Awards, Reviews, and Editorial Praise
LITPICK EDITORIAL REVIEW: Based on real events, Water Fire Steam tells the story of Rolla Jones, a civil engineer commissioned to engineer a water system for the growing town of Spokane Falls, Washington. In 1884, Rolla traveled out west to begin working, leaving his fiancé back east. By 1889, everything seemed to be perfect: Rolla had a happy family, his design for the water system had been successfully implemented, and he was respected throughout the town. One day, all of this shatters when the town experiences a catastrophic fire. Are Rolla and his water system somehow to blame? And will he be able to repair the relationships broken as a result?
The story is written in a way that makes the reader feel familiar with the setting and the characters. I loved reading about Rolla's experience as he traveled west and the sort of "culture shock" he initially felt upon arriving in Spokane Falls. The descriptions of the town made it feel like I could actually be there. In addition, the characters were also well written. Even though I don't share Rolla's life experiences, I was still able to relate to his emotions: the depression, the rejection, the frustration and anger, and even his love for his family. One other thing I liked about the writing was the subtle foreshadowing. From almost the very beginning, there were subtle hints that I only noticed if I payed close attention, and it made the storytelling that much better.
5 out of 5 stars - lively historical fiction
I bought a copy of your book while in none other than my hometown - Spokane! I gobbled up the book! Really enjoyed your characters and how you brought the town to life in my imagination. Thank you for writing it! Barbara S
ROSE CITY READER EDITORIAL REVIEW: This lively novel is based on real life events in the 1880s when a fire swept through Spokane Falls, Washington and the city's fancy new water system was blamed for not quenching the flames. A young East Coast engineer, Rolla Alan Jones, was scapegoated for the catastrophe and forced to resign. Jones had to fight his way back from ignominy or leave the community he thought was his new home.
Water Fire Steam is a wonderful book of historical fiction with a timeless story of redemption and forgiveness. It has definite holiday gift potential and would make a good book club pick.
5 out of 5 stars - Entertaining read!
This is a gripping story of the big fire in Spokane, WA in 1889. The plot moves along quickly and the characters are well- portrayed. You really feel you know them and understand their situation and feelings. The background history of the area and that time in our country is very well-researched and explained. The daily life, challenges, and joys of the people are described with great detail and affection. Well done! -Richard
WATER FIRE STEAM 1st Place Winner for Post-1750's Historical Fiction
The Goethe Book Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in Post-1750's Historical Fiction. The Goethe Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBA)
Press Release
Mindbuck Media Book Publicity
This was a monster press release! You have gotten 390 (!!) pick ups of the press release printed so far. This might be the most in our history??
Click on the link below to read the full press release or download the pdf
Set against the backdrop of the 19th-century Westward Expansion, Water Fire Steam, by Mitzi Zilka tells the compelling story of Rolla, a young engineer eager to make his mark on the rapidly developing Wild West. With a promising contract to build Spokane, Washington’s water system, Rolla moves to the burgeoning city with his young wife, full of hope and ambition. However, his world is turned upside down when a devastating fire ravages the town, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. Injured and out of work, Rolla faces a new reality, struggling to come to terms with the life he had envisioned slipping away. As Spokane rebuilds and flourishes around him, Rolla becomes increasingly isolated, haunted by the ghosts of his past. The question remains: Can he find the strength to forgive himself, rebuild his life, and rediscover his place in the world?
Through Rolla’s poignant journey, Zilka masterfully explores the triumphs and tragedies of the human spirit. The author does an exceptional job of immersing readers in the historical context of the story, capturing the essence of the era with meticulous attention to detail. The inclusion of real events, such as The Great Spokane Fire of 1889, grounds the narrative in history, lending it an authentic feel. Zilka’s vivid descriptions transport readers to early 19th-century Spokane, from its humble, mud-covered streets to the modernized cityscape that emerges after the fire, complete with concrete buildings, sidewalks, and curbs. These descriptions vividly bring to life the setting, landscapes, and architecture, allowing readers to fully imagine what life was like during that transformative period. Zilka also skillfully weaves in the social realities of the time, addressing issues such as childhood mortality, the suffragette movement, and public health crises. These elements are handled with nuance and sensitivity, adding depth to the narrative and enriching the historical context. Through these details, Water Fire Steam becomes a beautifully crafted story that is both historically accurate and deeply human. Water Fire Steam is an engaging novel with well-developed characters, and its focus on a pivotal moment in history adds a layer of intrigue that will captivate readers. I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those who have a passion for drama and historical fiction. FIVE STAR AWARD
KIRKUS REVIEWS: Zilka’s historical novel dramatizes the Great Spokane Fire of 1889. A well-mounted work of historical fiction.
OUR VERDICT: GET IT.
In 1884, civil engineer Rolla Alan Jones, a young graduate of Cornell University, has the opportunity to build a system to bring running water to Spokane Falls, Washington, an assignment that satisfies both his professional ambition and his urge to go west. His first visual impression of Spokane is not wholly positive, but the mountain air “smelled fresh, as mountain air is known to be: crisp and filled with pine pitch, fresh-cut cedar, campfire smoke, and soil aromas of herb and spice,” and his 160-acre land claim is a good place to build a home and grow fruits and nuts. His fiance, Sadie Withers, arrives in the spring of 1885, and they marry. Within three years, Spokane is thriving, in no small part because of Rolla’s success in bringing running water to the city.
Sadie and Rolla have a son; their farmstand is profitable, and Sadie runs a jewelry store in Spokane. In 1889, Spokane is devastated by a fire exacerbated by a prolonged drought, buildings primarily made of highly flammable pine, and a poorly run volunteer fire department. Rolla is unfairly blamed for the disaster; although he is ultimately exonerated, his reputation and self-esteem are destroyed. Through hard work, and with the help of Sadie and close friends, he struggles to heal and regain both. Zilka has deftly re-created the feel of the post–Civil War United States, including New York City, the new transcontinental railroad, and the newly settled West. The political and personal interactions between Rolla and the people of Spokane Falls, both before and after the fire, ring true. Sadie is a strong, independent character, and her involvement in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and with the women’s suffrage movement brings added scope to this story. Vivid descriptions of landscapes, like that of the Spokane River (“The rushing water had cut a deep passage through the canyon—a half-mile wide, racing as strong as a flash flood, yet as slippery as a serpent over giant boulders”) round out the narrative. A well-mounted work of historical fiction.
