ECU grad writes locally-inspired novel

By: Elise Phillips

Posted: 12/4/08

After Richard's Folsom's son died in 2002, he picked up a novel he'd started in the 1970s and finished it. The book, Indian Wood: A Mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, takes place in Greenville-with most of the action happening right here on ECU's campus.

Folsom, who attended ECU for his undergraduate and master's degrees, wanted to write a story that included one his interests-North Carolina history-all while using his alma mater as the setting.

"Since I wanted to place part of the story in a campus setting, it seemed only logical that I should use ECU," he said. "If you want to know anything about North Carolina history, then the N.C. Collection in Joyner Library is one of the finest sources in the state. And it was easy for me to use other locations in Greenville, because I lived here for so long, first as a student and then as a permanent resident."

Indian Wood is a riveting historical fiction novel about an unsolved mystery that took place over 400 years ago: the Lost Colony.

In 1587, over 100 men, women and children vanished from their homes on the North Carolina coast, never to be heard from again, or so many thought. According to oral tradition passed down over hundreds of years, the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina took these English colonists in, where they eventually intermarried and integrated into the culture of the Lumbee. According to historical documents, passers-by on the Neuse River saw a "wild and unruly" bunch that included fair-skinned whites who spoke the "Queen's English." Although these claims have never been formally substantiated, the Lumbee Indians still consider this part of their history.

This is where Folsom's story begins. Folsom's novel begins with two local newspaper reporters covering a Ku Klux Klan cross-burning in rural North Carolina --a cross-burning incited by the Lumbee Indians' belief that their ancestors were both Native Americans and English colonists. One of the reporters writes an award-winning article of what happens that night when shots fired by the Lumbee scare the KKK members into the night.

Enter Carl Bowden, an ECU professor and avid North Carolina history buff. Bowden's goal: to prove that the Lumbees and the Lost Colonists are linked. He almost does it, when he and an ECU librarian are shot and killed on campus. The newspaper reporter who covered the cross burning helps in the investigation of Bowden's murder-a personal task as he and Bowden were friends for 40 years.

Although 95 percent of the facts are historically accurate, Folsom says that he "massaged" about five percent so they would fit the story line.

Because of its local setting and history, Folsom believes that his novel is one that ECU students will enjoy.

"Students often don't have a lot of extra time to read, but when on break from school, I believe they would enjoy a good murder mystery, especially if it involves an ECU professor," he said. "And for anyone who enjoys good historical fiction, involving the Lost Colony, I feel it would be an enjoyable and informative read."

Indian Wood is Folsom's second novel, along with other project ideas, but besides writing, he and his wife Jan own a restaurant in Greenville, Harvey's. Folsom admits that Jan now does most of the work at Harvey's while he spends most of his time researching and writing.

"And there is little money in it, at least not in the short-term, so you had better have someone who loves you and is willing to support you," he says.

"Writing is a long, unrequited love affair. If you are not committed to the process, day after day of writing the equivalent of short term papers, then you had better look for something else to do. There is no one to motivate you, but yourself," Folsom explained.

Folsom grew up in Fayetteville, N.C. and has two children: Brett and Noah. His hobbies (besides writing) are fishing and traveling.

To learn more about the author, or about his books, visit richardfolsom.com.

This writer can be contacted at editor@theeastcarolinian.com.