Cherokee7

Shadow Of The Raven

(Sequel to River Rising)

For those of you who have already read River Rising, we wanted you to know that Frank Stewart is presently working on the sequel, which will be called Shadow Of The Raven. This story takes place predominantly in Texas, beginning in the summer of 1839, right where River Rising left off.

Died-in-the-wool Texas history buffs will know that this is when the newly formed Texas Militia, prodded by then President of the relatively new Republic, Mirabeau Lamar, wanted to get rid of the Indians in Texas to make way for the influx of more white settlers from the United States. The Comanches -- one of the last tribes to be "tamed" and forced to "walk the White Man's road" -- were still offering resistance in the Llano Estacado area and in far Southwest Texas. But it was mostly the Cherokees, Caddoes and a few smaller tribes who peacefully occupied East Texas -- the land most coveted by the new white settlers -- that they wanted to drive from the republic. It proved convenient to blame the raids made by Comanches and Kiowas farther west on the peaceful tribes in the east as an excuse to force them ouf of the state and, if they resisted, to simply kill them.

This is where Shadow Of The Raven begins -- just as the East Texas Cherokees and affiliated tribes are being threatened with extermination if they don't pack up and go north of the Red River to join their fellow tribesmen in Indian Territory.

Students of history will also know that Sam Houston, first President of the Republic of Texas, was a friend to the Cherokees. In fact, Sam had grown up amid the Cherokees back in Tennessee, had many prominent Cherokee friends and, it was rumored, had at one time married a Cherokee girl, Tiana Rogers, daughter of Western Cherokee Chief, John Rogers. Sam Houston had tried to help the Cherokees secure rightful title to the land they occupied, but when he left office, his successor, Lamar, was not so supportive. Sam Houston's Cherokee name was Ko-la-nv, The Raven ("war bird" to the Cherokees). He was so named in his early years because of his fiesty, combative spirit as well as for his thick shock of wavy, raven-black hair. Despite Houston's efforts, the situation proved untenable for the East Texas Cherokees. Hence the title, Shadow Of The Raven.

Shadow Of The Raven will be as action-packed and full of intrigue, love, betrayal, courage and a cast of unforgettable characters as its predecessor, River Rising. (And look for the surprise reappearance of some characters you thought you'd never see again!)



The Wisdom Of Red Pony

(Non-fiction)

A much smaller work than either of the epic novels, The Wisdom Of Red Pony is a collection of anecdotes, sage advice about living life and co-existing with others, insightful observations about our planet and what we have done to it, and even a few humorous stories shared by an ancient Shawnee Holy Man whose birth name was Monka Léka. Learn the fascinating story of how he came to be called Red Pony. See what this wise old spirit has to say about our Mother the Earth and what will become of Her. In a lighter vein, enjoy the subtleties of Native American humor as Red Pony relates the story of "How The Fox Got His Bushy Tail."

(The beautiful raven and the pipe image seen above are courtesy of:)