Miriam the Medium

Informationen zum Autor Rochelle Jewel Shapiro, like her narrator, is the granddaughter of a Russian-born psychic. She has been published in The New York Times and in numerous literary magazines. Her short story "The Wild Russian" appeared in Father: Famous Writers Celebrate the Bond Between Father and Child (Pocket Books). She lives in Great Neck, New York. Klappentext In the tradition of Susan Isaacs comes a charming debut novel featuring a lovable phone psychic, whose talents will either save her family from financial ruin -- or ruin her family altogether.What do you do when your husband's business is failing, your daughter is ashamed of you, and your faith in your own talents hits rock bottom? Miriam is a modern-day Long Island housewife, who just happens to be a professional phone psychic. But while she can heal broken hearts, mend relationships, and help others find new careers, her own life is in shambles.It starts with the family business. Her husband, Rory, is working every spare minute to keep his business, Mirror Pharmacy, afloat, but no matter what cost-saving measures he takes, a profit seems farther and farther away. Using her gift, Miriam tries to channel to the heart of the problem, but Rory's patience with her "readings" has worn as thin as his cash flow. Then there is Miriam's teenage daughter, Cara, who cannot stand to be in the same room with her, much less listen to any psychically generated advice. Now involved with a particularly bad-news boyfriend, she's too in love to take Miriam's warnings seriously. Miriam struggles to maintain a positive outlook -- things are bad, but they can always be worse, goes her mantra. So when a persistent agent proclaims her talents remarkable and marketable, Miriam decides to take action. But will going public ruin her family's already questionable standing in their prim Long Island community? And will her trusted spirits -- her dear departed Dad and Russian grandmother, Bubbie -- remain faithful if she "sells out"? Miriam struggles to sort through her escalating troubles and trust her abilities in times of crisis, even as her visions are becoming too cloudy to interpret.In a quirky tale full of humor and heartache, Rochelle Shapiro captures the universal desire to find one's true self, no matter the opinions of others. Smart and sassy, Miriam the Medium is the debut of a talented and imaginative author -- one who is able to conjure with words and spirit. Chapter One My office was like a secret room you'd come upon in a dream. Every morning I climbed a rickety back staircase to the north wing of our old Tudor to my haven, where crystals hung in the windows, casting rainbows on the white walls. I dressed in white and used my real name so people would trust me. If people trusted me, I could feel it. If people trusted me, I did a better job. In that room, I became Miriam the Phone Psychic. At 7:30 AM, with ten readings scheduled, I needed peace and quiet. I wrapped one of my red corkscrew curls around my finger, then pulled it down straight, to an inch above my elbow. When I let go, it rolled back up to shoulder length like a deflated party horn. I took a deep breath and, on the exhale, let out a long "Om," my hair crackling with static. My thoughts were like leaves floating past me on a pond. I let out another "Om." The details of my office began to blend together as if I were in a steambath, everything edgeless, fuzzy. Before I could receive any message, a note slid from under my door across the white carpet. I could see my husband's letterhead -- MIRROR PHARMACY. My trance state was pierced. Annoyed, I stretched out my foot and swept the note to me. I had asked Rory to leave notes for me in the kitchen so I could digest them with breakfast. Dear Miriam, I need 1,100 bucks right away. My bills are still overdue because none of the Medicaid checks came in yet. Please get out our bonds fr...

Auteur

Rochelle Jewel Shapiro, like her narrator, is the granddaughter of a Russian-born psychic. She has been published in The New York Times and in numerous literary magazines. Her short story "The Wild Russian" appeared in Father: Famous Writers Celebrate the Bond Between Father and Child (Pocket Books). She lives in Great Neck, New York.

Texte du rabat

In the tradition of Susan Isaacs comes a charming debut novel featuring a lovable phone psychic, whose talents will either save her family from financial ruin -- or ruin her family altogether. What do you do when your husband's business is failing, your daughter is ashamed of you, and your faith in your own talents hits rock bottom? Miriam is a modern-day Long Island housewife, who just happens to be a professional phone psychic. But while she can heal broken hearts, mend relationships, and help others find new careers, her own life is in shambles. It starts with the family business. Her husband, Rory, is working every spare minute to keep his business, Mirror Pharmacy, afloat, but no matter what cost-saving measures he takes, a profit seems farther and farther away. Using her gift, Miriam tries to channel to the heart of the problem, but Rory's patience with her "readings" has worn as thin as his cash flow. Then there is Miriam's teenage daughter, Cara, who cannot stand to be in the same room with her, much less listen to any psychically generated advice. Now involved with a particularly bad-news boyfriend, she's too in love to take Miriam's warnings seriously. Miriam struggles to maintain a positive outlook -- things are bad, but they can always be worse, goes her mantra. So when a persistent agent proclaims her talents remarkable and marketable, Miriam decides to take action. But will going public ruin her family's already questionable standing in their prim Long Island community? And will her trusted spirits -- her dear departed Dad and Russian grandmother, Bubbie -- remain faithful if she "sells out"? Miriam struggles to sort through her escalating troubles and trust her abilities in times of crisis, even as her visions are becoming too cloudy to interpret. In a quirky tale full of humor and heartache, Rochelle Shapiro captures the universal desire to find one's true self, no matter the opinions of others. Smart and sassy, Miriam the Medium is the debut of a talented and imaginative author -- one who is able to conjure with words and spirit.

Échantillon de lecture
Chapter One

My office was like a secret room you'd come upon in a dream.

Every morning I climbed a rickety back staircase to the north wing of our old Tudor to my haven, where crystals hung in the windows, casting rainbows on the white walls. I dressed in white and used my real name so people would trust me. If people trusted me, I could feel it. If people trusted me, I did a better job.

In that room, I became Miriam the Phone Psychic.

At 7:30 AM, with ten readings scheduled, I needed peace and quiet. I wrapped one of my red corkscrew curls around my finger, then pulled it down straight, to an inch above my elbow. When I let go, it rolled back up to shoulder length like a deflated party horn. I took a deep breath and, on the exhale, let out a long "Om," my hair crackling with static. My thoughts were like leaves floating past me on a pond. I let out another "Om." The details of my office began to blend together as if I were in a steambath, everything edgeless, fuzzy.

Before I could receive any message, a note slid from under my door across the white carpet. I could see my husband's letterhead -- MIRROR PHARMACY. My trance state was pierced. Annoyed, I stretched out my foot and swept the note to me. I had asked Rory to leave notes for me in the kitchen so I could digest them with breakfast.

*Dear Miriam,

I need 1,100 bucks right away. My bills are still overdue because none of the Medicaid checks came in yet. Please get out our bonds from the vault and bring them to Mirror so I can sign and cash them before the…