
The Artist Spoke is a love letter, a eulogy, and a hymn of hope. Avant-garde author Elizabeth Winters has died en route to Revelation, a literary event for her readers who have volunteered to be part of her latest (and final) novel without knowing what their participation would entail. Christopher Krafft has traveled to Revelation hoping all will be revealed and that he will be revitalized by the event. The author's death affects everything, however, especially the lives of the 753 "Logos" who are devoted to Elizabeth Winters and her work. The experience of Revelation takes another turn when Chris meets Beth Winterberry, a Logos to whom he is immediately attracted. The Artist Spoke is about the love of literature, the death of reading, and the hope that books will rise again. The novel is illustrated with the author's color photography (six images plus the cover image).
"An inventive, reflective story about cultural phenomena and personal connections to literature. . . . Strongly written with some light moments, the tale delivers an up-in-the-air premise that nicely amplifies its introspective tone." - Kirkus Reviews
"A beautifully imagined premise with complex character dynamics and layers of human drama . . . Throughout, Morrissey offers reflective and insightful depictions of love, the uncertainty of life, friendship, dreams, desires, passions, the love of books and reading, and the choices that define our lives. The accompanied color photographs beautifully compliment the story. A gorgeous experiment in literature, worldbuilding, and character, the novel makes for a must-read for morally serious aficionados of literature." - The Prairies Book Review
"I must say, many readers will love this book, but if you're a writer or a true literary junkie (as am I), you'll definitely be able to get with the characters and understand the intense feelings they have. . . . [Morrissey's style is] introspective, concise, warm and delightful." - Amy Lignor, Reader Views
"Ted Morrissey's novel The Artist Spoke is a mysterious, mesmerizing examination of the contrary aspects of the writing life, and the fragility of relationships. . . . The narrative maintains an intimate, internalized style. . . . [The novel] is an exciting literary mystery." - Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews
"The book is a literary love letter. . . . Morrissey's supple sentences are a mini-tutorial on craft, pulling a world of emotion from the smallest image. . . . Those who revel in how closely observed detail and powerful language can infuse the most mundane experiences with beauty and tenderness will relish this novel." - BlueInk Review
"As I neared the end of the book and reflected on how everything played out, I realized that I actually loved the story. I found myself wanting to do deep analyses of the various aspects of the story. . . . I especially found the concept of the new "Dark Ages" that the characters discuss to be particularly interesting. This is the idea that in today's society there is an intense lack of interest in reading and literature in general while the world is simultaneously over-saturated with mass-produced books." - Becca, The Online Book Club (4 out of 4 stars)