First published 2014
Jack pulls his nets from the murky bayou waters and finds something unexpected. A magical catfish pleads for freedom and offers to grant wishes in return. The Cajun fisherman has simple needs, but his wife Jolie sees opportunity everywhere. She wants a grand mansion to replace their humble home. Then comes the desire for a paddleboat, followed by dreams of wealth and celebrity. The enchanted fish responds to each request with the same phrase about how easy everything is to accomplish. Jolie's appetite for more grows with each granted wish. When she sets her sights on becoming the Mardi Gras queen, Jack begins to wonder if his wife's ambitions have spiraled beyond reason. The magic that seemed like a blessing now threatens to consume everything they once valued about their quiet life together.
Genres: fantasy, magical-realism, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, magical-realism
Setting: Bayou, Mardi Gras
32 pages · Hardcover · Albert Whitman & Company