What will Kentucky Book Festival visitors find on your table?
Copies for sale of the recently released historical novel 1666, which is the survival story of the Patawomeck tribe told from the perspective of two native women who survived the decimation of their tribe and being sold into slavery. As a tribesmember and author, I will be there to sign the book as well. The novel has garnered excellent reviews and was named in the most anticipated historical fiction of 2024 by BookBub.
Whom do you invite to stop by? Who will benefit from reading your book?
Readers who love historical fiction, Indigenous stories, survival stories, stories about Native women’s daily life and culture in the 1660’s will be invited to stop by. Readers who are interested in forgotten stories will want to read 1666 : A Novel.
Could you please tell us something curious about you and/or your book?
I learned about my Native ancestry when I was in my late forties! The Racial Integrity Act of 1924 had silenced most indigenous tribes in Virginia, including my father’s family. He revealed our ancestry in the Patawomeck tribe when he publically joined the tribe and then celebrated his ancestors.
Is this your first time participating in Kentucky Book Festival? If yes – what are you looking forward to the most?
This is my first time participating in the Kentucky Book Festival. I love meeting people and talking about 1666: A Novel and sharing my motivation for writing this story. I also love to learn from other authors. Side note: I was born in Louisville, Kentucky so this feels like a full circle moment.
