Maryann will be appearing at the Roe Jan Library on Wednesday September 10th.

The event on Saturday, September 13th at Taghkanic Town Hall has been cancelled.

Inspired by the stories told by her family, the author’s continuation of The Hill; Trying Times, finds Fred and Mary having to cope with problems after the loss of people dear to them as well as learning more about the outside world.  Making the Hill’s villagers less likely to consider becoming a part of such a world.  Will Fred and Mary think twice about becoming a part of such a world too?

With the fear that World War 1 may soon involve the United States, the men and women of The Hill are fearful that the government will take their men to be soldiers leaving the women, children and elderly unprotected in the village.  A village that feels they shouldn’t be a part of a war that is the outside world’s problem.

Citizens in the surrounding towns look down upon the people of The Hill even more because of their German descent and they don’t want them fighting beside their family members; while other people in surrounding towns question why men of the Hill -

like Fred - aren’t being taken to become soldiers.  This makes life even more difficult for Fred and the others.  With more mouths in the family to feed, Fred struggles to sell baskets and put food on the table.

Enjoying good times and bad, our young bride Mary is becoming more worldly and opens her horizons to new people and places.

Tragically, not only are the people of The Hill strained by the difficulties brought forth by the war and difficult times, but the Spanish Influenza is taking people of all walks of life even striking families close to home.  This turns out to be troubling to the family because Abie is up to his old habits of wandering off, causing the people in the village to think about making a drastic homemade law. 

Please visit roejanlibrary.org for more information.