North Andover resident and author Anne Broyles has a new children's picture book, "Priscilla and the Hollyhocks,"
available at Borders Books. Based on a true story, "Priscilla and the Hollyhocks" is about a young slave girl, who in
1838, walks the Trail of Tears with her Cherokee owners. For more information, e-mail annebroyles@annebroyles.com.
available at Borders Books. Based on a true story, "Priscilla and the Hollyhocks" is about a young slave girl, who in
1838, walks the Trail of Tears with her Cherokee owners. For more information, e-mail annebroyles@annebroyles.com.
ABOUT BOOKS |
| The following list is not an endorsement or recommendation for purchase or to read. This page is for information only. |
| Recommend a book to our visitors? Send the author, title and any comments to: info@cherokeehumanities.com |
Cherokee Women: Gender and Culture Change, 1700-1885, by Theda Perdue,
won the Julia Cherry Spruill Award for the best book in southern women’s history and
the James Mooney Prize for best book in the anthropology of the South.
Becky Matthews of Auburn University, writing for Alabama Review, April 2000, stated:
“Cherokee Women is a valuable addition to the growing scholarship on American
Indian women. Nonspecialists interested in native people will enjoy its clarity of style
and organization. Specialists and students…will appreciate its challenging themes,
fruitful methodology, and astute analysis of sources.”
More recently, Perdue edited an anthology, Sifters: The Lives of Native American
Women (2001), for which she wrote an essay, “Catherine Brown: Cherokee Convert
to Christianity,” as well as the book’s introduction.
In conjunction with Professor Michael D. Green, she has published The Columbia
Guide to American Indians of the Southeast (2001) and The Cherokee Removal: A
Brief History with Documents (1995, 2nd edition, 2005). In October, 2001, Professor
Perdue delivered the Lamar Lectures at Mercer University, published as “Mixed
Blood” Indians: Racial Construction in the Early South (2003).
She has served as president of the Southern Association for Women Historians and
the American Society for Ethnohistory . In 2006-2007, she was a fellow at the
Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. She also has a John Simon
Guggenheim Foundation fellowship.
won the Julia Cherry Spruill Award for the best book in southern women’s history and
the James Mooney Prize for best book in the anthropology of the South.
Becky Matthews of Auburn University, writing for Alabama Review, April 2000, stated:
“Cherokee Women is a valuable addition to the growing scholarship on American
Indian women. Nonspecialists interested in native people will enjoy its clarity of style
and organization. Specialists and students…will appreciate its challenging themes,
fruitful methodology, and astute analysis of sources.”
More recently, Perdue edited an anthology, Sifters: The Lives of Native American
Women (2001), for which she wrote an essay, “Catherine Brown: Cherokee Convert
to Christianity,” as well as the book’s introduction.
In conjunction with Professor Michael D. Green, she has published The Columbia
Guide to American Indians of the Southeast (2001) and The Cherokee Removal: A
Brief History with Documents (1995, 2nd edition, 2005). In October, 2001, Professor
Perdue delivered the Lamar Lectures at Mercer University, published as “Mixed
Blood” Indians: Racial Construction in the Early South (2003).
She has served as president of the Southern Association for Women Historians and
the American Society for Ethnohistory . In 2006-2007, she was a fellow at the
Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. She also has a John Simon
Guggenheim Foundation fellowship.
| Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta Celebrated California Bandit By John Rollin Ridge Volume 4 in the Western Frontier Library Series In 1854, a Cherokee Indian called Yellow Bird (better known as John Rollin Ridge) launched in this book the myth of Joaquin Murieta, based on the California criminal career of a 19th century Mexican bandit. Today this folk hero has been written into state histories, sensationalized in books, poems, and articles throughout America, Spain, France, Chile, and Mexico, and made into a motion picture. The Ridge account is here reproduced from the only known copy of the first edition, owned by Thomas W. Streeter, of Morristown, New Jersey. According to it, the passionate, wronged Murieta organized an outlaw company numbering over 2,000 men, who for two years terrorized gold-rush Californians by kidnapping, bank robberies, cattle thefts, and murders. So bloodthirsty as to be considered five men, Joaquin was aided by several hardy subordinates, including the sadistic cutthroat, "Three-Fingered Jack." Finally, the state legislature authorized organization of the Mounted Rangers to capture the outlaws. The drama is fittingly climaxed by the ensuing chase, "good, gory" battle, and the shocking fate of the badmen. http://www.oupress.com/bookdetail.asp?isbn=0-8061-1429-0 |
Literary Collaborations
By Aimee Loiselle
June 28, 2008
Renowned author Heid Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) currently shares her strong voice and unique
perspective with two local literary collaborations. Erdrich recently wrote an essay for the anthology Riding Shotgun:
Women Write About Their Mothers, published by Borealis/Minnesota Historical Society Press. In addition, she is working
with emerging prose and poetry writers as a mentor in The Loft Literary Center’s Mentor Series.
