Prairie Truth
A Novel
Published on 1. September 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
262 pages
978-1-945099-09-0 (ISBN)
Description
Historical fiction set in 1888 San Luis Valley, Colorado
The colorful history and traditions of the beautiful southern Colorado region and its people—Spanish, Spanish Jew, Mexican, and Anglo—is told in this fast-moving, believable, and engaging novel. The twists and turns of the story, and the gradual development of the characters, adds suspense that will keep readers turning pages right up to the moving and satisfying conclusion.
Caroline, the main character, is a caring and determined young woman, and the best horse trainer around. But being of mixed heritage—her Cheyenne father found his wife among the white settlers of the plains—she meets rejection at every turn. She decides to leave her home east of Denver to seek a new life and identity in the region of Colorado settled decades earlier by Mexicans—the San Luis Valley. She learns enough of the Spanish language and Hispano ranching customs, to pass for a señorita.
When she meets Mauricio, whose family of humble means has prospered as ranchers in the San Luis Valley, Mauricio is intrigued by Caroline, and suspects she is running from something.
In the San Luis region, some of the Anglos are using the Mexican’s own cultural practices to cheat them out of what is rightfully theirs. Incensed by the injustice, Mauricio uses his business acumen and understanding of Anglo practices to try to right these wrongs.
But Caroline is the only one who can make right the half-truths she is living. Will she be able to extricate herself from the awkward, even dangerous situations in which she finds herself, and trust that she can be accepted and loved?
This book is the sequel to Prairie Grace (Koehlerbooks, 2013).
More details
Language
English
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
430 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-945099-09-0 (9781945099090)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Marilyn Bay grew up on a crop and sheep farm in northern Colorado, near the land homesteaded by her great-great grandparents. As a child, she was thrilled to learn that she was a small part Native American. Unfortunately, her part-Sioux grandfather, because he was born in the early 20th century, was embarrassed to talk about his Native heritage and probably knew few details because his parents were even more reticent about it. The lack of information led her to read and research Native Americans as well as the origins and historical treks West by the settlers with whom they interacted, and, in some cases, intermarried.
Today she lives on and is tangentially involved in the farming operation on which she was raised. She independently operates Prairie Natural Lamb, raising lambs and marketing them directly to her 40-plus customers. She enjoys riding and training horses and is a certified Colorado 4-H horse show judge and level rater.
Marilyn has written and edited newsletters and magazines and also has handled public relations and promotions for clients, including the National Bison Association and the American Grassfed Association. In addition to her writing career, she serves as executive director of the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. Previously, she held communications positions for the National Farmers Union, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the U.S. Meat Export Federation. She started her career in promotion and public relations in 1986 when she joined the Taiwan public relations branch of Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising, then the world's largest advertising agency. At the age of 21, she spent six months in rural Costa Rica on the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE). She is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational Mandarin Chinese.
Marilyn has a bachelor's degree in journalism news writing from the University of Northern Colorado. She has two adult daughters, Kelly and Shannon.
Today she lives on and is tangentially involved in the farming operation on which she was raised. She independently operates Prairie Natural Lamb, raising lambs and marketing them directly to her 40-plus customers. She enjoys riding and training horses and is a certified Colorado 4-H horse show judge and level rater.
Marilyn has written and edited newsletters and magazines and also has handled public relations and promotions for clients, including the National Bison Association and the American Grassfed Association. In addition to her writing career, she serves as executive director of the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. Previously, she held communications positions for the National Farmers Union, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the U.S. Meat Export Federation. She started her career in promotion and public relations in 1986 when she joined the Taiwan public relations branch of Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising, then the world's largest advertising agency. At the age of 21, she spent six months in rural Costa Rica on the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE). She is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational Mandarin Chinese.
Marilyn has a bachelor's degree in journalism news writing from the University of Northern Colorado. She has two adult daughters, Kelly and Shannon.