Historical Fiction Spotlight: Whistling Women and Crowing Hens: A Novel by Melora Fern

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Hillsborough, NC – After finding a box of mementos and learning that her grandmother, Verna Hintz Kurtz, traveled with the Versatile Quintet in the Swarthmore Chautauqua circuit as a trombone player and performance whistler in the 1920s, Melora Fern was inspired to write her debut novel, “Whistling Women and Crowing Hens.”

It’s the 1920s, and Birdie Stauffer is whistling on a train-traveling roadshow. To escape her strait-laced overbearing sister, Birdie auditions for the all-female Versatile Quintet, Chautauqua circuit’s opening act. Through the roadshow she experiences the tumultuous 1920s, a modern era of shocking flappers and smuggled whiskey, with the camaraderie of newfound friends.

Her exceptional gift of concert whistling entertains more than songbirds as she gains national notoriety and she’s soon entangled in two romantic relationships. Birdie discovers even the best relationships can be filled with misunderstandings. She learns to trust her intuition, but it may cost her love interests, her sister, and maybe even herself.

Praise for Whistling Women and Crowing Hens:

“Melora Fern has written a totally original and psychologically complex novel about her appealing young heroine Birdie's coming of age as a "whistling woman" in an all-girl musical group with the famed Chautauqua Circuit as they travel the country on tour. Sexy, smart, and irresistible, this is historical fiction of a very high order----I literally could not put it down! Highly recommended.” –Lee Smith, NY Times Bestselling Author of “The Last Girls”

Whistling Women and Crowing Hens’ is a thoroughly immersive and uplifting tale, deftly exploring female ambition in the riotous 1920s. Birdie Stauffer is a winsome heroine, and readers will cheer for her to succeed both on-stage and off. As Birdie wrestles with learning to trust herself, a gripping love triangle and an entertaining cast of side characters impact her in unforeseen ways. Fern’s vivid details bring the historical time period and charming characters to life. –Heather Bell Adams, author of “Maranatha Road” and “The Good Luck Stone”

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About the Author

The only constant in life is change – so after a year of multiple doozies, Melora Fern moved from Texas to North Carolina to become herself. Growing up as the perpetual “new kid” she persevered by making up stories and recently has learned how to hone that skill into writing fiction. As a recovering CPA, she now counts seashells, colorful stones, or words discovered on her walks. She loves a good local gin, hiking, feeding songbirds, moonrises and joyfully sharing bites of your dinner. Her tonic is a daily belly laugh combined with mindfulness. Embracing new and old friends, undiscovered and favorite places, unique and familiar books, family, and all that comes with writing currently fills her days. After six years of perfecting her craft with writing classes, workshops, retreats, and an awe-inspiring critique group, Melora’s months of querying agents and small presses has paid off. She signed with Sibylline Press’s Digital First Imprint and is very excited for her debut novel to be published. Sign up for her newsletter Stay Curious at melorafern dot com to stay connected!  Find out more at: https://www.melorafern.com/ and follow Melora on Facebook and Bluesky ‪@melorafern.bsky.social‬