5, 2012
Story Description:
Tyndale House Publishers|August 17, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-4143-6842-9
“He’s a gambler at best. A con artist at worst,” her aunt had said of the handlebar-mustached man who snatched Ella Wallace away from her dreams of studying art in France. Eighteen years later, that man has disappeared, leaving Ella alone and struggling to support her three sons. While the world is embroiled in World War I, Ella fights her own personal battle to keep the mystical Florida land that has been in her family for generations from the hands of an unscrupulous banker. When a mysterious man arrives at Ella’s door in an unconventional way, he convinces her he can help her avoid foreclosure, and a tenuous trust begins. But as the fight for Ella’s land intensifies, it becomes evident that things are not as they appear. Hypocrisy and murder soon shake the coastal town of Apalachicola and jeopardize Ella’s family.
My Review:
Vivid descriptions, southern realism, and great story telling had me drawn in from the first page. Michael Morris knows how to weave a tale that will keep you turning page after page after page.
Thirty-five-year-old, Ella Wallace owned and operated a store in Dead Lakes, Florida. She was on the verge of financial and emotional collapse. At age 17, Ella had married Harlan Wallace much against her Aunt’s wishes. Her Aunt had tried to warn Ella that Harlan was a gambler and a con-artist. Harlan was taking Ella away from her dreams of studying art in France. Now, eighteen years later, Ella’s dreams have been dashed and she has 3 sons to care for and a store to save from foreclosure.
Ella held two letters in her hand; one from the Blue Moon Clock Company and the other from Gillespie Savings and Loan. She could either scrape together enough money to make a partial payment on the second mortgage Harlan had taken out on their property, or she could gamble on paying freight charges for a clock Harlan must have ordered before he disappeared. She thought at least with the clock she stood a chance of selling it and making a profit and the letter said the clock was paid for in full. If she got the clock, sold it at a profit then she could make a higher payment on the past-due loan. For the past three months, the bank loan had been paid in portions that never equaled the total amount due. Clive Gillespie had been pushing Ella to sell him the property but that was the last thing she wanted to do.
Harlan had left Ella in a lot of debt when he disappeared and the land that he had taken over as his own was the last possession of her father’s that she had left. Everything else had been sold, one by one, to cover Harlan’s debts. The property had been in her family for two generations and her father, upon his deathbed had given Ella strict instructions to use the land but never sell it as it was her birthright. Ella never knew that Harlan had taken out a second mortgage on the place until told by Clive Gillespie. She tried to tell him that she never signed for a second mortgage and that Harlan had forged her signature, but he didn’t believe her.
Ella has 3 children: Macon, age 6; Keaton, age 13; and Samuel, age 16. Macon was suffering with a virus that swelled his throat and caused blisters the size of quarters to cover his lips. The boy was very clearly suffering and to compound things the boy also had asthma. Nothing that Ella or the doctor did alleviated his symptoms which caused another worry for poor Ella.
Two of the boys hitched their mule to the wagon so they could head into town to collect her delivery from the Blue Moon Clock Company. Being a grandfather clock she’d be able to sell it for a lot more money than if it was a mantle clock. Constant worry about the payments to Gillespie Saving and Loan were draining Ella to the point she was almost physically ill. However, little does Ella know that the contents of this box is going to change her life forever.
Suddenly a mysterious man appears at her property claiming to be a relative of Harlan’s. He told Ella “Harlan’s daddy was my mama’s first cousin”. Ella told the man, who said his name was Lanier Stillis that she didn’t want any trouble and asked him to leave. After much discussion she agreed to let him stay one night in the barn but the following day she expected him to be gone. Lanier finally convinced Ella that he could help her and he stays. Their relationship was strained and Ella didn’t fully trust this mysterious man.
