Still Life With Coyote
A Young Adult novel, currently with an agent seeking a publisher.
Here are some reviews from the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest, where Still Life was a quarterfinalist:
From a Publisher Weekly Review: "...the
narrative has a timeless feel, thanks in part to the inclusion of coyote
trickster tales from Native legends. Vivid scenery descriptions provide
a strong sense of place.. the dramatic
tension remains strong, and the author provides an excellent depiction
of grief, love, and loss without descending into clichés."
From an Amazon Top 1000 Vine Reviewer: "This excerpt from STILL LIFE WITH COYOTE is beautifully crafted.
Author Marjorie Carlson Davis is clearly an artist. Her descriptions
are exquisite and mesmerizing, transporting the reader into the world of
her story. I am completely intrigued by the plot and the characters in
STILL LIFE WITH COYOTE; they make me care, almost instantly. Carly's
pain, confusion, and even anger at her brother's death ring true,
pulling the reader deeply into the story. STILL LIFE WITH COYOTE hooked
me instantly, built tension well, and compels me to want read more"
Book Description:
Eighteen-year-old Carly Trevor learned what she knows about life, love,
and photography from her older brother Andrew, who lived by the adages:
"Let your heart be your guide" and "If you give something, give it
wholeheartedly." But now Carly can't pick up a camera, much less see how
to put these words into practice. First, her boyfriend took more than
her heart. Then, Andrew died when his car plunged into Ice Lake near
their family's vacation cabin on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Without
Andrew, Carly feels as frozen as those wintery waters, and is left
wondering if Andrew meant to drive into that lake. In summer, she
travels alone to the island to find out what happened. There, she meets
two people who knew her brother: Graham Marshall, an uptight wildlife
biologist who appears to have stolen Andrew's photographs; and Moses, an
Ojibwe artist, who might be the one to melt the iciness in Carly's heart.
But when her two girlfriends arrive from the states to help, the three
discover they must look beyond the surface to find the truth.
Unfortunately, Graham and Moses complicated involvements with Andrew
make the surface pretty murky, and Carly worries Moses is just another
guy out to use her.
In STILL LIFE WITH COYOTE, Carly comes to understand
some of Andrew's New Age beliefs through Moses' more practical Ojibwe
perspective. At the same time, her encounters with coyotes,
hummingbirds, and bears provide clues about Andrew's life and death. As
Carly lets Andrew go, she must examine her own future. Can she find the
courage to take up her camera again? Can she trust Moses and live her
life guided by Andrews lessons of the heart? STILL LIFE WITH COYOTE is
for mature young adult readers.
Cages (a middle grade novel)
Learning
who you are at twelve is hard enough, but for Billie Erickson it seems
impossible. Her mother is off meditating in Colorado,
her father is traveling with his blues band, and Billie is stuck with her aunt
on an organic vegetable farm in the middle of nowhereville, USA. To make matters worse, it
looks like she’s going to have to start seventh grade at a new school.
Discovering
a soda-pop drinking bear at Wild Al’s AnimalPark
helps Billie take her mind off her troubles. She also meets Puck, a dramatic,
quirky, and wise-for-his-age boy, who challenges her to be herself. Together
they embark on “Operation Animal Rescue” to save the bear and put Wild Al out
of business.
Things
get more complicated when school starts, and Billie is torn between her desire to fit in with other students and her
friendship with Puck, who doesn’t mind that other kids think he’s weird. Her
sudden popularity and a budding romance distract Billie from her
important mission with Puck, and she makes a choice that leads to disastrous
consequences. Ultimately, Billie learns about listening to her inner voice,
daring to be different, and finding the courage to break out of the cages other
people create.