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About the author
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Throughout her years as a historical researcher and author, Gwandine has found a niche for writing historical inspirational stories depicting cowboys, Indians, Vikings, pirates, kings, highlanders, swashbucklers, and valiant knights of African descent. She also writes Black cowboy poetry. Her former professors complimented her creative writing skills.
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She refers to herself as Gwandine Black Cherokee Cowgirl due to her ancestry. Her novels are published through Gwandine Black Cherokee Cowgirl Studios. She writes movie scripts, professionally narrates audio books from her novels, and edits with her husband's magazine titled The Preacher.
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Gwandine is the co-pastor and co-founder of Whole Faith Ministries, Inc. (Wholefaith.org) and the wife of the senior pastor, Jeffrey Maximillian Thurmond a/k/a The Preacher. She delivers sermons and conducts worship services. She also writes biblical teachings under the ministerial Bible College titled Whole Faith International Bible College (WFIBC).
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Her passion and persistence in creative writing and classical literature stems from childhood when she preferred to write stories as opposed to playing. She has published inspirational Black western romance and adventure novels, faith-based intrigue, and inspirational poetry. The following titles are her works of literature: Beauford Place, A Love Worth Finding, The Ethiopian Princess and the Cameroon Knight, Mystery in Manalapan, Jade Qi in Angel Eyes, and Poetic Peace. Other works consist of her graphic novels: Atura the Anointed and Jade Qi graphic novels, which feature her comic book characters, illustration, inking, and dialogue skills. She occasionally does some animation. She created Xerzinia, a lovely African-American cut-out collectible figure complete with accessories and apparel designed by Gwandine.
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Her initial work was published during grade school.With her background in communications, she has written press releases, news advisories, public service announcements, proclamations, and articles for magazines. She also produced over 50 spiritual television and radio broadcasts as a certified video producer and editor. She presently produces and edits broadcasts via Whole Faith International Bible Channel (W.F.I.B.C.) titled The Preacher.
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Although her stories and characters are fictional, African-American cowboys have existed since the dawn of the cowboy era as well as the historical accounts of the vital role that African-American Buffalo Soldiers played in the settlement of the southwest. She is the creator of the African-American cowboy and cowgirl graphic novel (comic book) titled The Black West featuring The Black Indian.
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Upon learning that African-American cowboys existed after her initial shock, she became enthusiastic concerning writing Black western stories. It all began with Gwandine desiring to become traditionally published through one of the leading romance novel publishers. She desired to write historical novels and they had it set-up so that she could only submit manuscripts via their African-American section as opposed to their Inspirational Historical section.
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Her initial thoughts were, if she wrote about African-Americans historically, she would have to write about slavery. After conducting extensive research, she realized African-Americans made numerous achievements after being emancipated and all-Black western towns actually existed historically. She learned that there were wealthy African-Americans. Although she has enjoyed watching westerns through the years, they lacked the significant presence of African-American cowboys and the vital roles that they played.
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After learning the above-referenced and more, she now writes not only romance novels, but western adventure novels. Gwandine also writes contemporary mysteries and suspense as short stories involving her character amateur sleuths: Edgar Byrd Mysteries, Jade Qi Mysteries, Miss Tillie Tipton Tea Cozy Mysteries, Max Golden, and Maxi*Millian Mysteries.
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Gwandine served in the U.S. Navy as an Airman and was the first female assigned to an all-male squadron (Patrol Squadron 47) in 1983 and was soon transferred to Patrol Squadron 19 after the U.S. Navy realized that she is a female albeit she clearly indicated that she was female on all of her enlistment documents.
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Gwandine is an accomplished artist as she enjoys painting on canvas and digitally to design her book covers. She is also an accomplished figurative sculptress whose work has appeared in several international magazines. She has donated artwork to the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center.
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About the book
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First book of The Black West Adventure, Mystery, and Romance Series
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Travel back in time in a fictional place known as Tradassa Town situated in the south during the year 1881 where two people unbeknownst of one another become acquainted under unexpected circumstances. After the death of Mary Ellen’s father Benjamin, she meets Nathan Jonah Hickey who is the hired ranchman of her father’s estate and an attractive singing cowboy known for his genteel mannerism.
Nathan’s love for Mary Ellen Beauford begins the day they meet upon her return to Beauford Place. Being an accomplished woman of color from a wealthy family and a recent college graduate, the austere Mary Ellen tries to show resilience to Nathan’s feelings. This is partially due to the fact that her only example of a good man was her late father who was a successful businessman.
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Behind Nathan’s smooth dark complexion and deep brown eyes lies a terrible secret known only by him. If he shares his secret with her, will she be able to handle it? Will it destroy him?
Visit TheBlackWest.com or TheBlackCherokee.com.
