Lisa Carter | In Search of . . . Story

I’m a great believer in treasure hunts. When my husband and I went to Ireland,
I
searched high and low for obscure Celtic crosses—often found in the middle of a
pasture
filled with grazing cows. And yes, I climbed over barbed wire fences to get my
photographs. Much to the amusement of Irish farmers, who laughed and shook
their red
Irish heads at the antics of those crazy Americans.

Then there was last summer when I—read family—researched BEYOND THE CHEROKEE TRAIL. In 1838, the United States government forced the Cherokee to leave their ancestral homeland and marched the Cherokee from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to what was then called the Indian Territory. Imagine hundreds of souls trudging through these rugged mountains in what today is still one of America’s last wilderness regions. Six thousand men, women and children would die before reaching modern-day Oklahoma. One of the best things about writing is that often I get to visit the actual places where I’ve set my stories. Up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway, across the Great Smokies and Nantahala National Forest, we hiked in search of the perfect waterfall. I believe I became a bit obsessed with finding the waterfall under which the Snowbird Cherokee of North Carolina hid during the roundup for what became the Trail of Tears—aka Last of the Mohicans, be still my heart—and successfully eluded the U.S. army.

Obsessed because after a four-hour hike of finding nothing, crossing knee-deep
streams
of rushing water, scrambling over rocky outcroppings perched precariously over
river
torrents, I had to be dragged off Snowbird Mountain. A mountain still so remote
and
isolated, it doesn’t surprise me that the Cherokee evaded capture. In this age
of
satellites and reconnaissance planes, I feel sure most of the modern-day
Cherokee
Nation could hide out there and be never found again.

We traipsed over hill and dale without sighting another human being across ten
miles of
rugged terrain—I’m not talking Park Service marked pathways, either. No, we had
to
bushwhack our way through. I even went one foot in front of the other across a
moss-
covered log suspended over a ravine—Indiana Jones style.

‘Cause I don’t just write the adventure, I live the adventure.

I’d retreated temporarily to the gravel parking lot at the base of the mountain to rehydrate and formulate my next foray onto the mountain when a vacationing family stopped and mentioned spotting a black bear. That—not my husband’s pleas— convinced me not to return to the mountain. So I left and did the next best thing—I went shopping. Another great thing about writing stories is the people I meet along the way. And at a small Cherokee handicraft store, another adventure awaited. Or as my husband declares, only I could go to the Snowbird to research a book on the Cherokee and meet America’s top moonshiner, Jim Tom, from the Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners. But that is a story for another day.

A Cherokee cultural historian told me of a place deep in the woods where
portions of
the Tatham Gap Road along which the Cherokee were force-marched yet remained.
There,
underneath the bracken and overgrowth of 180 years, we found the deep gouge
marks made
by the wagon spokes. The ruts are still visible. The trees haven't quite grown
back
together even after all this time. Birds trilled in this peaceful forest
setting.
Through the tree canopy, sunlight dappled the path. We felt an almost holy
hush. It was
a beautiful, yet slightly haunted place as if the earth itself remembered the
pain and
agony once perpetrated here.

The year 2018 will mark the 180th anniversary of the Trail of Tears. I hope
this
special place in the mountains of North Carolina and the Snowbird people will
capture
your imagination and grip your heart as they did mine. Though the characters in
this
story are fictional, the historic events recounted are not. May we never
forget.

Giveaway

What are some of your favorite real life or story adventures? Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of BEYOND THE CHEROKEE TRAIL.

About Lisa Carter

Blending romance and suspense, Native American and Southern fiction, SWEET TEA WITH A SLICE OF MURDER author Lisa Carter is also a teacher and vocalist. She was always the child who made up epic tales involving prairie schooners or interplanetary voyages for the neighborhood kids to re-enact during summer vacation. Now, she and her husband, David, have two daughters and make their home in North Carolina. When she isn't writing, Lisa enjoys traveling to romantic locales, teaching writing workshops, and researching her next exotic adventure. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Blog

About BEYOND THE CHEROKEE TRAIL

When Linden Birchfield arrives in the Snowbird Cherokee community to organize the 180th commemoration of the Trail of Tears, she runs head on—literally—into arrogant former army sniper Walker Crowe. A descendant of the Cherokee who evaded deportation by hiding in the rugged Snowbird Mountains, Walker believes no good can result from stirring up the animosity with the white Appalachian residents whose ancestors looted the tribal lands so long ago. Though at odds over the commemoration, Linden and Walker must unite against an unseen threat to derail the festival. Together they face an enemy whose implacable hatred can be traced to the events of the Trail, a dark chapter in America’s westward expansion. When called to resurrect his sniper abilities, Walker must thwart the enemy who threatens the modern-day inhabitants of tiny Cartridge Cove—and targets the woman who has captured his heart.

Comments

23 comments posted.

