Many thanks to this unknown reader who praised my research, story, and mission concerning Annie from the mid-1600s Colonial America. The points mentioned in the review are exactly what I was trying to point out … in history, in the treatment between different ethnicities and religions, and the abuse, bullying, and demonic fear of children, mere babies, with birth defects in a land where people came to escape the tyranny of Europe. My hypothesis is that this is still going on in the world today, even in the United States of America.
Many thanks to this reader from the author … Deborah A. Bowman
Life in America circa 1,600 CE can’t have been easy, not with the English intent on stamping their domination and with the Puritans extolling so called Christian virtues to the extreme. As the saying goes: the more things change, the more it remains the same.
Annie’s Story provides a unique insider’s look into the world of newly emigrated people, the Scots, to a free land where they could safely continue worshipping their faith—Catholicism. For Annie, born into a world where one’s physical differences and abilities were considered the child of the devil, it was life threatening.
Annie was raised by her grandmother, a renowned Scottish healer, after her parents died from the plague. This story highlights the hardships endured by immigrants in a world vastly different to their own, who contend with harshness of the land, weather and hiding their beliefs from their neighbours—the Puritans.
Annie was a dwarf and a healer, born in the mid-17th century in Colonial America. Her family left Scotland to avoid the harsh and imperial rule of the English King Charles II, migrated to Massachusetts Bay area, not far from a Puritan settlement. Her grandmother, taught Annie the art and skills of ‘pagan’ medicine after witnessing her miraculously heal a man who almost died.
Annie’s grandmother, her best friend Janey, her parents and the Scottish community protect and shield Annie from outsiders, who don’t understand her physical and mental disabilities. The young girl heals a boy from the Puritan township, which they later become friends and then fall in love.
One of the subjects I am not overly familiar with is American history. The Civil War was perhaps its greatest exponents, as was Abraham Lincoln, and so when I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I read historical fiction, but tend to go for books that predate Christianity.
What intrigued and drew me to the story was that it was premised on a past-life regression, in this case, the author’s. Bowman prefaces the book with background information that she underwent an “age” regression, and in follow up sessions, learnt she lived in another time and went by the name of Annie. The book has facts interwoven within the story, about Annie, the period and the way people who were different were treated. It is evident a great deal of research has gone into the story, describing what life was like during Colonial America for migrants, the Indians and how the Puritans lived.
The use of Scottish phrases and terms is great and it remains true to the characters, but I would have preferred a glossary at the end of the book rather than the explanation within the narrative.
For readers who know little about America’s early history, Annie’s Story is a good introduction to life during a period of unrest in Colonial America. For those who know a lot more, you will enjoy the various historical elements that feature in this story.
I have just started a second beta reader on my upcoming book–Historical Fiction Based On Fact, Past-Life Hypnotic Regression. I wanted to share what my reader, who had asked me to beta read the book after seeing my last blog on “Annie”. This is what she had to say after reading just the first two small chapters where Annie’s parents die of the dreaded fever prevalent in early Colonial America:
OK, they died and passed to another dimension…got that. Don’t leave me hanging; what’s next?!?
Obviously I am hooked. And that is not easy because from all my years proofreading, grammatical errors, etc., become very distracting to me. Your writing has none of those. Plus it reads fast ( if you know what I mean). I hate readingwhere I have to stop and focus on every single word.
Frankly, I am picky about what fiction I read and I find yours intriguing. Your characters are beautifully brought to life (which you promptly killed-off) without excess verbiage — kudos. You made me cry. Not because she died but understanding the utter despair he must have felt conscious enough to ken what was coming.
Between you and I, my family also has such “gifts” in our background, which by-the-way is heavily Scottish and Welsh.
Of course, I will be sending the rest of the book for her to read, Sections II-VI. I hope to have the book finished and published by July/August 2016. I have about two Sections and The Epilogue to complete. –Deborah A. Bowman, Author
Annie’s Story, Blessed With A Gift–Annie in Custody
I have been sending little excerpts from my upcoming book, “Annie’s Story, Blessed With A Gift” and sharing some wonderful comments from my Beta Reader, www.wordpress/SusieShy.com Please check out Susie’s blog. She is an amazing young woman that has much to say and knows how to say it.
