Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: A Collection of Short Stories and Poetry on Life, Love, Loss and Longing

Special Bonus Edition

Includes the first chapter of the award winning novel, The Lie as well as the opening scene from the soon to be feature film, Number Seventy-Five.

A collection of eclectic poetry that touches upon numerous aspects of life including love, loss, betrayal, pain and joy. These poems will touch your heart and soul in a variety of ways. Followed by a collection of short stories that delve into childhood fears, revenge, rage and redemption, each one will move you from one emotional state to another.

“A Profound Reading Experience

Ashley Fontainne, a gifted writer of popular mystery and suspense thrillers, has written a book of poetry and short stories. To be able to master the different skill sets it takes to write in different genres speaks volumes for this author’s talent. If we don’t watch out, Ms. Fontainne will be repainting the Sistine Chapel next.

The reader can easily identify with Ms. Fontainne’s poetry. It is a moving and profound experience, with a kaleidoscope of emotions; sometimes exploding rage, sometimes haunting and plaintive, often times lyrical, spiritually uplifting, and joyful. Ms. Fontainne takes the reader into a private world of her journeys and those of others she has known. The poems are like polished gems that you have to experience for yourself. I will just name a few of my favorites: “Sunrise, Sunset”, “Words” and “That Is Who I Am”.

Kudos to Ms. Fontainne for also exhibiting a dexterity in writing short stories. Her inner voice comes through loud and clear as if she is a medium for the people she writes about and their past wounds, emotional scars, betrayals, victories, journeys, vengeance, love and salvation. Ms. Fontainne’s acute eye for detail serves her well as she meticulously sets the stage for each of her short stories, and reels you in like a magnet so you will be rooted to your seat until you have read them all. Whether it’s the little girl’s nightmare, or a young girls tortured journey, or a horrific tale of abuse, her gripping stories are riveting to the end.” – author Joanna Lee Doster

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“Ms. Fontainne (aka, Princess of Suspense) in her writings has a stupendous ability to reach down into your gut – to draw up the deepest emotions from your inner soul…emotions of love, empathy, fear, and revenge. Not afraid to proclaim her religious values, she inserts her loving spirit into a story creating emotional rapture… ‘How 9/11 Saved My Dad’ and ‘Who is Michael?’ come to mind.

When writing tales that involve revenge surrounded by suspense, Ms. Fontainne spares no mercy for the antagonist, as you will witness in ‘Stained Concrete’. With her short story, ‘Death By Shadow’ she manages to stir up terrifying childhood nightmares to which there is no escape. In ’Smoldering Ashes’, the author delivers a fierce tale of pain and torment followed by redemption that ‘one’ will not soon forget.

Ms Fontainne’s poetry is like experiencing a fine wine with an exquisite meal. Her words will take the reader on a journey through their darkest days of melancholy, and then release them into a world of spirited bliss.

‘Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman’ is a powerful, and emotional voyage – a golden ticket from the award winning writer, Ashley Fontainne.”

Review by Barbara Watkins, author