Through the Glass

Award Winning Finalist Indie Book Awards Best Chick Lit

Through the Glass is an upbeat, poignant story about a stained glass artist whose studio faces a cul-de-sac in the outskirts of Logan, West Virginia. Through her front window, Patricia Tazewell keeps close track of her neighbors, whose business she insists upon knowing. The story has several serious subplots, including one involving Patricia’s daughter, Celia, who, at thirty-nine years of age, is suffering from Bipolar Disorder and still lives with her mother. Patricia, a widow, develops interest in two men, one is married and the other deserts her. Like the biblical Job but with a far better sense of humor, Patricia remains faithful and optimistic. In spite of loose ends still dangling, Pat eventually takes control of her life.

What People Say

Like light through stained glass, Barbara Smith’s prose illuminates these characters, their struggles and strengths, their foibles and funny bones. And despite all, ‘the stained glass woman’ survives to make another beautiful window. —Jim Minick, author of The Blueberry Years

Barbara Smith’s latest novel offers a view of life in current day West Virginia. There are no granny women. Instead there is an off-beat protagonist, dysfunctional families, grief, teen gangs, more than one romance, and a goodly portion of humor, resiliency and hope. —Phyllis Wilson Moore, researches the literary history of West Virginia

About the Author
Free-lance writer/editor, and medical ethicist, Emerita Professor of Literature and Writing and former Chair of the Division of the Humanities, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia. Most recent books: Demonstrative Pronouns (poetry), Judge Ira Robinson: West Virginia Statesman and Man of Letters (biography), Chick Flicks (short stories), On Golf and Other Sports and Non-sports (poetry).. Community activist and sports nut.