Flame Angels: A Novel of Oceania

by Robert Wintner

Ravid Rockulz has a good life as a dive leader in Hawaii: good friends, good times, plenty of willing female tourists. But something is missing. What’s more, he’s increasingly disillusioned with Hawaii. The influx of new residents seeking Paradise with all the modern conveniences is dragging the islands ever closer to that scab on the world, LA. An unexpected heartbreak and a disconcerting attempt on his life push Ravid out of his rut: Tahiti calls, untrammeled and pure. There, Ravid rediscovers a passion for photography. Armed with his camera, he captures on the reefs of Tahiti the aquatic life and vibrancy long since lost on the reefs of Hawaii: a mother-and-child set of Moorish idols, the brightly banded coral shrimp the local divers take for granted, and a photographer’s holy grail, a mated pair of shy, beautiful, flame angels.

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2012

About the author

Robert Wintner has authored 15 novels, 3 memoirs, 3 story collections and 5 reef photo books. Robert Wintner is the nom de plume of Snorkel Bob, Hawaii’s biggest reef outfitter. He lives on Maui with his wife Anita, Cookie the dog, Rocky, Yoyo, Inez, Buck, Tootsie, and Coco the cats, and Elizabeth the chicken. His novels and stories are adventures, meant to record and entertain with insight.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows Israeli dive boat guide, Ravid, in Hawaii as he faces dilemmas with women and aging. He finds underwater photography then there’s a more or less forced move to Tahiti and more dilemmas with women and aging and jobs. Underwater photography finds him in Tahiti and he’s pretty happy. A lot of sun, not too many tourists, some beer, a little weed, and he prints his photos. His fortieth surprise birthday party brings a nemesis back into his life and the race is on. Ravid ends up in Los Angeles, making money hand over fist from the photos. He finds inspiration and makes a plea. More or less ends up back where he started and still happy, a little older and a whole lot wiser. The language is the best part – it ebbs and flows, bubbles and rushes, just like the ocean waves. Good fun.