BY STAFF

Darlene P. Campos spent six years researching while writing Behind Mount Rushmore. Listed below is just some of the resources she used to develop characters, create settings and build her story.

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“There are many more books I read – this is just a list of the books I can think of from the top of my head. I feel like I read a small library for this one novel. ”

— Darlene P. Campos

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• Skins by Adrian C. Louis

• On the Rez by Ian Frazier

• Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog

• Storyteller by Leslie Marmon Silko

• The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

• Keeping Heart on Pine Ridge by Vic Glover

• Madonna Swan as told by Mark St. Pierre

• Mohawk Saint by Allan Greer

• Black Elk Speaks as told by John G. Neihardt

• Boarding School Seasons by Brenda J. Child

• Native America: A History by Michael Leroy Oberg

• Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

• Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy by Ernie LaPointe

• Sioux: Warriors of the Plains by Michael G. Johnson

• American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature by Paulette F. Molin

• War Dances by Sherman Alexie

• Fools Crow by James Welch

• Voices of the Winds by Margot Edmonds and Ella Clark

• Great Speeches by Native Americans by Bob Blaisdell

• Nine Years Among the Indians by Herman Lehmann

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You can pre-order Behind Mount Rushmore by clicking here.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS

We love Houston the way a mother loves her child,

more than the mother who stuffed

her dead daughter in the fridge to keep

collecting the girl’s social security check.

In Hermann Park, Sam Houston’s statue stands high

above everyone else. He faces children playing Frisbee

and sick people lingering to the Texas Medical Center.

At Buffalo Bayou, a man lies by the water

with a sack for a blanket while Joel Osteen

preaches prosperity.

We love Houston the way a car loves to speed,

more than the man who raced past a house

with his gun, splitting the

skulls of two kid brothers.

Jensen Drive is where sleazy men go

for a good time. If caught, they go

downtown to the jail on Bagby Street

where they can see the Aquarium from their cells.

The sharks wiggle around in their too small tank

as a child points up at their jaws. His mother pulls

him close, closer than Andrea Yates who drowned

her five kids in a bathtub.

Yet we love Houston the way mosquitoes

love sucking on our skin, the way the big oil

tycoons love their mansions in River Oaks.

Southwest is the place where it can be scary

to sleep at night and even drive through during

the day, but if you keep going, you will

end up in the Museum District where

Mr. Sam Houston will greet you again.

We love Houston the way a con artist

loves counting money.

We love Houston the way a wife loves her husband

that she’s been married to for over twenty years.

She looks at him with squinted eyes, remembering

a time when he was younger, thinner, and stronger.

She loves him just the same today as she will tomorrow.

She loves him the way a Houstonian loves Houston.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

“I read this book for the first time when I was about 13 years old. It’s about an immigrant family and all the hardships they experience as they create their new lives in America. It’s sad. This book made me weep for the characters. They’re a family trying to make ends meet yet it seems like the whole world is against them. I honestly wonder why we don’t have a movie version of this book. There was one made a long time, in silent movie form, but it has since been lost through history. It needs a movie soon.”

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

“I heard about this book for a few years, but I didn’t read it until I was in college. It was recommended to me by my creative writing professor and I’m so glad she took the time to recommend it. Just like THE JUNGLE, it’s a sad book. The family struggles with money and Arnold, the main character, knows there is something better for him. Despite everything, Arnold makes it through. While this book is very sad in certain parts, it’s also one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Alexie can make you cry in one chapter and have you laughing until your belly hurts in the next.”

Exile by Padraic O’Conaire

“This is another book I read in college and it was an assigned reading for my Irish Literature class. I had never heard of this writer nor had I heard of this book. This is one of the best adventures stories I’ve ever encountered. Each page was gripping—I could not put the book down for any reason at all. I wish EXILE had more publicity because it’s just that good. This book needs a movie, too.”

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

“Unlike the books I mentioned above, this is a memoir, so it’s nonfiction. I just read it last year after years of wanting to read it. I found a copy at a used book sale for just 75 cents. This is one of the most compelling life stories I’ve ever read, right after Frank McCourt’s ANGELA’S ASHES. I found myself cheering and crying for Walls and her family, even for her parents who are not your average parents at all. I could feel myself right in the story with Walls, as if I was a guest in her life and she was personally showing me around. It only took me two days to read this book and I’m so happy I did.”

Big Fish by Daniel Wallace

“One of my favorite movies is ‘Big Fish.’ I saw it in the movie theater a few days after it came out and I was blown away by how beautiful the story was. Edward Bloom’s life is riveting both on the big screen and in the book. The book has more fantasy elements than the movie. I am NOT a fantasy literature fan, but this book somehow grabbed me right away. If Daniel Wallace made a fan of someone who hates fantasy books, you know this is good.”

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

“R.J. Palacio’s WONDER is a children’s novel, but I believe everyone, including adults, should take the time to read it. Auggie Pullman is your average kid—he loves Star Wars, he goes to school, he wants to make friends, and he loves his pet dog. The only thing that makes Auggie different from his peers is his rare medical facial deformity condition, yet the bullies around school focus on this one thing about him. They don’t see his humor, his kind heart, or his intelligence—just that his face looks different. The feature film comes out later this year and I hope it stays true to the book. It’s a huge lesson everyone needs to learn.”

