South of Elfrida

by Holley Rubinsky

  The Woman She Was is a deeply moving novel that explores the aspirations, hopes, and fears of contemporary Cubans, as well as the challenges they still face.

  Blue Duets

  by Kathleen Wall

  Lila, a talented pianist and wife to Rob, has decided she cannot passively follow a score someone else has written—in her musical career and her marriage. As she struggles in her role as daughter to a mother who is dying of cancer, Lila finds that Kevin, a violinist and Lila’s musical partner, helps to keep her love of music in tune through trying times. Lila’s husband Rob has his own demons to conquer. A cynical history professor, Rob has been accused of harassment by his own department head. With each chapter told from the point of view of one of the three major characters, Blue Duets is a meditation on life at middle age and the consequence of compromise. As the narrators’ voices move from harmony to discord, we learn to appreciate the different perspectives in the story. Lila, puzzled yet rational, uses what she understands of art and music to pilot her present life struggles. Kevin is comic and transparent in his observations of Lila’s existential dilemma. Rob’s penchant for gourmet cooking disguises his inability to reflect. In Blue Duets, enjoy a novel about perspective and learning to trust one’s intuition.

  Copyright © 2013 Holley Rubinsky

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (ACCESS Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit accesscopyright.ca.

  LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

  Rubinsky, Holley, 1943–

  South of Elfrida [electronic resource] / Holley Rubinsky.

  Short stories.

  Electronic monograph issued in various formats.

  Also issued in print format.

  ISBN 978-1-927366-06-6 (HTML).—ISBN 978-1-927366-07-3 (PDF)

  I. Title.

  PS8585.U265S69 2013 C813'.54 C2012-906800-4

  Editor: Rhonda Batchelor

  Proofreader: Heather Sangster, Strong Finish

  Cover image: Arin Ringwald

  Brindle & Glass is pleased to acknowledge the financial support for its publishing program from the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Brindle & Glass Publishing Ltd.

  brindleandglass.com