Catonsville Nine catalyst of book for young people
Dorothy Lilja Harrison finished writing "Peace, Be Still" in 1998.
The book of historical fiction, with the story of the Catonsville Nine
as its catalyst, remained unpublished for about 12 years until the
79-year-old Catonsville resident self-published it last April.
Harrison moved to Catonsville in 1970 from Harford County and found the
town deeply divided over the Vietnam War.
Her husband, Cliff, who opposed the war, was a pastor at the Emanuel
United Methodist Church.
Her sons, Jeff and David, were teenagers at the time of the move, and
wore long hair and peace signs.
Harrison's daughters, Joyce and Judy, were 11 and 3 when they arrived in
Catonsville.
Joyce could've been the viewpoint character of the book, which is for
readers age 10 years and older, Harrison said.
Despite the "divisive" environment of the church, Harrison, said she
grew to love Catonsville in the 10 years she called it home.
Harrison has lived in Frederick for the past eight years and has
published three other books; "A Better Tomorrow," "Operation Morning
Star" and "Gold in the Garden."
What goes into creating a book like this?
"A lot of hard work. I could never have written any of my books without
my writers' groups.
"If something didn't sound right, we would speak up. It was just
wonderful. I would never try to write another book if I didn't have a
writers group."
Why is this book good for young people?
"In the book, I had to put a lot of tension in. This young girl (the
viewpoint character) is torn between her father and brothers and all the
anti-war activists and her best friend, whose father was the chairman of
the church's board and supported the war.
"In essence, the book is trying to help young people see both sides of
an issue and be civil to each other, which is something we desperately
need in this country today.
"We need to be able to talk to each other. Vindictive rhetoric doesn't
help anybody."
Why this topic?
"Having lived through the turbulence of the Vietnam years and as a
mother and a woman, to see people carrying such terrible guilt around
with them, this is very disruptive in terms of young men and women
coming home scarred from their experiences.
"Anything that's terribly horrifying can create that. Especially now,
with a war where they don't know who's who. From what I hear, it's
different than years ago.
"(When) I had my book published in April of last year, it was perfect
timing because of the wars we're in now where young people come back
with (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and that is what (one of the
characters) did in this story."
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