Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII
Date of Publication: January 19, 2017 Number of Pages: 344 AMAZON Kimberly Fish’s debut novel, The Big Inch, was released in February, 2017 and it reveals the lengths to which Texas oilmen, state, and federal governments would go to get Texas crude oil to the troops fighting their first mechanized war. With Nazi threats (and a steady stream of oil tankers sunk by German submarines) speed was necessary, as was OSS intelligence. The Office of Strategic Services was often staffed with female spies and Longview’s World War II efforts were critical for success. Lane Mercer, sent to Longview, Texas in July 1942, is part of a select group of women working undercover for the fledgling federal agency, the Office of Strategic Services. Assigned to protect the man carrying out President Roosevelt’s initiative to build the nation’s first overland pipeline to hurry East Texas crude to the troops, she discovers there’s more to Longview than the dossiers implied. There’s intrigue, mayhem, and danger. Shamed from a botched OSS mission in France, Lane struggles to fulfill her mission and keep from drowning in guilt. Getting involved in local life is out of the question. Between family, do-gooders, and Nazi threats, she’s knitted into a series of events that unravel all of her carefully constructed, plans, realizing that sometimes the life one has to save, is one’s own. Kimberly Fish’s Music Play List
I’d set my Pandora station to one or all of these artists and let the background music fuel my imagination:
Glen Miller Cab Calloway Tommy Dorsey Cole Porter Frank Sinatra Dean Martin Lena Horne Rosemary Clooney The Big Inch characters have their own list of favorite musicians. . . Zeke Hayes: “You Are My Sunshine” by Jimmie Davis—my theme song. Kind of fond of that Jiminy Cricket guy who sings “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Bob Wills is my driving buddy—I could listen to him and Tex Ritter all day, any day. Lane Mercer: I listen to whatever someone is playing on the radio. I don’t have a favorite song. Emmie Tesco: “I’ve Heard that Song Before” by Harry James—kind of feel likes my life song. And Jazz music, Rag Time too—you can lose your thoughts listening to those piano keys. Theo Marks: Mozart, Bach, Beethoven. Opera . . Tosca brings me to tears. Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra make for nice dancing. Artie Shaw is a genius. I know this makes me sound Un-American, but I don’t like Bing Crosby. Molly Kennedy: They’re all reprobates. If it’s not church music, it’s not worth listening too. Patrick: Who wants to know? Edith Thomas: I like whatever Molly Kennedy likes.
PRAISE FOR THE BIG INCH:
“With an eye for detail, Kimberly Fish weaves a compelling story of a war widow who finds herself in Longview, Texas in 1942. Reading Kimberly’s novel was a bit like going back to a cloak and dagger time, and I enjoyed the local references. Longview was an amazing place to be during WWII.” -- Van Craddock, Longview News Journal, Columnist "Kimberly Fish's unique writing style snatched me out of my easy chair and plunked me down into the middle of her character's life where I was loathe to leave when my real life called me back. Her descriptive visual writing drew me in on the first page. Can't wait to read more stories by Mrs. Fish." -- Vickie Phelps Author of Moved, Left No Address About The Author
Kimberly Fish started writing professionally with the birth of her second child and the purchase of a home computer. Having found this dubious outlet, she then entered and won a Texas manuscript contest which fed her on-going fascination with story crafting. She has since published in magazines, newspapers, and online formats, She lives with her family in East Texas.
The Big Inch By Kimberly Fish Blog Tour Schedule
March 8 – March 22, 2017 03/08 - Review - Hall Ways Blog 03/09 - Author Interview - Reading By Moonlight 03/10 - Excerpt - Books and Broomsticks 03/11 - Review - Kara The Redhead 03/12 - Promo - Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books 03/13 - Character Interview - CGB Blog Tours 03/14 - Review - Syd Savvy 03/15 - Guest Post - Chapter Break Book Blog 03/16 - Author Interview - Forgotten Winds 03/17 - Review - Books in the Garden 03/18 - Playlist - My Book Fix Blog 03/19 - Promo - Margie's Must Reads 03/20 - Review - StoreyBook Reviews 03/21 - Author Interview - The Page Unbound 03/22 - Review - Missus Gonzo |