Party Lines, Prayers, and Privies

Book excerpt: Historical novel between 1875-2003 based on the author's great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. Sarah lost her mother at age eight and was hired out as a farm hand. She later birthed fourteen children. Her daughter Esther was injured by a drunk driver before Helen's birth, resulting in her right side being spastic and contractured. These women guided their families through calamities, shame, joy, and struggle, enduring unimaginable hardship. They speak with a true voice, capturing the spirit of women typical of their era. Readers will find their stories enlightening, worthy, and empowering, prompting their own long-forgotten family memories and oft-told stories. Judy Lambert's degrees were in nursing; she taught nurses, practicing in university and hospital settings in the specialty of oncology. She is married with two daughters and three grandchildren. Even when young, she realized the fortune of her resilient heritage, and recognizes the value for her daughters and grand- children to embrace this daunting legacy.