It’s the early 1800s in the magnificent and dangerous place called Irwin County, Georgia. Here, where tensions flare among the natives and the settlers, and where skirmishes often result in killings, the lives of two young brothers and a Creek boy collide.

The youngest brother, gifted and subdued, plays the violin, pulling from the emotions inside him, his music falling on the forest like soft raindrops reviving the wilted on hot summer days.

Micah put the violin in position and began to play. Music moaned and whispered and took on wings.

The older brother enjoys the hard labor required to survive in this new place. He feels lonely, though, isolated from others his age, and desires a Creek friend.

He imagined life with a Creek friend. If he had a Creek friend life would be exciting.

The Creek boy has escaped the Removal of the Creeks. He is determined to remain on the land of his people, no matter what it takes. His ancestors are buried near the wiregrass, their memories live right below the surface of the river. They hunted under the longleaf. This is his home.

A sound as soft as his mother’s sigh rose up from the violin. It floated away before he could capture it. For a mere moment he thought he might be able to catch it in his fist.

The Creek is thrown into the lives of the brothers. Friendship blooms among the solitude and chaos. The three boys share a love of the longleaf pine forest, the cool river water, the wiregrass that grows tall and golden, and the wildlife among the woods.

A thread of magical realism runs throughout this coming-of-age story. It explores the history of the wiregrass region of Georgia and deals with themes of home, bullying, displacement, and music.

The novella is A Wiregrass Childhood, published by Horseman Press. It is perfect for middle-grades through adults. Many of the scenes are based on local historical events.

To order a book, please send a note either here or to my email. Books will soon be available on Amazon and Kindle, but for the present time we have only paperbacks. They are being sold the old fashioned way. Email brenda@brendasuttonrose.com to order A Wiregrass Childhood. Books to be mailed are $25 each. Payment options will be made available through email.

All titles for Horseman Press are produced by students in English 3130 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Editor-in-chief for A Wiregrass Childhood was Alec Crews. Dr. Rachael Price led the class and oversaw all aspects of the project.