Threads An American Tapestry Hers and the slaves dilemma

Gloria Waldron Hukle's third historical novel, is set in colonial New York in 1723

THREADS - AN AMERICAN TAPESTRY- by Gloria Waldron Hukle

The growing independent character of early New York Hudson Valley provincials, a volatile mix of European, African, and Native American peoples, Threads An American Tapestry. is a reflective tale told with an infusion of relevant historical facts which enhance both the action and pacing of the plot. Often in historical fiction, authors unintentionally lose their characters inside their story-like passages of exhaustive research, but Hukle has completely avoided this common pitfall, having rendered a strong piece of historical fiction for readers to be drawn into with her solid research, solid character renderings, and solid writing...The Us Review of Books.

In the opening scene of Threads An American Tapestry , central character, Margaret Vandenberg, mistress of her northern plantation, carefully watches the departure of the census taker's carriage, fearful that he may have already made a dangerous discovery while interrogating her slaves.

Margaret, a wealthy woman in her thirties, the sole daughter of a Native American woman and her prosperous Dutch immigrant deceased father, struggles with many issues as she prepares to marry. She continuously vows that she will leave all in God's hands-but can she?

This then, is the story of Margaret, her family, friends and servants, and a few in the Colony who dislike her, for reasons that haven't changed among humankind since time began.

Upon her slim shoulders has fallen the task of running the vast Vandenberg estate abutting the Hudson River highway. As she prepares to marry for the first time, half-bred Margaret, has long withstood the hurt of prejudice and gossip, but now she is faced with a new moral dilemma. She suspects a beloved, devoted servant woman has been defying the law by helping runaway slaves escape to Canada putting all of them at terrible risk.

Margaret had experienced at close hand the violence of the 1713 New York City slave uprising, her heart broken as one of her own servants was murdered. Now, nearly ten years later, the angry dissention was again escalating, and Margaret fears she will not be able to protect those lives for which she is responsible. She is torn between loyalty to her own and responsibility to the law, but mostly she fears loosing the one man who professes his love. Her Christian faith promises Almighty God will find the answer if she turns solely to Him. How long will she be able to remain silent outwardly or inwardly?

Gloria Waldron Hukle has exercised great artistry in weaving the fine tapestry of Margaret Vandenberg.s dilemma. The reader unravels its delicate threads one at a time.

Novels Character Portrait Found at SAND LAKE, N.Y. ART FAIR

Threads-An American Tapestry

You never know what you will find at the Holiday Art Fair
Pictured to the left is the painting of"Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow" of the Bear Clan originally done by Dutch artist JanVereist in the early 1700s. Known as "King of the Maguas," the subject of the painting was the grandfather of New Yorks Joseph Brandt and one of the five Native Americans to accompany Peter Schuyler to England in 1710 to visit Queen Anne. He was known to the colonials as "Old Smoke Brandt."Depicted here with elaborate tattoos, and holding a musket, he died shortly before returning to America.

This framed treasure pictured left was painted by New York artist The Berlin Limner, Matt McKeeby, an American folk artist who has frequently displayed his work all over New York and beyod. The painting is owned by author Gloria Waldron Hukle. Hukle third book Threads - An American Tapestry talks about this King of the Maguas, known to the colonials as Old Smoke Brandt.

As Author Gloria Waldron Hukle states Nothing is by accident. Old Smoke captivated me from the first time we said hello. Mr. McKeeby 's painting now hangs in her home and is pictured on the inside flap of the hardcover version of Threads - An American Tapestry, the third book in her American Waldron Book Series.