In the 1820s, an eleven-year-old Cherokee boy is becoming “civilized” by attending a missionary school in eastern Tennessee. One day, he witnesses a gang rape of a Cherokee girl by three white ruffians. He shakes his fist at the heavens, wondering where God was when this happened. He wonders whether anyone has ever heard his prayers. He loses his faith. Deeply outraged, he swears an oath of revenge. He leaves school and travels to Arkansas Territory, where he meets his uncle, a chief of the western band of the Cherokees. There, he learns the ways of the warrior.
At first, he is obsessed with his hatred of the white invaders of his homeland. He doesn’t want to kill them all — just the ones who “need killing.” But once he is on the warrior’s path, he begins to discover that life is not as simple as an unending series of vendettas. Along the way, he encounters wise elders — Cherokee, Irish, Presbyterian, Quaker, Pawnee — who, like wise people from the beginning of time, try to teach him. Along the way, he kills many men. Along the way, he finds love but walks away from it. And along the way, he begins to reflect on the teachings of the elders.
His path will take him across the continent. At the far end of this path lies his “truth.” But what truth will he find?
Identity and belonging across racial lines
Revenge, justice, and what lies beyond both
The Cherokee Nation before and after removal
Love, family, and the inheritance of culture
Faith, resilience, and a man’s place in the world
Tenkiller: The Path is distributed through IngramSpark and available at major online retailers worldwide, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores. For in-store availability, ask your local bookseller to order through Ingram Content Group.
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“This is an exciting historical fiction book. I enjoyed the travels of the central character. The author makes you feel like you are on the trip. What an adventure!”
— Matt
“I have not read this genre in 40 yrs. I like how story weaves around the main character with lessons and morality. I really liked this book.”
— Rod H.
“Great read. A new understanding of what American Indians went through when the white man overtook their land and their lives. The survival of a Warrior on his travels to find his truth.”
— Kurt F.