The anthology was edited by local poet Kathryn Kysar, who wanted a balance in terms of culture, ethnicity and relations
with mothers. The highly personal yet often universal stories provide windows into influential mother-daughter moments.
Erdrich shared her revisions with Kysar throughout the writing process. “I got a lot of editorial input from Kate,” Erdrich
said. “And it was great to be part of a group of women whose writing I respect.”
Kysar enjoyed working with Erdrich and watching the essay evolve. “Heid is a very experienced writer, and my role was
more of a reader/responder than an editor,” Kysar said. “Heid started with the marvelous first pages about her mother,
which are so funny, and a separate piece of writing about the women role models in her life. Then Heid welded them into
one amazingly strong piece.”
Erdrich also spoke with her mother to deepen and expand the essay. “I had never written anything directly about my
family, and this was about my mom—I had to do some research,” Erdrich said with a smile. “I had conversations with her
to capture the way she felt about family and about her experiences as a young Indian woman in a town that was mostly
non-Indian.”
During this research, Erdrich learned her mother had dressed as an Indian princess and ridden in a convertible for the
parade in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Erdrich was surprised at her mother’s participation in such a stereotypical image,
but the revelation led to further discussion and understanding.
Kysar believes the essay benefits from Erdrich’s close relationship with her mother. “She and Heid have a very good
relationship,” Kysar said. “This envelope of love and goodwill includes many generations of Gourneau women and their
friends, which Heid expands to include ancestors and historic figures.”
Part of the collaborative process for Erdrich was coming to terms with the title of the anthology. “I have been really
gratified to see how well the book has been received,” Erdrich said. “But I didn’t appreciate the title at first—I guess that’
s how I would say it. It was difficult to consider that an anthology with four Native women authors had such a violent
Western image in the title. But it does represent the edgy relationship of women and their mothers.”
The other Native authors are Susan Power, Diane Hall Glancy, and Denise Low. Power is a member of the Standing
Rock Sioux tribe and a descendant of Chief Mato Nupa (Two Bears). She received degrees from Harvard/Radcliffe and
Harvard Law School before attending the Iowa Writers Workshop.
Diane Hall Glancy, of Cherokee and English/German descent, earned her MFA at the University of Iowa. Denise Low
serves as a dean at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas, where she taught creative writing and American Indian
studies. Her background includes German, Scots, Lenape (Delaware), English, French, and Cherokee.
Kysar appreciates the distinctive contributions these authors made to the book. “Susan Power’s essay vibrates with
rhythmic strength. It draws on the difficulties of an entire generation. Diane Glancy’s piece, like Power’s, is written as a
prose poem, though it is much more internal; it paints a picture of her alienation from her mother. And Denise Low
explores the stressed relationship with her mother and how she sought solace in nature.”
Low drove from Kansas to read at the BirchBark Books event with Erdrich. “It was very moving to hear the writers read
their essays in their own voices,” Kysar said. “The reading was festive and poignant, and there are copies of those
signed collector’s first editions at the store.”
In addition to Erdrich’s participation in the anthology, she acts as a local mentor for the Mentor Series Program at The
Loft in Minneapolis. The Loft is the nation’s largest literary center, providing programs and services for readers and
writers. Every year, The Loft invites writers to apply for the Mentor Series, which offers advanced criticism and
professional development to twelve writers: four each in the genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
The twelve emerging writers are selected through anonymous competition to work with six nationally acclaimed writers.
Three of the mentors spend a month working with the entire group. Winners in each genre also meet with their mentor
for individual conferences.
Erdrich currently serves with Rafael Campo as a 2007-2008 poetry mentor. They chose poets Polly Carden, Chrissy
Kolaya, Emily Lloyd, and Marie Olofsdotter for the program.
As part of their annual activities, participants do readings alongside mentors. On Friday, April 25, Erdrich read at The
Loft with participants Marie Olofsdotter in poetry and Rebecca Kanner in creative nonfiction. Olofsdotter read several of
her poems, and Kanner followed with a section of memoir.
Kanner values the concepts and outlook Erdrich adds to the program. “Heid brings a great mixture of critical thought
and humor to the Mentor Series,” Kanner said. “She is quick on her feet and always playful.”
