Warring Spirits, by April Gardner

Tell us about your book.


That’s a dangerous question! I might never shut up. 

My latest adult novel is a historical romance set in 1816 Negro Fort across the Spanish Floridas border. Milly, a woman whose African heritage would be hidden except for her textured hair, has run away from her master and sought refuge at Negro Fort. She vows to die before returning to slavery. Major Phillip Bailey stumbles upon her the dark of night outside the fort. Unaware that she’s actually a slave, he sets out tor “rescue her” from the escaped slaves controlling the fort. But will he be able to do so before his detachment opens fire?

Can you give us a sneak peek?

Sure! Here’s that forest scene where Philip and Milly meet…


Unless the encroaching night was playing tricks on him, this woman was white. Not the midnight skin of a runaway or the smooth olive of a Spaniard, but white. Nearly as white as Phillip.


He settled the butt of his musket at his feet. “Ma’am? What are you doing out here?”


Her struggle grew more desperate until the sound of ripping preceded her tumble. Mostly hidden by palmettos, she scooted backward on the ground.


Still many yards distant, Phillip reached a hand to her, unable to imagine why she might be afraid of him. “I won’t hurt—”


A black man, large as a bear, darted from behind a thick pine to Phillip’s right. His sprint carried him across Phillip’s path and directly toward the woman.


“No! Get away.” Her words came out a garbled croak.


“Halt!” Phillip flipped the weapon back into position and aimed it at the slave’s chest.


Unfazed, he kept moving and would have intercepted the woman except for the stone she hurled. It thudded off his shoulder and stopped him dead in his tracks.


He swiveled to face Phillip, who had shortened the distance between them, his eye never leaving the musket’s sites. “One more step, and before the night's out, I’ll bury you where you stand.”


The man’s shoulders rose and fell with each rapid breath, but his stony face showed no fear. “Then you bettah do it. Otherwise, it’ll be you what's buried. See, I plan to make it to that fort, and losin’ my life to do it is no mattuh to me.”


Phillip’s brother, Dixon, had often said that a man who didn’t value his own life made the most dangerous of enemies. This one wouldn’t live long enough to become that. Phillip leveled his musket’s barrel at the big man’s heart.


In response, he took a single step forward.


“Don’t shoot!” The woman stumbled forward, placing herself between the runaway and the iron-tipped muzzle.


Reflexively, he skipped to the side to maintain his aim on the man. “Step away, ma’am. Don’t want you hurt.” What was she thinking?


She mirrored his movements, keeping herself between them. “No one needs to get hurt.”


“Move away from him, and let me handle this.”


She faced Phillip, her large brown eyes pleading. “Let him go. Please.”


“Woman, are you crazy?” The black man voiced Phillip’s own thoughts.


She was either insane or suffering from over-exposure.


Weapon still trained on the runaway, Phillip took a quick step forward and flailed at her, trying to grab her by the arm.


She skittered to the side, and he swiped nothing but air.


“Get out of the way,” he snapped. Not one of his men would have dared defy his command, yet this woman stood her ground.


She backed further away from him and dangerously close to the black man. “He didn’t run a hundred miles just to be shot down defenseless in the woods a day away from the only chance at freedom he’ll ever have.” Her voice shook, but her rigid back told Phillip she wouldn’t give in any time soon.

What inspired this book?


It is too cliché to say God? I needed a sequel to Wounded Spirits, the first in the Creek Country Saga. Fourteen thousand words into the new book, I KNEW it wasn’t the story I was supposed to be writing. So I stopped and reopened my research books. That’s when I came across Negro Fort. I’d read about it half a dozen times before during research, but this time, it leapt off the pages at me and screamed, “Write me!!” So I did.



What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?



The ending to Warring Spirits was a bear! I rewrote it four times, but I’m so glad I did. Many readers have told me what a satisfying ending it has. Praise God!


What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?


History! In my opinion, a story doesn’t have much appeal unless it’s based on real events. Taking details from history and weaving them through my characters lives is what it’s all about for me!



What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

There are several issues Warring Spirits deals with, but the main one is probably hope despite hopeless circumstances, and God’s enduring strength.



What is your favorite color?

Varying shades of blue, all mixed together. Like the ocean!

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I just discovered sautéed bananas. I know. Odd huh? But let me tell you! It’s Iron Chef worthy!! It’s a healthy-ish and cheap dessert that uses ingredients I always have on hand, and it only takes a few minutes to make! You can find it here. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/sauteed-bananas-with-tangy-sweet-cream-recipe/index.html



If you could travel back in time when and where would you go?

Tough question for a writer of historial fiction! The answer probably varies by the day, but today, I’d like to visit Rome at its peak. It was a harsh period in world history, but it fascinates me. Perhaps because of its close link with the Bible.



What project are you currently working on?

I’m plotting my next children’s action adventure novel, “Lizzie and the Forbidden Crystals.” The first in that series released simultaneously with “Warring Spirits,” and is called “Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang.” It’s based on the life of my friend Ruth Davies who lived in Guernsey, UK during the five year Nazi occupation. Talk about fascinating! You can learn more about it here: http://www.channelislandsresistance.com.

It was a pleasure to visit with you today!

If you would like to learn more about my books, you can do so at my blog. http://www.aprilwgardner.com/