One afternoon, Deputy Ronnie Eubanks stepped into Ella’s store, handed her a letter and said “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Ella.” Ella knew before she even opened the letter what it contained and she was right. It was foreclosure papers on her property from Clive Gillespie. Ella sat outside on the stoop and thought until an idea came to her. She approached Lanier and asked him if he could cut timber and he said “yes”. Ella figured if she cut timber down on her property and sold it, she might just make enough money to stop the foreclosure but she had only 45 days to complete the job – both cut and sold. Can they do it?
There is a great line-up of characters in this novel who have been well-developed and their voices are authentic. The sense and feeling of community shines through and you’ll discover many lessons to be learned. Michael Morris has created a story with back-bone, but yet you’ll find and feel a sense of innocence in some of the characters. The secondary characters are also what makes this story work so well. You want to keep track of them all and not miss a single word or sentence about them. It’s the unknown that also keeps you reading, there is so much emotion packed into this novel, so much wanting and desire for Ella to succeed that you can’t seem to read fast enough to get to the next part. In parts I was sweating and biting my nails, in other parts I was laughing and chuckling, and other parts I was just mesmerized by the sheer poetry of the words.
I’ll say for certain my two most favourite characters were Ella, who is an immensely strong woman, and Lanier who is the type of person you just can’t help but like. The most despised character for me was Clive Gillespie. All the characters are quirky and literally leap off the page, you’re almost equally as interested in one as you are the other. Of course, being a small town, there is the realism of nosiness and gossip of neighbours, The amount of emotion the story made me feel is the sign of a great writer and Michael Morris certainly fits that mould well. I’ll tell you though, at times, that Clive Gillespie had me spitting nails!
Man in the Blue Moon was a treasure to read. The complexity and depth is amazing. I’ll definitely be referring my friends to this masterpiece. Well done, Mr. Morris!
Tyndale House Publishers|August 17, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-4143-6842-9
“He’s a gambler at best. A con artist at worst,” her aunt had said of the handlebar-mustached man who snatched Ella Wallace away from her dreams of studying art in France. Eighteen years later, that man has disappeared, leaving Ella alone and struggling to support her three sons. While the world is embroiled in World War I, Ella fights her own personal battle to keep the mystical Florida land that has been in her family for generations from the hands of an unscrupulous banker. When a mysterious man arrives at Ella’s door in an unconventional way, he convinces her he can help her avoid foreclosure, and a tenuous trust begins. But as the fight for Ella’s land intensifies, it becomes evident that things are not as they appear. Hypocrisy and murder soon shake the coastal town of Apalachicola and jeopardize Ella’s family.
My Review:
Vivid descriptions, southern realism, and great story telling had me drawn in from the first page. Michael Morris knows how to weave a tale that will keep you turning page after page after page.
Thirty-five-year-old, Ella Wallace owned and operated a store in Dead Lakes, Florida. She was on the verge of financial and emotional collapse. At age 17, Ella had married Harlan Wallace much against her Aunt’s wishes. Her Aunt had tried to warn Ella that Harlan was a gambler and a con-artist. Harlan was taking Ella away from her dreams of studying art in France. Now, eighteen years later, Ella’s dreams have been dashed and she has 3 sons to care for and a store to save from foreclosure.
Ella held two letters in her hand; one from the Blue Moon Clock Company and the other from Gillespie Savings and Loan. She could either scrape together enough money to make a partial payment on the second mortgage Harlan had taken out on their property, or she could gamble on paying freight charges for a clock Harlan must have ordered before he disappeared. She thought at least with the clock she stood a chance of selling it and making a profit and the letter said the clock was paid for in full. If she got the clock, sold it at a profit then she could make a higher payment on the past-due loan. For the past three months, the bank loan had been paid in portions that never equaled the total amount due. Clive Gillespie had been pushing Ella to sell him the property but that was the last thing she wanted to do.
Harlan had left Ella in a lot of debt when he disappeared and the land that he had taken over as his own was the last possession of her father’s that she had left. Everything else had been sold, one by one, to cover Harlan’s debts. The property had been in her family for two generations and her father, upon his deathbed had given Ella strict instructions to use the land but never sell it as it was her birthright. Ella never knew that Harlan had taken out a second mortgage on the place until told by Clive Gillespie. She tried to tell him that she never signed for a second mortgage and that Harlan had forged her signature, but he didn’t believe her.
