A Winter's Flood: The Novel

by Carmel Lile

Louisville, Ky., January, 1937. A new year begins with the hope that the city is leaving behind the desperate days of the Depression — until a record flood forces two-thirds of its citizens from their homes.

Miranda Kinley doesn't want to evacuate. She doesn't want to leave her home, her haven from the world. But when she is surrounded by floodwater, her husband missing, and her best friend's young daughter in her care, she may not have a choice.

A dramatic tale blended with humor and mystery, the story follows a young married couple, torn between his desire for a family and her doubt that she’d make a good mother, as their lives and the lives of their neighbors are forever affected by a devastating flood.

Go to www.awintersflood.com for a story map, period photographs of Louisville, and a timeline of the Great Flood of 1937.

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2016

About the author

A lifelong reader, Carmel turned her love of words into a writing career. She published poetry in children's journals, and, most recently, published the historical fiction novel, A Winter's Flood, which takes place in Louisville, Ky during the great flood of 1937.

Carmel's other passion, helping those in need, prompted her work with 'Mittens for Akkol,' an organization that provides knitted mittens, socks, sweaters, hats, and scarves to orphans in Kazakhstan.

Carmel passed away in 2017, at the age of 66, after battling cancer.

"True friends are always together in spirit." -Anne Shirley

*This page, and all accompanying web & social media pages, are now managed by the author's family.

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was impossible without thinking of the woman who wrote it, a dear friend's mother. While I enjoyed Carmel Lile's descriptions, and found myself rooting for her warmly drawn characters, I was even more swept away by the themes she endeavored to communicate -- about inner strength, compassion, and the perils of coming to judgments about others too quickly. I know this book drew from real-life events, and I found myself curious about what had inspired her, sad I couldn't talk it over with her, and yet grateful for the indelible marks she left on the world, with this piece of written art, and her other enduring legacy -- the strong, compassionate, open-minded children she left behind.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fictionalized account of the January 1937 Louisville, KY flood from the view of one young couple and their neighbors. Mighty glad I didn’t experience that real life adventure, that is for sure. A quick read with lots of pictures on a separate web site. 2016, signed paperback via our friend, J. Henderson, a Louisville native; 182 pgs.; 4 out of 5 stars

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good! I should admit that my boyfriend’s aunt wrote it, but I’m really glad I read it. It had a good bit of history with the flood in Louisville, and wrote such great characters.