Winner of the 2008 IPPY Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing--Silver Medal in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category

In early summer of 1973 in a southern Atlantic coastal town, a lovely and restless young woman, resentful of her crippled husband and two young children, goes on a "night out with the girls," only to find herself a suspect in a murder--and soon running for her life...

In the same town not far away, a mentally ill man tormented by "aliens" and his little dog take refuge from a storm in a cardboard box home he calls "the palace"...

What could these people possibly have in common?

Enter another young woman living in the distant future--the year 2202--and struggling with a life crippling phobia, who, on the advice of her therapist, makes an extraordinary choice that--within twenty four hours--will change all  three of their lives forever..

Review by Borders in Charlotte, NC: "Gripping and suspenseful, Marshall takes you on a journey back in time to solve a mystery of today."
 
Review by David Rains, author of "The Shaman's Daughter":

"Leann Marshall is an excellent writer, able to blend fantasy and fact into a believable story. I especially liked her characters Willie, and Goblin, his dog. She wrapped up the story well. I hope she continues to write in this genre. A good story! "

 Review by Todd Fonseca, author of "The Time Cavern":

After years of being haunted by a recurring nightmare where she is drowning, Sera Muir's life is an empty shell. The nightmare is unrelenting and repeated therapy has proven to be unsuccessful. Sera moves through life without meaning, unable to hold anything more than a menial job. Her one promising relationship for love and happiness is doomed due to her water phobia caused by her all consuming dream.

Sera is convinced by Dr. Moore, her therapist, that perhaps her dream is not a dream but rather a memory - a memory of a drowning in a previous life. In the year 2202, science has advanced such that one has the ability to trace their life energy signature back in time. Dr. Moore identifies Sera's past life signature in a woman named Melissa James.

Through research, they discover that Melissa dies in a drowning accident which is the likely cause of Sera's nightmare. An experimental procedure, Kinetic Regression Travel, may allow Sera to return back in time to witness what happens to Melissa so that she can finally break free of the hold this nightmare has on her.

However, for her journey to be successful, Sera must be extremely careful to only observe events of the past and not interfere with them or the result may be catastrophic. Desperate for finding meaning and searching for a way forward, Sera agrees. Ironically, after traveling back to 1973, for perhaps the first time in her life, Sera is anything but an observer. In fact, in a period of only a couple of days, Sera connects so deeply with those she meets, she begins to finally live life. The ultimate choice she makes and its impact transforms herself and those around her.

The Starfish People by Leann Marshall is a beautifully written novel. The characters are marvelously developed and lovingly conveyed to the reader as if paying tribute to their tragic lives. I was moved by each of them and haunted by the bittersweet ending. Marshall's insights into the human condition are thoughtfully written. One of my favorite quotes comes from Willie:

"Maybe you understand why somebody is the way they is, and maybe you don't understand them at all. But folks all got their own ways about them - good and bad. And that's all there is to it in this life, you know. We all just trying to find our way."

It is only through her past, that Sera finds her way.

Not only did I enjoy reading this novel, but I found myself frequently thinking about it's characters, themes, and what might have been, making it clear to me why this novel was awarded a 2008 IPPY Silver Medal. This is an extremely good debut novel and Marshall proves she is a very capable author.

I suppose my one complaint would be that I longed for more. The novel is a brief 138 pages and I know that I could have spent even more time in Marshall's world. If you like novels from Oprah's book club, put this one on your shelf. You will grow and care about the characters more than those in House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries) and the outcome will be more satisfying than Drowning Ruth. I anxiously await the release of Leann Marshall's next offering.
 

 Read an excerpt from the book:
 

(The text below is taken from Chapter 1, page 23)
 

Darkness in the city falls mottled and red, never winning out over the tall, windowed buildings that ascend like spires of light against it. Muted music and the racket from the crowds rises from the street far below, through misty air filled with the aroma of hot pretzels and kelp dogs and popcorn. The Wheel approaches on its low platform from the east. It is gargantuan, standing at least fifty stories high, and the main hoop housing its mechanics blacks out the lights  from buildings behind it as it rolls to a stop on its great, smooth track. This is the last stop to let on more people; when it resumes, it will not stop again to let its occupants off until early morning.

“Ripping!” I say out loud to no one, admiring the thousands of multicolored lights that emanate from the edges of the glass hoop moving slowly inside the main hoop. In spite of my mood I am mesmerized by the Wheel, although I have never ridden it. I lean over the balcony railing, watching the lines of people entering the Wheel from three different levels to disperse within the glass hoop. It takes several minutes for the throng to board. When the Wheel reaches maximum capacity, those still on the street cheer and wave to those inside.

Finally, the Wheel resumes its motion, and the crowd below roars a tremendous send-off. As it moves alongside my building, I can see the people on all the levels inside the glass wheel as it rolls slowly in the opposite direction within the main wheel. People rise from below me, hundreds of them, as though standing inside a huge Ferris wheel with glass floors instead of cars. They come level with my balcony, then descend again down the other side. They are partying, some dancing to the Wheel’s own music, which overwhelms that on the street. I recognize “Echo” by Black Frenzy—it is fast and pulsating, like a thunderous heartbeat. I see people crowded together, laughing and shouting to be heard above the din. Others linger at the glass, looking out at the city, at me watching them, drinks in their hands. Most of them wear illuminated clothing and DermGlo, and neon Doosas that make their hair seem to dance with light that casts an eerie glow over their excited faces. Some wear only chromatophoric skins over their own, and they are like walking light shows with flashes of color playing over them. As the Wheel rolls slowly by, I feel the wash of wind from its wake in my face, hear the whooshing grind of its workings. It is like a huge, kaleidoscopic creature pulsating with life, leaving me behind. Somewhere inside, swallowed up by the thundering giant, I think as I watch it move away, are Thomas and Neeta—together. And I can’t feel anything at all.
 

-Copyright ã 2007 by Leann Marshall