My new children's novel, Tula's Path: A Cherokee Trail of Tears Story, just came out last week, and here's a behind the scenes (not in the book) peek that will give readers some insight into my characters and their unique problems.  My book is a historical fiction novel for children.  The setting for the story is the Cherokee Nation during the removal west called the Trail of Tears

(Nu-na-hi-Du-na-Dlo-Hi-lu-I).

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Letter from the past...

November 12, 1833


Dearest Tula,

Happy Birthday, my darling!  As I write this, you are just turning nine years old, not old enough yet to understand.  I am glad that I have been given the time and that I still have the frame of mind to write this to you in this way.  Given my sickness, I fear that I will not be much longer on this earth, and I have instructed your father to hold back this letter until you are old enough to understand why I write.  I want you to know beyond question that you are my sweet girl.  The daughter of my dreams and my love.  My red-haired ruby.  My gift from God.  I love you so.  But that's not my only purpose for writing this letter to you.  My purpose for writing this letter is so that after you've healed from losing me, and after you've matured, you can read my words and be better able to retain them and their meaning. 

I'm sure your father hasn't talked to you about it, but he has approved of my talking to you.  I am referring to the secret.  The one thing that has plagued us since we left the nation.  It's a heavy burden for you to bear, and your father and I both regret that we have had to put it on your shoulders.  Know this, your father didn't see any other way.  Your brother was murdered, and the Georgia guard soldiers were threatening us further because your father would not sign an oath of allegiance to the state of Georgia.  It was about our sovereignty and the Cherokee printing press and our nation's land and gold.  The whites did not like the idea of us Cherokees having our own government.  They feared that the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper and the strength that the talking leaves gave us would empower us to wrench our beautiful misty mountains back from their greedy hands.  They feared our educated men, our brave, strong men who use their minds rather than their fists. Reverend Worcester and Reverend Butler went to prison for our cause.  When the whites let their own languish in prison to hurt us, I fear all is lost.  Your brother stood up to them, and they did not like that.  They wanted subservience from the red man, and that alone.  They want our land, our gold, our farms, our lives if that's what it takes, and they will stop at nothing to obtain it.

There is talk of a treaty. Some believe that a treaty to exchange our land here for lands in the west would prevent our complete annihilation, that it would somehow stop all the senseless harassment of our people and brutal killings of the innocent.  I do not know how to feel about that, but I worry about my father, your grandfather.  He is the one who convinced your father to take us and leave the Cherokee Nation.  I fear for him.  He is all alone, but I know that he has God.  That gives me comfort.


As you grow up, there will, no doubt, be times in your life that you miss me more than others.  When you are trying to learn something new (housework, gardening, sewing, cooking, chores, etc.), when you feel depressed, when you fall in love, you will wish that you could talk to me and get my advice.  All girls should have their mothers. Sweetheart, I am sorry that I am not there for you, but if you put your trust in Jesus, I know he will carry you through.  In the mean time, I will be praying about those future problems you might have and will be asking God to put a special woman in your life who can take my place if only just a little.  I want to leave you with a few verses of scripture that have been especially beneficial to me in my own walk.  Memorize these and apply them to your life my dearest child:

Psalm 1: 1-2 -- Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

You will find these  scriptures in I Thessalonians 5:  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks.  Quench not the spirit.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  Rejoice evermore.

Sweetie, abide by this teaching, and I'm convinced that you will not fall.  Trust in the Lord, obey your father, always be truthful with yourself and others.  Love others as you love yourself.  Let God choose your husband when it's time.  And hide God's word in your heart!  

Until we meet again in Heaven.

All my love,  

Mama