Isle of the Wind - Tapa dura

Five ( 5 ) years in it`s creation, my novel, "Isle Of The Wind," is set in pre and post Civil War years in and about Georgetown South Carolina. South of Georgetown, on a bay inlet peninsula, was once a flourishing country club resort that hosted the elite of society men and women of southern grace and charm. The inlet, known to native Islanders and well-to-do alike is simply, "The Isle." The Isle, with it`s lush greenery and red clay high cliffs, could not be seen from the bay and is only accessible for visitors from Georgetown by flat bottom river boats, guided only by seasoned river pilots from Georgetown or the Isle itself. Antebellum mansions and several huge country houses, belonging to affluent cotton planters and politicians are hidden behind manicured acreage lawns and huge trees. Prosperous fruit farms and a huge orchard grace the countryside. A small pier, facing the bay, and away from the shallow rocks of the back waters berth deep hulled foreign frigates that arrive to sell apparel fashions and slaves to the highest bidders and wares to the not-so-affluent main populace of native employee Islanders. The Isle is governed by two of it`s original wealthy elder settlers, Irishman John Lockridge and Englishman Isiah Crowe, together, at first they built an honest enterprise for the entertainment of the Southern elite and share the proceeds with the their employee Islanders. John Lockridge and his family own a huge sprawling antebellum mansion called "Walnut Manor," in which they host elaborate barbeques for elbow rubbing politicians and bureaucrats, on "business trips" from Georgetown, New York City, Baltimore, Richmond and Atlanta. In addition, he owns several fast racehorses, and will stable private owned racehorses for the affluent clientel. Powerful money changes hands at the oval race track known as "Queen`s Way," the same bettors are invited to the dock area where they can choose from an array of imported apparel from the waterfront gazebo