Interview and Review of HerStory by Delaina Waldron

Title: HerStory

Author: Delaina M. Waldron 

Genre: Paranormal/thriller, Occult

Buy Link
Amazon

Book Synopsis

HerStory a novel by Delaina M. Waldron is a paranormal/thriller that takes the reader on a journey in the life of a young African slave woman named Ayira who has a dark secret.  A dark secret she does not understand and is beyond her control.

Ayira can see the past and the future and she can also speak to the dead. 

It is the beginning of slavery in America, a Native American tribe rescues Ayira and she struggles to balance her special powers and face her dark past to help the people around her.

Ayira must overcome her fears of her dark past, survive the present and accept her destiny to help prevent the Indian tribes fatal outcomes.

Author Bio

Delaina M. Waldron is a Screenwriter, Novelist and freelance writer in her 
spare time.  She wrote two feature length screenplays one of which was adapted to her novel "HerStory" and the other a comedy called "Ghetto Ghost Hunters" was a finalist in the 2011 Hollywood Screenwriting contest.  She also wrote a short screenplay a thriller called "Peeper", which is currently in production.

Delaina M. Waldron is a single mother of one and is currently a city bus driver and a military veteran for the Army Reserves, based in New York City.

Website: / Blog: /  Facebook page:

Twitter:  @delainawaldron

Interview Questions

1. Where did the idea come from for the book?  My Inspiration was my admiration for the Native American Indian culture

and trying to find a different concept in where Native American Indians in the 18th century might have coexisted with African slaves adding a twist of paranormal in the mix.

2. What genre(s) does your book fall under?  Paranormal Thriller

3.  Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

I would like an unknown actress to play Ayira's character but I have thought about Sanaa Lathan (Aliens vs. Predators) Octavia Spencer (The Help) to play Imani's character Eric Schweig (The Last of the Mohicans) an unknown actor to play Yellow Feather Russel Means (The Last of the Mohicans) or another unknown actor to play Chief Coyote

4. What is the one-sentence (or so) synopsis of your book?  HerStory a paranormal thriller about a young African slave woman with special powers who is rescued by a Native American tribe.

5. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  It is currently self published

6. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It actually took me 12 years to write HerStory. There were numerous obstacles distracting me from my book.  From being a single mother, going to school and working odd hours to also being in the military reserves and getting deployed twice to Iraq.

7. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  I would compare my novel HerStory to "Beloved" written by Toni Morrison.  HerStory has a eerie and mysterious feel to it, just like the "Beloved" book and it also has some paranormal parts in it that reminds me of HerStory.

8. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  The reader gets a hint of the African slave woman's dark secret in the beginning of the book, but as the story goes on, there is more to the African slave woman than everyone thinks.  It has a lot of thrilling moments and the twist at the end is phenomenal and exciting.

My Review

Although a fast paced book it was not a very easy read. The main character Ayira frustrated me at times. It was a continuous battle to understand what was going on and only at the last few pages did everything become clear. There were just to many gaps in the story to really enjoy it and to have some degree of empathy for her and the three people who was saved with her by the Indian tribe. 
Yes it was gruesome to know about their journey on the slave ship, the visitations of demons through out the book caused her to whimper away and seclude herself from those who was giving her the opportunity at a new life. Tormented by a evil spirit in the form of her father.
For the Indian tribe her visions was a gift that could help them, she thought it was curse with no idea what to do with it.  
There is absolutely nothing that can justify slavery in any form but when that slavery is caused by greed and power it gets my blood boiling. We see this happened many times in Africa as their own people sold them into slavery for promised richness. Years later we still struggle with the effects of their actions. Still a hard topic to talk about. 
I struggled to follow the emotions and attributes of the characters making them distant and bland. Although well written with a very important plot outlining the struggles of slavery I had no real connection with the characters. Could not feel their confusion, fear or pain. The obvious fear that kept Ayira like a captive in the tee pee for months was at times just to much. Refusing to know anyone or becoming part of the tribe and the love Yellow Feather was ready to give her. Her persistent refusal was not clear, we were never allowed into her thoughts to really understand her struggle.  
Little Sparrow, Yellow Feather and Great Eagle tried to reach out but time and again she shoved them away, not interested being part of the tribe. Even if they accepted her just as she was. Their characters not consistent as they interacted with her. But then her cold shoulder was the reason for conflicting emotions and reactions.
Betrayal and hate forming the plot into a intriguing read as we read about Red Sun's evil scheme.    
At the end the sacrifice she made saved them all, and her fears and loneliness became something of the past. 
Good and evil working against each other to destroy and help the tribe.