Overview

"In 1824 John Ridge, promising son of a Cherokee leader, returns from his New England education with his White bride, Sarah Northrop, burning to defend his people's rights, and realize the dream of an independent Cherokee Nation. Peace at home evades when tensions rise between the Southern states and the federal government, pulling the Ridges into the crossfire of a divided country on the brink of civil war. Faced with expulsion from their homeland during the 1830s Indian Removal crisis, with options eroding, and Andrew Jackson in office, John and Sarah must forge a path to retain the Cherokee Nation in the midst of tyranny and deceit. A timely saga of one family's search for justice, this true story of profound love, sacrifice, and the meaning of home weaves the complex strands of politics, race, religion, and love into the tapestry of the turbulent times before the Trail of Tears. Feathered Quill Book Awards - Finalist Historical Fiction American Writing Awards - Finalist Historical Fiction CIBA Laramie Awards (Americana Fiction) - Finalist Eric Hoffer Da Vinci Eye Award (cover design) - Finalist "". . . the creation of something sweeping yet intimate, historically accurate yet reflective of current issues, and, through it all, written with precision, grace and lyrical elegance. This is a splendid, splendid work."" Greg Fields - Author of Through the Waters and the Wild ""An extraordinary achievement. Red Clay, Running Waters is an old-fashioned novel in the best sense: rich in its portraiture and heartbreakingly true to history."" Jodi Daynard - Author of The Midwife's Revolt ""The true-life saga of the Ridge family--the most dramatic, tragic, as yet untold story of America's conflict with first nation's people--is the stuff of legend. The author has devoted a lifetime to telling it like it demands to be told. I don't know a more powerful American story that reveals more of who we are, and how far we must travel to heal from our troubled past."" David Marion Wilkerson - Author of Oblivions Altar ""...A fabulous example of the [Historical Fiction] genre - very well-written and really interesting [with] well-developed characters who drew me in . . . ... an engaging story that held my attention throughout...I loved it!"" - Feathered Quill Book Awards judges ""An immersive and engaging story . . . a consistently enjoyable literary experience."" - Kirkus Review"

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Reviews

"""Sweeping yet intimate, historically accurate yet reflective of current issues, and, through it all, written with precision, grace, and lyrical elegance. This is a splendid, splendid work."" -Greg Fields, Author of Through the Waters and the Wild ""I don't know a more powerful American story that reveals more of who we are, and how far we must travel to heal from our troubled past."" -David Marion Wilkerson, Author of Oblivion's Altar ""Simmons paints a richly textured portrait of a heartbreaking era in American history. It's a story that needed to be told."" -Jodi Daynard, Author of The Midwife's Revolt"

"""The creation of something sweeping yet intimate, historically accurate yet reflective of current issues, and, through it all, written with precision, grace and lyrical elegance. This is a splendid, splendid work . . . done with intelligence, pathos, sensitivity, insight and precision. . . a depiction of characters at once passionate, idealistic, driven, courageous, and flawed . This is an excellent piece of writing that is epic in scope and very human in its focus.""-Greg Fields - Author of Through the Waters and the Wild ""The true-life saga of the Ridge family--the most dramatic, tragic, as yet untold story of America's conflict with first nation's people--is the stuff of legend. The author has devoted a lifetime to telling it like it demands to be told. I don't know a more powerful American story that reveals more of who we are, and how far we must travel to heal from our troubled past."" -David Marion Wilkerson - Author of Oblivions Altar ""Haunting and eminently readable, moving and infuriating, Red Clay, Running Waters is an epic tale of love, justice, and betrayal, and is a vivid portrayal of an episode of American history too many would prefer to be forgotten."" -Susan Higgenbotham - Author of John Brown's Women ""Red Clay, Running Waters is an old-fashioned novel in the best sense: rich in its portraiture and heartbreakingly true to history. An extraordinary achievement. It's a story that needed to be told."" -Jodi Daynard - Author of The Midwife's Revolt ""Red Clay, Running Waters is a beautifully written historical fiction novel, meticulously researched and carefully crafted. With language reminiscent of the time pulling the reader into a little-known story of Native American forced removal, this story of love, commitment, and sacrifice in Antebellum America is the best historical fiction I've read in a decade!"" -Josie Olsvig - Author of Gullah Tears ""Leslie Simmons' novel, Red Clay, Running Waters is a beautiful and intimate portrayal of life among the Cherokee in the early 1800's as they work to form a sovereign nation based on the same rights and freedoms upon which America was founded. Intensely researched and wonderfully written, the story of Sarah and John is a vivid portrait of a civilization that existed long before the American continent was ""discovered"" and the white man's greed for gold and land became part of government policy. Amidst treachery and betrayal by both red men and white, the couple struggles to establish a home for their growing family. Be ready for a reading marathon. You will not want to put it down."" -J. Stanion - Author of My Place Among Them"

