The essence of my novel,
THE DREAM DANCER, is the relationship between a singular man and his God, Koona
Manitou or the great spirit.
Coop Rever, the protagonist of THE DREAM DANCER, is an
accomplished author and war correspondent living in Paris when he is propelled
by signals from “the other world” to pursue a mission he doesn’t want.
Coop’s destiny as the Mythical Dancing Wolf,
the prophet and protector of the Okwe native-American band’s way of life,was set when
he used a bayonet to kill a German soldier after the DD Landing.
As the Mythical Dancing Wolf, Coop does
some very savage things. Among them, the brutal killing of a young girl, who
might appear to be an innocent. So many awful things are done by men in the
name of God, as we see in the news almost every day.
Coop’s killing isn’t an act of terrorism,
but an attempt to sever the roots of the Kings Family’s hundred years plus
campaign to destroy the Okwe.
When he finds himself sentenced to life in
a dreadful prison for what white men consider almost unforgivable crimes, Coop
violates the Okwe ethos by calling upon the Koona Manitou to rescue him. But as
everyone discovers who calls upon God for help whatever answers come are
indirect.
And in the novel, there are signals from “the
other world,” in the form or allusions to the beaver, Coop’s power spirit, but they aren’t
happy ones.
His days, weeks, months and years in
prison drag on with intense suffering at times: solitary confinement, loss of
an eye, beatings, and attempted humiliations. Only attempted because Coop has
the self-confidence of a lifetime of achievements and is in the exalted
position of being the Mythical Dancing Wolf (or the Dream Dancer), the chosen
savior of his people.
There are moments of relief in his
confinement: the decent prison guard and the recognition of his writing by the President of the United States.
Coop’s courage never waivers--although he
comes close. Through it all he remains a warrior.
