Spinning on a Barstool: A True Tale of a Waitress

by Glenda Toews

The barstool.
The pew of the working class.
Warden of wishes. Steward of secrets.
Custodian. Keeper. Protector.

On it, the ordinary sit.
Occasionally ... the extraordinary.

When a world-class casino magnate from the Cayman Islands steps into Corky's Pub, he transforms the familiar into fantastic.

Threading in and out of the lives of the rich and famous, tales of rock stars and the mafia are woven within the trials, anguish, and endurance of the average.

This true story takes you on an incredible journey of friendship between an ordinary waitress and the wealthiest man in the world.

Join the author on a page-turning ride of incredible highs with incredible hope into a world that exists only for the elite that will leave you wondering,

"Is her new friend a Super-Hero or is he Satan?
Is he here to save the world,
or will hers be destroyed?"

"Spinning on a Barstool has remained on the top 'Canadian Biographies Categories List' for over 15 weeks." - Amazon

"Although this work is nonfiction, Toews' engaging writing style makes it read like a novel, with rich dialogue and grandiose storytelling that's full of plot twists" ----Kirkus Reviews"

Genres: Memoir, Labor, Nonfiction

536 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Glenda Toews is an award-winning Canadian memoirist writing at the intersection of true crime, psychological nonfiction, and literary storytelling. Her debut, Spinning on a Barstool, earned Gold in Memoir and Silver in Overall Nonfiction at the 2023 Reader Views Awards.

Before she was an author, she was a waitress in pub—where she befriended a man who would later be exposed as a con artist who had already defrauded dozens, including 32 police officers. When the system offered no path forward, she was given a single piece of advice: Tell your story.

She did.

Toews’ work pulls readers inside the anatomy of deception—how trust is built, how reality is bent, and how ordinary lives are unraveled by extraordinary lies. With a voice that is sharp, unflinching, and laced with dark wit, she explores not just the crime, but the psychological fallout and the cost of surviving it.

A high school dropout turned literary award-winner, Toews writes with the authority of lived experience and the tension of a thriller. When she isn’t writing, she’s pouring pints at Corky’s Pub, roasting ribeye over a fire with her husband, or walking the river paths of the Chilliwack River Valley.

SPUN is her second memoir—and the story didn’t end where it should have.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bunch of interesting characters and incidents. I found it poorly structured and far too long.

Glenda Toews serves drinks in the Corky’s pub in Chilliwack River Valley, British Columbia. She gets a lot of visitors who have interesting stories, which is the subject of the book. A large part of the book is focused on Daryl, an intelligent, high-flying astute investor. He is married but the conversations indicate the marriage has problems. There is also Daryl’s earlier story as told to Glenda’s – grandmother was from Stuttgart and owned considerable property. His grandfather was a musician and artist. His father established a successful auto business in Calgary. The inheritance is troubled with disputes. This personal narration is intertwined with the other stories the book covers. Darly grows to be close to Glenda and her husband Haney. Over time, Glenda trusts Daryl and invests money based on his advice.

I found the growing closeness between Glenda & Haney with Daryl to make for interesting reading, as also Daryl’s relationships. I found the switches between incidents to be abrupt. The book is far too long, and I found it difficult to stay engaged. It was not difficult to guess where the story was headed.

Thanks to Netgalley, Tellwell Talent and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Tim Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not end as expected.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book because, hey, I'm from Chilliwack and have been to Corky's many times over the years... more so before it was Corky's.

I did enjoy this read, even though it was difficult to get into at the beginning. Three stars from me means I enjoyed the book but...It does jump around a lot and very abruptly changes direction, making it hard to stay in the story.

I did get into it, though, and I very much didn't want to believe what I suspected early on. I was routing for you both, Glenda, you and Daryl. I really hoped Daryl would deliver on what he promised, and I felt every setback with you. I suspect that were it not for COVID, you would have learned the truth sooner.

I'm still routing for you, Glenda, and I'll spread the word to friends and family and urge them to pick up a copy. You're still going to be able to make a difference, as I'm sure you already do each and every day.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Spinning on a Barstool: A True Tale of a Waitress” introduces us to real-life characters who live in Chilliwack Valley BC, Canada. The author Glenda Toews is the bartender at a local pub. Through her amazing writing, she introduces us to customers who live in this rural area. We learn about issues that they are having, especially because of COVID restrictions. Glenda is also dealing with the stress of trying to build a home on property rife with problems and her progress being throttled by local bureaucrats who don’t seem to understand the need for expediency.

