STICKS IN A BUNDLE

Review from The BookLife Prize...

The story following Katie's harsh childhood and teenage years is heartrending and absorbing. She is an incredibly strong individual who strives to keep her increasingly smaller family together through untold tragedies and losses. Reading like a memoir, we learn what drives her perseverance . . . and ultimately, resilience. Intriguing descriptions bring the time period to life. 

Review from California Writers Circle...

Inspired by true-life events, Golden Boxty in the Frypan is the remarkable coming-of-age saga of a plucky and resourceful young girl who rises against all odds to the role of mother and secures her family’s survival.  

Read it now!

In Golden Boxty in the Frypan, Pat Spencer captivates readers with a heartrending and absorbing coming-of-age saga inspired by true events. Her poignant story captures the hearts of readers as they follow Katie's journey through poverty, illness, and discrimination in Philadelphia to a glorious train trip out west in 

search of the American dream. But just as she thinks the worst is behind her, a twist of fate reverses her good fortune. Katie must wrestle with her fears, face her insecurities, and assume the role of mother for her three youngest brothers.

Golden Boxty in the Frypan is an unforgettable novel that brings to life the hardships and joys of a multigenerational Irish family struggling to stay together during the Great Depression. Fans of books like This Tender Land and Angela’s Ashes will appreciate the complex characters and themes of love, friendship, and family that make this book an emotional roller coaster. In the end, Katie must  overcome the toughest of circumstances and orchestrate an escape from a sinister orphanage to secure a safe life for herself and her siblings. Don’t miss this powerful story of resilience and hope. 

Treat yourself to a copy of Golden Boxty in the Frypan today!

Welcome, Pat! Shark diving, bungee jumping, or skydiving?

Shark diving in the Bahamas. Our guide threw out a bucket of dead bloody fish and the sharks came. He told us to stay on the surface and hold fairly still, no flopping around. Most importantly, our guide said, “When I say to get out, do it now!” As we marveled at the sharks below, a bloom of small brown thimble jellyfish floated around us. Guess what? I didn’t get bit by a shark, but those jellyfish, they sting! Our guide said not to worry, the itch would only last a few days. His assistant pointed to brown circular scars (looked a lot like ringworm) that covered his arms, legs, and chest and said, “See, mine don’t itch anymore.”

Oh, my! Don’t touch the jellyfish! What superpower would you like to have for a day? 

The power to talk to God. I have a question. I understand that God helps those who help themselves. But who helps those who can’t help themselves? Wo/man is not doing a decent job of this, so shouldn’t s/he be doing it?

What an interesting concept! Do you prefer the movie or the book?

I prefer the book, but I like to read the book first then see the movie. I enjoy comparing and knowing things from the book that were left out of the movie. 

So do I! Are you on the dance floor or a wallflower?

In all things, dance like nobody is watching.

The best advice ever! Do you believe in aliens?

Oh, my yes. How can one not believe? Within the googolplexian of square feet in space, I can’t imagine we are the only ones.

That’s a lot of space to fill! Would you rather fly on a dragon or meet a mermaid?

Fly on a dragon. Even though I live at the beach, snorkel, paddleboard, and kayak, I am not much of a swimmer. I’m more of a sinker. Would like to feel the wind in my face, my hair blowing back, as my dragon dives and swirls to show me the world from up so high I can’t see all the trash left by humans.

Someday if you find yourself sinking, maybe a mermaid will save you! What’s the most marvelous thing you have ever seen with your own eyes?

I am fortunate to have seen many marvelous things. As any parent, far and above is the first time I looked into the eyes of my newborn son and then years later, his daughter.

In nature, I have seen two most marvelous things. First is the Aura Borealis in Newfoundland, Canada. (Yes, I lived there for 2 ½ years). Most photos show the auras as shades of green and blue. Photos don’t do it justice. The one I witnessed was a wonderful cosmic blend of purples and blues with only touches of green. But its movement is what makes it profound. If spirits do rise above the earth, I am positive the Aura Borealis is them, arms linked as good friends, soaring overhead.

The second most marvelous thing appeared on a safari in South Africa. We stopped to watch a small group of elephants with a single calf standing at the side of a dirt path. As we waited to give them the right-a-way to walk in whichever direction they chose, we spotted two giraffes peeking out over the top of a tree. We whispered, “How can nature watching get any better than this?” Then three lions slipped out of the bush and walked in front of our jeep. They ignored us, the giraffes, and the elephants. They were on their way to the watering hole. Absolutely marvelous.

What an experience! Thank you, Pat, for giving us this experience!