Barb Baltrinic, author
THE BOOKS
A Founder for All
ISBN-13-978-1481271820
Abraham Clark, a most unlikely delegate to the Continental Congress, enters the political arena and becomes a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Forced to choose between family or country, Abra stands up against the wealthy delegates and demands the new government protect the common man. Abra insists on amendments to the Constitution to protect Americans against elitism, much to the anger of his colleagues. His unflinching service to this country endured despite his constant fear of retaliation on his family sets him as an American founder we can all respect, thus a “founder for all.”
Synopsis: Abraham Clark should be a farmer, but he doesn’t have the stamina for farm life. Instead he starts his adult life as a land surveyor, then follows his passion of being a “poor man’s counselor.” Eventually his reputation as a fair and honest man who vocally supports Patriotism, leads him to an opportunity to go to Philadelphia where he signs the Declaration of Independence immediately labeling him a traitor against Britain and many of his neighbors. This biographical story follows Abraham, and his home state of New Jersey, throughout the Revolutionary War and through the early formation of the new government. Abra, as he was called by family and friends, helped to shape our country’s history while never losing his status as a common man and protecting the rights of those who most needed protection from potential political corruption. His unending role in public service guaranteed the common man would receive fair treatment from his government. The novel includes insights into the war, interaction with all the well known heroes of the Revolutionary War, the running of Congress, the stresses of Abra’s wife and children and friends as they stand on the front lines against the British, and Abra’s constant struggle to place country before family during the most critical time of our early history.
While this is a novel, it does include primary documents and is based on researched information.
A PATRIOT'S PRICE, by Barb Baltrinic
I released my second novel, A PATRIOT'S PRICE. The novel serves as a follow up to my first novel, A FOUNDER FOR ALL, which is about Abraham Clark, signer of the Declaration of Independence. The new novel's focus is the son of Abraham Clark, and although it is based on factual information, I have also developed a fictional story line of Andrew's survival after his capture and imprisonment on the British prison ship, HMS Jersey.
The book is divided into three parts: The first is a series of flashbacks in Andrew's struggle between the "now" and dealing with his imprisonment, and the "then," when his mind slips back in time prior to his capture. He falls into the pits of despair and finds himself hating New Yorkers who did nothing to stop the conditions on the prison ships; his captors, the British; George Washington, who was only interested in saving the American officers; his father who did not use his influence to save him; and finally, God, who he felt had abandoned him.
The second part deals with Andrew's struggle for survival, and his growing hatred for everything and everyone, including Goerge Washington, his own father and God.
The third part of the book focuses on the slow healing process as Andrew comes to terms with recognizing those who actually helped him, and his own role in the war. His path to peace only happens when he realizes he, too, had a role in heartbreaks caused by the war. The novel is a psychological look at what a young soldier faces in war. It is also filled with researched information about the times and includes some primary documents.