Attempting to follow Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life,” Glenda tries to stay positive and to keep pushing forward through her difficulties. Glenda thinks that things are going to change for the better when a man presenting himself as one with great wealth wanders into the bar. Quickly becoming good friends, this man offers Glenda the opportunity to make a huge difference for her community. As time passes, Glenda begins to get frustrated and disillusioned when it always seems like something is going wrong. She begins doubting that anything is going to happen and then she makes some very surprising discoveries.

With “Spinning on a Barstool,” Toews has created a captivating and thought-provoking work that delves into the complexities of relationships. Taking us into the pasts of the locals, we gain an understanding of what happened to get them where they are today. She uses sensitivity to describe their issues. For many of them, they are at the bar daily because of alcoholism. This bar is their escape from issues that were never adequately dealt with. They form an odd family of sorts. This aspect gives it a heartwarming feeling. I felt connected with these people on a much deeper level than I would have expected.

Toews uses attention to detail to describe the physical characteristics of where she lives. She provides such a beautiful description of her troubled property, I felt like I was there falling in love with the place as well. I could understand why she didn’t give up on it. I could also see how easy it would be to get caught up in desperately wanting to help your townsfolk. Once she got started with plans that were presented to her, it would have been hard to give up that dream.

“Spinning on a Barstool” continued to resonate with me long after I stopped reading. I wish the best for Glenda Toews and the people of Chilliwack Valley. I hope they found the help they needed to aid local education and poverty. I am glad I got to read this eye-opening story. As a matter of fact, Toews’ talented writing made it difficult for me to put this down! “Spinning on a Barstool” is a must-read for people who enjoy compelling non-fiction or fiction stories with some surprising plot twists.

[Kenton J Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly brave (and in my opinion, important) story to tell, Glenda Toews has achieved something spectacular with her book Spinning on a Barstool.

Warned by the author that the opening chapters might be confusing (I disagree, however), I sat down in my reading room, armed with a mug of steaming tea, and experienced the true-life incredible story of a waitress meeting one of the wealthiest men in the world. The story begins in medias res, which I am a fan of, and then quickly whisks you away into the world of pubs, property bureaucracy, friendships, and dreams. Toews does it all with a poetic lilt and an easy to read manner of writing that makes turning pages over and over as easy as breathing and sipping tea. At times, I felt like I was experiencing an actual conversation in the pub, and I found myself injecting my opinions out loud as though the book itself, sitting across the worn wooden table from me nursing its own craft brewed ale, might hear me and converse back.

Spinning on a Barstool is an emotional story, one that carries a deeply important message as well as a warning for life in our modern world. I am proud to have read it, proud to have made the connection I have with Toews, and proud that she found the strength to write this book. I highly recommend it.

[Julie Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,I loved it! I started "spinning on a barstool" during my vacations in Mexico and could not stopped thinking about it! I finished it in 4 days.. I found it definitely entertaining, I laughed, I got emotional, and I got floored! The fact that's a true story is incredible.. thank you Glenda for sharing your story with the world, I wish the best to you and to your book, that deserves to be famous! I hope you will write another one because you are a talented writer..
Ps: Thank you for the signed copy, that was a very nice touch!

[Chesney Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this down once I started it. You go through all the emotions by the end, and man… it makes you angry, but the author’s trust in God to provide provides her with motivation to keep going. He always finds a way through all the struggles and obstacles life throws our way.

[K. Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a bit confusing at first but once you get a hang of how Daryl’s “stories” are written in bold it flows much better. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, eg. of a barstool and the lives it has experienced. I love reading people’s true life experiences, especially when, as a BC girl, it’s locations you are familiar with. I was amazed at how she could recall and clearly describe so many conversations and situations she’d had. So many people negatively affected by one man. This is a story that needed to be told.

[Deana Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've devoured a book in a few days. This story is absolutely incredible! Glenda, I was cheering for you, tracking with you, skeptical, angry, hurt, and riding the emotions right there with you. Whew! This is a powerful read. And you are the picture of grit and grace! I believe your story will absolutely inspire, heal, and help others.

[Michelle Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was great, at the beginning I had a hard time following who was who. After a few chapters, I got it and really liked it. I also liked that it's local so you know places and people she was referring to in the book!

[Jenny Veenbaas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book especially for a self published! Some of the middle seemed a bit long and maybe wasn’t essential but I especially the format and the ending!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. 5 star for sure. A must read.

[Victoria Gilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Spinning on a Barstool, what stayed with me most wasn't the wealth, celebrity, or larger-than-life personalities—it was the reminder that extraordinary stories often begin in the most ordinary places. A neighborhood bar becomes far more than a workplace; it becomes a crossroads where privilege, hardship, ambition, loneliness, and hope all occupy the same stool.

