Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody
Rarely does a manuscript cross my desk that is as moving and powerful as C.J. Heigelmann's An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody. From the onset, the reader is swept into a pulse pounding sea voyage with the fate of a recently orphaned young Asian boy hanging in the balance, wearing a jade amulet, once owned by his beloved mother, now the only link to his past. His unconventional bond with the ship's captain transforms this once timid young boy into an admirable young man, and catapults him into life and death situations as he becomes a scout, fighting for the North during the height of the Civil War.
C.J. weaves an equally powerful parallel storyline as we follow a young girl ripped from her homeland in Africa and forced to endure the horrors and cruelty of a long journey aboard a slave ship set sail for the American shores. Upon arrival, she is sold into slavery and taken to a plantation in Alabama, where she must find the strength within herself to brave the new world and accept her plight in life. No longer a free child running through the plains of Africa, she is now considered livestock to do the constant bidding of her Master.Although, the plantation owner seems kind at first, circumstances brought on during the Civil War harden his heart and the once fair man turns to cruelty and a harsh hand with his slaves.
By a chance of fate, the beautiful slave girl encounters the scout from the north and a forbidden romance is sparked. The two feel an immediate connection to one another, but the prospect of ever being together seems an impossible and dangerous dream toattain. The star-crossed lovers yearn to be with one another, but the dire circumstances of both of their situations continually prevent this from ever coming into fruition.
The dream keeps hope alive, until tragedy strikes. All hope seems lost... But through their love and their loss, hope springs eternal. The brilliantly woven canvas upon which C.J. tells his story is heartbreaking and triumphant in the same breath. Driven to tears one moment and crying out in joy the next, the reader will be forever touched by this eloquent story of love and survival amidst one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. Implore all of you to curl up on the couch with a warm cup of tea or a nice glass of wine, clear your mind, and escape into An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody.
Terrie M. Scott
Editor
Synopsis
An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody by C.J. Heigelmann
A Song of the Heart. A Symphony of the Soul.
LOVE CONQUERS ALL In Life and in Death...
Inspired by true historical events, An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody reveals the story of a recently orphaned young Asian boy wearing a jade amulet, once owned by his mother, now the only link to his past. Over time, an American merchant ship's captain transforms this once timid young boy into an admirable young man as he becomes a scout, fighting for the Union Army during the height of the American Civil War.
A young girl ripped from her homeland in Africa and forced to endure the horrors aboard a slave ship set sail for the American shores. She is sold into slavery and taken to a plantation deep in Alabama, where she must find the strength to brave the new world and accept her plight in life. No longer a free child running through the plains of Africa, she is now considered livestock to do the constant bidding of her Master.
Ten years later, by a chance of fate, the beautiful slave girl encounters the scout from the north and a forbidden romance is sparked. The two feel an immediate connection to one another, but the prospect of ever being together seems an impossible and dangerous dream to attain. The star-crossed lovers yearn to be with one another. All hope seems lost, but through their love and their loss, hope springs eternal. The reader will be forever touched by this eloquent story of love and survival amidst one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history.
Synopsis
LOVE CONQUERS ALL In Life and in Death...
Inspired by historical events; An Uncommon Folk Rhapsody reveals the story of Shay, an orphaned young Asian boy wearing a mysterious jade amulet, once owned by his deceased mother, now the only link to his past. By a chance of fate, an American merchant ship's captain adopts him and over time transforms this once timid young boy into an admirable young man as he becomes a scout, fighting for the Union Army during the height of the American Civil War.
Across the oceans, a young girl is ripped from her homeland in Africa and is forced to endure the horrors aboard a slave ship set sail for America. She is sold into slavery, her name changed, and she is taken to a plantation deep in Alabama, where she must find the strength to brave the new world and accept her plight in life. No longer a free child running through the plains of Africa, she is now considered livestock to do the constant bidding of her cruel Master.
Ten years later, by a chance of fate, the beautiful slave girl Victoria encounters the young scout Shay, and a forbidden romance is sparked. The two feel an immediate connection to one another, but the prospect of ever being together seems an impossible and dangerous dream to attain. During war, only a thin line separates life and death as loyalties are tested in this epic and thrilling saga amidst one of the darkest chapters in American history. You will experience the realism of this magnificent and unpredictable story as the power of suspense overtakes you Who will live and who will die? You will have to find out for yourself The reader will be forever touched by this eloquent story of love and survival in an era of suffering and hate.
Synopsis
COLD MOUNTAIN meets THE COLOR PURPLE. A story of the many faces of Love amidst an era of suffering and hate, spanning cultures, continents and generations. Shay is an orphan. A young Asian boy with no link to his past - except for a mysterious jade amulet - and no idea what fate has in store for his future. Not until an American merchant captain raises him to be a man, who becomes a valiant Union Army scout during the height of the American Civil War. Across the oceans, a young girl is ripped from her homeland and tossed aboard a ship set sail for America. She is sold to an Alabama plantation like livestock; her name, her identity, and her life stripped from her. Now, she is considered nothing more than a slave. When their two paths cross ten years later, they immediately intertwine, driven by a connection so strong it could only be forged by destiny. But love is forbidden, and darkness surrounds them. Written in the Antebellum tradition, the reader is invited to view the perspectives of each character and the decisions they make, leading to life, love or loss.
Synopsis
Think...COLD MOUNTAIN meets THE COLOR PURPLE
An epic American Civil War folk tale spanning cultures, continents and generations. Shay is an orphan. A young Asian boy with no link to his past - except for a mysterious jade amulet - and no idea what fate has in store for his future. Not until an American merchant captain raises him to be a man, who becomes a valiant Union Army scout during the height of the American Civil War. Across the oceans, a young girl is ripped from her homeland and tossed aboard a ship set sail for America. She is sold to an Alabama plantation like livestock; her name, her identity, and her life stripped from her. Now, she is considered nothing more than a slave. When their two paths cross ten years later, they immediately intertwine, driven by a connection so strong it could only be forged by destiny. But love is forbidden, and darkness surrounds them. Written in the Antebellum tradition, the reader is invited to view the perspectives of each character and the decisions they make, leading to life, love or loss.