A New Historical Fiction...

I want to share with you, a new Historical Fiction novel. I was one of his Beta (before publication) readers. I enjoyed it from page one: Down the Rivers of Peril, by Bill Wiemuth.

Nicolas Roosevelt, a distant cousin of our 20^th century presidents, lived a life of contrasts. He married young and had a series of economic downturns. In 1811, he built a river ship with a vertical paddle wheel and sailed down the Ohio for New Orleans with his pregnant wife, Lydia, a toddler, and a skeleton crew.

My friend, Bill Wiemuth, has rendered this story with emotional detail, taking me on the adventure with the Roosevelts. They set forth on October 20, 1811 on the vessel named for its destination: “New Orleans.” Settlers and native Americans along the River cheered, jeered and feared its passing. Lydia Roosevelt gave birth to a son December 16 while docked at Louisville when the ship waited for rising water to navigate treacherous rapids. It was the same day as the New Madrid Earthquake: the strongest and most devastating temblor in North America, estimated at 8.2 on the Ricter Scale. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a 7.9.

Undaunted, the ship set sail immediately to face more earthquakes, rapids, native attacks, the Mississippi flowing in reverse (earthquake), fires and mechanical crisis. Amidst the adventure is the enduring love of Nicolas and Lydia and for their children. The crew members become extended family as do some of their surprising visitors.

I love this book. It is Historical Fiction at its best. Bill built a world where I began as a total stranger. We all arrived in New Orleans together.

Thank you, Bill for the adventure.

To read Down the Rivers of Peril, go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK4S4Q12