Carved in Granite: Cornelius Campbell and the Legend of Chocorua

"Plausible, historically true to the realities of the period and sensitive to the cultural differences that made the outcome doomed to a tragic end. It's a great read, especially for those who love NH folk tales, very sensitively written and quite believable as one possible through-line in a dangerous and savage time." – Wayne D. King, NH Secrets, Legend and Lore published on InDepthNH.org -The NH Center for Public Interest Journalism.

Carved in Granite is a tale that blends history and fiction in the early years of the New Hampshire Province. A dark period, prior to the French and Indian War, when the wilderness itself seemed to hold secrets, and echoes of past struggles. The journey begins in the spring of 1722 when Scottish pioneer Cornelius Campbell, a man haunted by the Battle of Sheriffmuir and the loss of his brother, settles with his wife and daughter on the contested New England frontier to change their destinies.

Despite conflicts between the English and Abenakis, Cornelius builds trust with Chocorua, a Pequawket, whose family isolates themselves from hostilities yet remain tormented by the suffering their loved ones have endured. As Cornelius settles into this new reality, his strong-willed daughter, Grace, defies societal norms and develops an unbreakable bond with Chocorua's son, Towamba. But, as their relationship blossoms, tensions rise when the Boston Assembly enacts the Scalp Act, setting off a chain reaction of violence across the region.

Unbeknownst to the two families, the outlaw Puddle brothers from Portsmouth are headed toward them, looking for scalps, on a misguided path to redemption. As violence engulfs the frontier, grievous losses and treacherous acts sow despair and confusion, pitting Cornelius against Chocorua in a race against time to save their families. The clues they unravel along the way lead them deeper into a web of secrets and deception, where the fates of their loved ones hang in the balance.