Christal Rice Cooper – 632 Words
Guest Blogger
Sheri WhiteFeather
The Life of a Writer:
Researching Native Characters
Researching Native Characters
I write romance novels. Yep, those dreamy, sexy books people sometimes
raise their eyebrows at. But
researching romance novels is the same as researching any other genre. If we do our jobs right, the fictional
characters we create will become real to our readers, jumping off the pages and
into their lives.
I’ve become known for incorporating Native
American elements into my books. I’m not
Native, but I’ve been greatly influenced by the culture. My ex-husband (we’re still friends) and our
grown children are tribally enrolled members of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
I spent years with my ex, while he set out to
follow the path of his ancestors. He is what’s considered an ethnic Indian. He didn’t grow up on a reservation and his
family lost touch with their community generations before he was born.
His late grandmother used to tell me stories about
her youth. She was raised in Indian Country in Oklahoma,
but it was during a time when being Native was considered shameful and her
people were being persecuted, so her family chose to “act white.” The elders stopped speaking their Native
language and teaching it to their young.
Eventually, they stopped drumming
and dancing, too. Grandma recalled
attending a few ceremonies that were held in secret, but the experience
frightened her. She didn’t understand
the significance of them. To her, they
were dark and scary and shrouded in mystery.
Needless to say, her culture was stripped from
her. She was thrilled when her grandson
began taking a warm and loving interest in his culture. He took her to her first inter-tribal powwow
and showed her how beautiful the celebrations are today. She was proud of me and my books, too. She loved that I was featuring Native
characters in my stories. It was during
my early writing days that she opened up to me about her past.
I research my Native characters in all sorts of
ways. Sometimes I talk to tribal
historians and enlist their help. I also
gather information from other books or online articles. And, of course, I ask Native peoples about
their lives and experiences.
I’ve written nearly 50 books and each and every
one is special to me. One of my favorites
is an erotic romance called The Art of
Desire. It contains two sets of lovers,
contemporary and historical, with flashbacks between both eras. The historical hero is an Apache prisoner of
war who escapes from a military fort and crosses paths with a beautiful young
artist. Their story is wild and
tragic. As much as I wanted their
relationship to have a happy ending, I didn’t see how it was possible.
In March 2015, I have a Harlequin novel (The Bachelor’s
Baby Dilemma) coming out that features a mixed-blood Cheyenne who
agrees to raise his sister’s child while she is serving time in prison. The heroine is his long-ago sweetheart who
returns to his life.
I’m also trying to complete my Room 105 series, a self-published
project that was influenced by a man I dated.
He is a full-blood who knows nothing of his past. He was adopted outside of his culture, and
the mystery associated with his lost identity pulled me in.
Not all of my books feature Native characters or
influences. I also write about vampires
and whatever else strikes my fancy.
But my Native-themed books are my first love and will always hold a special place in my heart.
But my Native-themed books are my first love and will always hold a special place in my heart.
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, I’m providing a
few articles of interest.
History of
Native American Heritage Month
Ways to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Authenticity: Ethnic Indians, non-Indians and Reservation
Indians http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/01/06/authenticity-ethnic-indians-non-indians-and-reservation-indians-152952
American
Indian FAQs (featured on my website)
Photograph Description and Copyright Information
Photo 1
Sheri WhiteFeather web logo
Photo 2
Jacket cover of Sheri WhiteFeather's first book Warrior's Baby by Silhouette Desire
Photo 3
Seal of the Muskogee Nation
Photo 4
Brenna, Sheri, and Nikki WhiteFeather
Copyright granted by Sheri WhiteFeather
Photo 5
Sheri's ex-mother-in-law, Nick WhiteFeather, and Sheri WhiteFeather
Photo 6
Attributed to Dorothy Sarah lee
Public Domain
Library of Congress
Photo 7
Sheri WhiteFeather
Copyright granted by Sheri WhiteFeather
Photo 8
Jacket cover of The Art of Desire
Photo 9
Jacket cover of Room 105 Beautiful Musician
Attributed and copyright granted by The Killion Group Inc
Photo 10
Jacket cover of Room 105 Beautiful Confusion
Attributed and copyright granted by The Killion Group Inc
Photo 11
Jacket cover of Room 105 Beautiful Warrior
Attributed and copyright granted by The Killion Group Inc
Photo 12
Jacket cover of Erotic Vampires
Photo 13
Sheri WhiteFeather
Copyright granted by Sheri WhiteFeather
