Present at the Creation
While writing itself is a work of solitude, what goes into it is always the expression of many minds and hearts. I want to identify here some of the people who made this labor possible.
My wife Sylvia, whose ancestors set this story in motion and who traveled many miles visiting monuments, graves, buildings, and fields of battle and harvest.
Nan Watkins, whose critical eye and enthusiasm for the project first encouraged me, and who introduced me to the rich resources of Hunter Library at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
George Frizzell, with his capacious memory of Cherokee history, who helped me take advantage of Hunter Library’s extensive archives.
Sara Jenkins, whose combination of editor’s eye and warm encouragement sustained and guided me in the middle passages of composition.
Anita Oser, cartographer at WCU, who generously contributed the maps to guide readers.
Marietjie Conradie, who read the first draft with an eye to South African, especially Afrikaner, culture, and to Ernst Conradie, for his extensive explorations of the deeper meaning of our ecological crisis.
Elinor Sisulu, for her early help with Xhosa and Zulu names and her enthusiastic support for this audacious project.
Robert Conley, whose writings inspired and instructed me and whose wonderful humor gave zest to my research into Cherokee history and culture.
Margaret Osondu, who supported this project with critique, advice, and encouragement, from middle draft to the arcane world of book publishing and marketing.
My daughter Aneliese Parker, who not only read and critiqued my writing but helped prepare the graphics for the cover and advised me on all matters of the electronic media in which we swim.
This brief list only touches the many members of my family, members of writers’ groups such as Mountain Writers Alive, librarians, archivists, genealogists, folklorists, and researchers who contributed to this work. May these unnamed also be remembered, for they have my deepest thanks.
William J. Everett
In my teaching career I authored eight books and numerous articles in social ethics and religion. After over thirty years of academic work — in Germany, India, and South Africa as well as in the United States — I wanted to turn my hand to a poetically written novel to probe the issues of ecological and human reconciliation.
When I am not writing, I create furniture for worship settings. For more about my work, go to www.WisdomsTable.net, where you will also find galleries of artwork by my wife Sylvia, whose ancestors were the original inspiration for Red Clay, Blood River. Click to read my complete bio...
Red Clay Blood River
Red Clay, Blood River is a story told by Earth about two brothers from Germany and an enslaved South African woman whose lives bind together America’s “Trail of Tears” and South Africa’s simultaneous “Great Trek” of 1838. Memories of their journeys through oppression, estrangement and reconciliation reverberate in the lives of three contemporary students brought together by their interests in ecology. Through their often difficult friendship and a surprising discovery they begin to unravel the mystery of their estrangements, struggles, and deep connections to each other and to the earth.
Based on extensive research in the United States, South Africa, and England, this book takes readers through a sweeping saga of love and conflict in the context of emigration, invasion, slavery, and exploitation. Through its stories we are invited to see our fractured human history from within the sensibilities of an earth that seeks the flourishing of all creatures and transcends their deaths within its life.
I welcome you to read Excerpts from Red Clay Blood River.
You can also view some Reader's Responses to the book.
If you are already reading Red Clay, Blood River, check out the Reader's Guide and Glossary of Names.
If you are in a Book Club, go to the Guide for Discussion Groups.
If you want to know more about people who helped me in writing this book check out the People Present at the Creation.