"In Cherokee language, the word for sky is ᎦᎸᎶᎯ, ga-lv-lo-hi. It refers to something up high or above. It can also be used to refer to Heaven. According to some Cherokee story tellers, there are creatures that can move between the Lower, Middle, and Upper worlds. One of the most well known, and frightening, is the ᎤᎧᏖᎾ U'ktena, a giant winged serpent sometimes depicted as having the antlers of a deer. It is such a dangerous and powerful creature it is said it can kill humans just by looking at them. It is this creature that forms the primary inspiration for this story.
Cherokee traditionally come from one of seven clans, and the clan is passed down matrilineally. I am Deer Clan. thus, Sky ᎦᎸᎶᎯ is inspire by my community, my clan, my grandmother, my parents, and all people who told me stories growing up. it tells the story of a boy who learns his lineage is now what he expected. It is rooted in horror, but also informed by Cherokee storytelling traditions. While the story borrows heavily from Cherokee lore, it is my spin on the ᎤᎧᏖᎾ mythos. In addition to the story, this publication also features a gallery of my artwork. Since New Year's Day in 2012, I have been drawing a sketch a day. The illustrations in the story come from my daily sketches of October 2019. The remaining images are a snapshot from my daily sketches from the last several years. I hope you enjoy reading this story and the artwork as much as I did making them. I dedicate this to the memory of my father, ᎤᏴᏠᏯ Uhyvtloya Roy Boney (August 1, 1949-February 11, 2021)."
-Roy Boney, Jr.