So many readers loved little Emmaline in When Silence Sings. She’s the child Serepta McLean unexpectedly takes in after her family is killed in a crash. I introduced Emmaline in part because Serepta needed some hint of softness–something that would help readers see that she’s not ALL bad.
But where did I get Emmaline’s story you may wonder? Did I just pull a tragedy out of my hat in order to create a sympathetic character? I mean, her father THROWS her from a truck just before it’s smashed by a train. Pretty dramatic stuff.
Nope–I’m not that creative. Rather, I read a snippet from the Coshocton Tribune in Ohio dated September 27, 1937. And I knew I had to work it into a story.
Montgomery, W. Va. – Two-year-old EMOGENE BROWN, in a hospital today with a broken arm, was the only survivor of a train-truck accident in which seven persons were killed. The child was thrown clear of the crash by her father ELLORY T. BROWN, 36, just before a Chesapeake and Ohio passenger train struck the truck at Hansford grade crossing, 20 miles east of Charleston, last night. The dead besides BROWN were: his wife, BERTHA, 36; their four children, WILLIAM, 4; MYRTLE, 9; RUBY, 12; and DONALD, 17, and W. F. JAMES, 60, driver of the truck.
I dare any writer to read that and NOT want to write a story around it.
And I still wonder what happened to Emogene Brown . . . she’d be about 86 years old now.
Emmaline was the name of my 2nd great grandmother (Emmaline Ice). It must
have been a popular WV name. If I had know this when my daughter was born years
ago now, I would probably have used as her middle name. I just love it.
Peggy
Yay–another family name!
It’s no wonder your writing is SO SUPERB!! Your creative mind makes ALL those things “come to life” in a most unique way!! God has TRULY Blessed you! For “that” we ALL Thank Him & YOU as well!! Keep writing those Books!!!! :))
You make me blush!
Emogene was adopted by my great grandparents Shelton & Thelma Cooper she married and had two children who are still
Alive today she died in 1992 my great grandmother was a Brown and knew was related to the family. “Jean” lived in Marmet and Chesapeake WV
Thanks for all those great details!