Not just historical romance...

The Louisa Saga is a 6-book series detailing people, places and events, covering Louisa Wilton's adventures between 1818 and 1877. She journeys as a privileged 19-year-old with her extended family, traveling on rudimentary trails and paths from her native South Carolina. The entourage finally arrived in what was then the Alabama Territory.

Settling first in lands recently obtained from the Creek Indians after decisive battles, Louisa's adventures extended to neighboring communities ranging from established plantations to an Indian outpost still within the Creek Nation (Books 1 and 2.)

From her family home in what was then Autauga (now Elmore) County, Louisa moved with her new husband to a homestead in virtually untouched canebrakes in the "Black Belt" in Perry County (Book 3). Several years later, she resettles in Greensboro (Book 4), but travels also to Connecticut. I'll leave it a mystery as to where she lands in the final two volumes.

Various themes emerge over the series, historical and often romantic. I determined to fictionalize a family history about which I had a fair amount of details. Turning my work into novels, I thought, would give me a freedom to bring in dialog while also observing things which are not just dry facts.

I could, for example, examine difficulties and triumphs of an upper-middle class family traveling to an unsettled (by Whites) territory; humanize the treatment of the Creek Indians; debate the institution of slavery within historical context; delve into early 19th century Christianity (particularly Methodism) and cotton gin manufacturing; and much more, all through the eyes of a somewhat spoiled young lady growing into a mature woman.

The entire series is based upon what I know about my great-great-grandparents, Louisa Williams and John DuBois and their extended families, supplemented and enhanced by my research which informed me of what they likely encountered.

Sometimes, there are straight-up facts. The first names of virtually all of the relatives over several generations are the same, while their surnames are not too far off the actual. For example, Louisa Wilton was actually Louisa Williams; her mother, Judith (Ellison) Wilton was Judith Elmore Williams; her uncle, General John Archer Ellison was General Elmore; and her spouse, Rev. John LeBois was a DuBois.

I have few records of the extended family's dealings with the Creek Indians. The Williams homestead, however, was directly across the Coosa River from the Creek Nation, established within five years after Creek boundary moved east. Within a mile was Fort Toulouse which served military purposes, but was in the Creek Nation. Upriver was and is the town of Wetumpka, an important Creek settlement originally.* It is nearly impossible to think Louisa was not extremely aware of her neighbors to the East. Her cousin's family history includes several anecdotes about them, while male relatives fought the Creek as soldiers.

Facts gleaned about the Creek Nation allowed the opportunity to teach a little about early Alabama history, humanizing a people who almost disappeared in that region. There are many instances of explaining early Alabama and Alabama Territory history, some covered in my great-great-grandfather's published articles.

Louisa's life spanned over 78 years, her husband John, over 85. During that time are a good many changes. But it isn't the history which first inspired me; it was the lengthy obituary demonstrating the extraordinary love Rev. John DuBois had for his wife. Clearly, this was a married couple who encountered many experiences, but their love inspired generations.

*The area west of the Coosa River was known as Elmore County after the Civil War, honoring not only one of the new County's most illustrious heroes, but recognizing that many Elmore and related families inhabited it.)

Rev. Henry Harris Slaton DuBois was the grandson of Louisa and John as well as the grandfather of the author. He was born and raised in Greensboro, Alabama.