Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War
Historical Memoir
Publisher: Audiobook Empire
Narrator: Claudia Dunn
Run Time: Estimated 9.5 hours to 10 hours
Step into the heart of a turbulent era with Vaccines & Bayonets, a
gripping historical memoir that chronicles one woman’s extraordinary
journey through Africa. In this vivid recounting, Bee Bloeser unveils the
raw reality of her family’s part in the mission to eradicate smallpox,
revealing the triumphs and trials faced along the way.
As a young wife, Bee Bloeser followed her husband, Carl, to Africa, driven
by ideals and a sense of duty. In Nigeria the ravages of civil war and the
plight of starving Biafran children captured global attention. Amidst the
chaos, she witnessed the horrors of smallpox and leprosy, yet found moments
of beauty in the vibrant local culture.
Their journey continued in Equatorial Guinea, a nation newly independent
but plagued by the terror of a brutal dictatorship. In this land where
secrecy shrouded the people, Bee Bloeser confronted a world far removed from
her idealistic expectations. Forbidden from forming connections with locals
and surrounded by a landscape of oppression and suspicion, she documented
her experiences in hidden notes, capturing the essence of a desperate
struggle.
Through her eyes, listeners experience the intense battle against a
relentless virus and against tyranny. This memoir is not just a story of
medical triumph but also a poignant reflection on humanity’s capacity
for courage—the indomitable spirit of those who risk everything for a
better future.
Interview
What was your main drive to write this book?
A lethal virus. A vicious dictator. Embassy intrigue. All wrapped up in a mysterious world beyond what most people have even heard about. I had lived a unique experience that changed my life, and I wanted—no, needed—to share it.
What do you hope readers will learn by reading this book?
I want the book and audiobook to pull back the curtain on other cultures and individual lives which are vastly different from what we’ve imagined. I want to reveal many people who know horrendous suffering and still get up every morning and keep going, who fight for a better life for themselves and their families, and some who risk everything to stand up against tyranny. And I want my audience to see what an individual can do to change one little corner of the world. I may have started out with a goal to entertain and educate, but that has grown into a mission to inspire.
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never spent the night with a mosquito.” African proverb
Did you do much research when planning this book?
Yes. Even though this is a memoir, it’s also a history. When my late husband died of brain cancer, he left behind a gold mine of documents, cassette tapes and film detailing our lives in West Africa during the campaign to wipe smallpox from the planet. As I read through them, it became increasingly clear that I had no choice but to write the book. So these personal archives became both the impetus and the resource for telling this story. In addition, I did a lot of external research on the broader geopolitical context.
Did you have any main people who helped you in the process of this book or influenced you to write it?
in bringing Vaccines & Bayonets as an audiobook into the world, I am honored and beyond grateful to Claudia Dunn, one of the best voice actors in the business. Her narration is behind the scenes on many high-level projects such as award-winning movies and PBS Masterpiece shows. For the book itself, from almost the beginning of writing, I was blessed to have several experienced writers among my critique groups. I owe them all a debt of gratitude.
How long did this book take you to write from initial thought to hitting publish?
From the time I went to the Apple store and asked how to turn on the iPad, to the time I submitted the completed manuscript was seven years. But that included plumbing the depths of every free and low-cost writing tutorial and every critique group to learn the craft of creative nonfiction writing. I’d written clinical reports my whole career as a speech-language pathologist, not the style for my book. The audiobook is a new release and that required only about three months.
Do you have plans to write more about this topic or new topics?
While I do not have plans to write more books, I am thrilled that this book now has new life in the audiobook. In addition, I will expand my public speaking on this book and related topics.
About the Author
Bee Bloeser has lived and worked in Africa, the Middle East and Native
American nations with her husband’s global public health work and her
career in speech-language pathology. An award-winning author, she is a
sought-after public speaker on topics related to her historical memoir. She
lives and writes in California.
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