for the sake of family
Date Published: 12-01-2025
Set in the late 1890’s, The Brothers Brown - a family saga, Part 2 - For the Sake of Family is a sweeping frontier saga of love, guilt, and redemption - an unflinching portrait of a man’s descent into madness amid the unforgiving wilds of Indian Territory.
When Matt Brown boards a northbound train, he carries more than a pistol. He carries the weight of his brother’s death, a marriage strained to its breaking point, and a conscience at war with itself. A doctor’s brown vial of medicine offers fleeting relief but soon draws him into a darker world where pain and guilt blur into something far more dangerous.
His wife, Milla, proud and rooted in her Choctaw heritage, stands as both his anchor and his judge as the world around them shifts under the weight of change and loss.
From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the wooded banks of Bokchito Creek, two families are bound by tragedy and love, vengeance and mercy. A celebration meant to heal ignites old resentments. A family gathering ends in bloodshed. And a winter dance turns deadly, forcing each to face the cost of survival, forgiveness, and the ties that bind them.
Steeped in the spirit of the Choctaw Nation and the rough mercy of the Old West, For the Sake of Family is a haunting tale of madness, murder, and the fragile hope that redemption can be found on the far side of ruin.
Interview with R.G. Stanford
Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?
I write about my family’s lore. Finding the truth of the story is my goal. While researching, I traveled to every town in the Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma, that I’ve written about. Fort Smith, Arkansas, was a must on my list and so were all the graveyards and homesteads that I could find. When writing historical fiction, newspapers and county records are a must.
What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?
The 1890s form of treatment for depression and addiction was by far the strangest. You wouldn’t believe some things they used to do in the name of science.
What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?
All of the above, from Victorian daily life and architecture to the Choctaw spirituality and traditions before and after the removal in the 1830’s.
Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.
My high school drama teacher, Charlotte Brown, stands out the most. After I wrote The Brothers Brown-part 1, I sent it to her, knowing that I would get an honest critique. She loved it and called me to tell me so only five chapters in. She passed away shortly thereafter. I dedicated this book to her.
Do you write in the same genre all the time?
Yes, so far, it’s all historical fiction.
If so, have you ever consider writing in another one?
Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I am considering writing a book about a young girl who dreams so vividly that in her dreams she can fly. As she learns to control her dreams, she finds she can also time travel.
Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I like deeply flawed and complex characters like Matt Brown, my protagonist. My favorite character of all time is Rowan Mayfair from Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour. She has so many layers to unfold. I identified with her on so many levels.
About the Author
With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.
Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.
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