Authors: Amy Harmon
“I have a Navajo name for you too, Josie. I gave it to you long ago. My
Chitasie
,” Samuel murmured.
“What does it mean?”
“Teacher.”
Like the main character in my book, I did grow up in Levan, Utah. My family moved there when I was just shy of six years old. We didn’t have any family in Levan, and it was a series of strange coincidence that brought us there. Levan is a great little place, full of wonderful people, and it holds a special spot in my heart. There really is a beautiful old church there, built early in the 1900’s. There really was a ‘country mall’ and Pete’s bar. There actually was a Shepherd’s Mercantile and an old school. The Levan Cemetery does sit about a half mile north of Tuckaway Hill – and many of the descriptions are very accurate.
Every author has to write about what they know, and though I used many of the last names that you’ll still find in Levan, I tried very hard to get the feel of the people and the place without using actual people or their names for my story. Any similarities are simply coincidence and were not intended to personify any real living person or persons. The events and people described in this book are completely fictitious.
The stories and legends of the Navajo and Native American people are retold with the utmost respect and no copyright infringement was intended. The song used in the book is not an actual Navajo song, though I tried to contain the sentiment
of many of their ancient songs. I have been fascinated by the Native American culture for many years. As a second grade teacher I spent an entire quarter on Native American studies, and my students and I fell in love.
A wise person once told me that if we don’t know each other’s stories, how can we learn to respect and love one another? I have found this to be true – the more I understand a culture or a people, the more I grow to love them. Any mistakes in the retelling of the stories are my own, and any possible misrepresentations about the people or the culture were not intended. I did my absolute best to simply educate my readers about a fascinating portion of our combined American Heritage that is mostly unknown. There really were Navajo Code talkers. Their story is incredible. My hope is that I inspire an interest in the Navajo people that will engender respect and further study. There are many websites and books out there that are worthy of the topic.
To the United States Marine Corp: Words aren’t enough! Thank you for who you are and what you do. I believe there are many lives you save, not just in the fields of battle, but within your own ranks. In my book, the Marine Corp gave Samuel a home and something to believe in. In the USMC he found his purpose. I know that is the case with many young men. And again, any mistakes or mischaracterizations about the Marine Corp or its procedures and history are my own.
Finally, the music Josie loved to play and listen to does indeed exist. I love so many of the great composers and sought to bring them and their music to life in my book. I highly recommend the book ‘Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers’ by Patrick Kavanaugh, and encourage you to check it out. Try listening to some of the music mentioned in my story as well. I believe many of these compositions are life altering.
I hope you enjoyed reading
Running Barefoot
as much as I loved writing it.
Amy Sutorius Harmon