Jane Schwalger-Wyatt was born the illegitimate child of a wealthy plantation owner's nephew and a housekeeper on the exotic Polynesian Island of Samoa. Born between two cultures and classes in the turbulent post-colonial years, and unwanted by either parent, her future looked bleak. After Jane's birth a pact was made between her poor, half Chinese/Samoan grandmother and her wealthy aunt. Jane was to spend her first ten years as a traditional village girl raised by her grandmother, her identity kept secret. Although adored by her grandmother, the village life was harsh because of the endless traditional customary obligations coupled with an oppressive church influence. Raped by her uncle from the age of eight, Jane was just one of Samoa's many victims of incest. Upon her grandmother's tragic death, Jane escaped to what she thought would be paradise on earth: her rich aunt's estate, Jane soon discovered it held terrible secrets. All too soon Jane learned about the brutal history that cursed the ground and experienced the horrific supernatural occurrences that blighted the plantation. In time she would discover the bizarre secret kept hidden in the upstairs bedroom. After a failed reunion with her father, she was sent to her mother in New Zealand, where she was rejected and abused yet again. Jane became homeless in a cold foreign country, as a naive sixteen year old with limited English had to struggle to keep alive. Finally succumbing to the overwhelming pressure she was admitted to a psychiatric ward and battled overwhelming obstacles to stay survive for the sake of her daughter, Jane's second child was diagnosed with profound disabilities. How she endured is an unparalleled feat of the human spirit and deep faith. She clung to the few that truly loved her, striving to make a life for herself with fierce and inspirational determination.

Jane Schwalger-Wyatt was born the illegitimate child of a wealthy plantation owner's nephew and a housekeeper on the exotic Polynesian Island of Samoa. Born between two cultures and classes in the turbulent post-colonial years, and unwanted by either parent, her future looked bleak. After Jane's birth a pact was made between her poor, half Chinese/Samoan grandmother and her wealthy aunt. Jane was to spend her first ten years as a traditional village girl raised by her grandmother, her identity kept secret. Although adored by her grandmother, the village life was harsh because of the endless traditional customary obligations coupled with an oppressive church influence. Raped by her uncle from the age of eight, Jane was just one of Samoa's many victims of incest. Upon her grandmother's tragic death, Jane escaped to what she thought would be paradise on earth: her rich aunt's estate, Jane soon discovered it held terrible secrets. All too soon Jane learned about the brutal history that cursed the ground and experienced the horrific supernatural occurrences that blighted the plantation. In time she would discover the bizarre secret kept hidden in the upstairs bedroom. After a failed reunion with her father, she was sent to her mother in New Zealand, where she was rejected and abused yet again. Jane became homeless in a cold foreign country, as a naive sixteen year old with limited English had to struggle to keep alive. Finally succumbing to the overwhelming pressure she was admitted to a psychiatric ward and battled overwhelming obstacles to stay survive for the sake of her daughter, Jane's second child was diagnosed with profound disabilities. How she endured is an unparalleled feat of the human spirit and deep faith. She clung to the few that truly loved her, striving to make a life for herself with fierce and inspirational determination.