I Owe My Soul: The Black Diamond Covenant — Diane Mechem Kinser

Set in the coal-rich hills of southeastern Ohio during the early twentieth century, I Owe My Soul: The Black Diamond Covenant traces the lives of three diverse women who set small town Nelsonville and larger Columbus on their heels, scoring major victories for equality. Mary Rose Markham builds a family and a merchandising empire fueled by time-threatened wealth of coal, but learns there are many causes worth fighting for. Jane Moore, raised in coal camps, suffers heartbreak, rises victorious with coal miner Bud Neeley, and unites with Mary Rose to build a suffrage unit, which includes an unlikely ally, Sarah. Sarah Washington dreams of life outside racial constraints, finds hatred and mistrust in southeastern Ohio, and risks personal safety to become a writer, exposing atrocities. Her efforts with Mary Rose and Jane on behalf of women and black citizens propels her into an uneasy spotlight. This novel paints a shocking picture of an area known as Little Cities of Black Diamond, rich in history but washed with terror and grief.