Joshua's Journey

About the Book

Joshua’s Journey is the story of a twelve-year-old African American boy born just after the Civil War. Joshua’s carelessness results in an accident that leaves the daughter of his plantation owner unconscious. His sister shames him into finding the Swamp Woman, a mysterious local folk healer. Her decoction heals Melinda Mae. Joshua decides he too wants to become a healer. This story chronicles the tremendous difficulties he had to overcome as he confronts prejudice, segregation, an inadequate education, the loss of benefactors, and financial crises to achieve his goal of becoming a doctor. As an old man, Joshua revisits his youth in a series of flashbacks. As he shares his experiences with his family and students, he realizes that even though he is old, he can still help others triumph over some of the same struggles he experienced.

About the Author

Judy Dempsey has worked as an educator for thirty-two years, first as a classroom teacher, then as a school counselor; she did private counseling with children, families, and couples. She also served at the state Consumer and Family Advisory committee. Now retired, she lives with an eighteen year old cat and an Australian blue heeler. Her late husband was also an author. Several years ago, she and her husband published a calendar of nature photography. She first attended in writing during a two-week workshop called Teacher Scholar in Residence in University of North Carolina sponsored by North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching—“Everybody has a story to tell and write.” That peaked her interest, and from then on, she attended several writing workshops and attended the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival at the University of Fairbanks in Alaska for three summers. She’s been involved with North Carolina Senior Olympics Silver Arts, the literary division. She received the silver medal for Understanding Your Mortality in essay writing, bronze for her poem called “Morning” in poetry, and also bronze for “My Brother’s 75th Birthday in New Orleans,” which was life-experience story. James Melvin obtained his B.S. degree in Art Education/Design from N.C. A&T State University. At age ten his desire was to become a professional artist. Perseverance, guidance and dependence upon his Heavenly Father allowed him to achieve his goal. A versatile artist, James works in oils, acrylics, pastels and colored pencils. Peace is the theme of his work. He is the illustrator for Suzanne Tate's Nature Series, other writers and the Pea Island Lifesavers Series at the N.C. Lifesavers series at the N.C. Aquarium in Manteo.