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Three Winds Blowing: Revised and Expanded Edition 2019
The son of a white man and Cherokee slave, Joseph Willis, gains his freedom and swims the mighty Mississippi on a mule.
Driven by three winds...
✯ a wind of freedom driving him from North Carolina
✯ a mighty rushing wind compelling him across the Mississippi River into the Louisiana Territory
✯ a wind of war fueled by slavery
Antebellum Louisiana
Rooted in a time of tradition and chivalry, Joseph discovers a land of innocence lost.
His life converges with Louisiana contemporaries, including Solomon Northup, James Bowie, William Prince Ford, Edwin Epps, John Murrell, John Audubon, Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, Jean Lafitte and voodoo queen Marie Laveau, as well as Texas Ranger Jack C. Hays.
Inspired by a true story
✯ ✯ ✯
About Joseph Willis
Joseph Willis's life is a story of triumph over tragedy and victory over adversity!
✯ He was born into slavery. His mother was Cherokee and his father a wealthy English plantation owner.
✯ His family took him to court to deprive him of his inheritance (which would have made him the wealthiest plantation owner in all of Bladen County, North Carolina in 1776).
✯ He fought as a Patriot in the Revolutionary War under the most colorful of all the American generals, Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox.
✯ His first wife died in childbirth, and his second wife died only six years later, leaving him with five small children.
✯ He crossed the mighty Mississippi River at Natchez at the peril of his own life, riding a mule!
✯ He entered hostile Spanish-controlled Louisiana Territory, when the dreaded Code Noir (Black Code) was in effect. It forbade any Protestant ministers who came into the territory from preaching.
✯ His life was threatened because of the message he brought to Spanish-controlled Louisiana!
✯ His own denomination refused to ordain him because of his race.
✯ Joseph Willis preached the first Gospel sermon by an Evangelical west of the Mississippi River.
✯ After overcoming insurmountable obstacles, he blazed a trail for others for another half-century that changed American history.
✯ His accomplishments are still felt today.
✯ ✯ ✯
threewindsblowing.com
Driven by three winds...
✯ a wind of freedom driving him from North Carolina
✯ a mighty rushing wind compelling him across the Mississippi River into the Louisiana Territory
✯ a wind of war fueled by slavery
Antebellum Louisiana
Rooted in a time of tradition and chivalry, Joseph discovers a land of innocence lost.
His life converges with Louisiana contemporaries, including Solomon Northup, James Bowie, William Prince Ford, Edwin Epps, John Murrell, John Audubon, Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, Jean Lafitte and voodoo queen Marie Laveau, as well as Texas Ranger Jack C. Hays.
Inspired by a true story
✯ ✯ ✯
About Joseph Willis
Joseph Willis's life is a story of triumph over tragedy and victory over adversity!
✯ He was born into slavery. His mother was Cherokee and his father a wealthy English plantation owner.
✯ His family took him to court to deprive him of his inheritance (which would have made him the wealthiest plantation owner in all of Bladen County, North Carolina in 1776).
✯ He fought as a Patriot in the Revolutionary War under the most colorful of all the American generals, Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox.
✯ His first wife died in childbirth, and his second wife died only six years later, leaving him with five small children.
✯ He crossed the mighty Mississippi River at Natchez at the peril of his own life, riding a mule!
✯ He entered hostile Spanish-controlled Louisiana Territory, when the dreaded Code Noir (Black Code) was in effect. It forbade any Protestant ministers who came into the territory from preaching.
✯ His life was threatened because of the message he brought to Spanish-controlled Louisiana!
✯ His own denomination refused to ordain him because of his race.
✯ Joseph Willis preached the first Gospel sermon by an Evangelical west of the Mississippi River.
✯ After overcoming insurmountable obstacles, he blazed a trail for others for another half-century that changed American history.
✯ His accomplishments are still felt today.
✯ ✯ ✯
threewindsblowing.com
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2015
33 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Randy Willis
23 books9 followersRandy Willis is an American novelist, biographer, rancher, and music publisher.
Randy Willis is the author of Destiny, Twice a Slave, Three Winds Blowing, Louisiana Wind, Beckoning Candle, The Apostle to the Opelousas, The Story of Joseph Willis, and many magazine and newspaper articles.
Randy Willis...novels about adventure, family, faith, and the character of men and women that touched generations.
Randy Willis is as much at home in the saddle as he is in front of the computer where he composes his western family sagas. Drawing on his family heritage of explorers, settlers, soldiers, cowboys, and pastors, Randy carries on the tradition of loving the outdoors and sharing it in the adventures he creates for readers of his novels.
Website: http://threewindsblowing.com
Randy Willis is the author of Destiny, Twice a Slave, Three Winds Blowing, Louisiana Wind, Beckoning Candle, The Apostle to the Opelousas, The Story of Joseph Willis, and many magazine and newspaper articles.
Randy Willis...novels about adventure, family, faith, and the character of men and women that touched generations.
