To Have and To Hold

In 19th Century England, two small girls are ripped from their families and sold into cotton mill slavery. Lost, confused and alone, Emma and Susie find solace in each other's company. They search for freedom and identity as they battle the cold and miserable conditions and their place of nonentity in the mill. How will their dreams of freedom be achieved?

When not working in the Hell on earth that is the spinning-room, they are locked in the mill garret. Their owners recognize them as 'hands', implements of labour, rather than living, breathing people. Then, one night changes the course of each girl's life. After this one night of freedom Susie's restless nature cannot be calmed, and the two must learn how to survive their newfound freedom, and to discover who they are truly are.

Rosalind Slater was born in Northern England where she spent her first 26 years. After marrying young, she emigrated to Canada with her husband and two small daughters. One year later, a third daughter was born.

She received two degrees in Literature from the University of Guelph, Ontario and it was when she began research for her Master's thesis, studying the Condition of England Novels of Elizabeth Gaskell, that she became enthralled with her Northern roots and from where this her first novel was born. Her life since then has taken a circuitous route.

She spent many years in a local theatre company as an actor and a director of many plays. More latterly, she took on the task of full-time caregiver to her husband when he was diagnosed with A.L.S. Since his death she has been reborn as a musician taking joyfully to playing flute, and as a writer. Now the wheel has turned full circle with this the publication of her long-awaited novel To Have and to Hold.