Who is Abigail Kelley Foster (and what does she have to do with CLOCKWISE?)

Abigail Kelley Foster was a feminist. And an abolitionist. And a woman.

Just one of these titles was a tough bill to fill in 1860 America, much less all three.  Women didn't have the vote. They were meant to work hard and look pretty. She rallied against one of the most contentious issues of her time and possibly of all time in American history: Slavery.

An issue that divided America and led to the American Civil War.

From Encyclopedia Britannica: ... in May 1839 (she) began a career as a reform lecturer. That career was a stormy one, bringing vituperation and sometimes even mob violence upon her as she was denounced regularly from the pulpit as immoral for daring to mount the public platform.

(vituperation: verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation.)

I should mention that she was brave.

Women in the 19th Century didn't have a voice or position like many women do today. Like every North American woman can have today if she wants one. It's not even necessary to leave her own home. We have blogs.

Not only am I glad to have the vote, but my husband sees me as an equal partner. We share ideas, adventures and chores. He was involved in raising the kids as much as I was. All things I take for granted but were almost non-existent even a few decades ago. Just watch a couple episodes of Mad Men to see what I mean.

What does this have to do with CLOCKWISE? 

This is the alternate universe that Casey Donovan has to deal with on a regular basis. She's pretty good at it, having had this time travel affliction for most of her life.

The following is a short excerpt from Clockwise where Casey and her friend Sara take a little stroll with a gentlemen who's developing an interest in Casey.

 “Mr. Willingsworth is a recent graduate from Harvard, Cassandra.”

 “How nice.” I racked my brain trying to recall the name Willingsworth from my history lessons. Though I excelled at the subject of American History, I drew a blank.

 “What do you think of the coming election, Mr. Willingsworth?” Sara said.

 “Oh, such conversation is not fitting for young ladies such as yourself and Miss Donovan.” His little black mustache twitched. I wasn’t used to being talking down to and I couldn’t help releasing a small ‘hrumph’ of air through my nose.

“Nonsense, Robert,” Sara said. “I have a mind that can think.”

 “Very well. Lincoln hopes to win.” He paused as if deciding whether to go on or not. I guess he decided we had brains enough to understand what he was about to say next, as he continued. “But, I fear he has alienated all the votes in the south due to his lack of, shall we say, enthusiasm regarding the institution of slavery.”

 “Slavery is barbaric,” Sara said with feeling. I loved her feisty attitude and that she didn’t let this guy intimidate her.

“Perhaps slavery is a bit extreme,” Robert added, “but you must admit, they are great workers. Better than horses.”

 Better than horses? Mr. Willingsworth’s charm had definitely worn off.

 Sara lifted her chin. “If I could vote, I would vote Abraham Lincoln president of the United States of America.”

 “Voting is very serious business, Miss Watson.”

 “As is freedom.” Even though I knew the best policy for me as a “visitor” was to just keep my mouth shut, I couldn’t help myself. Robert and his ‘I’m a man and therefore I’m better than you, a mere woman’ attitude got on my nerves.

 “Certainly, Miss Donovan,” Robert conceded. “Freedom is a serious business as well. As are economics and rights of owners to their purchases.”

 “Even when the purchase refers to human beings?” I said with a tight smile.

“I meant no offense, Miss Donovan. I’m not necessarily stating my personal opinion.”

 “Blacks are persons and should be treated as such,” Sara said.

I tried to keep it in, but it just popped out. “One day we may have a black president.”Chew on that, Robert. He and Sara stopped, starring at me wide eyed.

Robert cracked a smile and then laughed. “Or we might have a woman for president! Miss Donovan, you are the most intriguing individual I have met in a long while.”

We waited as a horse and buggy passed along a trail in front of us. “Mr. Willingsworth,” Sara said, tugging on his arm. “Cassandra and I are attending the meeting at Faneuil Hall this afternoon.”

 We were?

 “Abby Kelly Foster from Worcester is speaking,” she added.

 “The famed female abolitionist,” Robert said, nodding. “Indeed, if you two beautiful ladies will be attending, I shall certainly be there as well.” Robert said his farewells, holding eye contact with me a little bit too long for comfort. He promised to meet us in an hour.

 Sara and I continued by foot to Quincy Market. “He seemed quite taken with you.” Sara stared at the ground when she said this. I didn’t think she was too happy about it, but I wouldn’t insult her intelligence by denying it.

 “For the life of me, I can’t see why,” I said.

 “My dear Cassandra. Women who don’t recognize their own beauty are the most attractive of them all.” 

What the heck was she talking about? Unless opinionated, overly tall women with frizzy hair were considered beautiful in the nineteenth century.

 “He’s too old for me, anyway.”

 “Hardly. Girls our age marry men older than Mr. Willingsworth all the time. Cassandra, you say the most peculiar things.”

 I really should keep my mouth shut.

CLOCKWISE is currently FREE everywhere!

Amazon * Sony * itunes *Smashwords * Kobo *Barnes & Noble

What about you? Would you like to live in the 19th Century?