Land of Opportunities
1897, North Yorkshire. Rose Watson, a sixteen-year-old girl, bereft after her mother's death, finds herself working long and hard hours on the family farm. Treated badly by her uncaring father and a brother who is making unwanted advances on her, she knows she must escape this torturous life. When the opportunity arises, Rose flees the farm at last and heads for Liverpool where she boards a ship to New York.
She meets a budding singer, Agnes, who unwittingly draws her into the underworld she so often frequents. Rose soon discovers that New York is not paved with gold but is notorious for daily running battles of gang warfare and street crime. But Thomas Blackwood, an American whom she met travelling from England to America is her saviour and love soon blossoms. Rose must strive hard to make it in a new and dangerous land so very far away from home.
Land of Opportunities
1914. Rose and her Family face an uncertain future as the Great War has broken out in Europe. Isabella is now a Nurse, and Lucus, their eldest Son, is a Petty Officer in the Navy. America remains neutral under President Woodrow Wilson. But will the sinking of the Lusitania bring America closer to War? And if so, what lies ahead for Rose and her Family? Meanwhile, Rose and Veronica continue to work hard at the Ladies Charity Board, helping migrants arriving on ships not only from England but also from France, Germany, and Holland, many in the hope of escaping the turmoil in Europe.
Families in desperation still send children on their own in the hope of a better life for them. Gang Warfare remains high, with the Chinese Triads fighting for control. Battles still break out as they seek dominance against each other. So, it remains whether Great War draws those of the Blackwood Family into conflict and, if so, at what cost to them.
Life in Zig Zags: A Collection of Short stories by Stockton Scribblers
Sit back, relax and enjoy a collection of stories that reflect the ups and downs, and peaks and troughs of everyday life. Featuring a cast of ordinary people dealing with uncertainty and the zig zags life throws at them, see how they face these problems and find out if they can ultimately move on, or whether it will ruin them forever. If you’re looking for a collection of short fiction that not only entertains but deals with the everyday things in life, this is the book for you. Developed over a two-year period as part of a community writing group, this collection is the work of Stockton Scribblers. If you love contemporary stories about everyday people, you’ll love this. Get your copy and lose yourself with Life in Zig-Zags.