MARY DEZEMBER'S WILD CONVICTION: A RESPONSE

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These days, when we see the word “conviction,” chances are good that it involves a politician, or some other celebrity being found guilty of a crime of some sort. It’s refreshing that the “conviction” in Wild Conviction has little to do with celebrities committing crimes, and more to do with inner conviction, with commitment to acting in ways that are consistent with one’s words and professed beliefs.

That is not to say that Wild Conviction is crime free. Au contraire mes amis. The entire context of the novel is embedded in two of humanity’s most egregious crimes: the slave trade and war- the US slave trade and Civil War to be precise. Oh no! Not another book about slavery and the Civil War! Well, it is, but it is also about so much more than either of those atrocities.

Being a poet as well as fiction writer, Dr. Mary Dezember employs language, prosaic and poetic, to focus a different lens on the Civil War era. Dezember’s Wild Conviction shifts the focus from a familiar perspective–perhaps even one we’re inured to–to that of a heroic, teenaged girl whose personality and character, whose identity, whose very life collides with her era, its institutions, values, and mores.

Romance, history, social and personal conflict, family secrets, questions of faith, identity, and coming of age, and even a smidge of magic, populate Wild Conviction’s pages. As I noted in a previous take on Wild Conviction, Dezember doesn’t shy away from issues of “race” and “gender” in this work, but she offers a slightly different take than most. 

You recognize that, almost immediately, in her use of the terms “Rich-tone” and “Pale” in place of the common “Black” and “White” used to categorize people of African and European descent. I don’t think you need a social science degree to identify which term applies to which social group, right? My notions about that language twist would require an entire post, and that’s not my focus here.

What is my focus here is that Wild Conviction makes it quite evident–through main character Twilight’s teenaged voice–that Mary Dezember cares about the human condition, cares about equality, and believes in concepts that may seem outdated to many: integrity, honesty, and commitment to a mode of being just because it is “right.” There is no doubt about Twilight’s and Dezember’s message, and at times it is delivered with the fervor of your favorite reverend…if you have such a thing.

No, there is no doubt about where the characters in the novel stand, and standing firmest of all, through myriad trials and tribulations is Twilight, bolstered by her magic mare, Spirit. Through her travels in time and space (the story spans three-plus years and is set primarily in Tennessee and Indiana), Twilight confronts not only the “Pale-male” dominated world around her, but herself as well. As the story develops, Twilight is compelled to reckon with her family history, her beliefs, and values, and whether she is acting in accord with those beliefs and values.

Although billed as a novel for young adults with “adult crossover appeal,” and shades of “low historical fantasy,” the themes addressed, and the literary style of the book suggest mid-to-late-teens and adults as audiences. In addition to the successful age crossover, the infusion of diverse cultural and gender appeal is no mean feat, especially for a debut novelist! 

Yes, Wild Conviction is a triumph of the "Triple D Principle" required for producing a work of this magnitude: Desire, Dedication, and Discipline. Mary Dezember has created a tour de force featuring a strong young woman who displays integrity, independence, empathy, and a commitment to equality—a necessary role model for today's world and any other.

Keep in mind, if happily ever after is your thing, Wild Conviction might be bitter brew for you. If you’re not averse to reading about life’s capricious cruelties, and characters having to trudge on through tragedy, snuggle up with Twilight and Mary Dezember’s award-winning Wild Conviction! You can be among the first wave of Wild Conviction's readers by picking up a copy of the paperback, e-book, or hardcover now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD98NKPK.