Another great thing about the site is meeting some amazing people, Christians, people who are into horror and, new agers. A really interesting mix. One of the people I 'follow' (you are notified when they post anything), is writing about 6 books at once. They are all very well written, but how she keeps them all straight I don't know.
You have people from every age, I follow a 13 year old and an amazing 86 year old named Evelyn Fort Stewart. It's Evelyn I want to tell you about.
Many of the writers on FanStory have had such horrendous lives. Have been badly abused as children or adults and out of that comes amazing writing. Evelyn is one of these.
She lived a live of terrible abuse at the hand of a demented husband. She had come from a loving home, the youngest of twelve children. She was sheltered, loved and cared for by two hard working, loving parents. She grew up in a tiny town where everyone was related, the town was even named for her family. Evelyn has shared many wonderful stories of her growing up years on FanStory and the amazing family she belonged too.I started following Evelyn when I saw one of her stories featured on the site's home page. Here was this picture of this wonderful looking woman wearing a big cowboy hat. I had to check out what she was writing about and was hooked after the first story. To get on the home page, you have to be very popular with the reviewers. Every one of Evelyn's posts get featured on the home page.
At the end of one of her posted stories was a video of a woman reading an excerpt of Evelyn's book "Behind Closed Doors." The woman read of one of many incidences of abuse that Evelyn suffered and I was appalled and fascinated at the same time. I knew I had to get that book. I ordered it that evening from amazon.com.
As soon as I received it in the mail I began to read and was amazed at the skill of her story telling. The book is so well written though self published and unedited. She did a masterful job.
The book begins with a 13 year old Evelyn being sent to the big city of Charleston South Carolina, where her parents hoped for a better life for her. I can't imagine being sent all alone by train to a big city I had never been too. Though scared, Evelyn drew on what her parents and a kind nanny had taught her about faith in God. She found a place to live and a job. Her brother lived in the city as well, so her parents sent her without fear knowing her brother would be there for her. Unfortunately her brother had to do double shifts at the Naval shipyards where he worked so saw little of Evelyn. But this was one brave, resourceful and bright young lady. An excellent worker, she had no trouble securing good jobs, and became very self sufficient.
One day her brother came to visit and brought a co-worker with him. Evelyn's life took a dramatic turn as a result of that visit and her journey to survive began. Tricked into a loveless and abusive marriage at 16, Evelyn used her intelligence and faith in God to survive. Her life would become a constant battle to survive abuse and keep from being devoured in poverty.
The book is hard to put down and is fascinating and heartrending at the same time. I grew to have a love and have great respect for Evelyn. I am proud to call her a friend. Evelyn not only survives. but manages to raise 3 wonderful children.
I highly recommend the book which can be found on amazon.com or you can contact Evelyn directly and order a copy at: Evelyn Fort Stewart, 412 Cooper St. Mountain Home, AR, 72653. Send a money order for $28.95, this includes shipping.
Evelyn now works for a domestic abuse rescue center when she helps women and men of domestic violence escape or get the help they need after escaping. Evelyn was married during a time where nothing was being done about domestic abuse, women had no rights and men could do just about anything they wanted. Thank heavens we have grown much wiser over the the last few decades.