Jerod Santek, Director of Programs for Writers at The Loft, introduced Erdrich to the audience. He mentioned Erdrich is
also a co-founder of BirchBark Books Press and the Turtle Mountain Writing Group, and she served as an intensive
mentor for two weeks in the fall of 2007 and two weeks in the spring of 2008. Santek was especially grateful Erdrich
opened her home for a potluck dinner with participants. “She hosted a night of great conversation and wonderful food,”
he said. “She had many maps on display around her house. A reminder that writers and artists are always on a journey.”
During her reading, Erdrich said she enjoyed working with the new but very accomplished writers. “It is a two-way
program. I have been incredibly enriched,” she said. “I had such a good time sharing their work and being challenged to
expand my ideas of ways I want to teach and write—especially in terms of genre.”
Erdrich read several poems, explaining historic references, inspirations, or significance before each piece. The evening
was filled with moments of laughter and contemplation as the audience listened to her reflections on poetry and writing.
A few of the poems came from Erdrich’s third book, National Monuments, forthcoming from University of Michigan Press.
Many poems in that book refer to bodies—sacred, buried, celestial, and monumental.
She noted that one poem was inspired by her discomfort with the 2006 Body Worlds exhibit at the Science Museum,
which displayed plastinated human bodies and organs. (Plastination is a vacuum process in which all the water and fat
are replaced with fluid plastic that hardens and retains tissue shape. It was developed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.)
“I grew up knowing that Native bodies—hundreds of skeletons, millions of remains—were held all over the world,” Erdrich
said at the podium. “They’re not all ancient. I knew that Indian skulls and Indian bones had been put on display, so I
wasn’t comfortable with Body Worlds.”
The reading ended with a social hour, where Erdrich spoke with members of the audience. It included an opportunity to
buy her books at a table provided by Micawber’s, an independent book store in St. Paul.
Santek believes all the writers have benefited from Erdrich’s participation in the Mentor Series. “It has been a pleasure
to work with Heid,” he said after the reading. “All the writers—both poetry and prose—have gained a lot. As Heid said
early in the year, it’s helpful for fiction and nonfiction writers to ‘poet up their prose.’ Heid is such a warm and generous
person, being with her is inspiration to keep on with the writing life.”
By Aimee Loiselle
June 28, 2008
Renowned author Heid Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) currently shares her strong voice and unique
perspective with two local literary collaborations. Erdrich recently wrote an essay for the anthology Riding Shotgun:
Women Write About Their Mothers, published by Borealis/Minnesota Historical Society Press. In addition, she is working
with emerging prose and poetry writers as a mentor in The Loft Literary Center’s Mentor Series.
The anthology was edited by local poet Kathryn Kysar, who wanted a balance in terms of culture, ethnicity and relations
with mothers. The highly personal yet often universal stories provide windows into influential mother-daughter moments.
Erdrich shared her revisions with Kysar throughout the writing process. “I got a lot of editorial input from Kate,” Erdrich
said. “And it was great to be part of a group of women whose writing I respect.”
Kysar enjoyed working with Erdrich and watching the essay evolve. “Heid is a very experienced writer, and my role was
more of a reader/responder than an editor,” Kysar said. “Heid started with the marvelous first pages about her mother,
which are so funny, and a separate piece of writing about the women role models in her life. Then Heid welded them into
one amazingly strong piece.”
Erdrich also spoke with her mother to deepen and expand the essay. “I had never written anything directly about my
family, and this was about my mom—I had to do some research,” Erdrich said with a smile. “I had conversations with her
to capture the way she felt about family and about her experiences as a young Indian woman in a town that was mostly
non-Indian.”
During this research, Erdrich learned her mother had dressed as an Indian princess and ridden in a convertible for the
parade in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Erdrich was surprised at her mother’s participation in such a stereotypical image,
but the revelation led to further discussion and understanding.
Kysar believes the essay benefits from Erdrich’s close relationship with her mother. “She and Heid have a very good
relationship,” Kysar said. “This envelope of love and goodwill includes many generations of Gourneau women and their
friends, which Heid expands to include ancestors and historic figures.”
Part of the collaborative process for Erdrich was coming to terms with the title of the anthology. “I have been really
gratified to see how well the book has been received,” Erdrich said. “But I didn’t appreciate the title at first—I guess that’
s how I would say it. It was difficult to consider that an anthology with four Native women authors had such a violent
Western image in the title. But it does represent the edgy relationship of women and their mothers.”
