Hi, everybody. It's "Throwback Thursday" here on Whispers in Purple Blog which gives authors a chance to spotlight a book from their back-lists. Please welcome Cleo Lampos as she talks about her historical novel A MOTHER's SONG, a fascinating peek into the historical Orphan Trains.
While researching documents for the historical
fiction, A Mother’s Song, the issues
of the nineteenth century and the crisis of present times coincided. The
challenges of the past mirror those of today.
Reading books on the orphan trains that transported
over 200,000 homeless waifs from New York City to farms on the Great Plains
occupied several years of my life. Each true account from the point of view of
a train rider captivated my imagination. The resiliency of the children, their
defenses, the fears, and the ability to cope brought their plights to life. Their
stories stirred my heart.
The women who rode the trains for years with these
children, helping them find “forever homes” inspired me. These agents of the
Children’s Aid Society became the forerunners of social work as they fought
against exploitation and work issues of their charges. They became heroes.
But the mothers of 1890. They astounded me. Those
Irish immigrant mothers in New York City, Five Points, who had more children
than they could support gripped my soul. The difficulties they faced on a day
to day basis. The choices that haunted them. The ability to allow their
children to ride the orphan train to a life that they could not give to them.
Hard decisions. Life giving chances. Deep regrets. Their plight haunted me.
My husband traveled with me to the National Orphan Train Museum in
Concordia, Kansas, to gather more books and information about the ragamuffins
and agents who traveled the tracks between NYC and the west. He attended the Little Falls, Minnesota, Reunion of the
descendants of the trains. We heard the
stories from four surviving riders and warmed at their positive attitudes
toward life. Then I wrote this book, A
Mother’s Song.
Perhaps for me, the creation of this novel served
personal therapy. My father died when I was young, and my mother married an
alcoholic. Several years of my life were spent in foster care. The stories from
the orphan trains touched areas of my emotions needed healing.
When I presented a lecture on this book to a group of
South Side Irish women, they leaned into the information. For them, the book
represents the most complete view of what happened to Irish immigrants who
escaped the Great Famine. They empathized with the main characters only in a
way that hardship can generate.
A
Mother’s Song follows the main character, Deirdre
O’Sullivan, her husband, son, and four year old Ava Rose in Five Points, NYC.
This 1890 washerwoman is pregnant with her third child. When her husband is killed in an accident,
Deirdre is left with three children and no support. Her older son becomes a
newsie and lives on the streets. Rather than let the baby and Ava Rose starve
to death, she signs for them to be put on an orphan train.
In Nebraska,
Claudine has suffered multiple miscarriages and is depressed. She adopts the
children. Will the adoption provide the safety and opportunity that Deirdre
hopes? This researched story of two mothers and the child who lives both is
heart wrenching. It is a poignant tale of hope and courage against unfathomable
odds for a better life free from prejudice and poverty.
The author, Cleo Lampos,
is a retired educator who taught emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered
children for 26 years. She lives in a suburb on the south side of Chicago where
she quilts, helps her husband with their urban garden, and enjoys eleven
grandchildren. She is the author of eight books and numerous magazine articles.
Cleo Lampos’ books are available on amazon.com.
The Giveaway: One free copy of this historic novel will be given to one reader of this post who leaves a comment below with name and contact info (so we can notify you if you're the winner).
Giveaway will run for one week from today on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at MIDNIGHT central time. Winner will be drawn via random.org and notified via email.
