Resonant Blue and Other Stories

by Mary Vensel White

The first collection of award-winning short fiction from the author of Bellflower and Things to See in Arizona, whose writing reflects “how we can endure and overcome our personal histories, better understand our ancestral ones, and accept the unknown future ahead.”

In “Driftwood,” a woman in a sleepy desert town willingly jumps into the back of a stranger’s pickup. In “Griffin,” an organized wife struggles to keep her family together and manage her husband’s mental illness. And in the title story, “Resonant Blue,” an egotistical architect shatters everything around him as he tries to connect with his loved ones and build a better life.

A game show for those seeking love, a family wedding that unveils another secret union, a woman’s impulsive trip to Greece to find her first love… In these twelve stories, Mary Vensel White’s characters face turning points. Whether backed against a wall, reeling from a loss, or forced to confront a painful truth, they doggedly pursue the glimmer of possibility shining on the horizon.

Praise for the author’s

“Unique and powerful. I will think about these characters for a long time. —Jessica Francis Kane, author of This Stories

“Vensel White seamlessly forms a tapestry of prose with…astute observations of the human dynamic…shines light on the ways we imprison and ultimately release ourselves through the strength of our yearnings.” —Cherie Kephart, author of A Few Minor Adjustments

“Each vignette comes as a surprise, and each is a testament to how, just like in life, everything is woven and fused and pulling toward the other.” —Deborah Reed, author of The Days When Birds Come Back

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Mary Vensel White is the author of Things to See in Arizona, Starling, Bellflower, and The Qualities of Wood.

She teaches writing and English and is the owner/editor at Type Eighteen Editing and publisher at Type Eighteen Books. She lives in southern California.

Reviews

[Bree Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me a copy of an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Resonant Blue and Other Stories is a short story collection featuring the themes of family, regrets, heartbreak, loss, and finding who you are. The author's prose was strong in each of the stories, and she used language to captivate the strong emotions of the themes. Most of the short stories in this collection had strong character work and plot, however, some stories were underdeveloped or not completed. The stories that stood out to me and was my favorite were "Cadmium," "Verdant Pastures," "Par Avion," and "What You Know."

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (author, check here if you are interested in getting your book reviewed) and thank her and the author for this opportunity.
This is my first experience reading Vensel White’s stories, although she is a well-known author. People who know her work might have already read some of them, because quite a few have been published in magazines before. I recommend followers of the author to check the list of stories to avoid surprises, although even those who have read some of these stories might appreciate the chance to have them collected in a single book and rereading them at their leisure.
I thought I’d share a bit of information (no spoilers, of course) about each story, so prospective readers might get a sense of how well they might fit their taste. I will add that they are beautifully written, different lengths and subjects, all of them are populated by well-built characters whose emotions and feelings are recognisable, whom we meet at crucial points in their lives, and whose experiences we get to share in, close and personal.
Stories:
Griffin: A story about a grown-up daughter coming back to visit her parents, a seemingly happy occasion, but one that raises many questions and issues, especially for the mother, who has to confront what life with her husband has been and is like. Full of eerie symbology, the story is one of latent threats and hidden (and not so hidden) tensions.
Prism: A brief story/vignette, about a young girl’s perception of her mother complex relationship with men and the impact it has on her.
Cadmium: Three siblings attend their mother’s wedding, and issues of forgiveness, tolerance, and change in our family relationships over time are brought into focus. Can people change and can prejudice be overcome?
Driftwood: A very atmospheric story that takes place in a striking setting, where a woman in crisis rediscovers the zest for life and manages to inspire her husband as well. One of my favourites.
Resonant Blue: The end of the relationship between an older man and his younger partner, which he should have seen coming but whose signs he ignored until it was too late. His attempts at trying to reconstruct what had happened by focusing on an unfinished project aren’t a great success, but there are some positives.
Smoke: One of those stories where the protagonist is stalling for time after something terrible has happened. The author does a great job in creating a sense of foreboding and menace and making readers understand the kind of life this woman has had to bear with. An unfortunately common occurrence in many women’s lives but disturbing nonetheless.
Verdant Pastures: A story about missing fathers, unknown siblings, religious (Christian) faith, how well do we know anybody, and what it means to be a parent.
Dear Rebecca: A very special love letter, written many years after the loss of his wife, where the author of the letter explains his life, the emptiness that never went away, and he reveals a traumatic event that ended up having a positive impact on everybody involved. Another one of my favourites, and it links quite nicely with some of the themes from the previous story.
The Love of Your Life Show: A reality TV show about finding the love of your live where the protagonist, a young woman who was a reluctant participant in the proceedings, discovers that perhaps the perfect life companion isn’t necessarily a romantic partner.
Par Avion: The story stars in mystery-mode, with the mother of grown-up children disappearing from the condo she moved into not long ago. It transforms into something quite different, where readers get to share in the different characters thoughts and points of view, and it ends up being a story about families, secrets (sunny rather than dark or nasty), new and old experiences, reinventing oneself, and the joy of small things. Another favourite of mine.
Bad Luck: A young couple’s weekend break turns out anything but romantic, and the male protagonist suspects that another guest’s bad luck might not be a coincidence.
What You Know: This is a story that starts one way, with a troubled couple, but it is not about them at all, or perhaps it is. Those readers who love stories about writers and about the process of writing will probably find it fascinating as I did.
This is a varied collection, and one that shows the talent of the writer. Having learned that she has written and published several novels, I am curious now to check them out. Another author to add to my list.