Ella has 3 children: Macon, age 6; Keaton, age 13; and Samuel, age 16. Macon was suffering with a virus that swelled his throat and caused blisters the size of quarters to cover his lips. The boy was very clearly suffering and to compound things the boy also had asthma. Nothing that Ella or the doctor did alleviated his symptoms which caused another worry for poor Ella.
Two of the boys hitched their mule to the wagon so they could head into town to collect her delivery from the Blue Moon Clock Company. Being a grandfather clock she’d be able to sell it for a lot more money than if it was a mantle clock. Constant worry about the payments to Gillespie Saving and Loan were draining Ella to the point she was almost physically ill. However, little does Ella know that the contents of this box is going to change her life forever.
Suddenly a mysterious man appears at her property claiming to be a relative of Harlan’s. He told Ella “Harlan’s daddy was my mama’s first cousin”. Ella told the man, who said his name was Lanier Stillis that she didn’t want any trouble and asked him to leave. After much discussion she agreed to let him stay one night in the barn but the following day she expected him to be gone. Lanier finally convinced Ella that he could help her and he stays. Their relationship was strained and Ella didn’t fully trust this mysterious man.
One afternoon, Deputy Ronnie Eubanks stepped into Ella’s store, handed her a letter and said “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Ella.” Ella knew before she even opened the letter what it contained and she was right. It was foreclosure papers on her property from Clive Gillespie. Ella sat outside on the stoop and thought until an idea came to her. She approached Lanier and asked him if he could cut timber and he said “yes”. Ella figured if she cut timber down on her property and sold it, she might just make enough money to stop the foreclosure but she had only 45 days to complete the job – both cut and sold. Can they do it?
There is a great line-up of characters in this novel who have been well-developed and their voices are authentic. The sense and feeling of community shines through and you’ll discover many lessons to be learned. Michael Morris has created a story with back-bone, but yet you’ll find and feel a sense of innocence in some of the characters. The secondary characters are also what makes this story work so well. You want to keep track of them all and not miss a single word or sentence about them. It’s the unknown that also keeps you reading, there is so much emotion packed into this novel, so much wanting and desire for Ella to succeed that you can’t seem to read fast enough to get to the next part. In parts I was sweating and biting my nails, in other parts I was laughing and chuckling, and other parts I was just mesmerized by the sheer poetry of the words.
I’ll say for certain my two most favourite characters were Ella, who is an immensely strong woman, and Lanier who is the type of person you just can’t help but like. The most despised character for me was Clive Gillespie. All the characters are quirky and literally leap off the page, you’re almost equally as interested in one as you are the other. Of course, being a small town, there is the realism of nosiness and gossip of neighbours, The amount of emotion the story made me feel is the sign of a great writer and Michael Morris certainly fits that mould well. I’ll tell you though, at times, that Clive Gillespie had me spitting nails!
Man in the Blue Moon was a treasure to read. The complexity and depth is amazing. I’ll definitely be referring my friends to this masterpiece. Well done, Mr. Morris!
November 29, 2017
“While world leads stood on platforms and predicted the end of World War I, Ella Wallace stood behind a cash register in a country store and knew without a doubt that her battle was just beginning.” (1) I find this quote effective when it comes to the event because it clearly says what will happen when she said my battle was just beginning and it’s the first sentence in the story and stated what’s going on. Weaknesses of this book are what World War I when it talks little about it and the event was clearly there. Strengths were how the drama was on loyalty and kept that on until the end. Yes, I would continue reading more of this was part of a series but since no, it’s fine. This is a long book with really great scenes and will be a good book for the rest of the people to read. So in my opinion, I would rate this book from 1-5, a 4.5 and hope people who read this book will give it a high rating.
November 5, 2012
Book Review: Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris
Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris (Tyndale House Books; 400 pages; $13.99).
