I've only written 2 fan letters in my life and they were both to authors. One of those letters was addressed to Lavyrle Spencer in the Spring of 1998. I had written to her to express my deep disappointment after hearing that she was retiring. She had become like a dear friend to me with her stories. She responded to my letter personally and I still have the letter.
The first novel that I ever read by Lavyrle Spencer was Bitter Sweet back in 1992. To this day I can remember how I felt when I finished it. She touched a spot in my heart that I haven't often felt after reading a book.
Lavyrle Spencer lives in Minnesota and is much more than your average Romance author. That's probably because her stories aren't just about romance, they're about life itself. Her characters are like folks that you and I know in our own lives, with our flaws and our fears. The women weren't the stereotypically perfect, tiny, blue-eyed blondes with the perfect skin, perfect body and perfect smile like so many heroines of romance novels are portrayed. And the men weren't all the knight-in-shining-armor figures of bulging muscles and long-flowing hair. A perfect example of this is in her novel The Gamble, which is my favorite of all of Ms. Spencers' writings. The "leading lady", Agatha, is not only an older woman of 35 (hey, that's just a spring chicken in my book!), but also has a physical handicap. That's not the kind of thing that you'll usually find in most romance novels.
Small Town Girl was released in January 1997, published by G. P. Putnams Sons and contains 364 pages. The book design is by Jennifer Ann Daddio. Each chapter has what looks like a single section of a quilt, with the number of the chapter in the center. The jacket design and illustration is by Wendell Minor and the photo of Ms. Spencer on the back cover was taken by John Earle. She gives thanks to several folks, among them Reba McEntire as inspiration and consultant.
My copy is the hardback edition, and I also have the unabridged audio version. Normally I don't buy audios of books that I've read, but Small Town Girl was different. When I was planning a long car trip last year, I was looking for some audio books to entertain me while driving. I had been curious how Small Town Girl would sound in audio, because the leading character is a musician and in the opening pages of the book, the lyrics and the music (written by Lavyrle Spencer, herself) are printed out. I'm not one of those talented folks that can look at sheet music and be able to hear the music in my head. My ears have to be involved, too!
~ The Plot ~
Thirty five year old Tess McPhail is a woman who left her hometown of Wintergreen, Missouri, to seek fame and fortune as a country singer and has become very successful. She drives a fancy sports car with a tag that reads simply "MAC". That's what her fans call her. Now she's coming home. Her sisters have been taking care of their Mom for many years and made the decision that it is Tess' turn to do her part when their Mother is facing surgery, with a lengthy recuperation period expected.
As the years have gone by, Tess has gotten caught up in her own fame and wealth. Her family had been pushed into the deep recesses of her mind while she was busy with scheduling concerts, recording sessions and maintaining a celebrity lifestyle. She purchased expensive gifts for her Mom, Mary, but never took time to do the one thing that would mean the most, a visit.
After spending years in the limelight, it was a shock to come home and be treated as just a normal person, without her adoring fans surrounding her. Her sisters do not fawn and gush all over her. One of them is downright mean to her. Her Mom does not mince words and they share quite a few insightful conversations. Her divorced neighbor, Kenny Kronek, is less than awed by her presence and makes no effort to hide his disapproval. She had ridiculed him mercilessly in their high-school years and he had not forgotten it the way that she had.
Here is an excerpt from the first page of Chapter Two....
Tess McPhail was unaccustomed to being treated like a tree stump. Where she moved, people paid attention. Fans loved her. Radio stations vied for her interviews. People in restaurants asked for her autograph. Her agent thought she was the greatest female talent he had represented in his career. Her producer said she had an ear for a hit and the talent to perform it that had elevated his status to that of star in his own right simply for having worked with her. She had the business and home telephone numbers of all the hierarchy from MCA Records, who picked up their phones the moment they learned she was on the other end of the line.
Yet if Kenny Kronek had been a dog with a natural urge, he'd have raised his leg on her ankle.
Kennys' teenage daughter, Casey, feels differently. She has her own love of music, a lot of talent and dreams of stardom. Tess is like a magnet for her.
The longer Tess has to remain in this small town, the more she becomes a part of the community once again. She finds herself reflecting on her own choices and experiencing a deep soul-searching that opens her eyes to her own state of loneliness. She realizes that young Casey has a real gift and begins acting as a mentor for her. Tess also opens herself up to the possibility of love, something that she used to feel that she just didn't have time for. She attempts...the operative word there, "attempts" ....to come to terms with her Sisters and she begins to appreciate her Mother in a way she never had before.
~ My Feelings ~
Small Town Girl had me interested by the 2nd page. It is not what I'd consider the best of Lavyrle Spencer...I think I already told you my favorite one earlier. It is however, way at the top of my list. It not only caught my attention quickly, it held it until the very last pages. Ms. Spencer has this amazing ability to describe a scene in such a way that I can see it vividly in my mind while I'm reading. She tells her stories in a down-to-earth, "did-I-ever-tell-you-about" type fashion that makes me feel as though she could be sitting across my kitchen table and just talking.
The character of Mary, Tess' Mom, was the one that touched me the most deeply. She loved her daughter and was proud of her, but had been hurt by her daughters' absence and apparent lack of concern for the family. She is able to express her feelings to her daughter firmly, but also kindly. Ms. Spencer can compose a dialog in a realistic manner, never stilted, or using words that most normal people would not use in everyday conversation.
For years, Lavyrle Spencer would release her new books each January. I could hardly wait to get my hands on them. Today I have all of her books in hardback. They line the top shelf of the main bookshelf in my living room. Hopefully one day she'll decide to write again. If you've never read any of her books, give them a try. Small Town Girl is one of the best.
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