Showing results by author "Glenda Clemens" in All Categories

In late November 1899, in Tishomingo, Indian Territory, 17-year-old Eva Baker is caught between two worlds: the future she's always dreamed of and the family obligations threaten to shape her destiny—a destiny she never wanted. Eva has spent her life in Tishomingo, helping with the family and their small farm. She has graduated from Bloomfield Academy with high honors. Now, she wants to learn the art of midwifery under the tutelage of Aurora Harrison, a local and admired midwife.

In the heart of Tishomingo, Indian Territory-now the vibrant state of Oklahoma-resides a story that weaves the fabric of truth and fiction, a tapestry anchored by a young Chickasaw woman named Aurora Harrison. Her odyssey, as she rises with the sun each day, unfolds against the canvas of foundational events: the Trail of Tears, life in Indian Territory, paving the way for the birth of Oklahoma. Raised on the beloved tales of her native Chickasaw Nation and her loving parents, Aurora's innocence gradually wanes, exposing a harsher reality where history unveils its unvarnished truths.

Mandy Mayberry is living a life she'd never expected. Her plan was to find the perfect woman to fulfill her love life, have or adopt a few children, write poetry, sketch, paint, and keep the family farm going. Her mother's cancer and father's Alzheimer's put an end to her plans and dreams for her life, or so it seemed to her.

As a child, fear was the overwhelming emotion for Glenda Richard. From the age of eight until the day before she married, her father, a fundamentalist evangelical preacher, had mercilessly abused her—sometimes with his belt, sometimes with his fist, sometimes with his hands around her neck. He repeatedly accused her of being a witch. The first time he accused her of being a witch, was when she told him of the magic of multiplication. As a child, her fear of being a witch was nearly as frightening as her father's abuse.

Not everyone who falls in love is a young person. Charisse Adair, following a sudden divorce, must rebuild her life. She leaves her home of over 20 years in Tupelo, Mississippi, and goes to Mina, Arkansas to live in her new RV with her aunt. After several weeks, her aunt suggests there might be a better choice for Charisse in Oklahoma. She would be closer to her adult children who are in university in Norman, Oklahoma. She finds herself in McAlester, Oklahoma with another family member, Beulah Riddle who helps her find a job and new meaning in her life.

Lucy Darkhorse and her friend and lover, Jewel Yates, are facing not only their relationship with each other but their Native American heritage. Living in the world of White folks isn’t easy, but as Lucy has said, “Life is never easy for anyone. If we don’t struggle, we don’t grow.” Jewel's mother kept her daughter's hair dyed red to help disguise her. She lived most of her life trying to be a White woman, but now, in love with Lucy Darkhorse, she wants to claim her Native heritage. It won't be easy and will take time, but Jewel is determined to be who she really is.

Shock rippled through the Pittsburg County Courthouse in McAlester, Oklahoma. No one noticed the pregnant woman, Farah Kidde, on the back row in the courtroom. She knew what had to be done - Bruce Harlin must die. Lynn Groves ignored the judge’s call for order in the courtroom. She stood, stunned that the jury had ruled Bruce Harlin innocent. He’d beaten her nearly to death and had killed their unborn baby boy in her womb. How could anyone think he was innocent? She felt a cold certainty of doom.

Dancing in the moonlight, in a circle of redbud trees, Lynn finds herself falling in love with her best friend’s brother-in-law. They’ve only met one time. However, with the stars, the Moon, the fairy lights, and the waltz the magic begins. Lynn is still reeling from the assault on her by her previous boyfriend, culminating in the death of her unborn son. How can she possibly consider having another man in her life? She has barely begun to rebuild her life at the top of Molly’s Mountain, in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma.

Raven Darkhorse wanted to be loved by her parents. It wasn't to be. They were too caught up in the battle over their love and alcohol to notice the small child quivering at every slap, every fist, every drunken orgy. Their eventual demise was a forgone conclusion, but no one expected them to die in a fire with their 10-year-old daughter bearing witness.

