Local writer publishes book about frontier nurse
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POLSON — Carmine “Margo” Mowbray of Polson recently published her first work of fiction, “An Answering Flame.”
The Polson Library is hosting a book reading/signing for both Mowbray and Polson author Mary Barmeyer O’Brien on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
“An Answering Flame” is based on true stories of Mowbray’s aunt who was a nurse in the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky during World War II.
“Aunt Doris’s 1980 amateur memoir thrilled me, but it sat on my bookshelf for all these years. It was a real joy to finally research and present her stories more professionally for readers to enjoy,” Mowbray said.
Frontier Nursing Service nurse-midwives rode horseback up Kentucky’s rugged hollows to deliver babies, and treat the sick and injured day or night; winter or summer. Risking surprise encounters with desperate bootleggers, they answered the call, usually alone with only what they could carry in their saddlebags.
In winter their horses wore iron shoes with ice nails for traction in the treacherous creeks. In summer the only defense against poisonous snakes were the nurses’ tall leather boots.
By the light of smoking kerosene lamps, the women delivered babies as lard cans of creek water boiled over the wood stove. Undaunted by fires, floods, drought, the Great Depression or World War II rationing, they brought professional medical care to America’s most remote families, lowering the maternity death rate below the national average. One young nurse had to reach deep into her soul for the courage to go on. By and by, she could not imagine her life anyplace else.
Mowbray’s writing experience began at age 20 at one of Montana’s oldest weekly newspapers. She then became a news and features correspondent for the Missoulian. Between 1983 and 1987, she and her former husband, Todd, bought Polson’s Flathead Courier, the Ronan Pioneer and the Mission Valley News. They combined them into the Lake County Leader in 1990. They and their staff continued publishing the award-winning paper until the Mowbrays sold the enterprise in 2000. Mowbray then substitute-taught at Polson High School for nine years.
Mowbray was appointed to the Montana Senate and when those duties diminished, she completed the 206-page book. She spent time in Kentucky researching and gathering historic photos from the University of Kentucky archives.
The book is available at Polson retail stores, Ronan’s Gift Gallery and Ninepipes Museum for $15.95, and on Amazon.com in both soft cover and a Kindle version for $4.99.
As a writer, Carmine goes by “Margo,” and her website is: www.authormargomowbray.com.
