Bliss, Remembered: A Novel (inscribed by 1936 Olympics U.S. swimmer Mary Lou Petty Skok)

Praise for "Bliss, Remembered"
"I've long been a huge fan of Frank Deford's writing, and this wonderful novel is further confirmation that he is much more than one of America's best sports writers- he is one of our country's best writers, period." -- Ron Rash, Author of "Serena"
"One of the greatest writers of our time, Frank Deford has done it again. This book is compelling, insightful and Frank even shows us his romantic side. I didn't just like it, I loved it." --Billie Jean King
"A work of enthralling historical fictionS Deford slyly teaches readers something about 1930s-1940s history while also writing convincingly about love and war. Sydney is a spirited narrator whose fictional memoir is sprinkled with innumerable colloquialisms and many reflective of the era. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: ED" --"Library Journal" (Starred Review)
"If you've always enjoyed Frank Deford's sportswriting, you're in for a surprising, blissful departure with "Bliss, Remembered." Sure, there's sports- Sydney Stringfellow is a beautiful young swimmer, good enough to be an Olympian. But the year is 1936, the Games are in Berlin, and Deford's story takes us through Nazi Germany, heroes and villains real and imagined, love, lust, heartbreak, and heroism. There's a hell of an ending, too. Who knew that Frank Deford, apart from everything else, is a crazy romantic?" -- Mary Carillo
"Plenty of people know Frank Deford as an award-winning sportswriter or the guy with the loud outfits on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel," but who knew he had a soft spot for Nicholas Sparks' novels?... Deford never lets readers forget he's writing a love story. All the Nazis, FBI agents and 100-meter backstrokes are just grace notes as the old woman sings the song of how she met, lost and again found her soul mate." -- Associated Press
Compelling and, from start to finish, filled with serpentine twists. -San Antonio "Express-News"
[Deford] is the master of elegant simplicitySstoryteller extraordinaire -- "Connecticut Post"
[Deford] effectively invokes the atmosphere of the 1936 Nazi Germany as World War II loomedSan entertaining historical love story. "Kirkus"
I was shocked. I was shocked that I was so drawn into this tale about a swimmer, the Olympics, Germany, a summer romance, a love gone bad, the early days of World War 2...was shocked by ending too. At that point, it's all secrets, intrigue, the war, and one very big surpriseS5/5 stars. -- Book Bitch Blog AUTHOR BIO: Frank Deford is senior writer for "Sports Illustrated," author, commentator and correspondent."