Writing Red Willow’s Quest led to unexpected revelations

Every novel has a story behind it—a reason the author felt drawn to write it.  When I started writing Red Willow’s Quest I decided to write a fantasy story of a young woman on a spiritual quest.  I began writing the story as fantasy because it was close to the genre I’d used for my other novels.

However, after writing several chapters, I realized the story resembled a culture very similar to the Plains Indians.  I debated with myself about starting over and writing the book as a Native American story.  While I pondered this, I started reading a manuscript.  It seemed as if the universe was speaking to me, for this story was about a woman who remembered her past life as a Native American woman.  I wondered if my story was based on my past life as a Plains Indian.

 I had to take my daughter to her flute lesson, so I put aside the manuscript and went outside. There in the yard I found a hawk feather standing straight up in perfect condition.  On each of the next two days I found another hawk feather in the yard.  For me finding three hawk feathers was a significant spiritual sign that I should start over and write the story as my past-life recall of being a Native American maiden.

Drawing of three hawk feathers

 Later, I heard a talk by a spiritual leader who said to some Native Americans the cry of a hawk meant clear spiritual vision and flying above the mundane world. This was further confirmation that I was on the right track.

Once I’d made the decision to write about my own past life, memories of that life started coming through especially as I began researching the Plains Indians. All the research I did opened the door to this past life and my memories began to flood through that revealed much about that lifetime. However, I didn’t know the exact time period or place where that life happened, nor did I know what tribe I’d been part of.

I knew that the story took place in the mountains, so I started out by figuring out what mountains range I lived in. Through my readings and looking at photographs, I soon realized that I had lived in the Rocky Mountains. I had always felt a deep affinity and love for the Rockies that I now realized came from that life. As a child my family spent many vacations camping and hiking in Glacier National Park.  Later as a young adult I backpacked in the Rockies. On these trips I always felt at home.

 My research also revealed that I was a Shoshoni Indian. Their culture, clothing and food matched what I remembered from that life. The Shoshonis: Sentinels of the Rockies clarified that this was where some of the tribes lived.

 The time period where that life took place turned out to be fairly easy to establish because Red Willow and her companion go to a fort on the mouth of the Big Horn River. Research revealed that in 1807 John Colter and Manuel Lisa built a trading post called Fort Raymond in that location. The fort was only in existence for one year. John Colter was one of the men who was a part of Lewis and Clark’s expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. He built the fort after the expedition was completed.

More pieces of the puzzle of that lifetime fell into place as I continued researching, such as figuring out which people attacked Red Willow’s village. When I traveled out west, I also found out that a name I thought I’d made up for a tribe was the real name. I’ll talk about these discoveries in the next post.

Here is a review of the book by June Rouse that was published in The Monthly Aspectarian:

If  you’re looking for a yarn that keeps you guessing, Red Willow’s Quest, a story of an Indian maiden who was anything but tractable, provides adventure, romance and food for thought in striking settings throughout the early West. . . . As a mark of a fine craftsman, Heidi Skarie’s telling of the story keeps readers engaged. . . . Red Willow’s Quest not only is a good story but a primer in learning to follow your dreams and listen to your heart.

 If you’re interested in buying the book, Click here to link to Amazon.

 

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