Osceola

2026 Patrick D. Smith Award for Literary Excellence.

Best Novel on Florida History.

What would you say about a Native American who was friendly to the U.S. military, but later turned into the Michael Corleone of the Seminoles, seeking justice and revenge? Osceola: Passion for Freedom, is a historical novel about the life of the incredible Muskogee/Seminole leader.

Osceola was a happy little boy in Alabama, but during the Creek War Gen. Andrew Jackson drove Osceola and his family into Florida. A few years later during the First Seminole War, young Osceola was captured by Jackson's soldiers and later released.

In 1835, Osceola was married to Se-cho-ti, or Morning Dew, and held the important position of "Black Drink Singer." When the U.S. Army began building forts in Florida, the easy-going Osceola was impressed by the pomp and circumstance of the soldiers stationed at Fort King. In fact, he developed a special friendship with the handsome young lieutenant John Graham. But Osceola was badly mistreated by the Indian agent and became a formidable war chief during the Second Seminole War.

Osceola joined forces with Wildcat, Alligator, Jumper, and Micanopy, and he fought side by side with John Horse who led the so-called Black Seminole warriors. At the outbreak of war, John instigated the slave rebellion from the plantations of east Florida.

The 19th century artist and adventurer George Catlin befriended Osceola. In this historical novel, it's through Catlin's eyes that we learn of Osceola's life and his extraordinary struggle for freedom.

"Thomas Gallaher combines years of knowledge working with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to tell the story of Osceola, the Seminoles' most famous leader. The tale also looks into the life of George Catlin, whose portrait of Osceola brought him to life for thousands of Americans and made him the best-known Native American of his time." -- John and Mary Missall, The Seminole Wars: America's Longest Indian Conflict.