Tulsa Series Book #4 Exposes the Opposing Forces of Prohibition in the 1920s

Be a NovelistReturn to Tulsa 

The fourth and final title in the Tulsa Series, Return to Tulsa finds Erik and Clarette still in the very early days of their marriage They move from Tulsa to Erik’s hometown of Bartlesville where they struggle to make their weekly newspaper a success.

When torrential rains cause the Caney River to overflow its banks, the flood drives their small weekly newspaper out of business. When an offer comes for them to sell out, they readily accept. It’s at that point, they decide to go to New York—back to Clarette’s roots.

Prohibition is in its glory days by 1922. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the making, transportation, and sale of alcohol, which literally turned formerly law-abiding citizens into lawbreakers almost overnight.

Prohibition proved to be high lucrative for gangsters and bootleggers. They saw their chance to illegally supply alcohol to Americans and rake in millions. The prominence and power of gangsters grew all throughout the years of prohibition.

It’s into this scenario that Erik is plunged once he takes on the job of a reporter at the New  York American—the very newspaper where Clarette got her start.

Meanwhile, Clarette dreams of seeing the play that she has written make it all the way to the Broadway stage. She sets about to make it happen.

Erik is willing to go to great lengths to see Clarette’s dreams come true. But at what cost to their marriage? And more importantly, at what cost to their relationship with God?

Click HERE, and grab your copy.

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Tulsa Series Book #3 Focuses On The Aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Riot

Be A Novelist

Tulsa Trespass

The third title in the Tulsa Series, Tulsa Trespass gives a clear picture of the aftermath of the riot. Had the riot not been bad enough, there was even more mishandling of the situation in the months following. Word went out from the community saying:

“Tulsa feels intensely humiliated and …pledges its every effort in wiping out the stain…the disgrace and disaster. The rest of the United States must know that the real citizenship of Tulsa weeps at this unspeakable crime and will make good the damage, so far as can be done to the last penny.”*

To “make good the damage” never happened. Meanwhile the “real citizenship” as they called themselves, set forth to pass a particular fire ordinance that would forever prohibit the citizens of Greenwood from ever rebuilding.

(Thankfully, this folly was later defeated in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.)

In the midst of this strong opposition, Tessa and Gaven give their best efforts to assist the black community in the rebuilding process. But then, there’s still the issue of Hod Latham, the ruthless bootlegger, who will not give up trying to claim Tessa as his own.

Will Tessa be yet another victim of an unforgiving world? Or the victor lifted high by the only force greater than hate?

*Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Scott Ellsworth, p. 83.

Grab your copy of Tulsa Trespass by clicking HERE.

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