What do you think?
Rate this book
Alstrom
2019…in Spain, at a remote mountain retreat center, Tyra Alström is facing her 65th birthday alone.
It wasn’t always like this. In 1976, Alstrom, the band formed by her brother, and fronted by Tyra, had just recorded their first album and were about to embark on a European tour. After years of the pub, club, and college circuit, they were finally on the verge of success. And as one of the few "out" singers in 1970s rock, Tyra had never been short of admirers.
But away from the spotlight, Tyra’s life was spiraling out of control. In love with a woman who was out of bounds, haunted by the dark secrets in her family, and fighting a constant battle against crippling performance anxiety, she was descending rapidly into dependence on drugs and alcohol.
When she walked away, she wrecked the dreams of everyone she loved.
Forty-three years later, she’s still living in self-imposed exile. She can’t imagine anyone ever forgiving her, because she finds it impossible to forgive herself.
But then an old Alstrom song makes a surprise entry into the charts. The band are reforming…and she discovers that the love of her life is free at last.
Can she face her demons and come home?
And is it ever too late to say you’re sorry?
Alstrom is the latest novel by Jane Retzig, author of Boundaries, The Full Legacy, The Photograph, The Retreat, A Tale of Two Sisters, and The Wrong Woman Quartet.
The music of Alstrom is available for download and streaming via all major digital music platforms.
It wasn’t always like this. In 1976, Alstrom, the band formed by her brother, and fronted by Tyra, had just recorded their first album and were about to embark on a European tour. After years of the pub, club, and college circuit, they were finally on the verge of success. And as one of the few "out" singers in 1970s rock, Tyra had never been short of admirers.
But away from the spotlight, Tyra’s life was spiraling out of control. In love with a woman who was out of bounds, haunted by the dark secrets in her family, and fighting a constant battle against crippling performance anxiety, she was descending rapidly into dependence on drugs and alcohol.
When she walked away, she wrecked the dreams of everyone she loved.
Forty-three years later, she’s still living in self-imposed exile. She can’t imagine anyone ever forgiving her, because she finds it impossible to forgive herself.
But then an old Alstrom song makes a surprise entry into the charts. The band are reforming…and she discovers that the love of her life is free at last.
Can she face her demons and come home?
And is it ever too late to say you’re sorry?
Alstrom is the latest novel by Jane Retzig, author of Boundaries, The Full Legacy, The Photograph, The Retreat, A Tale of Two Sisters, and The Wrong Woman Quartet.
The music of Alstrom is available for download and streaming via all major digital music platforms.
Audible Audio
Published June 30, 2022
7 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Jane Retzig
11 books37 followersHi, my name is Jane Retzig and I really hope you enjoy my books.
I've been a huge fan of lesbian fiction ever since I discovered that I loved women, and in the 1980's and 90's I could regularly be found in 'Silver Moon' and 'Gay's the Word' Bookshops in London, happily working my way through the shelves of lesbian writing there.
My first novel 'Boundaries' was published in paperback in 1994 by 'The Dimsdale Press', a tiny and slightly quirky Lesbian Small Press who also published novels by popular lesbian fiction authors Jane Fletcher and Christina Smythe. Everything at 'Dimsdale' was done on a shoe-string. My launch party consisted of a cup of cappuccino at Bar Italia in Soho, and I frequently ended up carrying huge box-loads of books around London on public transport to cut down on distribution costs.
It was good fun. And over that first year, I was delighted to see 'Boundaries' reach the 'Lesbian Fiction Bestsellers' lists in independent bookstores across the UK. My second book, 'The Legacy', a novella, was published in 1995 and also sold well.
Sadly, changes in the economy and book market in the UK meant that many of our much-loved independent bookstores closed in the late 90's, so 'Dimsdale' lost most of their major outlets and reluctantly ceased trading, leaving me without a publisher.
Life intervened for me at that point too and I took a fairly prolonged break from writing. Then the e-book revolution tempted me out of retirement. I re-issued 'Boundaries' in April 2013. 'The Photograph' (October 2013) was my first new book to be published this century... which makes me sound really ancient!!!
Since then, I've issued a further eight novels. 'The Full Legacy' was a full length re-write of 'The Legacy', which I always thought was too short to do full justice to the characters.
'The Wrong Woman Quartet' was initially inspired by bullying experienced by myself and a group of my close friends, but became a four book series following the lives and loves of the central characters.
