Write a commentKirkus Reviews, the nation’s leading prepublication journal of book reviews, has called local author Bekkah Frisch’s debut novel, The Great Quiet, “An ambitious, moving saga,” as part of a review conducted through its Indie program.
The novel is set in the islands of Polynesia, following two modern indigenous families whose lives are impacted by French colonization and the legacy of the nation’s nuclear testing program in the area.
“Over the course of this novel, Frisch delivers a braided story of home and family that features complex and evolving but navigable relationships. The story moves through time with ease—Ari and Natua start the story as 14-year-olds and later reach young adulthood, island hopping to find medical care and the answers to family secrets. The major players… are lovingly and authentically realized as the narrative goes on, and Frisch integrates ideas of caretaking—watching out for one’s friends, one’s family, one’s home, and the planet in general—with serious, emotionally resonant life-and-death subject matter. An ambitious, moving saga that connects the personal and the global…” –Kirkus Reviews
The review will also be featured in the Kirkus Reviews Magazine on July 15, 2023, which has a circulation of 15,000 industry professionals. Features are given to less than 25% of the indie authors reviewed by the service.
Frisch submitted to Kirkus Reviews because of their reputation and reach among booksellers and librarians across the nation. “To have such a wonderful review from them has made not just my day, but my entire year,” Frisch said. “Their opinion is taken very seriously in the literary community, and to also get a free feature is beyond what I could have expected for my debut.”
The novel, which is being published under the imprint Bombus Books, LLC, will hit shelves on August 29. It is currently on pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Frisch’s own website, bekkahfrisch.com. To hear the author read an excerpt from The Great Quiet, as well as several unpublished poems, visit the Oswego Farmers Market on August 17.
About the Author
Bekkah Frisch spends her days working in marketing and her nights writing fiction that explores the power of bravery, authenticity, and radical empathy. Her debut novel, The Great Quiet, will hit shelves in August 2023. She lives in Fulton, NY with her family and is a lifelong resident of the area. For more information about her and her work, visit bekkahfrisch.com or follow her Instagram, @authorbekkah. To book an appearance, email [email protected].