Maus (I & II) by Art Spiegelman

“I’m a history buff, especially when it comes to World War II history. My brother recommended I read this book because it wasn’t like other history books—it was a true story told in graphic novel form. The MAUS series surrounds the lives of Spiegelman’s parents, mostly his father. Spiegelman listened to his father tell his story of being forced into a ghetto by the Nazis and then being taken to Auschwitz where death is always hanging by the door. The drawings are simple black and white graphics, but this is more than sufficient since the story is hard to put down.”

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

“If Anne Frank had survived the Holocaust, I wonder what else she would’ve written. I visited the Secret Annex years ago, which is where Frank hid for about two years. Can you imagine hiding in fear in such a small place for such a long time? Frank’s diary isn’t just any diary—it’s a piece of history which has taught the world what happens when hate takes over love. Frank wanted to be a professional writer after the war. Even though she died so young, she left her mark on the world as a writer, just how she planned. This book, like ‘Wonder,’ is one every person needs to read.”

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

“Oscar Wilde is one of my favorite writers. He was so talented and a big shot in his time. When I visited San Antonio last December, I found out he’d stayed in the hotel I booked. I immediately found the room’s location and snapped a picture. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY has some of the most beautiful lines I’ve ever read — they make Hallmark cards look like a pile of crap. Wilde was a prolific writer. He only lived to be 46 years old, yet he made the most of these years with all of his works.”

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

“This book was part of a summer reading list when I was in middle school. As much as I loved to read when I was younger, I hated assigned readings—I think it’s part of my ‘don’t tell me what to do’ attitude. Anyway, this book was on the list and it was one of the shorter ones, so I picked it. I got so into the book that I read it in a day and a half. The imagery was rich, the story was interesting, and the characters felt so real, it was as if I knew them personally. This is a beautiful book and I’m thankful it was an assigned reading or else I may have never discovered it on my own.”

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY A.A. REDD

All art is about identity in some way, because no art can be shaped without contact with self.  No pocket of the creative world can be utterly without ego—but that isn’t necessarily a negative thing. Self-awareness can be a double-edged sword, but it’s one that’s necessary to wield if an artist is interested in growth and change. No one knows that better than Gregory Hedgepeth, who works harder than almost anyone I’ve ever met to actualize his goals and dreams.

Reading his work gives you a vivid glimpse of the prolific writer and Editor-in-Chief himself. From the pages of his telescopic, genre-defying Misconceptions about Sunrises to the evocative, incandescent wordplay of his Dirty Dozen poetry series, Hedgepeth has proven himself to be a literary force to be reckoned with. Outside of his own writing, he encourages our team at Vital Narrative to realize the full potential of our ideas with relentless spirit and enthusiasm. 

One thing becomes clear when speaking to him: this is a person who not only knows who they are, but knows the trick of self-guided evolution. Here, he talks inspiration, self-expression, and the women in his life whose input matters most to him in this enlightening and uplifting interview.

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A.A. Redd: What's the most surprising thing you've learned as you put out more work?

Gregory Hedgepeth: There's so much work involved in promotion! There's always a never-ending task list of things that you want your readers to know about so they can get excited.  Also, you're only as good as your last project. If you don't engage your readers consistently, it's very easy for them to forget and move on to the next thing. Also, the more you write, the more chances you're willing to take with your writing.

Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay

Has your growth as a writer changed any of your plans for publishing? Are you leaning toward another genre? Looking to put more work out, etc.?

I've been writing in multiple genres ever since I was a kid; poems, spoken word for the stage, short stories, novels, screenplays for short films, and I’ve even tried my hand at writing full-length features. The only difference are the technical aspects, but the creativity remains consistent from genre to genre—if you allow it. I've never wanted a certain genre to pigeonhole my goals. That's what stagnates growth as a writer, in my opinion.

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“I’ve never wanted a certain genre to pigeonhole my goals.”

— Gregory Hedgepeth

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What drives your thirst for growth as an artist?

It's uncontrollable. It's completely out of my hands. My brain is constantly running with ideas and little things here and there to improve. I'm obsessed with putting out things that I believe will express how I feel about a certain topic without literally coming out and saying it. Knowing that there are people out there who will relate and enjoy what I bring to the table also drives the need for growth. Some people feel it's necessary to keep giving the same thing over and over, so that the fans will always remain happy, but I think giving them something new each time is much more appreciated—and a lot more interesting.

Stephen King recommends designating a certain reader as your audience and writing to them. How do you approach thinking about your readers as you write? Do you think it's better to not think of them at all?

