Flagler Beach – S.K. Nicholls

Last weekend I went to Flagler Beach where I met some talented authors at Change Jar Books. One of the books I picked up was Food for a Hungry Ghost by Becky Meyer Pourchot. I had the opportunity to read this ghost story while overnighting at a hotel in The Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine, which was the perfect ambiance for such a read. Tuesday night, I also went to an Inspired Mic where I heard this author read the best story of the night. She’s not only an exceptional author, but a great actress, as well. After reading Food for a Hungry Ghost, I knew I needed the other two in the series. You can read about Becky’s femme fatale in Path of a Bullet, an anthology of short stories about Ike, Tim Baker’s iconic off-white Knight.

Book Review:

Food for a Hungry Ghost is a well-written introduction to the paranormal realm for pre-teens and teens. Not often enough do I find youth fiction that suspends disbelief while keeping it real enough and done with a writing style appropriate to the age group. Becky Pourchot writes intelligent dialog and narrative with realistic voice and language.

Gala, a fourteen year old girl who moves from Wisconsin to Florida, becomes a conduit for a restless soul that knows no limits, no boundaries. The ghost seems harmless enough at first, even laughable, but quickly evolves into a menace. Gala struggles with right and wrong, while trying to adjust to a new home and new people in her life. The author shows the feelings and emotions of teen girls and guys, the angst of adolescence and the insecurities we have all had to overcome in order to grow. It’s a universal coming-of-age story with a creatively unique flair that pre-teens, teens and adults can enjoy.

The character personalities in this quick, easy read are well-developed. I liked that it was not blood and gore horror. Fascinated by the metaphysical, I would have liked to have seen that aspect of the storyline extended and explored a little deeper, the origin of Gala’s gift. Without spoilers, I’ll say Pourchot’s ability to touch on sensitive issues in a direct but thoughtful manner is remarkable. Book two in the series, “To Kiss a Ghost”, is thicker and I’m eager to learn more about these Flagler Beach residents in the Hungry Ghost series.

4 of 5 stars

The RS and I took a notion to travel on Saturday and headed out to St. Augustine for an overnighter. We usually travel south for Old World Florida fun but this trip took us a bit north. The highlight was a detour off I-95 across Hwy. #100 to Flagler Beach where local authors were having a book signing at Change Jar Books. All of these authors write their stories set in Flager Beach and are local celebrities. They should be regional or national celebrities. When they are, we can say, “We knew them when…”

The RS knows the work effort that went into writing and publishing Red Clay and Roses and he really appreciates independent authors. One of our favorite writers, Tim Baker was at the signing. We picked up a collection of Tim’s crime thriller/adventure books about Ike and Associates to gift a friend. We met Becky Meyer Pourchot and got a copy of the first in her Hungry Ghost series (which I’ll tell you more about later). I don’t think Becky always wears pink hair or dresses like the Snow Princess, but it was fitting for the season. (photo op)

You can follow Tim Baker on Twitter @blindoggbooks, drop by and show some love. He’s almost at 10,000 followers. You can read my review on Eyewitness Blues and get a sneak peek about Path of a Bullet here.

We also picked up a shiny, colorful, hardback book for our grandchildren by Marybeth Jeitner and Heather Chalmers, Saving Libbie the Lobster. This is about one special lobster, and has rhyming passages that the kids and grandkids will cherish. Saving Libbie the Lobster is based on true events. In the back are some interesting facts. (another photo op)

We left Change Jar Books loaded with good reads and gifts and then stopped into Flagler Beach Gifts run by Michelle, where the RS found a nifty boating hat, the kind he likes but can never find. It fits the rocket scientist better than it fits Captain, the pug.

While in Flagler Beach we couldn’t resist the opportunity to dine at The Golden Lion. If you have read any of Tim’s books you’ll know why this place is so very important.

First, we wanted to cross A1A and get an uncluttered view of the beach. There’s nothing quite like the feeling that you get when you’ve been traveling and you come upon an ocean view, the breeze, open blue skies, and vastness of the water before you. Flagler Beach is one of those sleepy little seaside villages that’s not inundated by commercial enterprise. Independently owned and operated ice cream shops, cozy coffee cafes, beach bars, and quaint hotels are sprinkled along the west side of A1A, and the most gorgeous views of the Atlantic are to the east.

Then, back across A1A to The Golden Lion.

Of course we dined on the upper deck so we could keep an eye out for Ike and Brewski possibly passing by on their Harleys. It was a chilly day at 65 degrees, but that just served to keep the oysters cold. After the appetizers, we were served steaming crocks of delicious New England clam chowder. The soup warmed us up perfectly. If you’re ever touring Florida’s east coast, you’ll want to stop in here.