Angels Shelved: Author's Note

Author’s Note

This is obviously a work of fiction, but is it? I have always been fascinated with NDEs (near death experiences) and have read volumes. Many share experiences of meeting deceased ancestors that have helped them unawares. I like to believe we have ancestors in heaven assigned to help us through earth-life’s maze.

Then in the past few years I started working on my genealogy and am captivated by some of my ancestor’s stories. “Lewis” was my grandfather’s middle name (as well as my husband’s), but is based on a character in his lineage who was killed in the civil war at only 19 from a gunshot wound to his groin, Private Willian F. Hooke. This private’s grandfather Captain Hooke fought in the war of 1812. Lewis Meyerhoeffer married William’s Aunt Ann Hooke. Lewis was actually a descendent of Michael Meyerhoffer who was a Methodist Minister that died at 38 leaving 9 children. I have been drawn to their family line. Lewis is Private Hooke, but represents them all.

Another grandfather’s name was “Benjamin” and I was married on his birthday. His wife was named June…but I changed her name to another month “May”. I have often felt like she might be close to me at times when I need her. “Pearl” was another grandmother’s middle name and the name of a lost child further back in time that I found later when doing research.

Not coincidentally I am sure, I decided to name Emma’s mother Maggie and already had the heavenly character named Pearl when I found out that Maggie means “Pearl” in it’s Scottish roots. I love names and their meanings. I knew they had to be the same person.

Christian is a composite of many past ancestors who were Christian believers (and both a brother and son have a form of that name). I thought it might be interesting to share some history of the little known Children’s Crusade which many Christian believers played a part.

Keegan is our youngest son who almost didn’t make it to join the family. “Make wherever you are where you want to be” truly is his motto.

“Arty” came from an adored step-grandpa Arthur Elbert Crossler, whom I loved as much as my own line. Then “Mary”, “David” and “James” were on the top of the list for repeated first names in my family line. They are all gone now, but are they?

The main character’s name was going to be Grace, but Grace became her middle name when I felt she needed to be Emma (there are various forms of this name in our family as well). Emma’s last name is an anagram for Eternal…”Lanrete”…as I believe we are eternal beings. I had her be 16 years old and the story covering the year until she was 17 because I started this story in 2016 and hoped to finish by the end of 2017…16 going on 17 :-).

There are also reference to birds many times throughout this work. Birds have the wings my angels do not and symbolize flying above our problems or just taking flight within your own life. I also like the image of “on wings of hope”. All of those metaphors play into Emma’s story.

I have included several songs, books and a few movies in this story. Each of these creative forms of expression have blessed and enhanced my life many times so I have shared some of my favorites. Music is often inspirational to me and I find answers to some of life’s perplexing problems in lyrics. The song Auld Ange Syne was once one of those inspirations for me clear back in Jr. High.

This work is a compilation of many genres. There is a little bit of historical fiction, my favorite genre, but there are also spiritual elements and it would work in the teen genre. Hopefully Angels Shelved is just all around good fiction and an enjoyable, worthwhile read.

Acknowledgements

There are several people I should give credit to, but many are not in this realm and I am not even sure their names. I do know much of my inspiration came from presences that you cannot see with earthly eyes to whom I am most grateful. The evolution of Lewis’s story with Lily was not originally planned to go that way, but I was nudged to let them end up together and it seemed so right. I especially appreciate all my ancestors who went before me and contributed to the life I have been blessed with and the person I am.

I did have some friends and family here on earth who helped and inspired me as well. Some of my supportive readers and cheerleaders include: Teri Sowby, Tracey Meyerhoeffer, Sandy Ostler, Halle Huber, Pauline Meyerhoeffer, Bonnie Welch, Sara Patterson and Julie Hales. (Not all have given input yet, but said they would :-)Thank you for giving me insights and encouragement when needed!

I actually did have a teacher named Mrs. Dudley in High School who taught my Inscapes Creative Writing class and inspired me to write much like Mrs. Dudley did Emma in this story. She was a very serene soul and passed away from cancer not long after I graduated. I do not know if she ever knew how much her kindness and the confidence she gave me about my writing efforts meant. Teen-hood is a fragile time. May this be a tribute to her too.