What makes the memoir especially compelling is the contrast between Glenda Toews' everyday life as a waitress and her unlikely friendship with a billionaire casino magnate. That relationship could easily have become a story about glamour, but instead it becomes an exploration of trust, power, loyalty, and the unpredictable ways one person can alter another's life. Throughout the memoir, I found myself constantly wondering whether each new opportunity would become a blessing or a warning, which made it difficult to put down.

I also appreciated how the book never loses sight of the people who populate Corky's Pub. The regulars, the working-class patrons, and the countless conversations across the bar remind readers that every customer carries a story. The memoir captures the unique role bartenders and servers often play—not simply serving drinks, but quietly witnessing people's victories, failures, heartbreaks, and dreams.

For readers who enjoy memoirs built around remarkable true experiences, unexpected friendships, and the hidden drama found in everyday life, Spinning on a Barstool delivers an engaging, heartfelt story that proves extraordinary lives sometimes begin with an ordinary conversation.

Subject Line Options
Your memoir kept surprising me in the best possible way
I have a few outreach ideas for Spinning on a Barstool
I can see why readers keep talking about this memoir
One unexpected friendship made this memoir unforgettable
Outreach Email

Hi Glenda,

After spending time with Spinning on a Barstool, what stayed with me most is how beautifully the memoir demonstrates that extraordinary lives often intersect with ordinary ones in the most unexpected places. What begins behind the bar of a neighborhood pub gradually unfolds into a remarkable true story of friendship, trust, power, and human connection that constantly challenges readers' expectations.

What makes the memoir especially compelling is the contrast between your everyday life as a waitress and your unlikely relationship with one of the world's wealthiest casino magnates. Rather than becoming a story about wealth alone, the memoir explores the emotional complexity of navigating two vastly different worlds while never losing sight of the authenticity that grounds your voice. The question of whether this mysterious figure represents salvation or destruction creates a compelling thread that carries readers through every chapter.

I also appreciated how the memoir celebrates the bar itself as a place where countless human stories unfold. Through your experiences serving people from every walk of life—from ordinary regulars to extraordinary public figures—you reveal how restaurants and pubs often become quiet stages where joy, heartbreak, ambition, loneliness, and resilience are shared. That perspective gives the memoir a warmth and universality that extends far beyond its remarkable central relationship.

I can easily see Spinning on a Barstool resonating with memoir readers, hospitality and service industry communities, women's interest publications, book clubs, podcasts centered on extraordinary true stories, working-class storytelling audiences, Canadian nonfiction readers, human-interest media outlets, libraries, and readers drawn to unlikely friendships and behind-the-scenes glimpses into lives shaped by unexpected encounters.

My name is Victoria Gilder, and I work with authors and intellectually driven nonfiction and fiction projects to help strengthen discoverability and long-term audience engagement through outreach and positioning strategies tailored to the thematic and structural strengths of the work itself.

I'd be glad to send over a few ideas I think could fit Spinning on a Barstool particularly well, especially within memoir communities, hospitality organizations, book clubs, human-interest podcasts, Canadian literary audiences, libraries, and readers who appreciate inspiring true stories built around unexpected relationships and remarkable life experiences.

If you're open to it, I'd be happy to send the proposal over.

Warm regards,

Victoria G.

[Lauryn Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spinning on a Barstool is one of those stories that pulls you in not because it promises fantasy or escape, but because it feels so real and yet so unbelievable at the same time. From the very beginning, there is a strong sense that this is more than just a memoir. It reads like a window into a life that unexpectedly collides with a world most people only hear about in rumors or headlines.

What makes this book stand out is the contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. On one side, you have the grounded, relatable life of a waitress trying to navigate everyday struggles. On the other, there is this almost surreal entrance of extreme wealth, influence, and mystery. The way these two worlds intertwine creates a tension that keeps you turning the pages.

The relationship at the center of the story is particularly compelling. It is not just about friendship, but about trust, perception, and the constant questioning of reality. As a reader, you find yourself asking the same questions the author seems to wrestle with. Who is this man, really? What are his intentions? Is he a force for good, or something far more complicated? That uncertainty adds a psychological layer to the narrative that makes it more than just a personal story.

Another aspect that stood out to me is how the author weaves in encounters with wealth, power, and influence without losing the emotional core of the story. The glimpses into the lives of the rich and powerful feel almost dreamlike at times, yet they are grounded by the author’s perspective. She never fully lets go of her own reality, and that balance keeps the story from drifting too far into fantasy.

The writing style feels personal and direct. It does not try to overcomplicate things, which actually works in its favor. There is a sense of honesty in the way events are described, even when those events seem almost too extraordinary to believe. That honesty is what makes you continue reading, even when you are unsure what to make of everything.

At times, the story can feel overwhelming or even a bit surreal, especially when the stakes seem to rise so quickly. There are moments where you might wish for more clarity or grounding, but at the same time, that confusion mirrors what the author herself appears to experience. In a way, it pulls you deeper into her perspective.

