Tag: Babylon

MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS THEMES

MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS has two majorOne Destiny themes running throughout this dramatic, time travel book of human possibilities:

  1.   There is one race, the human race.
  2.   “To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.” Plutarch

 

front-coverThe arrival of this unique historical fiction novel re-opens history which in some cases has remained locked. It addresses the real history of Christmas and where the origins of the Santa Claus myths;  and fresh insights to the Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires, with connections to Noah and his sons, as they spread throughout the world. While this is a fiction/fantasy novel, the history, ancient and pre-history is accurate and plausible.

Brie is the thirteen year-old protagonist, who along with her cousin and best friend, eleven year-old Abby, their Grammy Rose and Aunt Cher (Abby’s mother), goes back in real history to live out and learn important historical events, via a set of antique keys found in a huddle library in Old Sturbridge Village.

Meanwhile Brie’s brother Greg, their mother, Sarah, and Abby’s twin brother, Abe, remain in real-time, sharing adventures on a horse-drawn sleigh and Stage Coach carriage, observing animals from Southwick’s Zoo in the live manger scene complete with a Bactrian camel, and taking them to numerous historical presentations throughout Old Sturbridge Village, and an encounter with a dangerous wild wolf. Throughout the annual Christmas by Candlelight celebration, they learn about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Panic of 1837, Adin Ballot, Hopedale, Hopedale commune, the Babylonians, Medea, Persians, Greeks and Romans, and how ancient history shaped the people of 1830, which filters down to our present day Christmas customs and traditions.

While MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS is suggested for people of all ages, it is particularly targeted to young adult audiences, from pre-teen to those in their 20s and 30s, because it provides room for differences of opinion in all matters, soul searching and character building, all while building upon accurate history, ancient and plausible pre-history. This allows individuals the breath of thought, to be able to consider for themselves things that they may never have pondered before, or might possibly reconsider in a new light.

“This poignant book weaves an interesting tale of possibility, shedding new light on old subjects.” John T. Hourihan, Jr., author of Play Fair And Win and Beyond The Fence Converging Memoirs, co-authored with Amanda Eppley. This quote graces from front cover of MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS.

MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS is the title of the novel. CHRISTMAS UNLOCKED is the subtitle. This is the first of a series springing from Old Sturbridge Village, which depicts the history of 1830 in the living museum in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. If you have never been, it is certainly worth your time investigating this popular destination point.

Click here to order: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-001108065/Mystery-of-the-Sturbridge-Keys.aspx

MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS ~ CHRISTMAS UNLOCKED

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Babylonian Empire,http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-001108064/Mystery-of-the-Sturbridge-Keys.aspx

My fiction novel is now available for purchase. I hope you enjoy it. front-cover

Brie is the thirteen year old protagonist of this fiction novel, at a time when a young, strong, female character is so needed in the world. She deals with individuality and relationships, and comes to realize there is only one race, the human race. She time travels to  the birth of Jesus in a stable, hears the choirs of angels sing, and babysits Jesus.

In other chapters, Brie gets captured by the Nephilim, meets Noah and his family, and travels to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods in Greece.  Her cousin Abby, Grammy Rose, and Aunt Cher share the adventures.

Brie and her family sails the Mediterranean Sea with Dodanim of Noah’s lineage, helps save the day during the Roman wheat shortage, hears Jesus first hand give the Sermon on the Mount, meets Apostles Paul and Timothy on the island of Samothrace, and learns why Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death.

Angel ChristmasWhile Brie and part of her family time travel, her remaining family is attending Old Sturbridge Village’s 70th Anniversary in 2016, featuring the Christmas By Candlelight annual celebration.  Brie’s mother, Sarah, her brother Greg and her cousin Abe, who is Abby’s twin, enjoy  a fascinating journey through the Underground Railroad with Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin,  Charles Dickens, Panic of 1837, an introduction to the Rev. Adin Ballou, angels and Santa Claus; all presented in the many historic buildings that make up the Village.

The snow filled evening is complete with a Christmas turkey dinner, horse drawn sleigh and carriage rides, a moving wall, a hidden library, a ring of antique keys, antique locked books and adventures with Bactrian camels, wolves, to allow a family to learn little known historical connections between Noah’s sons, and the Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires.

This book is inspired by a set of large keys handed down to me from my grandfather, F.

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Pepere’s keys and tin cup made in Old Sturbridge Village

Louis Tetreault. I am sure these keys went to the farm on Blackstone Street, Mendon, Massachusetts, either to the barn, locked chests, equipment, or to the house both he and my grandmother, Maria (Benoit) Tetreault lived in. My mother is number thirteen of fourteen children. Mom, aunts, uncles and cousins, I love you all. I am so glad my Canadian French grandparents had so many children, or else I would not be here, or have had so many cousins to make my childhood so happy.

 

Or the keys might have belonged to my grandparents’ Vermont cottage or the shed on Sheldon Hill Road, with the Wardsboro Brook directly behind it, where my sister, cousins and I would brave the icy waters flowing into our tiny, dammed up swimming spot. When I was young, I would often spend weeks and months living with them in their home away from home, while my mother, as a single parent, worked full time painting radon on watch hands so they would glow in the dark. Both my beloved grandparents have since passed away, and were very dear to me. I treasured them and everything about them, even these keys.

back-cover-copyThe book’s timely publication covers the April 20, 2016 announcement by the United States Treasury planning to put Harriet Tubman’s picture on the front of the $20 bill, moving President Andrew Jackson to the back in the year 2020. Fascinating information between President Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin is also included in this work of fiction. The names of Old Sturbridge Village including all of the buildings at this location, and the Christmas by Candlelight celebration are real. However, I have never attended the Christmas by Candlelight celebration, and the adventures in this book are pure exciting fiction.

Also real names in this area are: Thai Place, Annie’s Country Kitchen, The Bird Store and More, Brimfield Antique Center, Southwick’s Zoo, McLean Hospital, Harrington Hospital, B.T.’s Smokehouse, and the Sturbridge Tourist Center.

MYSTERY OF THE STURBRIDGE KEYS ~ CHRISTMAS UNLOCKED is available at:

http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-001108064/Mystery-of-the-Sturbridge-Keys.aspx

It is available in softcover for $13.99, and as an  eBook for $3.99.