Wagner's stories are succinct, well-crafted slices of some pretty quirky lives.
Bonnie Hearn
The Fresno Bee
Once in a great while a writer comes on the scene who has the unique ability to observe all that makes us human, and then give it back to us in haunting stories that once read, remain a part of us forever; Marilyn Schoefer Wagner is such a writer. Her debut collection of short stories is a smorgasbord of character studies, morality plays, and human insights.
Gary Frazier
Editor-in-Chief
Genesis Press, Inc.
Reading Cats and Other Tales is like spending an evening in an art film theatre, seeing a series of suprising and subtly crafted stories.
Steve Pieschel
Reviewer
I loved Cats & Other Tales. In fact, I stayed up late to read the entire book in two nights. The vocabulary was impressive. I loved the diversity of words which was hard reading for me--I am French-until I picked up the rhythm. I could not put the book down.
Isabelle Andre
Boulder, CO
I thoroughly enjoyed Cats. Marilyn Schoefer Wagner's stories have great variety and surprising depth. I am so glad to have the opportunity to read them at home and in the quiet.
Hillary Adams
Retired Professor, UCBerkeley
Marilyn Wagner, she does write; writes well with a good ear and eye. Her people are absolute originals - often oddballs and misfits, troubled souls. It's always a joy to get to know them.
Sylvia Julia Kozak-Budd
Librarian, Mendocino County Library
Artistic Director, Mendocino Theatre Company
Over the past years it's been my delight to publish a number of Marilyn Wagner's provocative pieces of short fiction and, as do all editors, I relished the thrill of having "discovered" an exciting new talent. The first piece we offered dealt with a fellow who served croquettes made of the meat of cats to cat fanciers, which was not what I'd expected from the sophisticated woman who'd told me, shyly, that she was a writer. And what a writer she turned out to be!
Lee Nichols
Editor Emeritus,
OutLook Magazine
Wagner's stories in Cats & Other Tales make you feel they really happend and you were there. Her insights reflect her varied and rich experiences. Marilyn's sensitive handling of characters causes the reader to reflect on his own experiences.
Suzie and Rob Warne
Washington, DC
After retiring from our San Francisco careers and moving to the Northern California coast several years ago, we began searching for new interests to replace the tired old city stuff. We were pleased to find a lively and creative literary environment permeating the area, from the ocean bluffs to the coastal valleys. However, many of the local authors soon became predictable. Eventually we chanced to read a short story entitled CATS by Marilyn Wagner in a local literary journal. CATS was a delightfully naughty story about a Cuban gentleman's unusual dinner menu. The story's lack of political correctness made us smile then howl with laughter. We have since looked forward to each new story by Ms. Wagner and have not been disappointed. Each story seemed to have been snagged like a fly ball headed over the outfield fence. Imagine our surprise watching one of Marilyn's footballs or basketballs as it ricochets off some poor soul's bat. We hope that she never learns the rules of the literary game.
Linda and Floyd Cotton
Sea Ranch, CA
Home Pole Cats
15. Nisei - a child's warmth and innocence expose the existence of internment
