Book & Author Spotlight: The Mutiny Brides by Barbara Sontheimer
Title - The Mutiny Brides
Author - Barbara Sontheimer
Publisher - Sontheimer Says
Release Date - November 13, 2024
Pages - 358
Formats - Paperback, Ebook, and Audiobook
Decription
A perilous journey. A resolve unparalleled.
From France to the frontier of New Orleans ...
Their Journey was perilous. Their resolve unparalleled.
In 1719 La Mutine sailed from France in the cold of January to what would later be known as New Orleans.
The women on board were labeled as prostitutes, thieves, and beggars. Unjustly rounded up by the French police, amidst quick mock trials, were banished to the "islands." Unlike the women of the Mayflower, these women came against their will, and had only their wits to rely on.
For 12 weeks they traveled in chains aboard La Mutine, and when they set foot on the land that was to become their new home, were met with a wild, untamed wilderness where they endured weeks abandoned on a desert island, famine, hurricanes, disease and ever changing governmental rule.
These women that France cavalierly disposed of, against all odds not only survived, but became successful business women, wealthy landowners, and matriarchs of large prosperous families.
This is the story of the "Gulf Coast's" long forgotten founding mothers.
Five Questions with Barbara Sontheimer, Author of The Mutiny Brides
Author Barbara Sontheimer
1. Victor’s Blessing explores the tension between conscience, community, and family during the Civil War. What first drew you to Victor as a character, and why was his mixed Osage and European heritage essential to the story you wanted to tell?
I wrote Victor to be a man like many today, facing challenges with racism while trying to care for his family. Unfortunately, I feel there aren’t enough American Indian stories out there. As a half-Osage person, Victor allowed me to show both the goodness and the prejudice present in the community. The Osage were prevalent in Ste. Genevieve, and I felt a humble, hardworking Métis man would make for an interesting read. The Osage are also incredibly tall, so Victor’s height is entirely plausible!
2. The Mutiny Brides tells the story of women who survived incredible hardships on their journey from France to colonial Louisiana. What inspired you to bring their story to life, and what do you hope readers learn from their resilience and determination?
On vacation with my granddaughter in Biloxi, we took a trolley tour of the city. That’s when I heard the story of the women from the ship La Bailene. What struck me most was that this story had been misfiled in the French archives for over 200 years. I knew I had to tell their tale.
3. You’ve said your fascination lies with the everyday lives of people rather than the battles that typically dominate historical fiction. How do you approach bringing forgotten or overlooked histories—like those of the Osage, or these early immigrant women—to life on the page?
I love history, but there are scholars who can explain the military strategies of a battle far better than I can. For me, it’s about the people in the battle—their fears and heartache. Casualty, as I note in the book, is such a tidy word, as if it cannot convey its true meaning. These women’s stories—unlike those of the Mayflower women—were completely forgotten by historians. The Osage, a proud people, found it difficult to acclimate to life with Caucasians, just as Victor did.
4. Many readers describe Victor’s Blessing as both heartbreaking and uplifting. What do you hope readers carry with them after spending time with Victor, Celena, and the many characters who surround them?
That description makes me incredibly happy. Life is bittersweet—we are all born, and we all die—but what we accomplish in the meantime is what matters. Victor’s love for Celena was pure, yet practical. When you truly love someone, and have their best interests at heart, you can make difficult decisions that benefit those you love.
5. Your upcoming series about the Bailene Brides blends history with touches of the paranormal. What inspired you to introduce supernatural elements into a historical framework, and what can readers expect from this new trilogy?
I plan to incorporate a bit of the paranormal into all my stories. Both Victor’s Blessing and The Mutiny Brides have ghostly elements. I think we have all experienced the paranormal, and instead of fearing it, we should embrace a “touch” from the other side.
As for the trilogy, I discovered that in the 1920s, Biloxi, Mississippi, was the seafood capital of the world! I plan to have the grandchildren of the original Brides carry on their legacy.
