![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00073]](https://pennyslayne.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/herstory.jpg)
Book Synopsis
HerStory a novel by Delaina M. Waldron is a paranormal/thriller that takes the reader on a journey in the life of a young African slave woman named Ayira who has a dark secret. A dark secret she does not understand and is beyond her control.
Ayira can see the past and the future and she can also speak to the dead.
It is the beginning of slavery in America, a Native American tribe rescues Ayira and she struggles to balance her special powers and face her dark past to help the people around her.
Ayira must overcome her fears of her dark past, survive the present and accept her destiny to help prevent the Indian tribes fatal outcomes.
Author Bio
Delaina M. Waldron is a Screenwriter, Novelist and freelance writer in her spare time. She wrote two feature length screenplays one of which was adapted to her novel “HerStory” and the other a comedy called “Ghetto Ghost Hunters” was a finalist in the 2011 Hollywood Screenwriting contest. She also wrote a short screenplay a thriller called “Peeper”, which is currently in production.
Delaina M. Waldron is a single mother of one and is currently a city bus driver and a military veteran for the Army Reserves, based in New York City.
Website: www.herstorynovel.com
Twitter: @delainawaldron
Blog: http://delainawaldron.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/hello-world/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delaina-M-Waldron/227854963892903?ref=hl
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My Review:
***
This book deals with spiritualism/occult. If you are offended by literature that has themes such as this, you will not want to read this book. I often review Christian themed books, so I want to give this warning before I continue.
HERStory is about a woman from Africa who has special gifts to speak with the dead and see into the future. She is rescued by an Indian tribe after being sold into slavery. The tribe struggles to get to know her and understand her gifts as she continues to isolate herself from everyone.
Ayira is afraid of the gifts she has and of what her father wants her to use them for. She does not have control of the visions she sees, and she does not know how to change them. The people who reach out to help her are turned away as she does not trust anyone. The theme of this story is Ayira learning how to be in control of what she is seeing.
I gave this book three stars because, though it held my interest to the end, there were some things that were confusing to me. I did not understand fully why the Indians had rescued the slaves, or what their motives were throughout the story. I also could never understand why no one, except another spirit, could control Ayira’s father.
The story itself caught my attention. I wanted to finish because I wanted to know what would happen to Ayira. Ms. Waldron is a good story teller, but I couldn’t get past the details that confused me. I also thought it would have drawn more interest to know which tribes I was reading about. I like the history behind stories, and I felt like the history behind the Indians was a little lacking. I realize this is Ayira’s story, but I just felt that the Indian’s history might have cleared some things up.
All in all though, I enjoyed the story. Reading this story as a Christian, I could go into my beliefs about what was behind Ayira’s gifts, but since that was not the point of this book I will leave that alone. This is an interesting, and fairly short read, for anyone who wants something a little different.
Interview with the Author:
1) What motivated you to write this story?
A: I admire the Native American Culture. In the days of slavery in America, I always thought what would have happened if the Native Americans joined forces with the African slaves and fought against the foreigners.
I also thought what it would have been like to see the two cultures meeting each other and learning from each other and living together in the 18th century.
2) Did you have any particular tribes in mind when you wrote this story? If so which ones?
A: I had an idea of certain tribes that lived in the area of the settlers that mysteriously disappeared back in 1587, the settlers were called the Roanoke colony in the North Carolina area. The tribe was loosely based on the nearby tribes near the roanoke colony.
3) In the story, you have the Indian tribe save the slaves, but later you find out they had taken slaves from another tribe. How do you reconcile the difference in their actions?
A: They did not take slaves from another tribe, they took in Native American tribe members displaced by the battles with the soldiers.
4) Is the story, and the woman’s abilities, based on any particular religious or other beliefs? If so what beliefs?
A: There are various African beliefs and rituals, but the woman’s abilities are loosely compared to lets say “Nostradamus” a man that had special abilities in a century that had no understanding of his abilities and a man that was far advanced in his century. So the woman’s abilities were too complex and advanced for her to understand and to control in the time and place where such things were unimaginable for such a simple young African woman.
5) Do you relate to your main character, and if so how?
A: I relate to my main character mainly with her times when she is confused about her direction in life, what and where to go and how to overcome obstacles. I found myself isolating myself at times when I did not want to get hurt also.
6) What was your favorite part about writing this story?
A: My favorite part was writing the ending. I love the twist at the end, it gave a sense of accomplishment for the slave woman and independence.
7) What was your least favorite part?
A: My least favorite part was writing about the sad moment with Imani. Imani is a great supporting character for the slave woman.
8) Do you have any other projects upcoming?
A: I am currently writing a couple of screenplays, a short horror and the other a psychological thriller.
Penny Layne Writes 