Tom Named By Horse – Author's Note
Howdy Friends,
As many of our friends
know I'll be publishing "Tom Named By Horse" in January. I wanted to
tell a love story set in a time of change, confusion and conflict. As the final
edits and friend's reviews neared completion there were a few questions as to what
were true historical facts and characters and who were my fictional characters
... To that end I wrote an author's note that will lead the readers into the
story, and I thought it would be fun to share with our Coffee Clutch friends. I hope you enjoy "A Note From Dutch Henry."
A note from Dutch Henry
This is an historical novel set in the late 1860’s in what is now
known as the American Midwest. While most of the characters and locations are
fiction some are actual locations, occurrences and historical figures. In some
instances just the historical figure’s name is used and the stories and
characters surrounding him are fiction. The historical figures are Chief
Red Cloud, Bill Cody, Bill Hickock, General Sheridan, Chief Smoke, Chief Spotted
Tail, Standing Elk, Chief Dull Knife, White Buffalo Calf Woman, Grandfather
Mystery and Grandmother Earth.
Tom Named
By Horse is, at its core a love story, and just as love can be powerful
and at the same time confusing, so were the times just before what some refer
to as the Great Plains Indian Wars. Parallels between Tom Named By Horse's
awakening and brutal changes washing over the great plains weave together tell
the story of a time of struggle, conflict and confusion. While most of the
characters are fictional, the struggles, love, hate, confusion and desperation
are true. Tom Named By Horse's birth on the day of Chief Red Cloud's powerful
vision of this terrifying change sweeping over Grandmother Earth bind the two together
in powerful ways.
Gitty Up, Dutch Henry
