Whistling Women and Crowing Hens: A Novel Paperback – May 16, 2025

1920s America is roaring—and Birdie Stauffer is ready to be heard.Trapped under the watchful eye of her strait-laced sister, Birdie longs for a life beyond small-town expectations. Her escape arrives in the form of the Versatile Quintet, an all-female ensemble touring the Chautauqua circuit. Armed with her extraordinary gift for concert whistling, Birdie boards the train and steps into a world of smoky theaters, flapper bravado, bootleg whiskey, and applause that feels like freedom.On the rails, Birdie finds more than fame. She discovers fierce friendship among four remarkable musicians—and unexpected desire. Caught between a charismatic circuit manager and her brilliant pianist, Birdie is swept into two very different romances that challenge her understanding of love and loyalty.But as the glitter of the Jazz Age gives way to betrayal and heartbreak, Birdie must decide who she truly is when the music stops. To claim her independence, she may have to risk not only her career, but the very relationships she thought would save her.Perfect for readers of historical fiction rich in atmosphere and emotion, this is a story about art, ambition, and the courage it takes to follow your own song.About the AuthorThe only constant in life is change—so after multiple doozies, Melora Fern moved from Texas to North Carolina to become herself. Growing up a perpetual new kid she persevered by making-up stories and learned to hone that skill into writing fiction. As a recovering CPA, she now counts treasures and words discovered on her daily hikes. Turning the pages of her grandmother’s Chautauqua scrapbook has opened infinite research rabbit-holes and ignited her debut historical fiction. In addition to all there is with writing, she enjoys her rescue cats, gardening, and losing herself in novels of all genres.Praise for Whistling Women and Crowing HensFinalist for the Laramie Book Award from Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA’s). The Laramie Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Western, First Nations, and Americana Fiction."Whistling Women and Crowing Hens is an immersive read set in the Chautauqua circuit of the 1920s. Talented whistler and trombonist Birdie Stauffer finds herself a member of a quintet performing throughout the northeast. When small-town Birdie steps into the wider world, she discovers aspects of herself she never knew existed. Increasingly at odds with societal and sisterly expectations, she must choose between following her truth and disappointing the most important people in her life.Melora Fern’s debut novel offers an unconventional coming of age story set against the backdrop of a nation doing the same. As the propriety of the Victorian era gives way to the anything-goes roaring twenties, women find themselves newly enfranchised and empowered, yet still traditional expectations endure.Fern’s attention to detail and a cast of unforgettable characters make this book hard to put down. Full of the drama and humor that come from five women sharing close quarters for weeks at a time, Whistling Women and Crowing Hens is at times raucous, tragic, and uplifting. At its heart, this book is about finding one’s voice and singing (or whistling) it loud."—Culley Holderfield, award-winning author of Hemlock Hollow Read more