Re: Lisa Carter | In Search of . . . Story

Hi Lisa, I grew up in NE Ohio with rolling hills, wooded land and lots of old forgotten places. I used to drive to remote areas and then walk and photograph places that were
remnants of it' original days. Every once in awhile, I would meet someone who had knowledge of a place or family that lived there. Wish I was a writer with all those wonderful stories. Thanks for the contest and Happy Halloween.
(Rosemary Simm 1:04am October 30, 2015)

Visits to Ocean City, MD
(Marissa Yip-Young 5:24am October 30, 2015)

Thanks for stopping by Rosemary. I wish I had your photographic skills. Have a great weekend. :)
(Lisa Carter 8:14am October 30, 2015)

I love Ocean City MD Marissa. In fact, it sometimes comes up in several of my contemporary Coast Guard series set on the VA portion of the Delmarva Peninsula. Thanks for joining the conversation.
(Lisa Carter 8:16am October 30, 2015)

The stories about the California Gold Rush were quite
interesting. Even though some people lost their lives,
others did end up making some money for themselves by some
quirk of fate. It was quite a risk for all of them to take
at that time in History in that part of the Country. When I
was reading your posting, my heart felt heavy the entire
time. I feel for the Cherokkees, and still do to this day!!
Your book is on my TBR list, and I'm looking forward to
reading it this upcoming Fall/Winter. Congratulations on
your latest book, which should do well, and Thank You for
keeping History alive!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:53am October 30, 2015)

I just love exploring forgotten parts of history.
(Pam Howell 10:06am October 30, 2015)

Fascinating and historical towns which were once thriving in
The Rockies and are still charming and filled with life and
atmosphere.
(Sharon Berger 1:28pm October 30, 2015)

My favorite is my grandfather's story.
1. He ran away from an abusive stepfather and joined a
travelling circus.
2. The circus wasn't much better. He was caught stealing
food by a baker, who apprenticed him. Part of his duties
was to deliver pastries to the Romanian royal court.
3. He decided to emigrated to Canada. In Rotterdam, the
Dutch authorities discovered he was a baker, and rerouted
him (shanghied) where his talents were needed, in the Boer
War.
4. Was captured by the British, who were the first to inform
him that he was, in fact, not in Canada. (Understandable
when you don't know the language).
5. Was finally sent to Canada, where his first job was
working on building the Transcontinental Railway.
Who has lives like these anymore? If you wrote about it,
your editor would return it with a request more something
more realistic.
(Deb Philippon 1:47pm October 30, 2015)

I liked the Green Mile (about rafting the Colorado)
(Tracee Imai 3:23pm October 30, 2015)

Can I edit? It was the EMERALD mile. My bad. Sorry.
(Tracee Imai 3:23pm October 30, 2015)

It sounds like a good book.
(Wilma Frana 3:26pm October 30, 2015)

I live in the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma. My family came here on the Trail of Tears. I would love to read this book.
(Carole Abel 5:15pm October 30, 2015)

I always loved to hear stories about my families history.
(Carol Woodruff 6:40pm October 30, 2015)

I love hearing family history
(Grace Bartlett 7:49am October 31, 2015)

I have been fortunate to travel all over the world and have
visited many historical sites. I have been doing some
research on Celtic bracelets lately and love your story.
Ireland never made my list so I read about it.
(Leona Olson 10:32am October 31, 2015)

My great (#?) grandmother escaped from the Trail of Tears and was married at a very young age to a man who basically hid the fact of her Cherokee heritage--which really wasn't that unusual considering the attitudes of the times. Much later in life she wrote a letter detailing what happened, so we have that, but it is considered only anecdotal proof--nobody in the family was 'allowed' to sign up when the Dawes' Rolls were established--not by the government authorities but by other family members, who were afraid of the reason for the sign-up.
(Matthew Burkhead 2:23pm October 31, 2015)

My life has been rather uneventful--maybe that's why I love
books & movies!
(Nancy Ludvik 5:37pm October 31, 2015)

I love to read about Alaska during the 1800s, as well as
the lives of famous artists like Tiffany, Monet,
Titian...I'm an artist myself, so I like to read about
others. I love stories with Native Americans too.
(Cynthia Powers 10:53pm October 31, 2015)

Since I am from the Philadelphia area, I love reading about Philadelphia history - and Pittsburgh history also, since we have lots of relatives there :-) - mostly Civil War history (my brothers are re-enactors).
(Felicia Ciaudelli 12:26pm November 1, 2015)

My husband and I drove from FL to California on a month travel and saw the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park, Four Corners, Painted Desert and so many other places. It was wonderful...OH Yellowstone... We've made this trip 3 times and spent 1 month each time going to different national Parks. It's wonderful!!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 7:47pm November 1, 2015)

i would like to know about my side of the family since they
came from ireland, and i know some of it, but not all of
it.
(Ann Unger 11:12pm November 1, 2015)

I love to hear family stories, both on my side and those on my husband's side of the family.
(Anna Speed 12:36pm November 2, 2015)

All of these family stories are so fascinating. I wish I could write a book on every one of them. :)
(Lisa Carter 8:59pm November 2, 2015)

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