[Elisabeth Rhoads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories that Resonate

This is a beautiful collection that sometimes resonates so much, you feel as if they’re real. From the minute details that place you in the scene, to the banter between characters, you feel like a fly on the wall during moments that are sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes almost too vivid to bear—in the best of ways.

These are stories that get to the heart of what makes us human.

[Megan Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars

‘Resonant Blue and Other Stories’ is a short story collection focussing on the human condition and how love, loss and longing can impact life. The collection started a little slow for me as the first four stories felt a bit bland and mundane (the slow start is the only reason I can’t rate the collection 5 stars), but once I got to the titular story ‘Resonant Blue’ it really was just hit after hit. I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite from the final eight stories in the collection as they’re all so different but they’re written so well that every single one struck something in me.

‘Par Avion’ is a definitely a standout in the collection, the longing felt by the main character is portrayed perfectly and even though she doesn’t find what she’s looking for, she still finds some resolution. ‘Resonant Blue’ was also another one of the strongest stories and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed a story written from a male perspective so much which really is a testament to Vensel White’s writing ability. My other favourites included ‘Smoke’, ‘Bad Luck’ and ‘What You Know’ because they all went in directions I wasn’t expecting but they were still really satisfying stories.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I would recommend reading this collection- if you’re like me and struggled with the first few stories keep reading, it’s worth it!

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed each of these stories--some more than others. The author did a good job with the emotional life of each character. Each story had some kind of "zinger", a catalyst giving rise to the following action, which led to a decision on the main character's part. I enjoyed most "Griffin", "Cadmium". Verdant pastures", "Dear Rebecca", "Love of your life show", and "Par avion". My thanks to LibraryThing for an ARC.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful collection of stories that felt very much like life, love and heartache bubbling up from a corner of the world and then recessing back into the matrix. I loved the experience of reading these stories without knowing anything about the author as I felt like each was an individual voice and I could imagine the author was male or female, any race or sexual orientation. All are possible. It seemed as if the characters were woken from a slumber and asked to dance on the stage for a while for my enjoyment. There was just the right amount of investment into the characters that it is evident each story could be formed into a novel. I craved more but at the same time was content to let them fade back to where they came from. I considered giving feedback earlier before I finished the last story but glad I didn't because the last one brings everything full circle and confirmed the message that I had already gleaned from the author which is that a single moment in time can loom large enough to write an entire 500 page novel however when condensed into a few pages it cuts like a knife into the heart of a fellow lonely traveler.

[Amanda Dingman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resonant Blues and Other Stories is a collection of stories depicting and exploring family relationships through every season of life. Family and relationships are two concrete pillars of life that everyone understands, and these stories cycle through different people and viewpoints during hard, silly, happy, and fun times.

Some stories really worked for me, including Cadmium, Resonant Blue, and Bad Luck. Meanwhile, others, like Driftwood, made me roll my eyes upon completion.

If you are looking for thought-provoking stories regarding family dynamics, look no further! White does a wonderful job drawing you into the worlds, even if only for a short story.

A huge thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

[Red Goddess Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fairly new to the short story genre, but although I enjoyed these stories, I was left feeling abandoned at the end of most of them. I’m left wondering if I missed something or how I was supposed to be left feeling. The last story about the writer was my favorite because it felt to me to be complete. Perhaps I am just one of those readers who likes my stories wrapped up with a bow at the end. All I can say is that I just wanted a little more but in truth I think the problem here could lie with me.

[Alaina B. Kinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short collection was such an interesting read! Even though each story was a strong standalone, there was a consistency of theme that made it all feel cohesive. Every character felt like a real person that you would pass on the street and never know all that was going in their life.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of the book.

