As my family’s historian, I have come across two of my great, great, great aunts; as well as a great, great, great uncle who all had published works in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Between the three of them, they collectively published over a dozen books. Most of them were in poetry and essays. The two aunts were sisters, and only the younger of the two had any real notoriety, since she worked with the Native Americans as a teacher. However, it was her husband who would be the most recognized of the three – Charles Eastman. He was the first doctor, and more notably, the first Native American doctor to arrive on the scene after the massacre at Wounded Knee. His collections of essays on his childhood before he went to American schools as well as those on the contrast between the two cultures that have proved to be able to stand the test of time.
Over a dozen books in three distinct genres! Even if they are not well known or remembered by many, that is still an impressive thing. I have to admit that it is a bit intimidating for someone who is trying to get his work published. Especially considering the fact that my two aunts had their first collection of poetry published before they were 10 years old.
I can only hope that can produce half as much, or have what I do produce be half as well remembered as what they did.
~Josh
