Fairfield County

A Novel

By: DéLana R. A. Dameron

A sweeping family saga about inheritance and the enduring legacy of Southern Black cowboy culture, from the acclaimed author of Redwood Court, a Reese’s Book Club Pick

“Epic . . . a family saga in the finest tradition.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Good Dirt

A sprawling landscape of sand, red clay, and pine trees, South Carolina’s Fairfield County is the only place the Bolton family has ever called home. For more than a century, they have cultivated this land, expertly raising horses to compete in derbies and rodeos and passing their knowledge from generation to generation.

But after a devastating tragedy, Dwayne, the next inheritor of the Bolton legacy, buries his family history—particularly from his daughter. Unlike her father, Nikki is a proud, burgeoning horsewoman with no knowledge of her family’s connection to the part of her life she’s most passionate about. But when a series of events threatens to sever father and daughter from the only land they’ve ever known, Dwayne is forced to confront his past so that Nikki can step into her future.

With nuance and care, DéLana R. A. Dameron deftly examines her most beloved subjects: the intricacies of family and the powerful forces that shape who we are. Fairfield County is at once a moving exploration of the ties that bind us and a bold reclamation of the American Cowboy—taking this iconic image out of the whitewashed Old West and deep into the heart of the Black South, where it has always resided.

Critic reviews

“Epic . . . With her ear for language and a penchant for historic storytelling, DéLana R. A. Dameron follows a family of legendary Black horse breeders, trainers, and riders in South Carolina through love, heartbreak, ambition, and triumph. Fairfield County is a family saga in the finest tradition.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Good Dirt

“A luminous and unforgettable novel. Fairfield County is an Afro-Carolina story, one about people who have held onto the land, raised horses, and embraced the noblest of American inheritances despite facing injustice and cruelty. Vivid, cinematic, and soul-stirring, Fairfield County will resonate with readers far and wide.”—Imani Perry, National Book Award winner and author of Black in Blues