Happy Land

Nikki reconnects with her grandmother after years of family silence when the elder requests her visit to the hills of western North Carolina. Instead of explaining the estrangement between Nikki's mother and grandmother, Mother Rita shares an extraordinary story: a kingdom once existed on the mountain, and Nikki's great-great-great grandmother, Luella, became its queen. As Nikki learns more about the Kingdom of the Happy Land and discovers ruins in the surrounding woods, she uncovers connections between this historical community of freed people and her own family's identity and secrets. The novel explores how this land represents her family's legacy and the responsibility she carries to preserve it. Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a multi-generational novel about the stories that shape families and the courage required to protect one's heritage.