By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
A Manhattan lawyer, Luce, meets Violet, a Native American from South Dakota, expecting to discuss land and water rights.
Instead, Violet gives her an encoded gold nugget, leading to months of insomnia and a recurring dream about a Native boy and an ominous raven. A shaman reveals Luce’s latent shamanic abilities, prompting her and her friend Suze, a philanthropic Mayflower descendent, to journey west to the reservation.
That’s the basis for “Soul of the Mountain” by Leah Chyten.
“The seed idea for this book was a vision that came to me while I dozed on my balcony on a clear, sunny day,” said the author. “A young boy, dark skinned, Native American, hair unbound, chest bare was riding a horse across a prairie. He stopped, smiled, winked at me and repeated the gesture on his return. I knew it was a message and a request.”
Chyten’s inner vision coupled with an encounter she had with a musician that creates music with a Native American group in the Black Hills confirmed that this was a story that needed to be written.
“When I receive a clear message from a character or scene or from a particular historical period, I feel compelled to write the story that is trying to make its way into the world,” Chyten said. “Additionally, this book has a theme that is timely and relevant and in the zeitgeist of our country’s history.”
“Soul of the Mountain” is entertaining yet informative for readers as it delves into the traumatic history of Native Americans. Their history is told through each character that receives the gold nugget.
“Soul of the Mountain” is intended for young adult and adult readers.
“I hope my readers will firstly enjoy the story and the colorful characters, some of them non-human,” Chyten said. “I hope the readers get a more clear and graphic understanding of how this country had genocidal intentions toward Native Americans, and often dealt with them with deceit and cruelty.”
In addition to being an author, Chyten is a psychotherapist and spiritual teacher. She is based in Portland, Maine.
Chyten is currently working on a sequel to “Soul of the Mountain.” For more information about the author and her work, visit Leahchytenauthor.com.
“Soul of the Mountain” is available for $19.95 (print) and $9.95 (Kindle) via Leahchytenauthor.com, Amazon, and other online book selling sites.
