Kingdom of Ends American Mission in Bongo is a work of fiction inspired by Jenny’s time working overseas as a development economist in central Africa in the 1980’s. Its principal characters are composites of people she knew during that time. They are not meant to represent any one individual or person.

     In the spirit of satire (most) of the African references to cities or well-known personages have been changed. That said, anyone with familiarity to central Africa will recognize many of the places (and maybe well-known persons of the era).

     This labor love took decades to come to fruition. It was started in the 1980’s and then put aside while she was busy with family and career. She turned back to it in the late 2000’s but it took another (nearly) twenty years to finally bring it to the world. 

Some sources of inspiration for the background story of the Cold War and Vietnam legacy include: Stanley Karnow, Vietnam – A History; Joseph J. Trento, The Secret History of the CIA; Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie – John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam; Joseph B. Smith, Portrait of a Cold Warrior; Madeline G. Kalb, The Congo Cables; and John Prados, President’s Secret Wars – CIA and Pentagon Covert Operations from World War II through Iranscam. 

For background on local African practices Colin Turnbull’s The Forest People was invaluable. 

Other famous authors whose works have inspired me to write my story include: V.S. Naipaul’s A Bend in the River; Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness; and Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.