Samantha's Anguish - Paperback

by Gail Mazourek (Illustrator), Cynthia Machamer (Editor), Gail Mazourek (Author)

Fourteen-year-old Samantha Crow dreams of becoming a doctor in a time when it was not within reach for females. The American Revolution of the 1780s era was just over and her family was in upheaval like many others. She resents her father when he informs her that society denies her the possibility she craves. Insult is added when she learns that her father's own words may have turned Corporal Sutter away. Contention with both her parents remains high as she shares with her older brother, Jonathan, a hope for the Corporal's return. Samantha wonders if her love for him will remain only a private heartbreak of longing. If Samantha paid attention to societies opinion, she would also be denied the friendship of Cretia, a slave girl. Samantha is stirred to tears over Cretia's broken arm because she saw the deliberately vicious act that caused the violent injury to the frail girl. It is only the start of the trouble and anguish endured by both Samantha and Cretia. Discover what happiness their sweet haven of friendship provides them, but what upsets ensue along with unexpected debauchery from another quarter. Will they solve their entwined problems? Will events pull them closer or push them apart? Samantha turns 15 years old with huge problems on her shoulders, while her parents are far away and unaware of what trouble has befallen her.

Author Biography

Gail Mazourek studies writing independently along with Creative Writing- Fiction with text book materials through the Empire State College MFA program, NYS. Gail is an artist who studied with Arden Von Dewitz in Southern California. She paints people, landscapes and all animals and writes a weekly news and local flavor column for Finger Lakes publications. Gail grew up on a farm in upstate NY with seven siblings, making rural life familiar to her, with modern improvements. She lives a rural life and raised her 6 children (3 deceased) and knows what heartbreak and strength are. The annual Rudolf Mazourek Memorial Scholarship for Alfred State College is funded by Gail. She lives in Danby, NY on 14 acres of partially wooded land with her husband. Gail Voorheis Mazourek is a member of the Chief Taughannock Chapter of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) The chapter was founded in 1898 in Trumansburg, New York and has many members from young to seasoned in surrounding cities, towns, and villages. They include Ithaca, Alpine, Burdett, Newfield, Hector, Lodi, Ovid, Interlaken, Sheldrake, Groton, Freeville, Lansing, Dryden and any other places far and wide not mentioned here. Gail was the recording secretary for this group for 6 years. Each qualified member has their own patriot dating back to the American Revolution and is documented in the archives of DAR. Gail's patriot is William Crow who was present at the deciding battle of the Revolution at Yorktown, Virginia. He first enlisted in VA in 1779 and served 3 mos. in Colonel. Nawl's Regiment, Capt. Hopkins Co., 3 mos., another 3 mos. in Colonel Nawl's Regiment, George Baxter's Co. and in 1781 served four months as a Private under Captain Regan's Company at Yorktown. The fictitious story, Samantha's Revolution, includes the non-fictious patriot, Wm Crow, and revolves around factual historical happenings, dates and weather included, at the time of the revolution. Patriot William Crow received a pension in his 75th year from the Bureau of Pensions, Washington D. C. - O. W. & North Division, J.R.W., pension no. S32196, Pension Roll for Jackson CO, OH, p.135.