The Dedicated Dancer

Book excerpt: The Dedicated Dancer is an historical novel about Annie Taylor, the brave woman who was the first person to conquer Niagara Falls. Protected only by a specially designed barrel, Annie survived when numerous other people had not done so. We all know the end of the story. But what led Annie to this point? What trials did she endure throughout her life? Annie wrote a short thirteen-page biography entitled Over the Falls. In this book, she had a timeline of her many travels, but not many details. Using this book as her foundation and doing a lot of detailed research of the destinations to which she traveled, author Marcy Bowser has created a fictional account of this fascinating woman. This book provides the compelling story of a daring woman and the historical times in which she lived. But, it's also a love story and a story of a courageous woman who refused to give up no matter what cards she was dealt.