"""Haunting and eminently readable, moving and infuriating, Red Clay, Running Waters is an epic tale of love, justice, and betrayal, and is a vivid portrayal of an episode of American history too many would prefer to be forgotten."" -Susan Higgenbotham - Author of John Brown's Women ""The true-life saga of the Ridge family--the most dramatic, tragic, as yet untold story of America's conflict with first nation's people--is the stuff of legend. The author has devoted a lifetime to telling it like it demands to be told. I don't know a more powerful American story that reveals more of who we are, and how far we must travel to heal from our troubled past."" -David Marion Wilkerson - Author of Oblivions Altar ""Red Clay, Running Waters is a beautifully written historical fiction novel, meticulously researched and carefully crafted. With language reminiscent of the time pulling the reader into a little-known story of Native American forced removal, this story of love, commitment, and sacrifice in Antebellum America is the best historical fiction I've read in a decade! "" Josie Olsvig - Author of Gullah Tears ""Red Clay, Running Waters is a masterwork that shines a light not only on America's genocidal policies toward the Native Americans but also on those brave souls who fought against them . . . Simmons paints a richly textured portrait of a heartbreaking era in American history . . . Red Clay, Running Waters is an old-fashioned novel in the best sense: rich in its portraiture and heartbreakingly true to history."" -Jodi Daynard, Author of The Midwife's Revolt ""Leslie K. Simmons' novel Red Clay, Running Waters is a beautiful and intimate portrayal of life among the Cherokee in the early 1800s as they work to form a sovereign nation based on the same rights and freedoms upon which America was founded. Intensely researched and wonderfully written, the story of Sarah and John is a vivid portrait of a civilization that existed long before the American continent was 'discovered' and the White man's greed for gold and land became part of government policy. You will not want to put it down."" -J. Stanion, Author of Their Place Among Us ""Sweeping yet intimate, historically accurate yet reflective of current issues, and, through it all, written with precision, grace and lyrical elegance. This is a splendid, splendid work. This is an excellent piece of writing that is epic in scope and very human in its focus."" -Greg Fields, Author of Through the Waters and the Wild ""The true-life saga of the Ridge family-the most dramatic, tragic, as yet untold story of America's conflict with First Nations people-is the stuff of legend. The author has devoted a lifetime to telling it like it demands to be told."" -David Marion Wilkerson, Author of Oblivion's Altar ""Red Clay, Running Waters is a masterwork that shines a light not only on America's genocidal policies toward the Native Americans but also on those brave souls who fought against them . . . Simmons paints a richly textured portrait of a heartbreaking era in American history . . . Red Clay, Running Waters is an old-fashioned novel in the best sense: rich in its portraiture and heartbreakingly true to history."" -Jodi Daynard, Author of The Midwife's Revolt ""Leslie K. Simmons' novel Red Clay, Running Waters is a beautiful and intimate portrayal of life among the Cherokee in the early 1800s as they work to form a sovereign nation based on the same rights and freedoms upon which America was founded. Intensely researched and wonderfully written, the story of Sarah and John is a vivid portrait of a civilization that existed long before the American continent was 'discovered' and the White man's greed for gold and land became part of government policy. You will not want to put it down."" -J. Stanion, Author of Their Place Among Us ""Sweeping yet intimate, historically accurate yet reflective of current issues, and, through it all, written with precision, grace and lyrical elegance. This is a splendid, splendid work. This is an excellent piece of writing that is epic in scope and very human in its focus."" -Greg Fields, Author of Through the Waters and the Wild"

Author Information

Leslie K. Simmons writes about extraordinary people at the center of crucial turning points in American history. She is particularly fascinated by outliers and the lesser known (but no less incredible) stories that slip through history's cracks. After decades of research, she followed a path marked by serendipities to the true story of John and Sarah Ridge and her debut novel, Red Clay, Running Waters.

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