Callie McFarlane

The Lantern Callie McFarlane

The Lantern features "ordinary women achieving extraordinary things" in their lives. Deliberately written as a series of short stories revisiting eras of past history as presented by the protagonist in her newly published book for an internationally known organization, The Lantern explores a history of women and their sociological plight throughout time. The characters in each segment are fictional representatives, but their status and opinions reflect realistic dilemmas prevalent at their place in time. The background motivation for the main character's decision to undertake this type of project is the discovery of missing pages from the writings of Mary Magdalene, a true disciple of Jesus Christ, not the tarnished woman history portrays her lest a female be given a position of importance and leadership. Women have had to fight for their just place throughout the past, and continue to do so. The Lantern stands as their banner of encouragement for ultimate success. Whether in the arena of professional pursuit, within the family unit, in social circles, the political arena, or in any life situation-an egalitarian approach to all genders fosters an evolved civilization. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." My wish is that The Lantern will inspire a time when we can all dance and sing together in the spirit of true freedom as we journey through Life.