1. What inspired you to write
this book? I, Angela, took a
class in Dakota Studies at the University of Minnesota and learned of the
accurate history of Fort Snelling, a place where I’d taken my children for July
Fourth celebrations over the years. I was dismayed that I was never told the
accurate history of the place, which was that it was an internment camp for
Dakota women and children after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Being appalled by
their treatment, I sought out more history.
2. What exactly is it about, and who is it
written for? This YA book of
poetry and prose is written for teens and adults who want to learn more about
the pain, anguish, and danger of the internment camp. It tells the
fictionalized story of a present-day teen who finds friendship with a teen girl
of that time at Bdóte, thereby learning the actual history that isn’t taught in
our schools.
3. What do you hope readers
will get out of reading your book? I hope readers will learn more about the true history of what
went on beneath the towering Fort Snelling and realize the horrors the Dakota
women and children faced on the march, at the internment camp, as well as their
expulsion from the state of Minnesota via a barge that took them down the
Mississippi and up the Missouri River to Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota
where still more died due to hunger and the bleak conditions of that land.
4. How did you decide on your
book’s title and cover design? Bdóte,
or “where the two waters come together,” is culturally significant to
the Dakota people since it is the center of their spirituality. The cover image
shows the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River, where
Bdóte is located. On one half of the image, you’ll see the colorized bridge
that now spans over the Mississippi and the B&W side that symbolizes the
past.
5. What advice or words of
wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? I advise everyone to journal their history for
their descendant s. Regarding publishing, I think there are enough readers out
there that we don’t have to compete with one another, as you’ll see on social
media. Regarding history, always check out alternate sources to make sure
they’re factual.
6. What trends in the book
world do you see — and where do you think the book publishing industry is
heading? I see that there are
more Generation Z readers than millennials. It’s nice to know that they’re
picking up books, especially physical copies, and writing them, than the
generation directly preceding them who may have been distracted by social media
or the video game realm.
7. Were there experiences in
your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I, Angela, who is half Dakota Sioux, took a
class in Dakota Culture studies at the University of Minnesota where we took
field trips to various local sites of importance to our ancestors. It was the
start of many a dream and nightmare where I needed to write about it in order
to get the thoughts out of my mind and onto paper.
8. How would you describe
your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Our predominant writing style is first person
with alternating points of view, which we picked up after reading Barbara
Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible. Other than that, we lean towards Joy
Harjo’s prose.
9. What challenges did you
overcome in the writing of this book? We worked to find a balance between the historical atrocities
that occurred on the march, where the women and children endured pain and
suffering like a Native American infant being ripped from the mother’s arms and
being slammed to the ground. The infant died and was left beneath the crux of a
tree as the soldiers forced the mother to continue on the march. Since it’s a
YA book of poetry and prose, we didn’t want to dwell on the tragedy to cause
nightmares but relay the account for historical accuracy.
10. If people can buy or read
one book this week or month, why should it be yours? We think readers should explore historical
accounts that will broaden their horizons. Diversity and inclusivity are
important. Plus, our book has a wonderful glossary of poetic terms that are
helpful in writing the young adult’s own words and thoughts. This book of
poetry and prose has teachable moments and spans the present day and past
intergenerational traumas that persist.
About the Authors: Shady Oak Press is home to authors Angela
Grey and Paige Peterson, a mother-daughter duo from the Twin Cities area.
Angela Grey, a writer of both Dakota Sioux and western European descent, has
created memorable moving tales about the sometimes unexpected and challenging
road to first love. Angela enjoys budget travel, camping, grilling/BBQs with
family, yoga, and spirituality classes. Paige Peterson received her bachelor’s
degree in psychology from the University of St. Thomas and an additional
bachelor’s degree from Rasmussen University. She resides in the suburban Twin
Cities with her husband, two cats, and a dog. She’s a lover of coffee, all
things travel-related, and camping alongside Lake Superior. www.ShadyOakPress.com.
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including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book
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has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence
College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association,
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Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have
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