Enjoyed this one, the stories had consistent themes and all worked together. For the most part I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorite are; Cadmium, Resonant Blue, and Dear Rebecca.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful collection of short stories about being human, i really enjoyed reading this

[Roberta Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then, I like to read a collection of well crafted short stories and this book fitted the bill. Each story is beautifully written about a thought provoking topic that will make you think.

Below is a short overview of my favourite stories in the collection.

1. Griffin: This short story starts off fairly innocuously, with an older couple anticipating a visit from their married daughter who they haven't seen for a year. As the couple converse, a sense of anxiety develops and the reader gets the sense that the couple's relationship with their daughter is a little tense. The husband, Alan, is trying a bit to hard to make everything perfect for the visit and it feels a little desperate.

Their daughter arrives and as the story unfolds the reason for the earlier tension is slowly revealed culminating in a rather startling event. This was an interesting tale about family relationships and secrets and just how much a wife is prepared to tolerate from her spouse.

2. Prism: This story also turns itself inside out when the interlude that builds up certain expectations by the reader suddenly makes an about turn and the perceived villain of the piece changes completely. Shane is a young girl who lives with her heavily pregnant mother and her step father. Everything in the situation appears normal and then becomes very upsetting and abnormal when perceived through the eyes of Shane, an unreliable narrator. I found this story to be sad and disturbing.

Resonant Blue, the story for which the collection is named, is a longer tale about an older divorced man who is involved with a much younger woman. Although he is a successful architect, he is besotted with his young girlfriend and takes steps try and incorporate her expectations of trendiness and artiness into his work. His work hours are long and his job demanding and absorbing, especially when some of his artistic ideas go wrong. The woman exhibits changing behaviour patterns that indicate a growing disillusionment with her circumstances and the relationship. Perhaps living a life of luxury and ease off set by the realities of a partner who is always working and rarely available, is not enough for a young woman with lots of energy and artistic ambition.

Par Avion is the other side of the coin and tells the story of an older divorced woman who is bored with her clear cut life in a nice condo in a retirement village. She needs a bit of excitement in her life and does a disappearing trick, heading to an island in Greece where she had a hot romance during your youth before she met her ex-husband. She leaves her anxious daughter and steadfast and successful son behind without letting them know where she is going. This sets the stage for a lot of anxiety by her children while she spends time in Greece trying to recapture the magic of this short and romantic interval in her life.

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy engaging and well written short stories about dramatic and emotional topics.

[Frank Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have reviewed a collection of short stories. Should I summarise and review each story as a separate entity? That, after all, is how many readers will experience the book. Yet, like the best Album from a musician or band, I believe it needs to be considered as a whole for it is not a random collection. There are common themes: adults looking back at childhood, often troubled; older people recalling young love; women betrayed by duplicitous men; the strength of women versus the weakness of men.
And, as with an album, there are, from my perspective, some that stand out whilst others, whilst they don't disappoint, don't engender the same level of pleasure. So I won't attempt to review or even summarise every one of the twelve stories in this collection. In fact, the first two or three seemed, on first reading, to end unfinished, leaving me wanting to know more. The longer stories in the middle and end of the book were much more satisfying.
Taken as a whole it is a thought provoking and entertaining read. Whilst I enjoyed all twelve stories, there are four that gave me the most pleasure. Driftwood, Verdant Pastures, Dear Rebecca and Par Avion
In the first of these, a middle aged woman's dull life is reignited by an encounter with a travelling artist and her husband's reaction to something equally daring that she has done.
Although written in first person by a woman, Verdant Pastures is really about her father and his strange life, the details of which come to light after she inherits his house.
In Dear Rebecca an old man remembers his youth and the young woman he married. In a long letter he tells her what has happened in his life, and that of their daughter, in the years since she died almost almost half a century ago.
Par Avion features a woman in her 60s who goes from her home in a Californian retirement community, to Greece for a final adventure. She has not told her family of her intention so they start to panic. Meanwhile she is trying to recall and relive a holiday she took in her twenties. Inevitably some of these memories feature the man she fell in love with then and there. For me this is the best story in the book – and not only because of the clever twist at the end.
It occurs to me that my reaction to this collection has a lot to do with my age. I guess it's inevitable that some of the tales I did not admire so much would be more likely to appeal to a younger generations of readers.
A collection, then, with something for everyone that is worthy of a high rating – four stars from me.
I received a free copy of this collection from Type Eighteen Books via Rosie Amber's review website.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resonant Blue and Other Stories by Mary Vensel White is a compelling collection of twelve short stories that explore the nuances of human connection and the pivotal moments that shape our lives. White examines how we navigate loss, confront difficult truths, and grapple with the desire for understanding and meaning.

