Maps of Fate

Book excerpt: The adventure and romance of America, her people, her spirit and the West. We are all Americans. This is our story. Second book of the #1 bestselling, Threads West, An American Saga epic saga, recipient of thirty-seven National Awards—Best Historical Fiction, Best Multi-Cultural, Best Romance and Best Western! Compared by reviewers, authors and readers alike to Lonesome Dove, Centennial, and the Sacketts of L'Amour. Called by some the ''Gone with the Wind of the West,'' and applauded by others as ''rings true and poignant, as authentic and moving as Dances with Wolves.'' The touchstones of the past are the guideposts to the future. Maps of Fate is the continuation of this tale of America, set in the West—new lineages join the many threads of uncommon cultures, differing origins and competing ambitions that entwine into the American spirit. Lives and generations are woven on the loom of history, propelled by fate and freedom to form the tapestry that becomes the whole cloth of the nation. It is uniquely American, this meld of the mosaic. Set in 1855, Book Two continues the page-turning tale of five richly textured, complex generations of unforgettable personalities mandated by fate and history to encounter others of differing origins; the Oglala Sioux family, the elderly black couple setting their life sails for the winds of the freedom, the dark hearted renegade. The secrets of the maps are revealed, and suspense builds as they push westward, hurtling towards unknown destinies, propelled by one adventure, danger, romantic twist, and encounter to the next. Forged in the crucible of history, shaped on the anvil of a dangerous land, the threads of their lives, tragedies, triumphs, and torrid loves interweave with the evolution of the West. Armed conflicts, the rancor of slavery, and the discovery of gold, all create lethal surprises when the characters are forced to defend their lands, their loved ones, and their honor. The tragic story of the Indians begins to unfold. The new characters with dark hearts, lost souls, fierce pride, and hopeful innocence, color the tapestry of this epic saga. Others, in search of place and rightful freedom, catapult into the story. An unexpected convergence of events sets in motion the thrilling, yet heartrending conclusion of Book Two, setting the stage for the arduous crossing of Continental Divide, and the passionate tumult of the next Maps of Fate Era novel of the Threads West, An American Saga epic saga; Uncompahgre-where water turns rock red. You will recognize the characters who live in these pages. They are the ancestors of your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, and your family. They are you. They are us. We are all Americans. This is not only their story. It is our story. The decades of the Maps of Fate era novels of the sweeping Threads West book epic saga become the crucible of souls of generations, the building of the heart of the nation, destiny of a people, and the relentless energy and beauty of the western landscape.