Today I want to share my latest communication with her and my response. Susie showed me something about myself that I didn’t even realize, but more importantly why this Historical Fiction Book based on fact is timely for the future, not just knowledge of the past.
Thank you, Susie, for letting me see the forest, instead of just the trees.
Comment on unfinished Section VI, Annie’s Story, Blessed With A Gift:
Debbie,
Read this section and am left with anticipation of what comes next. How pitiful were the lives of people who do not look, speak, talk, think like others do. And the majority or the strong take it on themselves to purge society of those who are different- Hitler a case in example. In modern parlance perhaps would take the form of bullying – school bullying, bullying at home, bullying of wives by husbands and of animals by humans- everywhere the perpetrator seems to be a human, who thinks himself superior to others. Things have not changed much in the 21st century from what it was in the 17th.
I am glad Annie had her grandma and Janie to look out for her.
I can just understand the torture you go through when you see lives as they were lived during those times and especially when you know now, that there was really nothing extraordinary about the ones they thought different. A little more sensitivity, love, care for nature or for others was all these ” weak” different people exhibited and for that they were often physically tortured.
Susie
Deborah A. Bowman’s Response and Epiphany:
Susie,
You have so much wisdom and understanding of the Universe. I am always so humbled by your comments. I almost waited before sending you these few chapters because they were so bleak and feared you would be upset by them, but I wanted to share with you the reality of my research, which you are so right, mirrors the atrocities of our modern society. We watch in tears and sadness or close our eyes to the truth. Either way, the human experience is denied the reality from which we learn and evolve.
History, unfortunately, does repeat itself. Somehow humankind never learns, even with a loving God watching over us. Yet, we are blessed if we but reach out with our love, but we can only change one person–our own self, our own reflection.
You have shown me why I am so driven to finish this story. It’s not a synopsis to inform what history has taught us, but rather that history has remained the same. You have given me much to ponder and even more fortitude to share Annie’s love and shining spirit with the world, so needed for the future. Will it make a difference? Probably not, but each life Annie touches has a chance to contemplate, believe, redeem…or naught.
I respectfully ask you again in loving kindness if I may share your words on my blog. We are but two lone voices in the dark, but Annie’s message is timeless.
Thank you, Deborah
Annie, a dwarfed, mentally slow, white light healer in Colonial America in the mid-1600s
The joy of being able to work in the gazebo on a wonderfully, beautiful day like this!
Excerpt from “ANNIE’S STORY, BLESSED WITH A GIFT” COMING SOON!
COPYRIGHTED AS A WORK-IN-PROGRESSS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY AUTHOR, DEBORAH A. BOWMAN
Section I
James and Mary
In the Year of Our Lord 1630
“Going Home”
The pain ceased and he saw Mary, fresh and lovely as a spring’s misty morn with the sun peekin’ o’er the pinkish purple and amber hills of The Highlands. This time he not only heard the voices clearly, but saw the happy faces of his Clansmen; not just his immediate fam’lee, but warriors he had fought beside and watched die fightin’ The MacKinnon’s dreaded enemy, The MacLeoids; as well as wee bairns and babes lost to The Clan in infancy and youth; and Mary’s kin as well, veiled in the shadows.
In the middle of them all, in a gleaming gold light, stood his Mary in a white dress with The Blackbain Plaid o’er her shoulder, the earthy colors of The Plaid blending with an armful of Highland wildflowers and a wreath of yellow, red, and pink rosebuds crowning her glorious dark auburn hair. A loving smile graced her luscious lips, and her rosy cheeks glowed as she reached out to him as his bride.
James stepped out of the dark and soiled cabin into the lush green of rollin’ hills, reflected in the deep blue water ‘round The Isle. He was dressed meticulously as a groom in The MacLean Kilt, the silver and dark emeralds of The Brooch at his broad shoulder twinklin’ in the sun.
Annie’s Story, Blessed With A Gift
BowmanAuthor and Writer/Editor 