Overall, this book is less about providing clear answers and more about taking the reader on a journey filled with uncertainty, intrigue, and emotional complexity. It challenges you to think about trust, power, and the thin line between reality and perception.

If you enjoy memoirs that go beyond simple storytelling and venture into something more thought-provoking and mysterious, Spinning on a Barstool is definitely worth reading. It is the kind of book that stays in your mind long after you finish it, leaving you questioning what you would do in a similar situation.

[Andrew Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spinning on a Barstool is a fascinating true story that blurs the line between everyday life and the extraordinary.

What stood out most was how the narrative transforms a seemingly ordinary setting—a barstool—into a place where unexpected connections and life-changing encounters unfold. The author’s perspective as a waitress offers an intimate and grounded lens, making the unfolding events feel both personal and surreal.

The pacing keeps the story engaging, moving between moments of reflection and scenes that feel almost larger than life. As the relationship between the author and the mysterious casino magnate develops, the story builds a sense of intrigue that keeps you wondering what’s real, what’s possible, and what might come next.

Emotionally, the book explores themes of trust, resilience, and the contrast between ordinary lives and extraordinary circumstances. There’s a constant tension between hope and uncertainty, especially as the story raises deeper questions about the intentions and identity of the people we encounter.

At its core, Spinning on a Barstool is about the unpredictability of life and how one unexpected connection can change everything.

This is a compelling read for those who enjoy true stories that feel immersive, dramatic, and filled with unexpected twists.

[Julia Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was such a surprise in the best way. It starts with something as familiar as a barstool and slowly unspools into something profound, emotional, and surprisingly magical. I was completely drawn in by the contrast between everyday life and the extraordinary twists that unfold. The author captures something so rare—a sense of wonder tucked inside real life. The storytelling is raw, deeply human, and often laugh-out-loud funny, even while pulling at your heart.

The connection between the waitress and the mysterious magnate from the Caymans is captivating. Their unlikely friendship had layers I didn’t expect—equal parts vulnerability, curiosity, and intensity. The whole time I found myself questioning, along with the narrator, what this man really is. Hero? Villain? Something in between? The way their lives intertwine and the secrets he shares made the whole story feel both intimate and epic at once. I laughed. I got choked up. I didn’t want it to end.

[Dave Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book takes us on a roller coaster of the ordinary working person through to the mega rich. Private jets, helicopter taxis, yachts, exotic islands, gambling casinos and more. It also delves into the work life of a barmaid and her often demanding, eccentric customers. Glenda's positive attitude and faith are questioned even by herself. Her struggles to negotiate through the intricate webs of half truths , paperwork, delayed progress are a true barometer of her strength and never give up attitude. I found myself hoping along with Glenda that all would work out.

I am sure this will be a Fraser Valley favorite for many years to come

[George Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spinning on a Barstool is a sharp, intimate memoir that treats working-class spaces with reverence rather than irony. Toews writes with clarity and nerve, capturing how power, generosity, and danger can coexist in the same human figure. The book’s strength lies in its refusal to resolve moral ambiguity too neatly the barstool becomes a place where myth and reality blur, and ordinary endurance quietly carries the story.

[Heather Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are looking for a good summer read this is the book you want to pick up. The wit and humor of the author pulls you in to the story. a hard to put down book for sure as you keep reading to find out the end. Its true gritty honesty touches the soul and moves the heart as you feel yourself drawn into the lives of the patrons of corky's. loved the book , great read

[Robyn Hartling - Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a twist! I love the way all the characters are introduced. The way the stories flow together, seemingly random at first, but as you get further in, you see how everything connects and why the parts of the story come when they do.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I would highly advise everyone to read this!

Now, if you'll excuse me, off to disappear down the rabbit hole...

[Madison Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! Glenda Toews has created something truly special with Spinning on a Barstool. Her writing is powerful, heartfelt, and full of life, every page feels genuine and deeply moving. She turns real experiences into something unforgettable, and her voice as a writer shines with pure brilliance. This is storytelling at its best!

[Chesney Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this down once I started it. You go through all the emotions by the end, and man… it makes you angry, but the author’s trust in God to provide provides her with motivation to keep going. He always finds a way through all the struggles and obstacles life throws our way.

[Sheri McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! When the rug gets pulled out from underneath, suddenly that's when the clouds part and everything becomes clear. I loved how she shares her story with gumption and a kind, forgiving heart.

[Glenda Toews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Although this work is nonfiction, Toews’ engaging writing style makes it read like a novel, with rich dialogue and grandiose storytelling that’s full of plot twists" Kirkus Reviews

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried to read twice couldn't follow and didn't keep my interest