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Cover
art by
Ardy M. Scott
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The
Storks of La Caridad
Twilight Times Books
Father
Ygnacio Pfefferkorn, a missionary stationed in northwestern
Mexico, is expelled with all Jesuits in 1767. After
ten years of prison, eight in Spain, he is incarcerated
in La Caridad Monastery and befriended by Brother Eugenio,
scribe, Father Plácido, choirmaster, and Father Leopoldo,
instructor of boys.
La
Caridad is locked in conflict with the bishop of Ciudad
Rodrigo to determine jurisdiction over Robledillo, a
rich parish. Two murders are committed and an ancient
charter, granting the monastery perpetual jurisdiction
over neighboring lands and villages, is stolen. The
abbot recruits Ygnacio to solve the murders and recover
the charter.
"Brilliantly
written and thoroughly researched, this book explores
the complexities and contradictions of the Church during
this time period. The political struggles in the monastery
ring with realism, as do the actions of the characters.
The age-old struggle between good and evil is evident,
but the division between the two is muddied by ulterior
motives."
--
Reviewed by Joyce Handzo for In the Library Reviews
"'La
Caridad' works on two levels. First, it's a rollicking
mystery, full of plot twists based on real events, interesting
characters modeled after historical figures and more
than its share of red herrings, mostly invented by Weinberg.
Second, it's a scholarly recreation of 18th century
from the dress to the architecture to the food, thoroughly
researched and seamlessly written. And let's just say
that Weinberg knows her Spanish Inquisition and her
colonial Catholicism."
-- Reviewed by Steve Bennett, The San Antonio Express
(Read the entire review)
"The
Storks of La Caridad is beautifully written,
as well as meticulously researched. It will grip its
readers, shock them, and confound them. Along the way,
much valuable and accurate history will be painlessly
assimilated. Perhaps this is the art of historical mystery
writing at its best. The Storks of La Caridad
is a must-read!"
--
The Midwest Book Review (Read
the entire review on Amazon)
Read
an excerpt from The Storks of La Caridad
Order
from the Publisher
The
Roman bridge across the Agueda River in Ciudad Rodrigo.
Still in daily use.
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Cover
art by
Ardy M. Scott
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Apache
Lance, Franciscan Cross
Twilight Times Books
*
WILLA Literary Award Finalist, 2006
* 2007 New Mexico Book Award Finalist in two categories:
Best Historical Fiction and Best Book on the Southwest.
In
the year 1731, three Franciscan missions are struggling
to establish themselves on the San Antonio River despite
Apache raids. The story explores a crucial time in San
Antonio history, featuring courageous settlers, missionaries,
Indian converts and fierce Apache attacks.
Read
an excerpt
Order
from Twilight Times Books
"Apache
Lance, Franciscan Cross is a riveting novel
of historical fiction about a Franciscan Friar, Fray
Marcos, and an Apache woman warrior, Ahuila.... If you
like historical novels, you will love Apache Lance,
Franciscan Cross. But even more, if you appreciate
a fine historical novel built on absolutely faultless
research, Apache Lance, Franciscan Cross
will draw you in as surely as a hummingbird is drawn
to its blossom. This is a fine example of the genre,
one of the best of its kind."
-- The Midwest Book Review (Read
the full review on Amazon.)
Forthcoming
Book: Seven Cities of Mud, an historical
novel, will be out on April 15, 2008. It dramatizes
the second expedition up the Rio Grande into New Mexico
in 1581-82. Coronado's expedition, seeking the Seven
Cities of Gold (Cíbola), had explored the region in
1540, had burned a pueblo and killed its inhabitants,
leaving much distress and hatred in its wake. The Chamuscado/Rodriquez
expedition had no idea what had happened, since nothing
had been published about Coronado's doings. They were
astonished and unprepared when they ran into hostility.
I delivered a scholarly article about the expedition
in spring of 2006, under the title, "History or Mostly
Myth? Caveat lector! Discrepancies In Scholarly Accounts
of the Chamuscado Expedition, 1581-1582." This
article, delivered at the Historical Society of
New Mexico, might whet your appetite.
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