Petersburg native Forest “Jack” Bowman has been awarded a bronze medal for his novel, “All Our Yesterdays,” by Global Book Awards, an organization that recognizes talent in self-publishing. The award was made in the Psychological Thriller category and, by happy chance, was announced on April 15, Bowman’s 84th birthday.
In the lead-in to the novel Bowman pays a special tribute to Franklin resident, Mary Lee Ruddle, expressing his deep appreciation to “my high school English teacher, Mary Lee Ruddle, who, while in her mid 80s, reviewed the manuscript with a heavy red pen in hand and provided invaluable advice and encouragement.” Miss Ruddle was Bowman’s English teacher at Petersburg High School from 1953 to 1955.
“All Our Yesterdays” is the story of an under-sized orphan living in a small town similar to Petersburg in the early 1900s, who is horribly mistreated by two brutal brothers and their powerful protectors. When it becomes clear that the novel’s hero cannot get justice in any reasonable normal way, the reader watches as the mistreated orphan fashions a stunning and hair-raising revenge.
“All Our Yesterdays” is Bowman’s second novel. His first, “The Secret of the 48th Foot,” which is set throughout West Virginia, involves a search for a chest of gold and silver coins that disappeared in 1755. Two West Virginia University professors find themselves engaged in a struggle with a band of ruthless right-wing militiamen who are after the same historic treasure from the French and Indian War. To keep ahead of their murderous pursuers the pair must rely on their wits, the town fool, and even the diary of George Washington in an increasingly dangerous effort to locate the treasure and somehow stay alive. Blind luck doesn’t hurt either.
The exciting and action-filled climax to “The Secret of the 48th Foot” takes place near Mt. Storm in Grant County, where the novel’s protagonists come upon vital information leading them to the treasure.
Both thrillers have been well received. One reviewer called “The Secret of the 48th Foot,” “an entertaining, action-filled, treasure-hunting tale, wonderfully and artfully written.” Grady Harp, a leading Amazon reviewer, said of “All Our Yesterdays”: “Novels of this importance deserve wide attention. Forest Bowman’s life values, translated into the form of a well-sculpted fictional story, not only entertain, but also provide ample food for thought for looking at the world and our fellow inhabitants with compassion, appreciation, and understanding. Very highly recommended.”
Bowman, who was a highly-popular professor at the WVU College of Law, was the recipient of a number of teaching awards during his teaching career, including being named Professor of the Year for all of higher education in the state by the Faculty Merit Award Foundation of West Virginia in 1988.
Global Book Awards are designed to recognize authors in the self-publishing industry who have not received the recognition they deserve. Recipients of Global Book Awards receive digital medals which they may display on their books as well as their websites and other places where their books are promoted.
“Both All Our Yesterdays” and “The Secret of the 48th Foot” are available for purchase on Amazon.com in both paperback and eBook format.
Submitted by Jack Bowman