The other Native authors are Susan Power, Diane Hall Glancy, and Denise Low. Power is a member of the Standing
Rock Sioux tribe and a descendant of Chief Mato Nupa (Two Bears). She received degrees from Harvard/Radcliffe and
Harvard Law School before attending the Iowa Writers Workshop.
Diane Hall Glancy, of Cherokee and English/German descent, earned her MFA at the University of Iowa. Denise Low
serves as a dean at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas, where she taught creative writing and American Indian
studies. Her background includes German, Scots, Lenape (Delaware), English, French, and Cherokee.
Kysar appreciates the distinctive contributions these authors made to the book. “Susan Power’s essay vibrates with
rhythmic strength. It draws on the difficulties of an entire generation. Diane Glancy’s piece, like Power’s, is written as a
prose poem, though it is much more internal; it paints a picture of her alienation from her mother. And Denise Low
explores the stressed relationship with her mother and how she sought solace in nature.”
Low drove from Kansas to read at the BirchBark Books event with Erdrich. “It was very moving to hear the writers read
their essays in their own voices,” Kysar said. “The reading was festive and poignant, and there are copies of those
signed collector’s first editions at the store.”
In addition to Erdrich’s participation in the anthology, she acts as a local mentor for the Mentor Series Program at The
Loft in Minneapolis. The Loft is the nation’s largest literary center, providing programs and services for readers and
writers. Every year, The Loft invites writers to apply for the Mentor Series, which offers advanced criticism and
professional development to twelve writers: four each in the genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
The twelve emerging writers are selected through anonymous competition to work with six nationally acclaimed writers.
Three of the mentors spend a month working with the entire group. Winners in each genre also meet with their mentor
for individual conferences.
Erdrich currently serves with Rafael Campo as a 2007-2008 poetry mentor. They chose poets Polly Carden, Chrissy
Kolaya, Emily Lloyd, and Marie Olofsdotter for the program.
As part of their annual activities, participants do readings alongside mentors. On Friday, April 25, Erdrich read at The
Loft with participants Marie Olofsdotter in poetry and Rebecca Kanner in creative nonfiction. Olofsdotter read several of
her poems, and Kanner followed with a section of memoir.
Kanner values the concepts and outlook Erdrich adds to the program. “Heid brings a great mixture of critical thought
and humor to the Mentor Series,” Kanner said. “She is quick on her feet and always playful.”
Jerod Santek, Director of Programs for Writers at The Loft, introduced Erdrich to the audience. He mentioned Erdrich is
also a co-founder of BirchBark Books Press and the Turtle Mountain Writing Group, and she served as an intensive
mentor for two weeks in the fall of 2007 and two weeks in the spring of 2008. Santek was especially grateful Erdrich
opened her home for a potluck dinner with participants. “She hosted a night of great conversation and wonderful food,”
he said. “She had many maps on display around her house. A reminder that writers and artists are always on a journey.”
During her reading, Erdrich said she enjoyed working with the new but very accomplished writers. “It is a two-way
program. I have been incredibly enriched,” she said. “I had such a good time sharing their work and being challenged to
expand my ideas of ways I want to teach and write—especially in terms of genre.”
Erdrich read several poems, explaining historic references, inspirations, or significance before each piece. The evening
was filled with moments of laughter and contemplation as the audience listened to her reflections on poetry and writing.
A few of the poems came from Erdrich’s third book, National Monuments, forthcoming from University of Michigan Press.
Many poems in that book refer to bodies—sacred, buried, celestial, and monumental.
She noted that one poem was inspired by her discomfort with the 2006 Body Worlds exhibit at the Science Museum,
which displayed plastinated human bodies and organs. (Plastination is a vacuum process in which all the water and fat
are replaced with fluid plastic that hardens and retains tissue shape. It was developed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.)
“I grew up knowing that Native bodies—hundreds of skeletons, millions of remains—were held all over the world,” Erdrich
said at the podium. “They’re not all ancient. I knew that Indian skulls and Indian bones had been put on display, so I
wasn’t comfortable with Body Worlds.”
The reading ended with a social hour, where Erdrich spoke with members of the audience. It included an opportunity to
buy her books at a table provided by Micawber’s, an independent book store in St. Paul.
Santek believes all the writers have benefited from Erdrich’s participation in the Mentor Series. “It has been a pleasure
to work with Heid,” he said after the reading. “All the writers—both poetry and prose—have gained a lot. As Heid said
early in the year, it’s helpful for fiction and nonfiction writers to ‘poet up their prose.’ Heid is such a warm and generous
person, being with her is inspiration to keep on with the writing life.”
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