The book you hold in your hands—as well as its predecessors, Legends of the Lost Causes and The Fang of Bonfire Crossing—is more than the solitary endeavor of two authors. Since 2015, we’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with the Wah-Zha-Zhi Cultural Center and Language Department—two organizations that help comprise the Osage Heritage Center in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
When we started planning the Legends series, we knew right away we wanted to tell a magical Old West story that included a diverse cast of characters, a group of resourceful kids who could join forces to fight the Reverend Rose’s evil. For us, this meant examining the cultures of 1850s Missouri and Kansas. Our research led us to the Wah-Zha-Zhi Cultural Center, where we met the wonderful directors and specialists who would become readers of our story and close reviewers of our cultural content.
All the Osage language and names seen in our series have been directly provided by the Cultural Center and its partner, the Language Department. Though we consulted some written sources in early drafts, such as Carolyn Quintero’s Osage Dictionary or Francis la Flesche’s A Dictionary of the Osage Language, the final approval of all words, phrases, and names came from these language and cultural experts who so graciously agreed to help us.
The same holds true for all Osage customs or practices found within the books. Though the Protectors are figments of the authors’ imaginations, any Osage customs to which we allude came from extensive conversations with our cultural partners. We also learned a great deal about the traditional clothing, weapons, and traits of Osage warriors in the 1850s. In addition, the center’s consultants worked closely with us on the character of Strong Heart, not only providing her name for the series but also guiding her dialogue and interactions. Naturally, any mistakes or inaccuracies in these details are the fault of the authors and no one else.
To learn more about the Osage Nation, please visit https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov.
Throughout our drafting and revision process, our research and discussions of various cultures have included many other experts, from South American contacts to Nigerian American readers. Though some of the information discussed with these kind professionals may appear in our books as only passing phrases or details, we appreciate all the important voices who have spoken with us. Because the Lost Causes are about people coming together for common goals, we hope this series helps to strengthen and contribute to a community of inclusion and acceptance.
With regard to the cryptic Black Verse seen throughout the story, this fictional language is based loosely on the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and not intended to resemble or represent any real language. Any similarities to authentic languages or dialects are unintentional, and as mentioned before, strictly the fault of the authors.
In the end, Legends of the Lost Causes and its accompanying stories are meant to be enjoyed as magical fantasies full of adventure. But it is also our hope that this series grants young readers a larger awareness of the remarkable cultures of 1850s America, as well as a deeper recognition of the country’s darker histories of slavery, cruelty, and violence. When we understand where we came from, we can steer the course of our lives into better harmony with one another.