Darrell New Plenty Stars ~ Author of "From the Flames of Wounded Knee to the Center of God's Will" ~ resides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota, pictured above.

      Darrell New Plenty Stars and his wife, Rose, live on the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota where they were born.  After two tours duty in Vietnam with the Army, Darrell returned to the reservation filled with hate after experiencing dehumanizing prejudice.  Soon after reaching home Darrell met and married Rose Lone Elk, a young Christian woman with two small children.

      Darrell came to the Lord Jesus Christ during the time of the Wounded Knee Standoff of 1973 (Oglala Lakota's refer to that time today as "Wounded Knee Two") as discord and strife spread across the rez.  Although he was sensing a strong call to preach the Gospel-- looking forward to attending Brainerd Indian School to prepare himself for ministry-- Darrell and Rose decided to put to put their own lives on hold in order to help militants with the American Indian Movement (AIM) who were at that time being held down at the Wounded Knee settlement by U.S. Government Agents.  Agents had been called in by the tribal president, a man suspected of corruption and abusing the powers of his office.  With agents manning roadblocks surrounding the  Wounded Knee community, well armed followers of the fearful and distracted tribal president continued unabated in their harassing tactics that brought strife and killings to the traditional Oglala Lakota people.

      When the conflict finally ended 70 long days later, Darrell and Rose left the reservaton to enroll at Brainerd Indian school, longing to immerse themselves in an intense study of the Bible.  They graduated together five years later with Darrell going on to serve as pastor on three seperate Indian reservations.  He also served for a number of years on the Oglala Lakota Tribal Police Force, working his way up to Lieutenant. It was during that time Darrell's pride landed him in trouble, not only costing him his job with the police force but very nearly ended his marriage. 

      Within the pages of his book, Darrell discloses the good and the ugly.  Encouraged by family and friends to write his story, he took on the project with the help of his co-writer, Shirlee Evans.  Darrell and Rose New (the shortened version of their last name) have four grown children and three grandchildren. If you would like to write to them, their address is: PO Box 1416, Pine Ridge, SD 57770. 

Shirlee Evans is the Web Host and co-writer of ~ "From the Flames of Wounded Knee to the Center of God's Will" ~  Contact her at:

      Shirlee Evans began her writing career while her two sons were still young, publishing first in Christian and horseman magazines.  When they were older she took a job as a newspaper reporter for a small town weekly.  During that time she received a Washington State Award for Investigative Reporting.  After leaving the newspaper, seven of her Christian novels were published [Robin and the Lovable Bronc; Children's Indian Series: Tree Tall and the White Skins, Tree Tall and the Horse Race, Tree Tall to the Rescue; a two book series: A Life in Her Hands and A Life Apart; Winds of Promise] before she had to put book writing aside for several years in order to care for her mother (with dementia) and her husband (with Alzheimer’s disease).  

      Evans met Darrell New Plenty Stars and his wife while editing a newsletter for Frontier Missions, based then in Porltand, Oregon.  Several years later Darrell asked for her help in writing his book.  While working with Darrell she was shocked to learn that shortly before the Battle of the Little Bighorn her late husband’s grandfather, who was in the cavalry at that time, had served under George Custer while stationed at Fort Randall in Southern South Dakota.

      Shirlee makes her home in Battle Ground, Washington where she is writing once again, currently a contributor to Guideposts Magazine.  Besides her two sons, she has seven grandchildren, and six great grandchilden.