Winner — 2013 Best Indie Book Award
Storykeeper
An epic adventure of first contact, survival, and storytelling on the sixteenth-century Mississippi.
The Nine-Rivers Valley Series
Storykeeper
Award-winning historical fiction from the heart of the Mississippi River Valley, told from the perspective of the people who survived America's deadliest invasion.
Published Work
The Books
Midwest Book Review
Orb Stones & Geoglyphs
Autobiography meets science as the author traces the roots of the stories that beg to be told.
Free on most formats
The Great Turtle and the White Bird
A short fable of cooperation and endurance after a great flood.
What Readers & Critics Say
Praise & Reviews
★★★★★
"A man without a story is one without a past, and a man without a past is one without wisdom." By the time readers have wandered freely through the strange realm of the Storykeeper, they may well find those words more prophetic, and more powerful.
★★★★★
Storykeeper is a stunning novel and a joy to read. Jam-packed with a wealth of well-researched historical content, there is a genuine and realistic feel to the text. I have no hesitation in recommending this book no matter where your historical interest may lie. 5 stars!
★★★★★
Storykeeper is a complex read. With both perspective and time in flux, readers are carried along on a historical and cultural journey that, while compelling, requires attention to detail: a saga that demands — and deserves — careful reading and contemplation.
★★★★★
Storykeeper is a tender, poignant, powerful story of a people's strength, endurance and history. Smith turned his research of the days of Hernando De Soto into a story that honors the Indians who lived through it, and created a lesson on the importance of storytelling.
★★★★★
Smith has created a wealth of history and culture that will make you weep. Creating words and phrases with a poetic sense, building a feel for Native American culture that feels so genuine and, yet, is eminently readable.
★★★★★
This was truly one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. Sometimes you just know that part of the author's soul has crept into a story.
Good to Know
Questions & Answers
What is Storykeeper about?
Storykeeper is about a first encounter between two completely different cultures and the tragic results that followed. It unfolds through fireside stories told to and by three young protagonists, each a generation apart, beginning when Hernando de Soto and his army of three hundred conquistadors arrived in the Native American nation of Casqui in June of 1541.
In what formats are the books available?
The books are available as e-books on Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, and Kobo, and in paperback from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Great Turtle and the White Bird is free on most digital formats.
Is Storykeeper based on real history?
Yes. It is based on historic sixteenth-century Spanish documents from the de Soto expedition and on the state's vast archaeological record, told from the perspective of the people of the Mississippi River Valley.
What is the Nine-Rivers Valley series?
It is Daniel A. Smith's series of historical novels set in the 16th and 17th centuries — a little-known but pivotal period of America's earliest history. He is currently working on the second novel in the series.
How can I request an interview or review copy?
Use the contact page or media kit to reach out. Daniel is available for interviews, events, and review requests.