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        Orphan Train Trilogy Snags Three Finalist Slots in Indie Awards!

Robert Noonan’s Orphan Train Trilogy¾Wildflowers, Bridie's Daughter and Secrets¾ were all named finalists for the 2008 Indie Book Awards, taking three of the ten slots in the Historical Fiction Category.

The Indie Awards are given to authors published by small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors. http://indiebookawards.com/2008_winners_and_finalists.php   Noonan is a first-time author!  Considered the most exciting and rewarding book awards program open to independent publishers and authors worldwide, they are awarded annually and traveled in the Indie Awards Catalog to the Book Expo America in Los Angeles.

Noonan’s Trilogy shares a little-known but haunting segment of United States history about the parentless children who traveled from New York City to find homes in the West and Southwest. The “orphan trains” relocated over 200,000 children between the years 1854-1929.  Some children found loving homes; others experienced horrendous physical and mental abuse. Noonan’s trilogy is not only about how the lives of the children were changed, but also the lives of the adults who took these children into their homes. Love and tears flowed both ways.                                                       

The eye-opening stories follow teen-aged children who are filled with hope, concern and uncertainty as they ride the rails to an unknown future. Citizens of the western towns befriend the children, while others were not so welcoming, believing all the orphans from New York City were bastards. Despite harboring secrets from a past filled with physical abuse, shame, murder and prostitution, most of the children and their new parents begin a fresh and exciting life.

Robert Noonan, a Chicago native moved to Hatfield, Wisconsin, where he completed his highly acclaimed Orphan Train Trilogy. As a member of the National Orphan Train Complex of America, he eagerly highlighted this extraordinary history about a desperate time for children of our past. Though he was not an orphan train rider, his interest and study inspired him to write his trilogy.  These heart-warming novels are based upon well documented, but little-known, facts. Filled with vivid historical detail and heartfelt emotion, Noonan delivers a compelling look at the beginnings of what is now our nation’s children’s service.

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