The Minstrel Hut

By Anon Anywoman

The problem with Bridgid's life so far is that she hasn't really been in it. At forty years of age, Bridgid is competent at her job where she helps people find the courage to enrich their lives through intimate and healthy relationships with others. Good advice that Bridgid herself has yet to follow. Due to cutbacks, the hospital closes the women's mental health centre where she works. Unemployed, Bridgid discovers the depth of her emptiness. Faced with the loss of the work that defined her, Bridgid has to look inward to find new meaning. She has only one intimate relationship - her high school friend, Jenna. As for romantic relationships, she has simply given up trying. With Jenna's support, Bridgid finds the courage to redefine herself and eventually develops a loving relationship.In the process of transforming her life, Bridgid becomes drawn into Jenna's messy life. Jenna's rundown smoke-choked diner, the Coffee Hut in Deadwood is in financial trouble. After discovering that almost all of Jenna's assets are tied up in this failing business, Bridgid and Jenna's other friend, Lara, commit themselves to helping Jenna turn the Coffee Hut into something profitable. Together they come up with a scheme to change it into a "non-smoking, socially-conscious funky coffee bar".Across the street from the Coffee Hut lives Eleanor with her three daughters. The women of the town are shocked when Eleanor's husband beats her almost to death and then disappears. Deidre, Missy, Angelica and several other women gather at the Coffee Hut. The local police are not able to keep close watch on Eleanor's house while her husband remains at large. The company of friends decides to establish a twenty-four hour watch on her home. The Coffee Hut is the perfect spot for their centre of operations. From this gathering of women, a central group emerges. They share their stories and together lead the women in their determination to make their town a place where women are safe. Bridgid now has three new causes; the revitalization of her life, the restoration of Jenna's cafe and the transformation of the lot of women in Deadwood. She is also moved to explore an inner spiritual self that draws her toward an image of the Great Goddess. As Bridgid commits herself to her new life, she establishes a new relationship with her own father, Liam. She sincerely regrets she was never close to her mother, Mary Kelly, a withdrawn and remote woman who led an isolated existence and had passed away several years earlier.Bridgid is shocked to find evidence that, in nineteen sixty-seven, her mother and a group of Deadwood women calling themselves the Society of Sisters met weekly to discuss "women's issues" and dabble in Goddess worship. Sadly, only one member of the group remains alive - Ruth Garvey - an enigmatic woman of mystery and Bridgid determines to find her. Deidre, whose late mother was also a member of the Society of Sisters, suggests that the group be reborn. The Coffee Hut is adopted as the meeting place of the revived Society of Sisters and building a women's shelter in Deadwood becomes their central aim. Unfortunately, this meets heavy opposition by local men's groups and politicians. The town council refuses to give its consent. Empowered by their sense of solidarity, the women won't be stopped. They call for a "withdrawal of services" refusing to perform housekeeping and caregiving duties. As the women hold out for their shelter, dramatic events occur and the town heats up with conflict. Bridgid observes, ""What started as a well-intentioned movement to offer refuge to women in violent homes had ended up bringing violence to women who now needed refuge."Heartwarming and inspirational, you will love reading how these fearless women turn their town upside down and change their world forever.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1973465485
• ISBN13: 9781973465485
• Release Date: December 2017
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"