Doo Wop Voices of God

A timeless tale of healing and hope delicately balanced between the real and the surreal, the poetic and the profane, if Kurt Vonnegut and Tom Robbins had a baby, that baby would be this book. Taking the day off from worrying about how to make ends meet at ma's Cafe, which in its heyday, was one of the most popular and beloved eateries on Route 66, the usually unflappable Mama retreats to her lounger at high noon in the height of the desert heat, with a bottle of Wild Turkey and her last shred of optimism.

Caught up in the conundrum of the cafe's unpaid bills and uncertain future, she doesn't notice dark clouds blotting out the blistering desert sun, until it's too late. Without warning, a streak of lightning, aimed at her like the finger of God, blows a hole in her head through which she is suddenly able to hear the voices of the universe. Crooning to her in Doo Wop's heavenly harmonies, the voices instruct Mama to be on the look-out for an angel disguised as a waitress and a calliope man, who is running away from himself. They also advise her to hang on because they'll be sending her a recipe for apple pie that will save her cafe and maybe, the world. But in the meantime, while she's waiting, they take her on a ride through the time/space continuum, with side trips to her past, though the lightning has melded her to her lounger.

Before long, as predicted, the two lost souls find themselves at ma's Cafe and encounter the buoyant spirit of Mama, the healing power of love, and the magic of redemption.