Simon Chowdhury lived his life intentionally. He believed if he formulated intentions for his life, gave those intentions his full attention then he would make manifest the life he wanted to live. All his life he made his intentions be his mantra and created a rich and abundant life. It worked great, until it didn't. Simon cared deeply about his family and felt it was his duty to take care of his family. Especially, after his father died in a horrific automobile accident. His mother Basanti loved him and appreciated his sense of duty and honor.

Since the beginning of COVID 19, Amy's life changed radically. For a 10-year-old girl, it has been a tough, scary year. Her parents decided she could spend all five days of spring break at Gramma and Granddaddy's house. She was excited to spend a lot of time outside in their big backyard. The very first morning, Amy woke early, pulled on her jeans and hoodie, grabbed her iPod, and raced outside to explore on her own.

Fran's father relentlessly abused her throughout her childhood. Yet he was seen within the communities in which they lived as a holy man. Spare the rod and spoil the child was his favorite sermon. Thousands of miles away, Laura gave birth to a biracial child. Her father nearly killed her and her child in his bigotry.

Charlie Walsh was on his way up the ladder at the police department in McAlester, Oklahoma. In a few days, he would be a detective. But first, his power animal Clark, a crawdad from down Louisiana way, had a message for him. A banjo player out of Alderson Road had a problem. The main problem was he was dead. To Clark's mind, though, the waste of good Kentucky whiskey and a mangled banjo was a step too far.

Beulah longed for a child of her own. She would never bear a child, but her longing was a part of her daily life. Her Power Animal, Petrona, a rock sparrow, brought her the good news. There was a daughter sleeping on Beulah's front porch. Beulah thought it was a dream, and she was right - it was a dream come true.

Persephone believed everything her parents had told her about her heritage. Although she was human, she knew deep in her bones she was much, much more than merely human. Her father and mother spent many hours telling her the mythology of her name, Persephone. Over time, she believed she was the embodiment of the goddess Persephone. She knew she could do everything in the ordinary world, or the underworld, just as her namesake could.

Cora and Delbert, married nearly 30 years, have spent three long years separated. The separation was triggered by misunderstanding, stubbornness, and pride. Is love enough to resurrect and restore their marriage to its once powerful and devoted way of being together? Delbert’s nephew’s wife, a horse whisperer, may offer a path forward for Delbert. He listens and hears what she has to say about horse whispering.

Auntie Beulah, Teah’s surrogate mother, is tending Teah's home in McAlester, Oklahoma with loving care. Teah's career is moving forward. Her beautiful home in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a dream home. Everything in Teah's life seemed to be falling in place. She dreamed of her brother Callum, then met him in real life at a Core Shamanism retreat in Austin, Texas. She also met Chloe Kitson, the facilitator of the event. Chloe, a Shaman from Wexford, Ireland, was in America to make a life for herself.

Dying isn't the easiest thing to do in life. As Belle says, "These are my lumps." Yet in death as in life, love becomes the driving force of everything Belle holds dear. When Belle discovers the mystic world of Core Shamanism she discovers ways of being in any reality whether here on Earth or beyond. Through her learning with Rachel, a Cherokee Shaman, Belle is able to meet her dying with grace, beauty, and a regal bearing known only among Goddesses.

LaDean Cox wanted to live, marry Bailey Hardcastle and raise her three children with him. Love beckoned her but her guilt and sorrow were too heavy. She chose instead to sacrifice her life to give her children a better future. Her three children, Tommy, Bradley and Hazel were living with Jake and Gloriana Pennington-Casey. When LaDean signed away her parental rights making them the guardians of her children, she knew she could leave the burden of her life behind without any guilt.

Dakota had to grow up fast! Her mother and grandmother both died within a few weeks of each other, in Commerce, Texas. She was left, at the age of 19, to settle all the legal, personal, and financial matters for the two women who had shaped her life. When she completed getting the estate settled, she had 200 dollars, no home, no car, and no one to call family. While going through her mother's papers, she found her biological father's name and address in McAlester, Oklahoma.