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Proving it is never too late to accomplish something, 84-year-old P.C. Smith has successfully released her debut novel, one that offers an evocative story of 1940s America and the loss of innocence that accompanies war, loss, and a shocking murder in a small town.
The Shingle Weaver’s Picnic
The Shingle Weaver’s Picnic is a poignant and timeless story of a close-knit family touched by tragedy in the darkest days of the Second World War, and a young girl who must cope with the unthinkable when a child is murdered during her summer visit to her grandparents’ house.
Smith’s wonderfully crafted story transports us to a long-gone era and takes us intimately inside of a shocking story.
How do people react to the horrible news? What secrets come to light? Can a child’s innocence still exist amidst a violent world?
The Shingle Weaver’s Picnic not only entertains, but it touches the hearts of readers and explores a moving side of the human spirit.
“Through the power of this story, readers will no doubt find themselves changed,” suggests Smith. “They will enter a time and place that on one hand seems long gone, and on the other, seems ever present.”
“I was born during the Great Depression and was raised as a young girl during World War II,” notes Smith. “I used to spend summers with family in a small town and those experiences helped inform and inspire my book. I have enjoyed taking readers back to an era that may physically be gone but still lives in the minds and hearts of the surviving members of the Greatest Generation.”
About The Shingle Weaver’s Picnic
“It’s 1941, and the chill of something evil is spreading around the world like a black plague. Suspicion and fear have replaced the trust of innocence of humankind. The news of unheard-of violence and brutality presses heavily on the hearts of mankind.
“What is tomorrow going to look like? What has happened to the world as we once knew it? World War II begins its escalation, extending its chaos in all directions, including the outer shores of America, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
“Annie Elizabeth Jordan (known to most as Cricket) can’t make any sense of the turbulence that is swirling around her life. This thing called war, newspaper headlines that are hidden from her, the heartache, the fears of loved ones all around her are very disturbing, and no one seems to want to explain it all to her.
“She is looking forward to her annual visit with her grandparents, who live in the Northwestern United States. This summer will be slightly different than past visits, for she will be traveling on her own, because her mom is on travel restriction due of the baby that is to arrive in the early fall.
“Her grandparents live in the small lumber town of Everett, Washington, in a blue-collar neighborhood of hardworking families with a plethora of children. In many ways, Everett is the quintessential example of small-town America in its day. It is peopled with an abundance of vividly unique, colorful characters.
“To name just a few, there is Doc Miller, who is involved at the start or end of life for most of the population. He also closely guards with the ferocity of a pit bull, the secrets given to him at times of stress or sorrow. Sheriff Davis functions in much the same way when it comes to his town folk. He looks upon ever resident as his own personal responsibility.
“The death, the murder of one of the children in Cricket’s neighborhood sends more than a shock wave through the town. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Who could have done such a horrific thing? Who living among them could be so evil? It is beyond explanation to Cricket, but she would soon see her grandfather, a retired lawyer and judge, untangle this twisted scenario with its many suspects and astonishing conclusion.”
Book Reviews
“The first thing that drew me to The Shingle Weaver’s Picnic is the cover, which portrays an idyllic childhood scene. The sense of childhood adventures, excitement, and curiosity exuded by the cover is excellently reflected in the narration and the characters…The narration flows exquisitely as the events unfold… The writing flows flawlessly, and I had a hard time putting the book down. Even the descriptions of food scenery, and everyday life are so enthralling that they kept me glued to the pages. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy engrossing storylines and historical fiction set in the United States during World War II.”
–Onlinebookclub.org
“By Chapter three I was drawn in. It is a beautiful story of simpler times and I very quickly felt I knew all the characters personally. Her beautiful, descriptive writing flowed so easily. I drew out the last three chapters as I did not want to leave Cricket’s life. Wish the story could go on.”
–Lynn C. Lindsay, 5-star Amazon reviewer
“This winter’s ‘must read’ is a revisit to the past, full of the beauty of childhood innocence and how suddenly it can change. PC Smith tells a gripping tale full of the warm comforts of familial love but soon adds the suspense and danger that hides in the neighborhood once thought safe. With each chapter, the author leads us into the labyrinth of personalities who make up this intimate Northwestern town and takes the reader through the complex and sometimes very shocking situations that causes the murder of this unfortunate child, revealing a surprising twist at the end. The story leaves us waiting for another of Smith’s intriguing stories.”
–Mary Kay King, 5-star Amazon reviewer
About P.C. Smith
P.C. Smith was a well-known stained glass in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for over 15 years, creating custom pieces for celebrities and clients all around the world. Upon retirement, she took up her second love, writing, and has published poetry and short stories before writing this, her first novel.
She is a mother of two, a grandmother of four, and a great-grandmother of seven. She lives on the Monterey Peninsula, California and in Darby, Montana, with her loving husband and two dogs.
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