'The Retreat', was a novel about two best friends who fall in love with the same woman.
'A Tale of Two Sisters' was set in the two heatwave summers of 1976 and 2018.
And 'Alstrom', my final novel is a second chance at love/homecoming story about a reclusive rock singer.
All my books are available in kindle, paperback and audio. And the music of Alstrom is also available via all major streaming services.
I think that's just about all. Except to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's taken the time to write to me or post reviews. It's always great to hear from you. I really do value your comments and feedback.
Thank you
And Happy Reading!
Jane (janeretzig@gmail.com)
I've been a huge fan of lesbian fiction ever since I discovered that I loved women, and in the 1980's and 90's I could regularly be found in 'Silver Moon' and 'Gay's the Word' Bookshops in London, happily working my way through the shelves of lesbian writing there.
My first novel 'Boundaries' was published in paperback in 1994 by 'The Dimsdale Press', a tiny and slightly quirky Lesbian Small Press who also published novels by popular lesbian fiction authors Jane Fletcher and Christina Smythe. Everything at 'Dimsdale' was done on a shoe-string. My launch party consisted of a cup of cappuccino at Bar Italia in Soho, and I frequently ended up carrying huge box-loads of books around London on public transport to cut down on distribution costs.
It was good fun. And over that first year, I was delighted to see 'Boundaries' reach the 'Lesbian Fiction Bestsellers' lists in independent bookstores across the UK. My second book, 'The Legacy', a novella, was published in 1995 and also sold well.
Sadly, changes in the economy and book market in the UK meant that many of our much-loved independent bookstores closed in the late 90's, so 'Dimsdale' lost most of their major outlets and reluctantly ceased trading, leaving me without a publisher.
Life intervened for me at that point too and I took a fairly prolonged break from writing. Then the e-book revolution tempted me out of retirement. I re-issued 'Boundaries' in April 2013. 'The Photograph' (October 2013) was my first new book to be published this century... which makes me sound really ancient!!!
Since then, I've issued a further eight novels. 'The Full Legacy' was a full length re-write of 'The Legacy', which I always thought was too short to do full justice to the characters.
'The Wrong Woman Quartet' was initially inspired by bullying experienced by myself and a group of my close friends, but became a four book series following the lives and loves of the central characters.
'The Retreat', was a novel about two best friends who fall in love with the same woman.
'A Tale of Two Sisters' was set in the two heatwave summers of 1976 and 2018.
And 'Alstrom', my final novel is a second chance at love/homecoming story about a reclusive rock singer.
All my books are available in kindle, paperback and audio. And the music of Alstrom is also available via all major streaming services.
I think that's just about all. Except to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's taken the time to write to me or post reviews. It's always great to hear from you. I really do value your comments and feedback.
Thank you
And Happy Reading!
Jane (janeretzig@gmail.com)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 22, 2022
Alstrom is centred around a family, their rock group, different upbringings and struggles around life from the mid 70s onwards. The book slightly touches on LGBT views during these times and the struggles of what could be if views were different.
Alstrom is something different and diverse which took me through a range of emotions .. happy, sad, forgive, don't forgive etc. This is another of Jane's books that made me reflect on past decades.
Jane Retzig is a great writer (I so remember dead fly biscuits!) and the narration including singing brings the book to life.
Alstrom is something different and diverse which took me through a range of emotions .. happy, sad, forgive, don't forgive etc. This is another of Jane's books that made me reflect on past decades.
Jane Retzig is a great writer (I so remember dead fly biscuits!) and the narration including singing brings the book to life.
November 14, 2021
What a ride!
Felt like it started slowly, not unlike a roller coaster. But once it got up to speed, I lost myself (and time) in the ups and downs and twists around of the plot, and the characters, and each of their emotional journeys. Brava, Jane Retzig.
Felt like it started slowly, not unlike a roller coaster. But once it got up to speed, I lost myself (and time) in the ups and downs and twists around of the plot, and the characters, and each of their emotional journeys. Brava, Jane Retzig.
February 14, 2022
Great.
I enjoyed Alstrom. Let’s be honest. This book is not going to lighten your mood or lift your spirits. But it will remind you that life goes on. Keep your heart and your mind open.
I enjoyed Alstrom. Let’s be honest. This book is not going to lighten your mood or lift your spirits. But it will remind you that life goes on. Keep your heart and your mind open.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews