Wanders Far by David Fitz-Gerald Blog Tour with Giveaway :)
Wanders Far by David Fitz-Gerald
Publication Date: May 11, 2019
Outskirts Press
eBook, Paperback, AudioBook; 197 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
"This engrossing, well-written novel tells the story of a pivotal moment in Iroquois history through a well-traveled protagonist." - Kirkus Reviews
Watch the Book Trailer HERE
***EXCERPT***
It was about a month before the spring solstice. The new village
was finished. All that was left to do was move everything that remained in the
old village. It was a lot of work. The trail between the old village and the
new village became very well worn. A few of the older people had remained
behind while the new village was being built. Bear Fat’s mother was one of
them. Gentle Breeze was a happy, healthy, 51-year-old great-grandmother. She
still mourned the loss of her husband who had died the previous fall and being
alone in the longhouse at the old village had left her feeling lonely. She had
been accustomed to tending the hearth and preparing meals for Bear Fat and her
large family. Gentle Breeze dedicated her time to keeping the old village spotlessly
clean while her people spent two months building the new village. Bear Fat knew
better than to ask her mother why she would devote so much time to keeping a
place clean that no one would occupy again. Bear Fat’s eyes met her mother’s. She smiled warmly, and softly
said, “Mother, it is time to go.” The final parade from the old village began.
Their chief ceremonially led the way. Gentle Breeze and Bear Fat brought up the
rear. Bear Fat’s position as matriarch was even more important to the people than
the chief’s role, and it was fitting that the entire tribe marched between
their chief and their matriarch. Bear Fat kept up with her people. She had made the ten mile walk
many times over the previous couple of months as they prepared to move. That
final walk was a lot more challenging. She hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. About
half way to the new village, it became clear to Bear Fat that her baby was on
the way. For weeks she had wondered, would the baby be born in the old village
or the new village? She hadn’t thought to wonder whether the baby would be born
on the path between villages, but that was exactly what happened. She believed
everything in life had meaning. Bear Fat wondered what it meant that her baby
would be born along the trail. One day she would come to know. Seven miles down the path, Bear Fat told her mother the baby was
coming. Another mile down the path, she stopped in a small clearing in the
woods where the ferns gave way to moss and grass. She thought it looked like a
good place to start a new life. With her mother’s help, Bear Fat gave birth to
another son. There was no such thing as an effortless labor, but that boy came
fast. So that’s what she called him: Fast. Bear Fat liked one-word names for
her babies. Her new boy was a strong, healthy, good-looking baby. Bear Fat and
Gentle Breeze shared a warm glance. Bear Fat sent her thoughts to the Great
Spirit: “May he serve our people well.” Then they were only three
hours behind the rest of the village. Bear Fat wrapped her baby in a tiny
blanket and placed him between her breasts, his small head tilted sideways
against her chest, and the tiny black smudge of hair on his head tickled her
chin. Gentle Breeze helped lift Bear Fat’s pack on to Bear Fat’s back, then
picked up her own heavily laden basket. Bear Fat couldn’t wait to get to the
new village and introduce her new baby to their people. Having just given
birth, it took Bear Fat and Gentle Breeze a long time to walk the final two
miles.
Thanks so much for hosting WANDERS FAR!
ReplyDeleteAmy
HF Virtual Book Tours
So appreciate you sharing the excerpt from Wanders Far-An Unlikely Hero's Journey. Thank you so much for hosting my book on your blog.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
David Fitz-Gerald