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© 2017 by Ann K. Parsons
The demmies were the public's darlings, but they led a double life. By day, they posed for pictures, were guests on TV shows, and helped to increase knowledge about genetic engineering by taking part in scientific experiments. By night, they faced Dr. Albert Lud's unauthorized experiments and his torture.
Was there something better for the genetically engineered, foot-high humans? Could they escape? If they did, could they find food, shelter, and freedom from the ogre who tormented them? Could they trust any of the "big folk" to help them? These were some of the questions that kept Alex Kenyon awake at night.
His daughter Ruth wondered what made a human being. Was it size? Was it intelligence? Was it belief in God? What made her know she was a human being, even though only nine inches tall?
This is the story of how Alex's and Ruth's questions are answered.
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The Demmies is available on Bookshare at the following URL:
https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/1845502
I met the author, Ann Parsons, several years ago when she joined a writers' group to which I belong. She began writing this story in the 1970s. After joining our group, she decided to start work on it again and sent chapters to our email list. Even so, knowing how the book ends, I found it hard to put down and might have pulled an all-nighter in order to finish it more quickly.
You don't have to be a science fiction buff to appreciate this story of oppression followed by freedom. In a way, this book is similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, except in this case, the demmies are only conditioned not to trust big folk, and the ending is more positive. The Demmies is the first of a trilogy of books Ann has written about these little characters. I hope she publishes the other two books in this series. I want to read more.
—Abbie Johnson Taylor, Author of We Shall Overcome, How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver, That's Life: New and Selected Poems, and My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds
Website: http://www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com
Ann Kathleen Parsons was born in 1953 in Olean, New York. She attended Elmira College, where she received a B.A. in English Education. She continued her studies at St. Bonaventure University, where she received an M.S. in Guidance and Personnel.
Ms. Parsons was born blind, which has affected her life in many ways, most notably in how she reads and writes. The Demmies began as a braille manuscript, written on a Perkins Braille Writer, and it has ended up, after going through several incarnations, as a Word document. The author's struggles with obtaining information and with writing are part of the reason she works in the field of assistive technology.
Ms. Parsons is self-employed as a tutor to adults who are blind or deaf-blind in learning braille and in assistive technology. Her business is Portal Tutoring: http://www.portaltutoring.info
She has been writing as a hobby for 40 years, crafting novels in her spare time. She enjoys storytelling and began writing in order to give this need a vehicle for expression.
When Ms. Parsons is not working or writing, she enjoys reading voraciously, especially mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy. She is a choral singer, belonging to the Rochester Oratorio Society (http://www.rossings.org) and to her church choir. She also enjoys swimming and getting together with friends. She is a member and former secretary of the Rochester New York Chapter of The American Council of The Blind, http://www.acb.org, as well as a member of the County of Monroe / City of Rochester Council for People with Disabilities: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589944224
The Demmies is her first published novel.
Biographical information on Ms. Parsons' personal website: http://www.portaltutoring.info/bio.html
E-mail: akparsons819@gmail.com
Telephone: 585-244-0477