A Louisiana Love Story of Pestilence and Perseverance By Shannon Terry Wiley
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Photo Courtesy Northwest Archives
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Ships April 2026
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In the sweltering summer of 1873 Louisiana, as yellow fever sweeps through the region, love takes root in the most unlikely places.
Yellow September tells the unforgettable story of two souls bound by courage, loss, and the enduring power of hope. This sweeping historical novel immerses readers in a richly detailed world where every choice could be a matter of life or death — and every heartbeat a prayer.
Read the Prologue
Shannon Wiley brings postwar Shreveport, Louisiana vividly to life in this captivating novel set during the yellow fever epidemic of 1873. At its heart is the unlikely romance between Katherine Rafferty, a fiery Southern farm girl, and George Woodruff, an Iowan with the Army Corps of Engineers tasked with clearing a massive log jam on the nearby Red River. Their love story unfolds as a deadly disease begins tearing through the community—forcing them to make heartbreaking choices that will reverberate throughout their lives. A masterful storyteller, Wiley gives readers a front-row seat to this tragic episode in American history. Her richly drawn characters and gift for historical nuance make the past feel hauntingly present, reminding us that love can bloom in even the darkest of times.
— Catherine Johnson
Author of The Panacea Project