Fort Mose 

In my new novel, South to Freedom, when the escaping slaves finally get to Florida, the Spanish authorities send them to Fort Mose (pronounced moe.say). It was established to be a home for the escaping slaves coming to Florida and a first line of defense against rumored invasions by the English to the north.

Built on the waterfront, the fort was constructed of log walls surrounded by a moat. Inside were simple buildings, both dwellings and community spaces. Men who lived there were required to serve in the militia.

Today, Fort Mose is a state historical site that does a good job of telling the stories of the fort and the people who occupied it.  I hope my novel does, too. It releases on August 1, and I'm eager to see what readers think of it. I've received heartwarming responses from my beta readers.

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