It's impossible not to think of the reader at all. I mean, we literally write for readers. That's not to say that I worry how readers will feel about everything. At the end of the day, I just want them to get lost in my work and feel a connection to it. I think that's the most you can really expect. I certainly don't designate a certain reader as my audience, because it feels too much like I'm letting someone else dictate what I should write. I always hope my girl likes it because I want her to feel like all the late nights I spend obsessing over my projects were worth it. But that's about it. I've never tried to identify a reader profile or anything. I guess if Stephen King says it works, I should probably consider it though, because he's sold like a trillion books.

Whose work has shaped you most as an artist?

Every artist I've ever been exposed to has shaped me in some form or fashion, but because I dabble in so many different genres and on so many different platforms, I don't think anyone is doing it better than Donald Glover right now. Atlanta was a smash-hit; “Awaken, My Love!” was such an interesting take on music, when he's known for doing rap; and his stuff on Community and in other media has always been on point. It's like you always know to expect something fresh from him, and even if you don't know all the details going in, you know it's going to be a dope experience because it’s coming from him. That’s where I want to be one day.

Another artist is Phonte Coleman from Little Brother. We're both North Carolina natives and he also dabbles in a few different areas—comedy, rapping, singing, etc. It's so dope to see how people can just do what feels right to them and make it happen, even if it's not what they're mainly known for.

Writing-wise, Toni Morrison's quote "if there is a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must be the one to write it" is a mantra I've held tight to for years. It gets all the excuses out the way and makes way for something groundbreaking. And the last thing I want to consume myself with is trying to do what everyone else is doing.

What are you proudest of in terms of your writing?

Completing Misconceptions About Sunrises was honestly one of the most amazing things I've ever accomplished. Just knowing where I was as I was writing and all that I had gone through—getting that book done and out to the public is still amazing to me. Having my mom tell people that I'm an author and have several books for sale is definitely a proud moment for me as well. I've always wanted her to be proud of me and I finally feel like she is. And also, just having people ask for my thoughts and opinions when it comes to their writing. It means a lot, because it means they respect what I've accomplished thus far.

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“Having my mom tell people that I’m an author and have several books for sale is definitely a proud moment for me as well. I’ve always wanted her to be proud of me and I finally feel like she is.”

— Gregory Hedgepeth

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How do you know when you're done with a piece of writing?

It's hard to put into words, but basically when I feel like adding or subtracting a single word would take away from everything that's written. I have a tendency to over-edit and, sometimes, things are just better left alone.

Do you think some ideas are too weird to execute?

Not at all. Too many people have this need for their art to be understood. Sometimes, an idea just needs to be presented and whoever gets it, gets it. If you don't happen to grasp what the artist was trying to accomplish, maybe you just aren't the audience for it.

What gets you most excited about your future projects? Anticipated reactions, the process itself, something else?

Seeing the final product is honestly the most exciting part. Just seeing an idea go from something I wrote on a piece of paper to becoming a working manuscript, going through edits and all that is great. But the most exciting part is when the book is all finished and your name is on the cover and people are clamoring for it. Nothing beats that. Also seeing how people respond once it's out. Good or bad, I love it all as long as you read it and you felt something.

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A.A. Redd’s first book of poetry, A Body Held Still By Fear & Loathing, can be purchased here. You can purchase Gregory Hedgepeth’s entire backlog (Misconceptions About Sunrises, The Year That Answered and A Collection Of Echoes) by clicking here.

BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS

Houston.

It’s the city my parents settled in almost 27 years ago. It’s the place where I was born, the place I was fortunate to grow up in, the place where I went to college, and the place where I still live today.

How long does it take you to get to work in the morning? It takes me just a few minutes because I’m lucky to live close by - but at my former job, it took me almost two hours. And it was only sixteen miles away. What can I say? Morning traffic.

How big is Houston? My boyfriend lives about an hour away from me. If I drive to his place from mine, I still wouldn’t reach George Bush Intercontinental Airport because I would need to drive even further. IT'S THAT BIG.

And, it’s getting bigger. More people have moved here. The traffic is worse. But it’s still home. For me, Houston will always be home.

It’s home because of its rich diversity. If I want Korean food for breakfast, Lebanese for lunch, and Cuban for dinner, it’s totally possible in Houston. There are 145 languages spoken here. There are Cuban festivals, Palestinian festivals, Japanese festivals, Greek festivals, African festivals – more than you can think of. And we all love Houston just the same.

It’s home because of its love for the literary world. Inprint brings writers like Sandra Cisneros, George Saunders, and Ann Patchett. WITS hires writers to teach creative writing in public schools, prisons, and hospitals. Brazos Bookstore, Blue Willow Bookshop, Becker’s Books, and Kaboom Books are just a handful of indie bookstores Houston has to offer.

It’s home because of its museums. The Houston Museum of Natural Science once had the Magna Carta, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston brought Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and the Health Museum is now hosting Bodyworlds. The Children’s Museum is a giant building where kids have loads of fun and they learn without even noticing. The Holocaust Museum educates and pierces your heart no matter how many times you go. We have over 150 museums here. We love learning and learning loves us.

It’s home when I’m stuck in traffic.

It’s home when I get the finger, even though I was the one who got cut off.

It’s home when I can’t find a parking spot at Hermann because I was dumb enough to go on a Saturday afternoon.

