Book focuses on language

A communications instructor at a Martinez college, Sylvia Ramsey's interest in language ultimately led to the publication of her first novel.

"It all started a long time ago when I was studying communications as a student," said Ms. Ramsey, an associate professor of communications and academic research center coordinator at Georgia Military College. "I was fascinated with language and use of language."

Ms. Ramsey's novel, An Underground Jewell , is set in the future and centers on a terrorist organization that wants to alter language. It's based on George Orwell's 1984 .

"Their whole premise was if they could control the language, they could control society," the Martinez resident said. "Their method of attack is techno-crime."

Information is submitted into databases on a central computer system, Ms. Ramsey said, and the terrorists start working their way into power positions within government agencies. Elizabeth Jewell is an author accused of infiltrating the central database system and is put on house arrest.

One of the book's central themes focuses on doublespeak, ambiguous words designed to manipulate language.

Ms. Ramsey wrote a short story based on a similar plot line in 1989. After coping with the death of her first husband, undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, dealing with computer crashes and a house fire, Ms. Ramsey started writing the novel again in 2005 and finished during the Christmas holiday.

"It felt so good to finally complete it," she said.

A portion of the novel's proceeds will be donated to the American Bladder Cancer Society. The novel was self-published through BookSurge Publishing this month. It can be purchased at www.amazon.com and will be available at all area bookstores by mid May, Ramsey said. For information, visit the author's Web site at www.sylviaramseyauthor.com.