Great Heats

Among the beauty of ancient mounds and earthworks a thousand years ago, the people of the Village of Ohi'yo enjoy an idyllic life. Women care for their families, share farming duties, and choose the chief, while men protect the village and hunt for game. Yet, with each new sunrise, change is in the air, threatening the village in ways that they could not understand. Young Heron has met his love, Lone Bird, a woman from another clan. The two unite in the moving Ceremony of One, but painful secrets from his past keep them apart, except for covert and passionate meetings. As time passes, rain and snowfall decrease in the region, while the summer's heat increases and lengthens. Fertile, replenishing floods gradually halt their annual immersions. Insects emerge from the drying ground to attack village crops; deer move away as coyotes move in. People follow the deer. Village life is in jeopardy. Against this backdrop, Young Heron finally sees hope for a traditional life as he reunites with his family, until events, hidden for decades, confront him. A tragic conclusion seems predestined. Years later, the fruits of this man's life are revealed in a surprising way. Great Heats - a novel of historic fiction, rich in detail and human experience.