“Wars and plagues” can get people thinking it’s the end of the world. Such a bleak outlook only worsens when American boys die on foreign soil, when families lose their homes to foreclosure, and when a dangerous flu ravages communities. No, we’re not talking about wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. Neither are we discussing America’s most recent economic crisis. And no, this is not H1N1. The place is Dead Lakes, Florida; the year is 1918. World War I rages in Europe, and the 1918 Spanish flu spreads rapidly. Ella Wallace, though, has more important things to worry about than wars and plagues in Michael Morris’ timely novel Man in the Blue Moon.
Ella, Morris’ protagonist, is a woman ahead of her time. Ella’s future held great promise as a teen. She dreamed of studying art in France. Yet, her dream died when Harlan Wallace and his handle-bar mustache walked into Ella’s life.
Her aunt tried to warn Ella, “[Harlan’s] a gambler at best. A con artist at worst.” Ella paid her no attention, which was too bad because her aunt was right about Ella’s future husband. After they married and their union produced three sons, Harlan turned to alcohol.
For Harlan, alcohol and gambling did not mix well. Harlan placed a bet on a horserace and lost Ella’s land. The land was her inheritance from her father. Before he died of typhoid fever, her father begged Ella never to sell her birthright.
One by one, Ella had been forced to sell her father’s possessions to pay off her husband’s debts. “His gold watch, the diamond-studdied tie clip, and the curls of hair that her father had maintained until death belonged to President Lincoln” had all been sold. The land was the only thing Ella had left and was very important to her. You could even say the land was special.
“The tract of land that sat on the Florida panhandle was thick with pines and cypress. An artesian spring fed a pool of water that local Indians claimed could remedy gout and arthritis. The acreage had been in her family for two generations.”
Harlan did not care. He lost the property anyway to the story’s principal antagonist, banker Clive Gillespie. To Clive’s chagrin, Harlan later won the land back in a drunken card game. Things got worse when Harlan traded his alcohol addiction for opium. One day, he just disappeared, leaving Ella to manage their country store.
This is not the life that Ella imagined. She can’t help but think people talk about her reversal of fortune: “What has become of Ella Wallace? What would her aunt think about her now?” For Ella, it is difficult raising three boys as a single mother while working and managing the store. Widows, she figures, are treated better than women whose husbands just up and disappeared. The gossip-mongering citizens of Dead Lakes look down on her. Ella, though, is proud and determined.
Clive has an agenda, and Ella stands in his way. He is determined to foreclose on her property to get her land once and for all. Ella is desperate to pay the note on the land’s mortgage. But she can’t do it alone.
Then, as if in answer to a prayer, Harlan’s alleged cousin, Lanier Stillis, shows up in Dead Lakes. He’s a rather shadowy and mysterious man, a picaresque hero, who proves his worth to Ella in a very unexpected way. When a crisis hits close to home, Harlan again stands by Ella. He seems to be a good and decent man. But is he telling Ella the truth about his past? Is Lanier Ella’s second chance at love?
Morris writes with a voice that is authentically Southern because he is Southern (he is a fifth-generation native of Perry, Florida). Southern culture and Southern characters come naturally to him. Because he is a Florida native, old Florida comes alive in his story. Morris charms readers the same way the springs mesmerize those who come to take a dip in their magical waters.
Man in the Blue Moon is rich with historical details. Morris carefully weaves key issues, people, and events into his story. The strongest of these is his depiction of the 1918 Spanish Flu. He uses a chant “I had a little bird/Its name was Enza/I opened up the window, and in-flu-enza.” Variations of this rhyme were very popular during this time. Morris also illustrates the anger of families whose sons returned home from battle only to die from the flu. As the illness wreaks havoc in Dead Lakes, Morris shows how the flu devastated families, communities, and towns.
In addition to the flu epidemic, Morris also shows two very different ways of life in old Florida. Ella and her family drive a horse and buggy; others own a car. Cotton export is slowly giving way to fishing and tourism. Morris even gives a nod to the oyster industry in nearby Apalachicola, the oyster capital of the world today. As one way of life wanes, another dawns. This is very apparent in Man in the Blue Moon.
