The Women of the Shiloh Trilogy

There is a tendency among potential readers to skip past books of war fiction in the belief that such books are male-dominated and devoid of interesting female characters. I am pleased to note that this is not the case with my works. With multiple female protagonists and antagonists, commenters on the Shiloh Trilogy have noted that my works tend to score high on the Bechdel-Wallace test as a measure of their representation of women in fiction. Here is a summary of the main women who appear in my works. 

Beautiful historical woman with red curly hair.

Katie Malloy is a major protagonist in all of the books of the Shiloh Trilogy. At fifteen years of age, Katie finds herself at the mercy of the owners of LaFitte’s Hideout, a saloon where she works as a hostess. At first, she tries to adjust to this new life under the tutelage of her friends, Eleanor St. Croix and Maggie Warren, but eventually comes to believe that she has a better, larger role to play in the world.   

 

Maggie Warren, a war widow displaced when her farm becomes a military camp, finds work as Eleanor’s assistant manager at the Officers’ Club, becomes Katie’s friend and mentor, and befriends Jamie Harper during his stay in Paducah. 

 

 

Sarah Featherstone, ombudsman for the wives and other camp followers of the First Iowa Volunteers. Coordinates with the regimental leadership for the administration and well-being of the civilians, oversees domestic services (cooking, laundry) for Corporal Magnusson and his men, and helps Katie’s attempt to transition to a new life. 

 

 

woman nurse looking offHarriett Wells is a nurse at an army hospital who befriends Katie while they tend to the wounded together. She teaches Katie the skills needed to be a medical assistant. Helps Katie adjust to the stress of her dual lives as a hostess and a nurse’s assistant. 

 

 

Eleanor St. Croix, a creole from New Orleans and co-owner of LaFitte’s Hideout and The Officers’ Club. Befriends Katie and vows to teach her to become an independent woman-of-means. Organizes the effort to help nurse wounded men. May be a Confederate spy. 

 

 

Makaria, the Greek goddess of a good death. Appears in many guises to guide the souls of the dead from the battlefields to the afterlife. 

 

 

 

Young woman wearing Victorian clothes in forest

Loreena Bosley, co-owner, manager, madam of LaFitte’s Hideout, and a former schoolmate of Eleanor St. Croix. She seeks to take advantage of the war and enrich herself catering to the soldiers’ vices wile exploiting her workers, like Katie. May be a Confederate spy.