When the Dogwoods Bloom

Atop the mystical mountain known as Standing Indian, in the Great Smoky Mountain wilderness, two unsettled lives collide. Grieving the death of his wife, Charley is guided by a mysterious symbol carved into the mountain's summit to Mouse, who is searching for her own purpose along the storied Appalachian Trail. Trapped together during a freak blizzard, Charley tells Mouse the heartbreaking story of his Cherokee ancestor Tsali's struggle to survive in early America-from the destruction of his village by an American militia, to the forced removal from his ancestral homelands along the Trail of Tears and climaxing with a heroic sacrifice. Profoundly impacted by Tsali's story, Mouse's search of her own purpose morphs into an obsession to break a generational curse placed on Tsali and his descendants. Guided by the same mysterious symbol which brought them together, their lives will be forever changed. When the Dogwoods Bloom is an emotional story of loss and love based on historical events and heroic people that will make you laugh and cry, and possibly change your life.