By Suzy Alstrin
The lives of Cherokee peoples in North Georgia comes to life in Dr. Donna Coffey Little’s first published novel. Dr. Little is an English professor at Reinhardt University and founder of Reinhardt’s Etowah Valley Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program. Titled Wofford’s Blood (Mercer University Press, 2024), the historical fiction centers around the Wofford family who lived near Pine Log Mountain in the early 19th century.
Dr. Little writes an engaging saga based on the true story of a mixed-race teenage boy, James Daugherty (J.D.) Wofford, who fluctuates between his white father’s settlement and the traditions of his Cherokee mother’s village. Caught between what each wants him to become, J.D. endures rifts between the two worlds with his best friends- one who is half-Cherokee heritage, the other an enslaved boy of African and Cherokee descent. The story follows their choices leading up to the Trail of Tears when J.D. embraces his Cherokee identity and becomes the leader of one of the groups as they are forced West.
“The tragedy of the Cherokee removal is a story that must be told and remembered,” explained Dr. Little about her theme, “This one family’s story is really a microcosm of the history of North Georgia.” To ensure accuracy and learn more details, Dr. Little’s research included locating descendants of her characters. She elaborates, “The most interesting thing about the research was discovering the history that lies right beneath our feet. I have interviewed many Wofford descendants, Cherokee, white, and black, and they have shared their family lore with me and are thrilled that their ancestors’ stories are being told.”
Dr. Little continues the story in an upcoming sequel titled Wofford’s Nation. Click here for a link to learn more about Wofford’s Blood: https://www.mupress.org/Woffords-Blood-A-Novel-P1269.aspx
