The son of a white man and Cherokee slave, Joseph Willis, gains his freedom and swims the mighty Mississippi on a mule. Driven by three winds...* a wind of freedom driving him from North Carolina* a mighty rushing wind compelling him across the Mississippi River into the Louisiana Territory* a wind of war fueled by slaveryAntebellum Louisiana Rooted in a time of tradition and chivalry, Joseph discovers a land of innocence lost.
Randy Willis is as much at home in the saddle as he is infront of the computer where he composes his family sagas. Drawing on his familyheritage of explorers, settlers, soldiers, cowboys, and pastors, Randy carrieson the tradition of loving the outdoors and sharing it in the adventures hecreates for readers of his novels.
He is the author of Destiny,Beckoning Candle, Twice aSlave, Three Winds Blowing, CarolinasWind,Louisiana Wind, TheApostle to the Opelousas, The Storyof Joseph Willis, and many articles.
Randy Willisowns Randy WillisMusic Publishing (anASCAP-affiliated music publishing company)and Town Lake Music Publishing,LLC (a BMI-affiliated music publishing company). Heis an ASCAP-affiliated songwriter. He was an artist manager.
He is the founder of Operation Warm Heart, which feeds andclothes the homeless. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Our MissionPossible (empowering at-risk teens to discover their greatness) in Austin,Texas.
He was a charter member of the Board of Trustees of theJoseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies at Louisiana College.
Randy Willis was born in Oakdale, Louisiana, and lived as aboy near Longleaf, Louisiana, and Barber Creek.He currently resides in the Texas HillCountry near his three sons and their families.
He graduated from Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas,and Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He was a graduate student atTexas State University for six years. He is the father of three sons and has fivegrandchildren.
Randy Willis is the fourth great-grandson of Joseph Willisand his foremost historian.