Mockingbird

Sean Stewart  - published September 2005

Also Available: Perfect Circle

“Witty, wicked, and wise. Wonderful!”
— Karen Joy Fowler, The Jane Austen Book Club

“A wonderfully vivid and unexpected blend of magic realism and finely-observed contemporary experience.”
— William Gibson, Pattern Recognition

Sometimes you have to go back home.

Elena Beauchamp used magic the way other people used credit cards, and now that she’s dead, her daughters Toni and Candy have a debt to pay. Set in modern-day Houston, Texas, this is a funny and moving novel of voodoo, pregnancy, and family ties. While Toni sorts out the mess that Elena left behind, she must also come to terms with her childhood and with the supernatural and dangerous gift that she has inherited from her mother.

Mockingbird: A novel of voodoo, pregnancy, and Houston.

With a new Afterword by the author · A New York Times Notable Book · World Fantasy and Nebula Award Finalist

Reviews

“Sally started [reading Mockingbird] first, and realized right away that she was onto something good. When she finished, she confiscated the book I was reading at the time and put Mockingbird in my hands. Didn’t take me long to figure out why. For a soft book year, I’ve still managed to read some good books since January, but Mockingbird is hands down the best novel I have read in 2005, and one of the best I’ve ever had the privilege to read.” — Park Road Books, Charlotte, NC

“Mockingbird is the story of a young woman who grudgingly inherits her mother’s psychic powers. This book reads like a shot of whiskey — sweet, fiery swirls in the throat that linger on.” — Mary-Jo, Powells.com

“One of the most enjoyable books of the year.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Earthily charming and hilarious.” — Booklist

“Humor and a Southern sauciness. . . . [Stewart’s] poignant take on voodoo among middle-class women makes for delicious fun.” — Publishers Weekly

“A gentle, funny, affirming novel. . . . Stewart writes beautifully and affectionately about this family and their acquaintances, friends, and business partners. Like a poet with a cattle prod, he crafts his phrasing carefully, then rocks the reader back on his heels with an insight or an insult.” — San Diego Union-Tribune

“Stewart’s best, most perfectly balanced novel yet. . . . a small masterpiece. Stewart’s control of tone is nothing short of brilliant; Toni’s no-nonsense Texas narrative voice immediately disarms us with its tall-tale overtones and its authentic (and genuinely funny) humor. . . . A work of genuine brilliance.”
— Locus

Read this novel and for days afterward you’ll start conversations with, “I just read the strangest book.” When Elena died, her daughter, Toni, unwillingly inherited her voodoo dolls and her debts. The dolls are able to exert their supernatural effects on Toni when she least expects it which creates havoc on the lives of family and friends. Candy, the other daughter, has her own life to live and just hovers on the outer edge of Toni’s life, offering support when needed. This is a lively and highly original story which I will recommend to my reading group because it’s a good book and they’ll enjoy it.
— Andra Tracy, Out Word Bound Bookstore, Indianapolis, IN

Sean StewartAbout the Author:

Sean Stewart is the author of the I Love Bees and Beast search operas, two short stories and seven novels: Perfect Circle, The Night Watch, Nobody’s Son, Clouds End,Passion Play, Resurrection Man and Galveston. He wrote much of the innovative web game associated with the film A.I. With Jordan Weisman, he is the author of Cathy’s Book. His novels have received the Aurora, Arthur Ellis, Sunburst, Canadian Library, and World Fantasy awards. He lives in Davis, CA, with his wife and two daughters.

Author photo by Biko.
Download for print.

Cover

Photographs: “Carol Emshwiller” by Emsh.
Mockingbird painting by Elaine Chen. (Nominated for a 2006 Prix Aurora Award — Artistic Achievement.)