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Welcome to a stop on the Coffee Pot Blog
Tour for ‘Tho I Be Mute, by Heather Miller, the prequel to the wonderful Yellow
Bird’s Song. We have a great excerpt to whet your appetite!
The Details:
Book Title: ‘Tho I Be Mute (2nd
edition)
Series: Prequel to Yellow Bird’s Song
Author: Heather Miller
Publication Date: 09/10/2024
Publisher: Historium Press, Historical
Fiction Company
Pages: 345
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical
Romance
Blurb:
Clarinda faces a moment of profound
reality—a rattlesnake bite, a harbinger of her imminent mortality—and
undertakes an introspective journey. In her final days, she immortalizes not
only her own story but that of her parents—a narrative steeped in her family’s
insights into Cherokee heritage during the tumultuous years preceding the
forced removal of Native communities.
In 1818, Clarinda’s father, Cherokee John Ridge, embarks on a quest for a young
man’s education at the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, Connecticut. Amidst
sickness, he finds solace and love with Sarah, the steward’s quiet daughter.
Despite enduring two years of separation, defamatory editorials, and societal
upheaval due to their interracial love affair, the resilient couple weds in
1824. This marks the inception of a journey for Sarah as she delves into a
world both cherished and feared—Cherokee Territory. As John Ridge advocates for
the preservation of his people’s land and that of his Muskogee Creek neighbors
against encroaching Georgia settlers and unscrupulous governmental officials,
the stakes are high. His success or failure hinges on his ability to balance
his proud Cherokee convictions with an intricate understanding of American law.
Justice remains uncertain.
Grounded in a true story, ‘Tho I Be Mute resonates with a compelling
historical narrative, giving an intimate voice to those heard, those ignored,
those speechless, urging readers to not only hear but to truly listen.
The Excerpt:
Chapter 31, “Fly,” Clarinda Ridge Skili
I
awoke to shaking floors from the successive beats of wooden-heeled boots
against the hardwood. The vibrations were weighty, not the same as those made
by my skinny brothers running through the house with calloused feet. The shakes
came from intrusive brutes gathering strength from their unified purpose.
In
our room, ten-year-old Susan woke and picked up a crying Flora from her pallet
on the floor. She swayed with Flora, listening at the door. I rose and brought
both to my bed. We scurried under the covers and curled into one another, while
I held onto their shaking shifts. We were too frightened to go outside; we were
too frightened to move anything more than our eyes, staring at the lighted gap
under the door.
Susan’s
body shook when bare feet followed the boots. The first were Mama’s. Another
pair followed. My brother Rollin was at her heels.
Susan’s
body jolted at another sound I couldn’t know. Then, she covered her face with
the quilt and held it against her ears with her hands. She heard what I could
not. Mama was screaming.
Susan’s
first tear ushered in sobs when stillness and sunlight peered under the crack.
‘Tho I be mute, I knew then that more than the morning sun slid under our
bedroom door. The Angel of Death arrived with no warning, like a Passover
ghost, and cast us in mourning night with its light.
Papa flew to the Nightland,
June 22, 1839. Twenty-five men drug him from his pallet on the floor and tried
to kill him, but the gun misfired. So, they unsheathed their knives and drug
him outside. Mama and Rollin ran after them, but the warriors, still wielding
pistol and rifle, surrounded her and my brother, crossed the barrels, and held
them back.
Mama’s hysterical tears did
nothing to deter the assassins.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bPGpPz
Author Bio:
History is better than fiction.
We all leave a legacy.
As an English educator, Heather Miller has spent
twenty-four years teaching her students the author’s craft. Now, she’s writing
it herself, hearing voices from the past. Heather earned her MFA in creative
writing in 2022 and is teaching high school as well as college composition
courses.
Miller’s foundation began in the theatre,
through performance storytelling. She can tap dance, stage-slap someone, and
sing every note from Les Miserables. But by far, her favorite role has been as
a fireman’s wife and mom to three: a trumpet player, a future civil engineer,
and a RN. Alas, there’s only one English major in her house.
Heather continues writing the Ridge Family Saga.
Her current work-in-progress, Stands, concludes the Ridge Family Saga.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.heathermillerauthor.com
Twitter: https://x.com/HMHFR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HMillerAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/heathermillerauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21805281.Heather_Miller
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heathermillerauthor
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