Aba and Shamana

Cynthia L. Floriani

 The story is set in a fictitious Middle Eastern region two thousand years ago. The tale begins with the arrival of a mysterious stranger to a goat herder’s campsite, who captivates a little girl named Alimud with a story about a giant donkey and his young mistress who cared for him.

The story is ultimately one of Love and Friendship between an unusual giant donkey named Aba that has preternatural abilities, which also includes having a very strong intuition unlike any other animal, and of Shamana his young mistress who, after the death of his mother Jenna, raises Aba from a gangly foal to become a mammoth donkey that reaches over two meters in height. Aba is often regarded as a beast, but his fearsome appearance belies his true gentle, golden hearted nature.

Shamana herself is imbued with a Visionary gift which enables her to interpret through her vivid dreams other people’s destinies and fates.
The story brings together two families through unusual circumstances, which over time forms the basis for their unbreakable bond to each other throughout their lives and shows that being a family does not necessarily require being blood related.

Aba is set to experience great despair when he fails to protect the one he loves, which has tragic consequences.

It is only through Shamana that Aba’s heart may find peace but for this to happen he must travel through the wilderness to find her again.
This is the story of Aba, father of all donkeys!

The story was refashioned from an old familiar one which brings the characters back to life again by depicting them in what may have constituted typical daily life during those times. It highlights the importance and value of family being the cornerstone that strengthens the ties that bind each member within it to the other. The story brings together two families through unusual circumstances which over time forms the basis for their unbreakable bond to each other throughout their lives and shows that being a family does not necessarily require being blood related.

The advent of a third party to their friendship initially brings with it a lot of joy but this union becomes impacted upon through a series of tests. Tests that shake the very foundation of Aba and Shamana’s unique bond.

Aba’s trademarks are his strong sense of love, devotion, duty and protective nature towards the ones he holds dear.

Aba is set to experience great despair when he fails to protect the one he loves, which has tragic consequences.

While wondering the wilderness, it is through Aba’s strong love for his beloved mistress Shamana that he is able to endure all that he comes to face, to finally find his way back to his original home.

Shamana’s unstinting devotion to Aba is the powerful antidote which would eventually set him free from his despair.

At last, the tale once again returns to the young Alimud who on receiving a gift from the nomad before he vanishes from the campsite, realises upon opening his gift the true meaning of the nomad’s tale about the golden hearted, gentle giant donkey, Aba.

View the official website: www.abaandshamana.com

About the Author

Aba and Shamana is my first full length novel. I have used a liberal amount of creative license to construct the story and I do hope readers will enjoy it for what it is, ultimately a story about love and friendship between a young girl and her unusual pet donkey. The story also highlights the importance of family.

I live with my two cats and 13 year old pup in a northern suburb in Perth, Western Australia.

I am a mother of four beautiful grown children and a very proud grandmother.

I am a recent recipient of an MBA scholarship through Edinburgh Business School the Graduate School of Business for Heriot –Watt University based in Edinburgh and am keenly working through my studies.

In my spare time I have plans for a sequel to Aba and Shamana.

Readers are welcome to email me with any queries or feedback at: freedomspiritgreetings@gmail.com

I will endeavour to respond as time permits.

Thank you
Cynthia L. Floriani

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