Devlyn D'Alfonzo
Lives in Madison County, Virginia with her family both human and furry. In her spare time she enjoys horseback riding, gardening, reading, and hiking. She is a trained veterinarian specializing in senior pet care and acupuncture and heads up a local non-profit promoting LGBTQIA community engagement.
Some of the authors that inspire her are Barbara Kingsolver, Chimananda Ngozi Adichie, Fredrik Backman, John Irving and Betty Smith. She enjoys reading stories featuring multidimensional characters working through life in a vibrant setting.
About the book, Tethered Kites
Energy can neither be created or destroyed, but families can do both.
Eleanor Turenne built a beautiful life and family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. When her life is cut short by a tragic accident, she finds herself abruptly set adrift from her husband Neal and daughter Jo. To her surprise, the afterlife proves to be a compelling place to explore, and without the anchoring force of her living family, Eleanor struggles to maintain a thread of connection to her living loved ones, especially as she forms a strong connection to her long dead father—one that unearths deeply buried family secrets of adultery, suppressed sexual identity and a relentless pursuit of the appearance of perfection. When Jo becomes the target of a violent predator, Eleanor fears a tragic family history may repeat itself. With the help of a medium turned friend, she reveals truths that could tear her family apart. Ultimately these revelations set them on a course of exploration into the nature of family and connections formed across generations. Will death form a bridge that brings them closer to the truth or become a torrent of pain that washes this family off course forever?
Tethered Kites is a family saga with a speculative twist that offers a glimpse at death not as an end, but as a potential catalyst for growth and greater connection. It is an intimate look into the lives of a family dealing with the flood of grief after death, while facing the everyday struggles of life. This novel combines the setting and tone of Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer with the shifting viewpoints and ghosts of Jesmyn Ward's Sing Unburied Sing.
Reviews and awards
Belle Isle Books
“This story touches on many themes, including grief, loss, depression, healing, and above all, the strength of a mother’s love—even from beyond the grave. Even with its large cast of characters and intense themes, the story remains compelling from beginning to end. Overall, I found this an enjoyable and emotionally intelligent read.”
Reedsy Discovery review
A sweeping, gentle ode to what it means to grieve, what it means to let go, and what it means to be alive.
Amazon reader
"I loved this book; I thought it was a beautiful story, particularly if you are a sucker for family sagas and enjoy pure and true love between not always pure and not always truthful adults."