The Call of Zulina

By Kay Marshall Strom

Description:

West Africa, 1787: Grace Winslow, the daughter of a mixed marriage between an English sea captain and an African princess, is swept up in a slave revolt after she flees the family compound to escape a detestable betrothal. As the truth about the slave fortress Zulina unfolds, Grace begins to grap the brutality and ferocity of the family business--the capture and trade of slaves. Grace is held for ransom, viciously maimed, and threatened with death. Yet when she is forced to choose sides, she casts her lot with the captives. She is especially moved by the African Cabeto's passion, determination, and willingness to sacrifice anything, including his own life, for his people's freedom. Leaning on the faith of her nanny Mama Muco, Grace risks everything to follow her heart.

Book Takeaway:

God reaches out in the most unexpected of places, in the most unexpected of ways.

Why the author wrote this book:

In my non-fiction writing on the life of John Newton--slave ship captain caught by God, later author of Amazing Grace--and on 21st century slavery, I toured an old slave fortress off the coast of Senegal, Africa, and was struck dumb at the sight of a tiny pair of baby manacles bolted to the wall. I learned of an English slave trader and his African wife who had run a large slave fortress, and I couldn't help but wonder: Had they had a daughter, with which side would she identify--African or English? And what would her choice cost her? This is book 1 of a trilogy.