It’s home when the news says there’s been another shooting, another kidnapping, another robbery, another child missing.

It’s home when the Texas Medical Center and the oil industries announce more layoffs.

It’s home when I drive by the big “We Love Houston” sign off I-10.

No matter what happens.

Houston is my home.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY TONY BOWERS

The Habitual Wordsmith T.J. Love knows how to create words that evoke real emotion. I consider this to be a superpower. This amazing ability is what the world has always needed, so I was excited to spend time chopping it up with my literary brother. I have been a fan of T.J’s even before his provocative poetry collection, Speaking in Tongues: Love in Five Languages. From his bombastic SoundCloud recordings to his impromptu Facebook musings, this brother knows how to move the needle.

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Tony Bowers: How long have you been writing and performing poetry?

The Habitual Wordsmith: I've been writing pretty much all my life, but started performing when I was 17.

So you got years in the game. I started writing back when I was 9. My first love was Langston Hughes. He inspired me to write. Who was your first love of poetry?

Word, Langston was there. Paul Laurence Dunbar, too. If I had to pick a first love though, man... as a kid, probably Maya Angelou. She was always so evocative and had such depth in simple lines. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings was such an intimate read and gave so much insight into her life, it deepened my appreciation for her and her work. As I got older, I definitely dug Ainsley Burrows as my first spoken word love.

Photo credit: Stephen Parker/Alamy Stock Photo

We need that inspiration to guide us. Who are your current poetry/literary crushes?

I've really been digging on Lin-Manuel Miranda. He wrote Hamilton and the songs from Moana, but he's so damn lyrical and his wordplay is heads and shoulders beyond anything I've ever seen before. Like I'm obsessed with the Hamilton soundtrack, how effortlessly he spins these lyrical tales through hip-hop and musical theatre. It's so dope. Warsan Shire is another one. I'm trying to familiarize myself with her work more. She echoes of that simplistic beauty I found in Maya all those years ago.

That's interesting your connection to Miranda and musicals—are there any non-literary art forms that inspire you? Abstract art does it for me.

I love abstract art. I've always been a fan of art that doesn't have a set particular message, open-interpretation stuff. I usually try to say something in my work, yet I want my readers/listeners to extrapolate from it what they will and it always inspires me to have conversations of their reasoning and rationale. I also dig still life photography. Like I've walked the Brooklyn Bridge a million times, but the perfectly captured image of it will get me emotional because it reminds me of home.

Amen. Spoken like a true artist. What's your next challenge?

Right now, I'm in a rotation of hosts for an open mic session out here in Phoenix called Cultiv8n Culture and that's been really dope, something new and exciting. I was just on a radio show out here called 'Off The Cuff' on RadioSupa.com where I spoke about Speaking In Tongues and my upbringing in life and in poetry. I also was just featured on Indiana hip-hop artist Con Rome's mixtape. Individually, my next project is to finish my ninth spoken word album. I have the pieces written, I just have to record them. Outside of that, just visualizing my next book. But that won't be till next year, and with the Women’s Initiative coming up in 2019, I've got a little time.

Wow, you’ve got a full plate. That's what's up. Last question—which do you prefer spoken or written poetry and why?

Damn, that's a great question. I gotta take both honestly. I know I suck for that, but they are both equally important to me. Some people are audio-intensive. Some are visual. One without the other is deprivation. Spoken word has an attraction because delivery and cadence are fifty percent of the entertainment value, while written poetry has to have a certain visual aesthetic, whether in word choice or placement or structure, in order to be universally appealing. There are certain niches for both so they are both powerful in their own rights.

No, that's great. Both is a great answer. Great break down on the why. I appreciate your time. Great and thoughtful answers. Thanks Brother. Keep slanging them words.

No doubt man, thanks for the time. Will do, most def.

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You can purchase Tony Bowers’ first book, On The Nine, by clicking here. You can order Speaking in Tongues: Love in Five Languages by The Habitual Wordsmith T.J. Love by clicking here.

BY STAFF

The much-anticipated cover art for Darlene P. Campos' debut novel, Behind Mount Rushmore, was revealed today on Twitter.

Full cover for @DarleneCampos91 'Behind Mount Rushmore.' PRE-ORDERS BEGIN April 14. RELEASE DATE: May 19. pic.twitter.com/dcGvMvrMgq

— Vital Narrative (@VitalNarrative) March 31, 2017

Here's a better view:

Behind Mount Rushmore follows the story of Nimo Thunderclap as he lives life on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and will be available for pre-order on April 14.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY STAFF

We sat down with Darlene Campos to discuss her book, some of its characters and the significance of the title, Behind Mount Rushmore.

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Explain the significance of the title.