Randy Willis is as much at home in the saddle as he is in front of the computer where he composes his western family sagas. Drawing on his family heritage of explorers, settlers, soldiers, cowboys, and pastors, Randy carries on the tradition of loving the outdoors and sharing it in the adventures he creates for readers of his novels.
Website: http://threewindsblowing.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 15, 2022
Christian Historical Fiction
I loved so much about this book, but not everything.
Although I know it's historically accurate, I had a hard time listening to the language and the terrible way blacks were treated in during the time of this preacher's almost 100 years of life.
The rest of the story was like a bunch if entertaining tall tales with name dropping and wild explanations for certain historical events. In a way it reminds me of Forest Gump. Like him running across the country and a guy needed a new t-shirt design. He gave forest a t-shirt to wipe the splattered mud off his face and then the smiley face is the new design. The stories are entertaining and parts have historical figures, events, or times, but you just shake your head or shrug your shoulders!
The narration was very enjoyable!
I loved so much about this book, but not everything.
Although I know it's historically accurate, I had a hard time listening to the language and the terrible way blacks were treated in during the time of this preacher's almost 100 years of life.
The rest of the story was like a bunch if entertaining tall tales with name dropping and wild explanations for certain historical events. In a way it reminds me of Forest Gump. Like him running across the country and a guy needed a new t-shirt design. He gave forest a t-shirt to wipe the splattered mud off his face and then the smiley face is the new design. The stories are entertaining and parts have historical figures, events, or times, but you just shake your head or shrug your shoulders!
The narration was very enjoyable!
June 7, 2025
Less engaging than the first book, and more of a fascinating look at the founding fathers of Baptist churches in Louisiana.
October 27, 2015
This is a fantastic book based on a true story of the author's family. Joseph Willis is the son of a white man and Cherokee woman. He is also a pastor and started many churches in Louisiana shortly after the Trail of Tears. This book is written from his perspective as he tells stories to his son, grandson and great grandson. Many famous names appear such a Solomon Northrop, Sam Houston, Jim Bowie and William Bradford. It is a well written and interesting look at some of our countries early and sometimes dark history. It keeps your attention from the very first page and it is inspiring to read about how God used this man to accomplish many things. I felt like I was there listening to the stories as they were told by Jospeh Willis. I highly recommend this book and have already gotten my husband reading it. I will have my boys read it when they are a few years older. It is a great book to add to a suggested reading list for middle or high school.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review which I have given.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review which I have given.
August 19, 2015
Although there were parts hard to read about I enjoyed it because it is based on true life events. It gives you insight into how slaves were treated during the 1800s. I found the storyline riveting. How one man set out to share the gospel in spite of the many obstacles and hardships he endured. He never wavered in his faith.
August 12, 2015
This book is a great narrative , the reason I gave it a 4 is because of the rawness of the slave narrative, being a slavery descendant, a lot of people would not enjoy that part of the book, otherwise, it was a breeze to read and will be looking forward to reading other Randy Willis Books.
September 18, 2015
Three Winds Blowing is a fantastic book. I enjoyed reading the fictional account of true life events. I found it quite interesting and captivating. I had a hard time putting the book down.
Great book!
5 stars.
Great book!
5 stars.
January 3, 2016
Could not read, empty pages
There was a lot of pages missing from this book. Just had blank pages. would have loved to read it
There was a lot of pages missing from this book. Just had blank pages. would have loved to read it
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June 21, 2018Randy Willis is an American novelist, biographer, and music publisher.
Randy Willis is the author of Twice a Slave, Three Winds Blowing, Louisiana Wind, Beckoning Candle, The Apostle to the Opelousas, The Story of Joseph Willis, and many magazine and newspaper articles.
Randy Willis...novels about adventure, family, faith, and the character of a man that touched generations.
Coming soon: A series of Children's Storybooks beginning with Ole Sally Swims the Mighty Mississippi.
Website: http://threewindsblowing.com
Amazon author's page:
http://amazon.com/author/randywillis
Three Winds Blowing trailer
https://youtu.be/L6libzCS9No
Twice a Slave trailer:
https://youtu.be/IuPAzCcRn3s
Twice a Slave, the play trailer:
https://youtu.be/L7iT-7CiKA0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.willis...
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randywill...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/randywillisnews
Blog: http://randywillisbooks.wordpress.com
Randy Willis is the author of Twice a Slave, Three Winds Blowing, Louisiana Wind, Beckoning Candle, The Apostle to the Opelousas, The Story of Joseph Willis, and many magazine and newspaper articles.
Randy Willis...novels about adventure, family, faith, and the character of a man that touched generations.
Coming soon: A series of Children's Storybooks beginning with Ole Sally Swims the Mighty Mississippi.
Website: http://threewindsblowing.com
Amazon author's page:
http://amazon.com/author/randywillis
Three Winds Blowing trailer
https://youtu.be/L6libzCS9No
Twice a Slave trailer:
https://youtu.be/IuPAzCcRn3s
Twice a Slave, the play trailer:
https://youtu.be/L7iT-7CiKA0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.willis...
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randywill...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/randywillisnews
Blog: http://randywillisbooks.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews