Book Discussion and Signing
Madison Public Library, Chick Room
December 10, 2015 ~ 7:00 PM
LOCAL AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN PRESENTS
Etched in Granite
A Historical Novel
“I smiled when I thought about him lyin’ alone in that field with his bones picked clean. Live free or die. I finally understood.”
Local author and historian, Mj Pettengill, will present her historical novel, Etched in Granite, which is set on the Carroll County (Poor) Farm in Ossipee, New Hampshire in 1872.
Ms. Pettengill is an author, lecturer, and American historian. Her focus is on New England history, cultural and social narrative, and inter-generational studies. As a freelance writer, she has contributed to numerous magazines and is a facilitator of writing and transformative arts workshops.
As a longtime resident of the area, she has been a featured speaker at the Madison Historical Society and brass teacher at the Madison Elementary School. Mj currently resides on a small farm in North Sandwich. She is also a wildcraft practitioner, aligned with her passion for nature and exploring the ancient healing traditions, customs, and folklore of her Abenaki ancestors.
She holds degrees in history and psychology, as well as an M. F. A. in creative writing.
It is 1872. The Civil War has ended, leaving behind a nation torn and economically depressed. Etched in Granite is a harrowing account of life and death on the Carroll County Farm — a tragic, yet triumphant novel that tells a story of courage, survival, and secrets surrounding lost love.
The story is narrated by the three principal characters: Abigail, a young woman facing unimaginable hardship when agonizing circumstances and betrayal lead to life on the Poor Farm; Nellie, an Abenaki elder and healer enduring great loss while exhibiting resilience during a time of social, racial, and religious intolerance; and Silas, a spirited farm boss illuminating the conflicts of balancing a position of authority with his personal life while navigating small town politics. Their unforgettable stories are carefully woven together to reveal a hidden part of America’s somber past.
Originally a work of non-fiction, the author crafted a social narrative to reach a broader audience. The novel was inspired by her discovery of a pauper cemetery in Ossipee, New Hampshire, where there are 298 numbered graves. It is her mission to give voices to those silenced, to evoke images where they have been erased, and to replace the numbers with names.
For more information, log on to http://www.mjpettengill.com/. There will be copies of the book available at the event.