Plague: a novel of the great influenza

by Marian Rizzo

March 4,1918An army cook at Fort Riley, Kansas, reported to the infirmary with a temperature of 103.1 F.Within two days another 521 men became sick. It is one of the first recorded outbreaks of what came to be known as the Spanish flu. Approximately one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths is estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States.Living in the country, we fared better than those who lived in crowded conditions in the big cities. We were like one big, happy family, living in different houses. We held barn raisings, outdoor festivals, and church picnics. You might say we lived in our own little Shangri-La. But at last the plague of 1918 found us too, and that silent killer was about to drag us into hell.

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2021

About the author

Marian Rizzo fell captive to the world of books when she was five years old and her older sister pulled her on a sled in snowy East Rochester, New York, for winter trips to the town library, which in those days was set up in an old house. Marian still remembers the musty but inviting smell of the dog-eared books that drew her into the many enchanting stories. But, Marian wasn't satisfied with merely reading a book. When she was in the first grade, a teacher's volunteer caught her writing a story during class time and told Marian she should be a writer one day. Miss Bird's prediction came true many years later, when Marian took a job with a local newspaper.

During Marian's longtime career as a journalist she garnered multiple awards, including several Florida Press Club awards, the New York Times Chairman's Award, the Amy Foundation First-Place Writing Award, and a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize. Her novel manuscripts also have won numerous awards at writer's conferences and retreats.Angela's Treasures is Marian's first novel to be published. More of her works are currently being prepped for publication.

Marian now resides in Ocala, Florida, with her daughter, Vicki, who has Down Syndrome, and their three-legged cat, Tripod. Her other daughter, Joanna, has three children.