A: I remember learning about Mount Rushmore when I was in fifth grade. I learned it was in South Dakota, specifically in the Black Hills, and of course I learned about the faces that make Mount Rushmore – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. However, it wasn’t until my freshman year in college that I learned about Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from one of my history professors. He showed us a presentation about the reservation and told us about the poverty, the alcoholism, the teacher turnover rate, etc. Until then, I had no idea Pine Ridge Indian Reservation even existed. How could this be possible when Pine Ridge is located, in my professor’s words, “just behind Mount Rushmore?” Since many have heard about Mount Rushmore, I knew using its name in the title would make the book stand out. The word “behind” lets the reader know the book is focusing not on Mount Rushmore, but what’s going on behind it.

What made you choose a Native American reservation as the main setting of the story?

A: I must admit that before taking the history class I mentioned above, I knew very little about Native Americans. This was quite a shame because I have a large percentage of South American indigenous roots in my family. I feel like I should have known at least a little something about indigenous people, especially the indigenous people of Ecuador, which is where my parents are from. Anyway, all I knew about the Native population of the United States was basic information I learned in elementary school: They helped the pilgrims. They grew corn. Squanto spoke English. They live on reservations. When my professor gave us that first presentation, my interest in the Native community sparked. I started learning more about Pine Ridge and more about the Lakota tribe in general. After this history class was over, I took a Native American literature class the following semester and I was frustrated because we were assigned nothing but old Westerns. The texts were very outdated and stereotypical. My professor claimed there wasn't literature featuring contemporary Native Americans and I thought, "Well, you're obviously not looking hard enough." At the advice of a creative writing professor, I became inspired to write my own book after reading the works of Sherman Alexie, Vic Glover, Adrian C. Louis, Mary Crow Dog, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Louise Erdrich. My literature professor was wrong – there were lots of contemporary novels featuring Native people available.

There are many elements I find appealing about the Native community such as close-knit family life, traditions, and humor. These are elements I enjoy with my own family, so it was lovely to see the similarities. While writing this book, I read several novels with contemporary Native American characters written by Native authors and some by non-Native authors. In 2012, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Sherman Alexie, thanks to my college. He told me as long as I made sure my writing was good, I should be okay as a writer. I also attended numerous pow wows and spoke with Native Americans about their day to day lives. This was the most fun in my opinion. You can read all the books in the world, but the best learning experience is immersion. 

In total, I spent about six years researching to make sure I didn't stereotype or misrepresent the Native community in the United States. As a minority myself, I know how much it hurts to be stereotyped, so I definitely didn't want to write one of those outdated Westerns my professor assigned. It’s a tricky thing to write about a culture you didn’t grow up in, but with sufficient research from the right sources, it can be done. I DO NOT recommend writing outside your culture without researching first – you’re going to mess up badly, trust me.

In this political climate where immigration continues to be a hot-button issue, how important was it to discuss the mistreatment of Native Americans throughout their history and into present day?

A: The treatment of the Native Americans in the United States has a long history of despair, betrayal, and genocide. After going through massive tragedies like Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, and the Kingsley Cave Massacre, the Natives who survived had to endure boarding schools where they were forbidden to be in touch with their culture. They weren’t allowed to speak their Native language, allowed to practice their religion, and do anything which stemmed from their upbringing. Some Native children were very young when they were forced into boarding schools and when they returned home, they did not remember how to speak their Native language and could not communicate with their family members anymore. Then, you bring in more injustice such as the fact that Natives were not even considered citizens of their land and could not vote until 1924. Their voting rights were not extended to all 50 states until 1965. They did not have full freedom of speech and expression protection until 1968. They could not practice their Native language in schools until 1990. On top of all of this legislation, they had to (and still do) deal with racism, misrepresentation, and stereotypes in the media. Right now, they are protesting the Dakota Pipeline - in 2017! When will enough be enough? The biggest issue is how they are and have been disrespected and nearly destroyed in their own home. Imagine not only being disrespected, but having everything taken from you and huge numbers of your relatives murdered and your culture nearly obliterated. The Natives in the United States are strong – no matter the odds they have faced, they are still here today. History has a habit of repeating itself. I say we repeat the good parts of history and leave the bad parts behind. But, the only way to do this is by educating this generation and the next.

What in particular do you want readers to take from your characters and their interactions with others? Is there anything you hope resonates beyond just the characters themselves?

A: The main purpose of writing Behind Mount Rushmore was to show readers that Natives are still here – they are so much more than the old Western movies you see on TV. More so, I wanted to show the positive. As I said earlier, my heritage is Ecuadorian. I can’t express how irritated it makes me when I see a travel show go to Ecuador and they only show the slums and the crime. They don’t show families eating and laughing together. They don’t show the rich history of the cities. Yes, there is poverty in Behind Mount Rushmore. There is also death. There is racism. But above all of these instances, there is love, friendship, and humor. As for going beyond the characters, I want the reader to see Native people as people first – not as a stereotype, not as exotic, not as weird, just as people. When we start to see other populations as people equal to us, this is when we are able to change our perspectives from negative to positive.

Are these characters based on people you know?

