I have been working with an 85-year-old friend who is still living in the home where she was born. She tells delightful stories of her childhood and working on a tobacco farm as far back as she can remember. I suddenly decided the actual physical abilities that a young child could put into this labor-intensive crop, combined with the tomboy antics of a growing, independent, little girl, could make a charming coming-of-age story.

The main reason it’s taking me so long to get the words onto paper and in an interesting format, is that Hattie (we will call her) does not talk in paragraphs or necessarily in chronological order. She tells her detailed, unsorted stories as I type. I then take the type-written pages home, sort them out, and work to create the magical story of a young girl growing up. 

At the tender age of six, she’d already taken part in both the understanding and physical activity of preparing growing beds and planting tobacco seed. And then, weeks later, lifting sprouts into boxes to be delivered to the field. 

Working side by side with her mother, father and brother, Hattie didn’t consider it a chore. As a child on a farm in the 1940’s, she was so proud to be able to contribute as much as she was capable of at her young age.

Tomboy, Hattie, loved living in her overalls, hanging out with her brother and proving her independence every day with her childhood antics.

My only experience on a farm as a little person was going to play at my Aunt’s house. So, when Hattie started telling me of her working and adventurous childhood, I entered into a whole new world.

Our hope is that you will travel there with us very soon. In the meantime, check out my other books, as detailed on the BOOKS tab.

A LAKE KOSHKONONG TALE
IS IT SAFE?
THE JESSICA TYSON MYSTERY SERIES:
THE QUEEN ANNE FOX
GONE MISSING IN THE UNDERGROUND
EMMA’S GARDEN