Hi Everyone,
It’s snowing today, frosting the red cliffs behind our house, and turning the buffalo into walking icebergs–though the cold doesn’t seem to bother them all. But they’ve spent 300,000 years evolving with the plants, animals, and weather in North America. They are a lot better suited for it than we are. It’s fun to watch them. When the drifts get deep, they swing their heads to clear the snow from the grass so they can graze. Every other animals benefits from their efforts. They create trails that make it easier for the deer, antelope and big horn sheep to travel and survive.
We returned ten days ago from the Dakota Territory Buffalo show where we had a great time. For those who’ve asked, “Folsom,” our yearling bull, won Grand Champion Male. We’re so proud of him, as we are all of our buffalo. They are amazing animals and so enrich our lives.
The title of our De Soto book has been changed from People of La Florida, to People of the Sword. As you will discover, Black Shell acquires a very important sword in the story, so the change seemed to fit. And we’ve just started the second book in our BATTLE FOR AMERICA series. The saga of Black Shell and Pearl Hand continues…
In the meantime, we are almost finished with People of the Longhouse. A couple more weeks of revisions and we’ll send it off to New York to our fabulous new editor, Susan Chang, at Tor Books. This is a fascinating period in northeastern American archaeology. The Iroquois were building longhouses 400 feet long and surrounding them with log palisades to keep their villages safe. The warfare was intense, but it produced some legendary heroes. We hope you enjoy watching them grow up, fight their battles, and turn their entire world on end by founding the first peace alliance in the history of America…at least the first we can definitely identify as archaeologists and historians.
May the Great Mystery keep you all safe.
Regards,
Michael and Kathleen
4 thoughts on “Dakota Territory Buffalo Show”
February 24, 2009 at 12:41 am
hey guys sounds as though you’ve ahd a busy month but i always look forward to hearing that another of your fantastic novels is coming soon as i can’t get enough of any of them, i’m excited to hear of the new one about the iroquois i have always found them fasinating and loved kathleens book i think it was called this widowed land ( even though that one was set after eurpean settlement). I have to agree with many of the other comments on your last blog that seeing the huge range of diferent peoples brought to life by your books not only entertain but enlighten us to their excitance i find when i watch many movies depicting native americans i wish their was someone who could show them more how they really were a proad and sophisticated people with alot more technological advances than some european cultures of the time ahhh as they say though history is told by the victor i suppose anyway sorry to ramble on glad to hear all went well with the show. maree
February 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Ahoe and Thank you both for being able too listen to the spirits of the elders. As you know Most of our histor has been lost It makes me feel so ummm comfortable to read one of yall’s studies of a site and facts that maynot be available to the general public. It allows me to thank creator and the old ones that our heratage is not gone just burried . I live near the mounds here in Georgia but i believe i have spoted a nonsafe mound off of the Flint river if you would like i can look up the log and lat on google earth if you need but i do have one question about your Teitanka’s if you ever have a white one birthed do you keep it or does it go to the chactaw? i am pawnee and soiligie heritige so from me and my elser i thank you both for keeping some of out history alive even if it may not have happened or it might have and the elder spirits gave you a storie from the times oh well Keep enjoying you beautiful buffalo and congrats on the high award you derserve it many many wado’s ShumanioTate ; Wind Dancer
March 11, 2009 at 5:33 am
i have been a fan of your books from the very beginning.It always puts
a smile on my face when i sit and settle in for a good long read.Thank you
both for keeping the spirit of native cultures past, alive and relevant in
the now.Being a person of mixed heritage, first nations among them, i
find a sense of quiet peace when i read your novels.Yes even among the
chaos some of the stories are written about, i always seem to find the
underlying score of heroism and strenght in the most unlikely places.
Keep up the great work…. May the creator smile upon you both always
April 16, 2009 at 12:06 am
Excellent site, It was pleasant to me.