Peggy Wilkins

Flight of the Songbird Peggy Wilkins

In 1897, Claire is being forced into prostitution by her alcoholic mother who owns a brothel in the old red-light district of New Orleans. As a young girl on the verge of womanhood, she refuses to become part of her mother's business and makes the desperate decision to walk away from the only life she has known. Her walking journey leads her to mysterious places and meeting new people; some who are genuinely kind and where life-long friendships are forged, while other people take advantage of the young singing prodigy. She and her closest companion, Irene, whom she meets along her walk, find themselves on a desperate journey of hunger, fear and finally redemption. The deep connection between the two friends of different races is kept strong for many years as they are separated and then reunited, with each having their own life experiences to tell. The young prodigy travels from New Orleans to Europe as her story unfolds teaching her lessons in life, love and death. Her life comes back to full circle as she returns to New Orleans to have family secrets revealed and resolved through life challenges.