Yellow September (A Louisiana Love Story of Pestilence and Perseverance)

In a heartwarming story of love, loss, and perseverance, debut author Shannon Terry Wiley chronicles the experiences of those in Shreveport, Louisiana, during the September 1873 outbreak of yellow fever, which ultimately killed over a thousand individuals. Weaving together fictional storylines and real history, Wiley paints a vivid picture of the unspeakable tragedy and the people who lived through it.

Through multiple points of view, Yellow September narrates the fortunes of those in the fever-wracked town. Two brothers, George and Eugene, find themselves far from their Midwestern roots while working for the Army Corps of Engineers. Sent to battle a massive logjam blocking the Red River, the pair find themselves grappling with two very different commitments. Meanwhile, Katherine, a farm girl living along the Silver Bayou with her family, who are still grieving the wartime death of her father, faces a difficult choice with consequences that echo throughout her life. Others, like Dr. Dalzell, a pastor and doctor in town, and Eleanor and David, parents fleeing the fever, bring a nuanced perspective to the experiences of those swept up in the outbreak.

With epistolary touches throughout, the novel is a testament to the enduring love of family—those we are born with and those we choose—and tells a profound story of duty, devotion, and community.