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| About the Book |
Name: Mike Weedall
Book Title: Escape To The Maroons
Publication Date: August 19th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 275
Genre: Historical Fiction
In 1792, an escaped slave, raised and living as white, is discovered and forced to flee into the Great Dismal Swamp.
Barely escaping a bounty hunter, a Maroons community of fugitive slaves rescues him. Over time, Nathanial comes to accept his true identity while fighting to overcome the suspicions of his new community. Because of his pale skin, he becomes a conductor on the underground railroad, slipping runners onto ships going north. On one of his missions, fate intervenes and places Nathanial's community at risk.
This little-known chapter in American history tells how escaped enslaved people gave their all to live free while creating a community and economy in one of the world's most unforgiving environments.
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Author Bio:
As the author of three books, Mike’s passion is finding the little-known stories of history and bringing them to life. History in school is too often events and dates. Mike seeks to discover the people who lived those events and reveal why those individuals made the decisions they did. Ultimately, there are stories to be mined, and who doesn’t love a good story?
In his historical novel “Escape To The Maroons,” Mike tells the little-known story of 1791 self-liberated slaves who chose to struggle for survival in The Great Dismal Swamp in their determination to live free. The term Maroons delineates areas where escaped slaves fled and could not be recaptured. It’s estimated that over 2,000 survived deep in the swamp around the turn of that century.
His first book “Iva: The True Story of Tokyo Rose” describes the tragic life of Iva Toguri. Trapped in Japan during World War II, this Japanese American woman was forced to work for Radio Tokyo. Although she never participated in propaganda, the racial animus of post-war America led to her being falsely labelled as Tokyo Rose and prosecuted for treason. Through her incarceration and the ongoing discrimination heaped upon her, Iva never lost her courage and determination.
“War Angel: Korea 1950” was his second book that followed a reservist nurse thrust into the carnage of The Korean War. Serving as an operating room nurse in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, the real MASH and strength of a woman is revealed.
Mike resides with his family in the Pacific Northwest where they enjoy experiencing the outdoors.
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Amazon Author Page:
Goodreads:
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| read an excerpt |
Excerpt #4
Nathanial Reflecting On His Fate
Now Tied To Living In The Great Dismal Swamp
Tonight, I can’t sleep. Even though exhausted, my mind
won’t stop. It doesn’t seem to be cooling off much. If I drag my sawdust
mattress outside, there might be a breeze.
It’s a little better out here. Not a cloud in the sky,
and every star feels so close I could touch them. Coffey shared what he knows
about the stars. There’s the North Star and Little Dipper. Over there, Orion is
rising. The Hunter’s Belt is how I remember it. But that long, bright band is
something Coffey knows nothing about.
I wonder how my step-parents and sister are doing. I
miss sis the most. She loved to read, so it was always interesting to see what
she discovered. The three of them gave me everything they could. I worry they
are suffering because of me. What a world. Take a baby in and get punished for
following the lessons of Jesus.
Reading the Bible to Miss Matilde has me thinking. If
God is kind, why is this world so cruel? Whether one gets a fair chance or
suffers slavery is random. Why would God do that? Why give me a good life, then
snatch it away? Is he testing me?
I hear a harmonica and a sweet voice from down the
way. I can’t let anyone see me cry, but how I wish I could be with my family
again.
Twitter Handle: @cathiedunn
Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction
#AfricanAmericanHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
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THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for hosting Mike Weedall today, with an intriguing excerpt from his thought-provoking novel, Escape to the Maroons.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club
https://www.mikeweedallauthor.com/
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the opportunity for my book to be spotlighted. The little-known story of the courageous people who chose freedom in one of the worst environments in North America (The Great Dismal Swamp) instead of bondage is one more should understand. Prior to the end of the Civil War, their commitment stands in contrast to efforts by some today to deny and scrub the history of slavery. Recently, the Great Dismal Swamp Refuge was ordered to remove all signage and literature that documented the courage of the Maroons. Instead of denying our history, we should be learning from that.
ReplyDeleteMy book is dedicated to people seeking to be free everywhere in the world.