A: Some traits are based on people I know. Nimo’s father says a few lines my mom has said in real life. The humor in the story is heavily based on my mother, too. My parents divorced when I was 14 and my household became a single-parent household virtually overnight. There were times when food was scarce and there were many sleepless nights due to there not being much money in the bank. These were hard times. There’s a part in the book when Nimo says he has to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all the time because it’s a cheap meal. I had to do this at one point myself and let me tell you – as much as I love peanut butter, I HATED peanut butter during that time. However, we survived with humor. I remember one evening years ago when I was sitting at home with my mom and we were talking about something, I don’t remember what. We laughed and laughed throughout the conversation and then she said, “The devil must be so mad at us. We don’t have much money, he wants us to be sad, but we’re here laughing.” Since I survived with humor, it was easy to place humor into Nimo’s life. The medical aspects of the story are based on my father who is a physician. I grew up seeing himself in a white lab coat and hearing him talk about surgeries. He’d talk about his co-doctors and new innovations happening in the medicine field. The medical world is very close to my heart – I knew I had to include it somewhere in the book.

Discuss how Nimo interacts with those closest to him such as his family and friends? How do these interactions enrich his character and theirs?

A: Nimo’s a shy kid – he lives on a huge reservation, yet he doesn’t really have many friends. When it comes to friends, he listens. He might not express everything he’s thinking out loud, but he has open ears to anyone who talks to him, even the infamous Ray Firebird! In regards to his family, he’s more comfortable opening up to them, especially to his father. When Nimo talks to his father, he not only learns about his father, but his father in turn learns about him. The same happens when Nimo speaks to his mother. Just by talking to their son, Nimo’s parents build a strong relationship with him. Since his parents are deeply involved in his life, Nimo grows to appreciate and love his parents even more. Now, if it wasn’t for John David, Nimo’s best friend, who knows where Nimo would be? Nimo’s very hesitant, too. He needs John David’s metaphorical pushes to succeed. In turn, John David has Nimo as his closest source of trust. I feel that all the characters need each other in some form, even the ones who don’t get along.

Many themes are touched on regarding sexuality, race, income disparity and others. What made you choose these constructs over others and how do they all intersect?

A: I chose these issues specifically because I believe they are issues which deserve greater awareness and reading a book with characters a reader connects to is a way to accomplish this. Income disparity is a big issue because there’s this idea that the poor are poor because they don’t work hard enough, they want handouts, they’re entitled, etc. It’s the same with a lot of other issues. I’ve heard people say the LGBT community should ‘just snap out of it.’ I’ve even heard some people say racism is over and that it ended with the Civil Rights Movement. This is just plain ignorance. In fact, the last time someone called me a racial slur to my face was in 2015. These issues need attention and education so we can fix them. Once you learn about people who are different than you on a personal level, it becomes harder to hate and easier to love. When we generalize people, it’s so easy to think, “Yes, those people are dangerous” or “Yes, those people are wrong and we are right.” The truth is we are all equal and we can all connect to each other. It’s just a matter of putting love over hate.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

A: The answer, hands-down, is Jay Eagle Thunderclap AKA “Ate,” Nimo’s dad. Years ago, in the first drafts, Nimo was a baby and the story was told from an omniscient narrator. The narrator shared the day to day lives of the Thunderclap couple and their baby son. However, Jay Eagle was not the same person he is now. In fact, he was booooooooooooooring. Instead of cracking jokes and having his devil-may-care attitude, he would sit around on his porch and share vague words of wisdom with everyone who passed by. Eventually, I thought, “Wow, you are so boring. I either need to kill you off or massively change you.” Thankfully, I’m not George R.R. Martin. So, I decided to keep Jay Eagle and drastically change his character to who he is now. I can’t imagine Jay Eagle not being in Behind Mount Rushmore. Here’s a word of advice to aspiring writers – if you think your character is boring, your reader will think the same. Back when I was submitting the standalone chapters to journals, most of them said “We love this story! The dad is amazing!”

A close second favorite character is Ray Firebird. You know that person who always interrupts you when you’re busy? The one you pretend NOT to see when you run across them? That’s Ray Firebird. We all know Ray Firebird. If you don’t, you are Ray Firebird.

Do you see yourself in Nimo at all? If so, how so?

A: Yes, definitely. He’s fairly shy and doesn’t open up easily just like me. He only confides in a small circle of people. And, of course, he’s an aspiring writer. He has a best friend he deeply cares for and I did, too, back in the day. I don’t know what she’s up to now, but I wish her the best. The relationship he has with his mother is about the same as the one I have with mine. His relationship with his father is where we differ greatly. I’m not saying I had a terrible father. My father was and still is a very hardworking man. He came from an impoverished family of ten children, but he dreamed of being a doctor someday and he made his dream come true with his strong determination. I admire him for never giving up despite the situation. As a kid, I had everything I needed like clothes, food, a place to live, and I got to go on trips to Europe every year for my father’s medical conferences. Having a doctor for a father is not easy. My father was almost never home and he didn’t know much about me, not even the grade I was in. He didn’t know the names of my best friends or the names of my teachers. After my parents divorced, I didn’t talk to him or see him for several months. He wanted me to follow in his medical footsteps even though I told him many times that I wanted to be a writer. Nimo has a solid, loving relationship with his father. The reason why I did this is because it’s my imagination of what a good father-child relationship is like. I wish my father was like Jay Eagle, but life is what it is. Nimo is definitely a lot worse off financially as a young child than I was, but there is no amount of money that can buy you a close relationship with your parents. Nimo’s riches lie with his family.

