Native American authors - a unique blend of humor and wisdom

Books by Native American Authors have their own special flavor and certain common elements, even though their setting and subject matter may be as different as their tribal customs.

One of those common elements is humor. Often it’s “right up front,” as in Dandelion’s Chocktaw/Cherokee author, Tuklo Nashoba, who pens ludicrous “down home” Oklahoma tall tales that will have you rolling on the floor and holding your belly!

In Nashoba’s two Waaaay Out There books, Waaaay Out There! Diggertown, Oklahoma and The Arbuckle Treasure Hunt:: Book Two in the"Waaaay Out There!" Series, the characters, although based on real-life people, become caricatures and the situations they get themselves into are so outrageous, you can’t help but see yourself mirrored in each of these dilemmas.

And that’s the other common element: a deeply engrained love for humanity that gives us the ability to laugh at ourselves.

“What would YOU do in this situation?” is the unspoken question that causes us to immediately identify with Nashoba’s characters.

Spirituality—a love for and understanding of nature—is another common ingredient of books by Native American authors. Nashoba is descended from a long line of medicine men and women.

Most of these writers are highly skilled professionals in more than one field. In addition to being a professional writer and storyteller, Nashoba, for example, is a certified forensics expert; he served a Country Sheriff and law officer for many years; he is a commercial artist with a lucrative sign painting business; he breeds horses; and he is also an extremely gifted film director.

To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from The Arbuckle Treasure Hunt:: Book Two in the"Waaaay Out There!" Series:

"The scene that greeted the other four men would have been hilarious if not for the gravity of the situation. Standing before Bubba was a wizened old man, barely five feet tall. He was dressed in buckskins, knee-high moccasins, and waist-length snow white hair and beard. Atop his head perched a soiled and much patched sombrero. The word that came to their minds was Gnome!

"The gnomish looking man was just standing there looking up at Bubba, a look of abject horror on his powder blackened face. Bubba glared down at the little man. 'Yew shot mah candies!'

"The little man drew in a shocked breath and exhaled, 'Saints preserve me, it speaks!' Then the much smaller man began to attempt to pummel Bubba with bony fists. Every time he hit the giant he emitted an "Ouch!" Bubba knocked off the man’s sombrero and then placed his huge right hand on top and down the sides of the man's head."

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