Go Stand Upon the Rock (2014)
What is my book about?
Go Stand Upon the Rock (2014) is a deeply moving fact-based, historical novel inspired by stories handed down to me by my grandmother about how her grandparents escaped from slavery during the Civil War. The novel weaves together several plot lines to form a tapestry of compelling events in the lives of real people during one of the most dynamic and dangerous periods in American history.
Why did I write this book?
I wrote this book to tell the remarkable story of my courageous ancestors, as a tribute to them and others in bondage; and the brave people of all colors who helped them to find freedom in the North. I wanted to tell a vibrant tale that would bring history to life through the eyes of real people who overcame incredible challenges in their lives. It's a critical message that resonates today, because slavery continues to exist around the world.
When my grandmother first told me these stories when I was a boy, I fell in love with my ancestors who died long before I was born. And since that time, I've been determined to tell their story and preserve this history because I felt I owed them a great debt. Their stories became part of my doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania, which is the foundation of this book. It is the first part of a planned trilogy.
What's different about my book in terms of slavery and the Civil War?
It's different because of its depth and complexity. It is a finely detailed and nuanced tale. I avoided using simplistic stereotypes to portray people as only "good" or "evil." These are multifaceted characters who struggle with heavy, and sometimes heartbreaking challenges to overcome -- the way life really is. Whether white or black, slave or free, Northerner or Southerner, I tried to be fair to them by showing them as complex human beings. Because slavery did not just involve slaves as "property" -- it also involved complicated interpersonal and often biological relationships between slaves and slave owners.
Other unique aspects to my novel are that strong, smart, determined women play central roles in the story. And the "back story" of this work, tells the reader how I traced the origins of my family history and how that changed me in profound ways. The end of the book includes photographs and documents that confirm for the reader these are real people and events. It is family history -- not ancient history.
Go Stand Upon the Rock (2014) is a deeply moving fact-based, historical novel inspired by stories handed down to me by my grandmother about how her grandparents escaped from slavery during the Civil War. The novel weaves together several plot lines to form a tapestry of compelling events in the lives of real people during one of the most dynamic and dangerous periods in American history.
Why did I write this book?
I wrote this book to tell the remarkable story of my courageous ancestors, as a tribute to them and others in bondage; and the brave people of all colors who helped them to find freedom in the North. I wanted to tell a vibrant tale that would bring history to life through the eyes of real people who overcame incredible challenges in their lives. It's a critical message that resonates today, because slavery continues to exist around the world.
When my grandmother first told me these stories when I was a boy, I fell in love with my ancestors who died long before I was born. And since that time, I've been determined to tell their story and preserve this history because I felt I owed them a great debt. Their stories became part of my doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania, which is the foundation of this book. It is the first part of a planned trilogy.
What's different about my book in terms of slavery and the Civil War?
It's different because of its depth and complexity. It is a finely detailed and nuanced tale. I avoided using simplistic stereotypes to portray people as only "good" or "evil." These are multifaceted characters who struggle with heavy, and sometimes heartbreaking challenges to overcome -- the way life really is. Whether white or black, slave or free, Northerner or Southerner, I tried to be fair to them by showing them as complex human beings. Because slavery did not just involve slaves as "property" -- it also involved complicated interpersonal and often biological relationships between slaves and slave owners.
Other unique aspects to my novel are that strong, smart, determined women play central roles in the story. And the "back story" of this work, tells the reader how I traced the origins of my family history and how that changed me in profound ways. The end of the book includes photographs and documents that confirm for the reader these are real people and events. It is family history -- not ancient history.
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