If there's one thing you want the reader to take away from reading your book, what is it?

A: Laugh every single day – make the devil mad at you.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS

Darlene P. Campos: What inspired you to write your first book?

Cheryl Dyer: Well, my first book is still in the works. It’s collection of short stories, so I was inspired by a lot of things to write this book. A lot of the stories are about personal awakenings, that coming of age that happens at various ages and phases of life. I wanted to communicate these epiphanies. 

Are you working on anything right now?

I am currently still working on the collection. I am workshopping a few of the stories at the Chicago Writers Studio. I also write a blog called “Who’s Invited?” that is featured on ChicagoNow, Chicago Tribune’s blog site.

Do you have a writing playlist? Who are your favorite musical artists to listen to while you write?

I don't have a writing playlist. I actually prefer quiet when I write, I'd spend too much time singing along with the songs and not enough time writing. I will however immerse myself in music that creates a mood and puts me in a headspace. I’ll listen to it during times when I'm not writing. I'll listen to it in the car, in the shower, on a run, etc. 

Do you have a writing drink/food of choice?

I love iced lemon water in a bulbous red wine glass. 

If you could have dinner with any of the characters in your first book, who would it be and why?

None of them. They have been living in my head so long that I need a break! But I think I would like to take Jordan from “The Melting of Armor” out for lunch.

If you had to build a piece of IKEA furniture with any one of your characters, who would it be?

I prefer doing it myself unless my husband is around. He has all the fancy tools.

Do you outline your works first or do you just start writing away?

Depends. If there’s something that I just have to get out, I’ll just write. But generally, I outline the stories first to see where the story is going and to try make sure that it gets there, but of course things change so much from outline to finished work. 

If you had the chance to visit with your favorite writer, dead or alive, who would you pick and how would you spend your day with them?

I'd sit and talk with Zora Neale Hurston and laugh with Langston Hughes. I'd want to have coffee or tea with Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. 

Stephen King once said you have to kill your darlings—how many darlings have you killed so far? How do you decide who lives and who dies?

I haven't kept track of the death toll, but as a hardcore Game of Thrones fan, I do understand the concept! The characters that meet their demise on the page do so because it is their time, whether I like it or not.

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.

BY DARLENE P. CAMPOS

On Monday, we shared the playlist for Darlene P. Campos' Behind Mount Rushmore, featuring 21 songs inspired by the book. Those songs were selected by Darlene herself, and below, we feature the reasons she selected those songs.

Keith Secola — “NDN Kars”

“This is one of my favorite rock songs. It pertains to the story of an “NDN Kar,” which is an old clunker that’s falling apart but it still runs. The lyrics and melody are so catchy—you’ll be singing this song in your head for days!”

Keith Secola — “Say Your Name”

“Unlike “NDN Kars,” this song has a much sadder tone to its lyrics and rhythm and the reason is because it’s about the history of Native American boarding schools. Years ago, it was legal (yes, legal!) to take Native children from their homes and families and put them in boarding schools. These boarding schools were meant to kill off Native culture by forbidding the children to speak their native language, practice their religion, and practice their traditions. This is an ode to those children and their descendants. As Secola says, “preserve our children.””

Robbie Robertson — “Peyote Healing”

“Sung in Lakota by Verdell Primeaux and Johnny Mike and produced by Robbie Robertson, this is a healing song as its title states. The lyrics call out to “Ate,” which is the Lakota word for “Father.” In this instance, “Father” is God and the song asks for health restoration. I first heard this song in the movie Skins, based off the novel of the same name by Adrian C. Louis. As soon as I heard it, I was inspired to write more in BEHIND MOUNT RUSHMORE.”

The Cody Blackbird Band — “Tribal Blues”

“I’ve been following Cody Blackbird and his band for the last couple of years. Blackbird is Eastern Band Cherokee and Roma descent. He’s fairly young, too, I believe in his late 20s. He won Flutist of the Year in 2011 at the Native American Music Awards (NAMA). This is my favorite track by him—you can really feel his talent for flute playing in this song.”

Robert Tree Cody — “Lakota Love Song”

“Cody is the adopted son of the actor Iron Eyes Cody. He is of Dakota Sioux and Maricopa descent. When writing BEHIND MOUNT RUSHMORE, I wanted to make sure I focused on love, especially the love between Nimo’s parents. Love is a feeling all of us human beings crave and I feel that this song, even though it has no words, captures the emotion of love for another.”

Lakota Thunder — “Looking For My Friend”

“Lakota Thunder is an awesome, Grammy-nominated band. This song is especially important because of the friendship Nimo shares with John David. If you listen closely to the song, you will hear the word “kola.” The Lakota word for a man’s friend is “kola,” but kola means more than just friend. As defined by Lakota language teacher Sam High Crane (his lectures are on YouTube and totally worth checking out if you want to learn some Lakota!), the word kola means a friend you would be willing to give your life for to save his. John David is undoubtedly Nimo’s kola and Nimo is John David’s kola in return.”

