Mike Weedall

Now available, "Escape To The Maroons."

My newest book tells the little-known story of the courageous people who chose a life in one of the most inhospitable North American environments in their determination to escape slavery. Based on three years of research and written as historical fiction, the true story of over 2,000 freedom seekers who established homes and communities deep in The Great Dismal Swamp comes alive. While each day was a struggle to survive in the swamp, the formerly enslaved established vibrant communities and developed an economy that supported multi-generational families. As one swamp resident said, "The worst day in this terrible swamp is much better than the best day I ever experienced as a slave."

The term Maroons refers to areas where enslaved people could escape and not be recaptured. The largest Maroon in North America was The Great Dismal Swamp. Over 2,000 square miles and bordering the States of Virginia and North Carolina, this extreme environment became home to individuals who demonstrated the strength and commitment of their race. Historium Press will release the book this summer.

My two previous historical fiction books continue to get good reviews. The recent anniversary of President Gerald Ford issuing a Presidential Pardon for treason charges reminds us of one of the great injustices ever handed down in the United States. Trapped in Japan during World War II and forced to work for Radio Tokyo, this loyal American never participated in propaganda broadcasts. Caught up in the post-war political frenzy against Japanese Americans, the parallels to our current political environment is striking. "Iva: The True Story of Tokyo Rose" is a story I'm proud to have written.

"War Angel: Korea 1950" also continues to get strong reviews. When I mention this title to people, a typical reaction is, "Oh, like the television show MASH, right?" Not at all. While the hit movie and television series sought to portray the difficult circumstances doctors and nurses experienced in Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, in reality there was little to laugh about. When there was joking, it was typically a gallows humor given the horrifying realities. What attracted me to this story was how in 1950 Army nurses were required to be women. The conception many have that it was not until recently that females could serve near combat front lines is not true. (In 1956, US Army regulations were changed to allow men to serve as nurses.) Thousands of women experienced the most extreme medical emergencies in the worst of conditions and did so with nothing but strength.

And I'm well into the research for my next release, and if you would like to learn about that fascinating story, please reach out to me.