QUEEN OF COTTON

By Laurie Moore-Moore

Historical Fiction

Publisher: Goat Mountain Press

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

SYNOPSIS

1861: The Civil War is raging. The men have gone to fight, leaving the women behind to cope.  Cotton is the lifeblood of the South.

Sara, a young wife, risks her life and reputation to lead an official Confederate Camel Caravan hundreds of miles across Texas to Matamoros, Mexico. There, cotton can be sold and shipped to the buyer, avoiding the Union blockade and providing critical funds for the South and desperate Dallas cotton growers. 

But . . .“It’s not a job for a woman.” The Texas frontier is fraught with danger. The caravan will face fierce Comanche, bandits, extreme weather, internal vandalism, and unforgiving desert. The Mexican cotton market is complex and full of fraudsters. The trail home, carrying gold and armaments, makes the caravan a rich target.  

Joining Sara on the adventure are a fascinating mix of real and fictional characters, including a slave— who quotes Machiavelli—and forty-six camels!  Can Sara face peril and uncertainty with grit and unyielding determination?  Can she survive, succeed, and as a result, shed the past that haunts her? Queen of Cotton: Confederate Camel Caravan is a woman’s adventure with roots in true history.  Climb aboard, your camel is waiting.

A stand-alone novel and book two in the Texas Brave & Strong series.

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JENNIE READS REVIEW

Having read the first book in this series by Laurie Moore-Moore, I was eager to return to historical Dallas and reconnect with the determined Sara. In Queen of Cotton, Sara has settled into frontier life and is confidently running her store. With her husband (who runs the local cotton exchange) away serving in the war, the responsibility of moving the town’s cotton to market falls squarely on her shoulders.

Now, this is where Sara shines. Faced with the dilemma of transporting the cotton, she hatches an unexpected yet ingenious plan—using nearby camels! Yes, camels in Texas – it’s true! In the 1850s, the U.S. Army experimented with camels in the Southwest, hoping they would outwork horses and mules. The project fizzled out, but for years after, there were reports of camels wandering the Texas plains. I love when historical fiction surprises me with tidbits of real history I didn’t know!

What begins as a risky, unconventional solution quickly turns into a lively adventure filled with obstacles, unexpected allies, and the strength of community support. The journey may be bumpy, but the spirit and determination behind it never falter.

What I continue to admire about Moore-Moore’s writing is the seamless weaving of fact and fiction. She grounds her characters and plotlines in carefully researched history, which makes the setting feel authentic while still leaving room for imaginative twists, such as camel caravans. Sara remains a standout character—plucky, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge the norms of her time. The supporting cast, from friends to community members, adds richness and depth, making the story feel like more than just one woman’s struggle—it’s the story of a town coming together.

This is historical fiction that entertains while giving readers a glimpse into the resilience of early Dallas. I’m already looking forward to the next chapter in Sara’s adventures!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laurie Moore-Moore and her husband, Roger, have been blessed with many adventures–from trekking across India’s Thar desert on camels (and sleeping in the sand on camel blankets) to repeating marriage vows in a remote Maasi village in Kenya (Laurie’s dowry was one cow and one goat). Laurie’s favorite adventure? As a fifth-generation Texan, Laurie says, “It is discovering more and more Texas history and writing about it!”

After decades in Dallas, Texas the couple moved to a mountaintop overlooking a lake in the Cherokee Nation. “The cabin is unique,” Laurie says. “There is a nine foot chainsaw bear in our entry hall. The house was built around it. Never thought I’d own a piece of chainsaw art, much less a nine foot bear. Life is full of surprises–just like a good historical novel.”

Laurie is a retired entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple businesses and served on the board of directors of an international Corporation.

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