Robert Tree Cody — “Lakota Lullaby”

“Back when BEHIND MOUNT RUSHMORE was in its earliest drafts, the point of view was an omniscient narrator and Nimo was only a six-month-old baby. His parents sang him their own version of this soothing lullaby. However, once the drafts changed, Nimo began telling the story and surely, he wouldn’t remember his baby life. Even though this lullaby isn’t mentioned in the book, it remains as a huge musical influence.”

Judas Priest — “Breaking the Law”

“One of Jay Eagle Thunderclap’s favorite bands is Judas Priest. In “The Clash,” he is observed grilling turkey meat while blasting Judas Priest on his personal radio. I don’t know which song he was blasting, but it was probably this one.”

David Bowie — “Ziggy Stardust”

“This is one of my favorite David Bowie songs because it tells a story from beginning to end in just over three minutes. In “The Fork,” Nimo and John David head to Rapid City to see a David Bowie tribute band called The Mars Spiders, a name which is taken from this song specifically.”

David Bowie — “Let’s Dance”

“This tune is the tune which comes on at George’s in the second to final chapter of the book. Since the full details contain spoilers, I won’t say much about its importance.”

Madonna — “Into the Groove”

“Nimo’s a big Madonna fan, but John David is not—in fact, this is probably the only interest they don’t share. Madonna plays a major role in the one of the chapters, but again, this is a spoiler alert. My lips are sealed on this one as well.”

Sonny and Cher — “I Got You Babe”

“I was introduced to this song by a former professor during my freshman year of college. We watched the movie Groundhog Day in class which infamously uses this song about a billion times. As I created Jay Eagle and Josephine’s characters, this song was endlessly stuck in my head thanks to that professor! I feel this song describes their marriage down to a T. There are times when the Thunderclaps don’t have much, but they have each other and they’re not letting go.”

Lakota Thunder — “Lakota Hoksila”

“This is another great song by Lakota Thunder. Its title means “Lakota Boy” which applies to Nimo throughout the entire novel. He might grow up in the novel, but he remains a Lakota boy at the core of his heart.”

Sacred Spirit — “Yeha Noha”

“This song is a rendition of a traditional song from the Navajo Shoe Game. This specific version is sung by the Navajo elder Kee Chee Jake. Even though it is a Navajo song, I listened to this song many times while writing BEHIND MOUNT RUSHMORE to some creative sparks on. The full story of the Navajo Shoe Game is told on YouTube by the user DayBreakWarrior.”

Will Peters — “Memorial Song”

“Death is a process we all must go through. Nimo experiences the death of a relative and he laments the deaths of other relatives he never got to meet. This song is for those relatives.”

Buddy Red Bow — “South Dakota Lady”

“Josephine Thunderclap, Nimo’s mother, is definitely a South Dakota Lady. She’s strong, she’s loving, she’s hardworking, and most of all, she doesn’t put up with nonsense. If Jay Eagle was a real person, I can imagine him singing this song to his South Dakota lady.”

All in the Family theme song

“‘All in the Family’ is a show the Thunderclaps watch a lot because I watched it (actually, I watched the series) while forming the early chapters. This isn’t the original theme sung by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, but it’ll do. In fact, when the book was only a few chapters long, I visited Los Angeles for the first time and I had the opportunity to visit Carroll O’Connor’s grave while I was there. If it wasn’t for Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker character, BEHIND MOUNT RUSHMORE would not be the same.”

Roseanne theme song

“‘Roseanne’ is a show I grew up watching, but I never fully understood its weight until adulthood. It’s a pivotal show for its portrayal of the working class and their struggles with money, but it also shows their deep love and humor. Jay Eagle and Josephine Thunderclap’s marriage was greatly inspired by Dan and Roseanne Conner’s marriage.”

The Magnetic Fields — “The Book of Love”

“This song is dedicated to John David’s character. He’s a tough guy when it comes to showing emotions, but he falls in love, too.”

Northern Cree — “Thank God I’m an Indian Boy”

“While this song is sung by members of the Cree tribe, it certainly applies to Nimo. No matter what happens to him on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he’s proud of his heritage and his ancestors.”

Robbie Robertson — “Cherokee Morning Song”

“This is another Robbie Robertson production sung by Rita Coolidge. Coolidge is one of the founding members of Walela, which means hummingbird in Cherokee. I’m NOT a morning person at all. If I could hit my alarm’s snooze button more than once, I would, but I can’t be late for work! This song somehow awakens me with its peaceful tones. It does not only awaken my body, but it also awakens my mind for some more writing.”

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Darlene P. Campos earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English-Creative Writing and a minor in medicine and Social Studies. She is from Guayaquil, Ecuador, but currently lives in Houston, TX with her husband David and an adorable pet rabbit named Jake. Her website is www.darlenepcampos.com. You can support her work here.