If you love historical fiction, then Man in the Blue Moon is required reading for you. Morris’ writing is always genuine and satisfying. His story is a tale of one family’s struggle, a fight we can all relate to. There is much to admire within these pages, Ella particularly. I daresay she would fit in well in 2012. Maybe she would have a blog and be part of She Reads.
Morris enthralls and captivates readers with Man in the Blue Moon, the November Book Club selection of She Reads. To discuss the story, connect with other readers, and even meet the author, go to She Reads. Don’t forget to enter the extraordinary giveaways there, one of which is guaranteed to make your eyes sparkle this month.
Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris (Tyndale House Books; 400 pages; $13.99).
“Wars and plagues” can get people thinking it’s the end of the world. Such a bleak outlook only worsens when American boys die on foreign soil, when families lose their homes to foreclosure, and when a dangerous flu ravages communities. No, we’re not talking about wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. Neither are we discussing America’s most recent economic crisis. And no, this is not H1N1. The place is Dead Lakes, Florida; the year is 1918. World War I rages in Europe, and the 1918 Spanish flu spreads rapidly. Ella Wallace, though, has more important things to worry about than wars and plagues in Michael Morris’ timely novel Man in the Blue Moon.
Ella, Morris’ protagonist, is a woman ahead of her time. Ella’s future held great promise as a teen. She dreamed of studying art in France. Yet, her dream died when Harlan Wallace and his handle-bar mustache walked into Ella’s life.
Her aunt tried to warn Ella, “[Harlan’s] a gambler at best. A con artist at worst.” Ella paid her no attention, which was too bad because her aunt was right about Ella’s future husband. After they married and their union produced three sons, Harlan turned to alcohol.
For Harlan, alcohol and gambling did not mix well. Harlan placed a bet on a horserace and lost Ella’s land. The land was her inheritance from her father. Before he died of typhoid fever, her father begged Ella never to sell her birthright.
One by one, Ella had been forced to sell her father’s possessions to pay off her husband’s debts. “His gold watch, the diamond-studdied tie clip, and the curls of hair that her father had maintained until death belonged to President Lincoln” had all been sold. The land was the only thing Ella had left and was very important to her. You could even say the land was special.
“The tract of land that sat on the Florida panhandle was thick with pines and cypress. An artesian spring fed a pool of water that local Indians claimed could remedy gout and arthritis. The acreage had been in her family for two generations.”
Harlan did not care. He lost the property anyway to the story’s principal antagonist, banker Clive Gillespie. To Clive’s chagrin, Harlan later won the land back in a drunken card game. Things got worse when Harlan traded his alcohol addiction for opium. One day, he just disappeared, leaving Ella to manage their country store.
This is not the life that Ella imagined. She can’t help but think people talk about her reversal of fortune: “What has become of Ella Wallace? What would her aunt think about her now?” For Ella, it is difficult raising three boys as a single mother while working and managing the store. Widows, she figures, are treated better than women whose husbands just up and disappeared. The gossip-mongering citizens of Dead Lakes look down on her. Ella, though, is proud and determined.
Clive has an agenda, and Ella stands in his way. He is determined to foreclose on her property to get her land once and for all. Ella is desperate to pay the note on the land’s mortgage. But she can’t do it alone.
Then, as if in answer to a prayer, Harlan’s alleged cousin, Lanier Stillis, shows up in Dead Lakes. He’s a rather shadowy and mysterious man, a picaresque hero, who proves his worth to Ella in a very unexpected way. When a crisis hits close to home, Harlan again stands by Ella. He seems to be a good and decent man. But is he telling Ella the truth about his past? Is Lanier Ella’s second chance at love?
Morris writes with a voice that is authentically Southern because he is Southern (he is a fifth-generation native of Perry, Florida). Southern culture and Southern characters come naturally to him. Because he is a Florida native, old Florida comes alive in his story. Morris charms readers the same way the springs mesmerize those who come to take a dip in their magical waters.
