At the turn of the nineteenth century a broad mix of nationalities had intermingled within the United States, creating a nation of cultures that were unique. Sometimes the mixtures created personalities that exhibited indifference, coupled with the hardness of granite. Due to the hardships encountered in an unforgiving environment, harshness of personality became common. Especially on farms where families were intentionally large in order to insure that there would be enough hands within the household to handle the work involved in tilling the soil and harvesting the crops the fields hopefully would yield. In this environment, children were no more than a product and often treated no more humanely than the cattle. Many times as one group of children was raised and approached adulthood, when they often left the farm, more children were born to take their place. It wasn't uncommon for a family to consist of nine to twelve children or more, whether by birth or by procurement through one sort or another.This was the era of the Orphan Train. A time when children who were placed in state custody because their parents were unable to support them, were shipped to all parts of the country to be adopted or placed into servitude as foster children. Children were compelled to grow up fast as a result of the burden of work forced upon them at an early age. In many families the natural born were treated no better than those procured. That was the case for Maggie Blackford. This is Maggie's story.
About the Author: Growing up in the shadow of Oak Creek Canyon and the red rocks of Sedona Arizona in the later forties and fifties, Melva developed the inspiration to write in her early youth. The inspirations to read, write, and illustrate were instilled when she was sent at the age of ten to stay for several months with a neighbor, whom she fondly labeled as Aunt Laura. Melva's first stories began as verbal tales made up on the spur of the moment to entertain her young charges as she babysat local children, as well as siblings and other young family members. Recently the stories that have tumbled about within her heart and mind begged to take physical form in the way of novels. Her first stories to evolve are more suited to adult fiction, while she compiles the children's stories that continue to entreat the telling. Having grown up in an area offering the most beautiful things of nature in Northern Arizona, Melva now lives in Northern California where she continues to enjoy the blessings nature has to offer, shared with her husband and their Jack Russell terrier.