My Place Among Them follows the lives of a 12-year-old boy and a teacher who form an unlikely friendship and bond despite their different cultures. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I was inspired to tell the story because the two main characters actually existed and dealt with the issues and events that are portrayed in the novel. I also believe the mandatory school attendance as a form of cultural change for native children should be told as a part of US history.

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

I had my great-grandfather’s employment records from the archives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs as well as a rough manuscript he wrote about the life experiences of John Iron Horse. Because Covid limited my access to library research, I purchased numerous non-fiction books that documented life on native reservations from 1800 to 1950. I also used archival records of the various government schools that are depicted in the story. When details from my research conflicted with current widely accepted information, I reached out to native elders to confirm the authenticity/accuracy of the sources I used.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Some of the themes that intrigued me were:

1. While government policy may appear as the work of all persons within “the government” and thus the desire of the nation, in fact, there are often individuals who act on their own beliefs/desires within the bureaucracy that have the greatest impact, both good and bad.
   
2. While it is easy as an outsider to look at others who are struggling with “life” and say, “get over it” or “if you just work hard enough, you can improve your life”, it’s not as easy as it sounds. There must be some “hope” that an individual can grasp as he/she works to improve their status in life or they may be overwhelmed by their daily struggles.
   
3. “Education” has a profound impact on the future of society when it is used to indoctrinate or when policy encourages standards that become social norms whether by intent or accident.

These themes are as valid today as they were at the turn of the 20th century.

What is the next story that you’re writing, and when will it be published?

I have just begun writing a “coming of age” novel about John’s daughter Johanna, set in the midst of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Its title is “Tonic of Wildness”. The publication date has not been set.

I’m also planning a novel about life on a modern family farm…possibly titled “Worth Fighting For,” but it is still in the basic, basic development stages.

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