Man in the Blue Moon is rich with historical details. Morris carefully weaves key issues, people, and events into his story. The strongest of these is his depiction of the 1918 Spanish Flu. He uses a chant “I had a little bird/Its name was Enza/I opened up the window, and in-flu-enza.” Variations of this rhyme were very popular during this time. Morris also illustrates the anger of families whose sons returned home from battle only to die from the flu. As the illness wreaks havoc in Dead Lakes, Morris shows how the flu devastated families, communities, and towns.
In addition to the flu epidemic, Morris also shows two very different ways of life in old Florida. Ella and her family drive a horse and buggy; others own a car. Cotton export is slowly giving way to fishing and tourism. Morris even gives a nod to the oyster industry in nearby Apalachicola, the oyster capital of the world today. As one way of life wanes, another dawns. This is very apparent in Man in the Blue Moon.
If you love historical fiction, then Man in the Blue Moon is required reading for you. Morris’ writing is always genuine and satisfying. His story is a tale of one family’s struggle, a fight we can all relate to. There is much to admire within these pages, Ella particularly. I daresay she would fit in well in 2012. Maybe she would have a blog and be part of She Reads.
Morris enthralls and captivates readers with Man in the Blue Moon, the November Book Club selection of She Reads. To discuss the story, connect with other readers, and even meet the author, go to She Reads. Don’t forget to enter the extraordinary giveaways there, one of which is guaranteed to make your eyes sparkle this month.
August 1, 2017
This is a gripping story. The main characters are Shakespearian in their passions, both for good and evil. They, most of them anyway, long for justice and peace, but there is little of either in most of Dead Lakes, Florida during the war to end all wars. The reader will pick up lots of history about the area near the gulf coast port town of Apalachicola in the early 20th century. And, this being Florida, of course there is an entrepreneur (aka swindler?) from New York who finds without much trouble a willing local accomplice to his grandiose plans for fame and wealth. I found this a good summer read. It is perhaps a bit too long in parts, but it's worth it to finish because the ending is very good.
July 23, 2020
I settled on three stars but I could have given it a 2 star rating. The blurb at the back of the book gave a different expectation of what the book. As a mystery book i would have given it a 2 (and considered that generous). There was no real mystery. The beginning started off so good but as i read further and further, it became evident there was no mystery to anything. However, as a book of fiction, I would give it a 3 star rating as the story was good, the characters well developed and the writing well done.
March 2, 2022
this story was very captivating...there was so much going on it could be a mini series...there are a lot of characters but it was not confusing...what I didn't like was the lesbian portion, all the drunks and the opium parts but without the substance abuse maybe you couldn't get the story written...I also didn't like the back scene sexual abuse....what I did like, was the small community and the faith that did exist...the events even though they were full of hardships and crime they made a good story I was never bored but did have some shocking moments...
October 12, 2024
Unusual story. I felt as if it bogged down in the first half. I put it down and then had to force myself to pick it back up. The second half was better. I wanted to shoot the banker myself…what a total jerk he was. I liked the way that the faith healer was presented. He wasn’t described as some unscrupulous nut job making money off of suffering. The “evangelist” unfortunately was written as pretty typical of a lot of our made for tv evangelists of our day. The author did spin quite a tale.
July 20, 2021
This book takes you on a gut-wrenching journey with twists and turns. The setting is heady, and the turn-of-the-century time period makes you think it’s an even farther away place. Mr. Morris writes of a desperation that is as heavy as the humidity, and characters that barely tread water. Happiness is hard won, and even then is still unsure of itself. And in the current times? This book is even more relevant.
September 15, 2023
when saw this at bookstore I thought yeah! new author and new addition to Florida collection. Started it just after Labor Day read a bit got bored put it down and read couple other books tried it again and that is the way it went until I finished it. I won't be putting in the library. My sister would like it more her cup of tea
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