Hummingbird

About the Book

Fredrik Schmidt, a German immigrant, and Walela, an escapee from the Trail of Tears, meet on a winter night in a Missouri forest. In order to build a life together, they must keep a secret which would destroy their family.

Chevan, the French storekeeper, and Laura, his mail order bride, furnish a gathering place for the community. Laura hides a painful secret from her New York past.

Gertie Schwartz, widow of Gus, hides the harsh reality of a loveless marriage. She seeks to make a life for herself but grieves for what might have been.

The story of Hummingbird, is the story of how they strive to resolve their inner conflicts and create satisfactory lives.

About the Author

Dorothy Arnzen is a retired public school teacher. She is a widow with seven grown children and 24 grandchildren. Her family always thought they had Indian ancestry but this was never proven. This became the idea for a story which became the manuscript for Hummingbird.