As a fan of short story collections, I was excited to dive into this book. While the opening stories were slower to engage me—Cadmium required careful attention to the characters, and Smoke felt dense without dialogue—the collection quickly gained momentum. The title story, Resonant Blue, and the pieces that followed captivated me with their depth and insight.

White’s writing is particularly strong in dialogue, which is both witty and authentic. At times, I felt as though I were in the room with her characters, witnessing their desires, regrets, and moments of quiet revelation. She excels at bringing the seemingly mundane to life, imbuing each story with emotional resonance and humanity.

Driftwood stood out as a highlight—charged, relatable, and hauntingly reflective of the passage of time, a testament to White’s keen understanding of lived experience.

Overall, this collection found its rhythm halfway through and left a lasting impression. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens and Type Eighteen Books.

[Maureen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing short stories is a complex and multifaceted occupation! It requires the author to craft a concise, succinct narrative the captures a moment in time while engaging an audience within a limited word count.

Mary Vensel White has accomplished this task exceptionally well, writing a brilliant compilation of stories that are heartfelt, engaging and entertaining, while delivering astute observations of the human dynamic and profound insights into her character’s personalities.

The twelve quite complex stories are written with evocative prose, and the general theme of the stories focus on love, loss and family relationships.

The characters in the story are all wonderfully described; the stories are multi-faceted. I have rated this compilation 4 stars out of 5. My rating would have been higher if there had been a little more resolution in some of the earlier stories in the book. I would unconditionally recommend the book to all readers who enjoy contemporary fiction in the short story format.

[Tracy Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Type Eighteen Books for providing me with the ARC of Mary Vensel White’s RESONANT BLUE, AND OTHER STORIES.

Vensel White is a strong and self-assured writer who is able, in these very short pieces, to bring the reader vividly into the lives of the wide-ranging people whose stories she is telling. What impressed me the most, however, is that she takes what appear, on the surface, to be “ordinary lives,” and conveys how very un-ordinary “ordinary lives” are. At times, her stories reveal possibilities that the characters have either denied to themselves or which they have not yet discovered. At other times, an unsettling and almost uncanny thread runs beneath the seemingly normal surface. Each story, in fact, is a lush, plump blueberry that can only be experienced by biting down on it. I highly recommend that readers do that. Whether tart, sweet, or slightly bitter, you will not be disappointed by this story collection.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resonant Blue is an award-winning collection of twelve short stories loosely themed around people reacting to pivotal moments, coping with complex emotions and facing difficult situations in their lives, regardless of their age, sex or circumstance.
I don’t read short stories very often. I find longer works of fiction more satisfying as I can immerse myself in the narrative and get to know the characters over a longer period of time. Having said that, I found some of the stories in this collection stayed with me, particularly Resonant Blue, Driftwood and Par Avion, and I would have liked to read more about these characters. The rest I found less memorable though the writing is excellent and the characters well drawn.
I have not come across this writer before but I understand that she has written a couple of full-length novels that I definitely plan to read very soon. I chose to read Resonant Blue as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team.

[SmallPressPicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

In these perceptive, richly observed stories, characters arrive at major turning points in their lives through conflicts in relationships or other circumstances, often leading them to a greater understanding of themselves and those close to them. Taken together, the stories offer a layered examination of how people can find ways to live with emotionally complex and difficult situations and, perhaps, imagine new possibilities for themselves.

I was especially struck by the title story, “Resonant Blue,” about an architect who, through trials in his romantic relationships, discovers emotional blind spots that are keeping him from deeply connecting with others. But every story in the collection is compelling, offering deep insights into the protagonists and making us care about them.

You can read my full review of RESONANT BLUE here: https://smallpresspicks.com/resonant-....

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just making my way through this book, and really enjoying it so far. The stories are beautifully written and while the emotional depth is rather subtle, it is there and it’s compelling. Despite the heavy subjects explored, the prose is light and almost delicate. I really like the way White captures small but meaningful moments in characters’ lives.

“The love of your life show” and “Griffin” are so far my favourite stories in the collection.

[Jeff Siperly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resonant Blue and Other Stories by Mary Vensel White

12 short stories about people dealing with what’s happened, what’s going on in the present, and what’s possible in the future.

As with all short stories, I didn’t care for some but I really liked the latter stories in the book. Par Avion, What You Know, Dear Rebecca.

I wish I understood what The Love of Your Life meant. I’m going to have to read it again.

I received this book as a LibraryThing early reviewer .

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and interesting collection of short stories. Each of the main characters in the stories were working through a significant event or change in their life, and observing how they dealt with them compared to how the reader or people they know have reacted to similar things is great to get the reader thinking about life and the differences in how different people approach it.

** Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book full of personal stories from people seeking love, family, truth and peace, it is well written with deep characters.