Aunt Jeanie's Book Publishing Fund
Donation protected
The story of the people of St. David's Island, Bermuda, is often referred to as the stuff of local legend. However, it is more than that. Our stories have been handed down over the centuries from generation to generation. Many have come to our shores to research our past as well as our connection to the Native American tribes from the eastern parts of the United States - specifically, the Pequots, Narragansett and Wampanoag tribes.
Since 1996 I have researched and written about our people who were some of the first slaves and indentured servants to the early British settlers. While Bermuda was discovered in 1609, incorporated in 1612, St. David's Island was not connected to the main islands until 1934! Our people lived in isolation for many centuries. I have had the privilege of serving as Historian-in-Residence at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), given presentations
at Smith College (Mass), Brown University (RI), University of Kansas (KS), Oberlin College (OH), Oberlin PublicLibrary (OH), Haskell Native American University (KS), Lorain County Community College (OH), among others; and most recently at Eckerd College in Florida (2/2015).
There are very few people who can tell the true inside story of our people. We traditionally did not speak to outsiders about our lives. We have granted very few interviews over the years. I am a born and bred St. David's Islander with at least six generations of history. As an insider with 400 years of ancestry on the island, I have a first hand knowledge of my family's past. I've researched, written and tried many times to publish this amazing story of a people's survival against great odds. While I have been successful with newspaper articles, each time, "a request of up-front funding" for
actual publication has stopped me from sharing this profound, factual story. The last two times I sought assistance for publication was from my own government's Department of Cultural Affairs in Bermuda, only to be told to "try again next year". Obviously, I was unsuccessful even in my own country. Funding for those years was given to help dance groups, artists, etc.
I've recently learned about gofundme.com from my niece, Raygina Fox, who has enthusiastically offered to assist me with this project. As I am aging, and the story is so important, I'm seeking assistance through this site for help with publication. On my own through several publishing companies, I have been quoted approximately $10,000 to publish. I am with assistance, in re-writing, re-editing stages again and hopefully will be finished before the end of 2015.
I am, therefore, seeking financial assistance to put this book in bookstores. In particular, I would like to see school-children have the facts about this history. I'm very grateful for any and all assistance. I hope that my passionate research will help to reconstruct the legacy of the St. David's Islander in its true and authentic sense.
Thank you so much.
Aunt Jeanie
Since 1996 I have researched and written about our people who were some of the first slaves and indentured servants to the early British settlers. While Bermuda was discovered in 1609, incorporated in 1612, St. David's Island was not connected to the main islands until 1934! Our people lived in isolation for many centuries. I have had the privilege of serving as Historian-in-Residence at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), given presentations
at Smith College (Mass), Brown University (RI), University of Kansas (KS), Oberlin College (OH), Oberlin PublicLibrary (OH), Haskell Native American University (KS), Lorain County Community College (OH), among others; and most recently at Eckerd College in Florida (2/2015).
There are very few people who can tell the true inside story of our people. We traditionally did not speak to outsiders about our lives. We have granted very few interviews over the years. I am a born and bred St. David's Islander with at least six generations of history. As an insider with 400 years of ancestry on the island, I have a first hand knowledge of my family's past. I've researched, written and tried many times to publish this amazing story of a people's survival against great odds. While I have been successful with newspaper articles, each time, "a request of up-front funding" for
actual publication has stopped me from sharing this profound, factual story. The last two times I sought assistance for publication was from my own government's Department of Cultural Affairs in Bermuda, only to be told to "try again next year". Obviously, I was unsuccessful even in my own country. Funding for those years was given to help dance groups, artists, etc.
I've recently learned about gofundme.com from my niece, Raygina Fox, who has enthusiastically offered to assist me with this project. As I am aging, and the story is so important, I'm seeking assistance through this site for help with publication. On my own through several publishing companies, I have been quoted approximately $10,000 to publish. I am with assistance, in re-writing, re-editing stages again and hopefully will be finished before the end of 2015.
I am, therefore, seeking financial assistance to put this book in bookstores. In particular, I would like to see school-children have the facts about this history. I'm very grateful for any and all assistance. I hope that my passionate research will help to reconstruct the legacy of the St. David's Islander in its true and authentic sense.
Thank you so much.
Aunt Jeanie
Organizer
Jean Foggo Simon
Organizer
Vacaville, CA