Winds of the Prairie

Winds of the Prairie is Joyce AHalvorsens second novel.

Thisstunning book offers a prairies eye viewof early Dakota between the years of1869 and 1901.

As a state for only threeyears by 1901, South Dakota speaks withmany voices.

The story is seen throughthe eyes of Lincoln Kenneth Cassidyfrom the age 15 until his age of 57.

Yet,no voice is as clear and as demanding asthat of the prairie herself.

She acceptsfew novices. Only the stubborn andbrave and those who understand theprairies ways can survive in theselands.

Born of a Lakota Sioux motherand white father, Lincoln finds he istorn between his familys cultures andtraditions.

He idolizes the wisdom ofhis white grandfather Herman Cassidy,but is awed and frightened by the powerof his mothers uncles, the Elders fromthe Lakota Sioux tribe.

He doesntknow his place and is often confused byeach ones values.

Linc meets a youngman by the name of Joseph Hawk, oncea slave in Missouri.

They become fastfriends. Though free to leave Lincolnsranch, the Double-D, Joseph choseto stay.

Joseph often acts as a bufferand protector between Lincoln andtrouble.

A turning point in Lincs lifecomes when, as a boy, he is asked byhis grandfather to participate in theDouble-Ds cattle drive.

There aremany adventures while on the cattledrive and he experiences challengeswhich nearly break Lincolns heart. But he survives. Later, as a man andmarried with the responsibilities of aranch owner, Lincoln desires againstfamily advise to change the ranchfrom that of a cattle farm to include conservation and preservation.

Theoriginal state of being of the wildthings of the prairie will have primaryimportance.

He sees himself as one ofthe caretakers of the wild things whichare fast disappearing.

When Lincs lifeis turned upside down by murder, hevows to seek retribution.

The angels ofmercy and forgiveness call out on oneshoulder and vengeance and hate danceon the other.

Linc has no patience withbeing merciful and seeks justice witha gun.

Always beside him is his friendJoseph. The resolution of this storyis a remarkable twist of fate.

Always,Linc is guided by an inner convictionthat the prairie knows what is best. Her voice speaks to him even whenhe feels lost. Winds of the Prairieis an heartfelt and moving tale aboutresilience and hope of many kinds ofpeople during the formative years ofthe State of Dakota.

Ms. Halvorsensunderstanding of the human heart andcondition, along with her compellingprose, engages and crosses theboundaries of a time period from postCivil War to a new century that shouldnot be forgotten.