The Rigby Muse

(mid-November, 1997 -- August 17, 2012)

Little did we know on a chilly February afternoon in 1998 how much our lives would change with the addition of one fluffy ball of fur.  He was a barnyard kitten, albeit a most glamorous one covered with the thickest, longest coat of butterscoth and white hair.  And he was most persistent in letting us know that he had no intention of being left behind.  He followed our daughter, Mandy, all over the farm as I selected items for an upcoming event.  Ninety minutes later, he settled nicely in my minivan heading for a new home.

Our dearly-loved seventeen-year-old cat, Stubby, had exhausted nearly all of the "nine lives" attributed to his kind and we knew he would not be with us much longer.  And our handsome, silky-haired ten-year-old cat, Sassy, would be pretty lonesome without another cat in the house.  So, Mr. Rigby in all his fluffy glory entered our household and promptly set about annoying the heck out of the two older cats!

By the time I began to write Tierra Red late in the summer of 1999, Mr. Rigby and the Sassy Cat had eased into a sort of tolerant coexistence.  I do believe they also had a secret pact regarding which one would interrupt me at the most inopportune times as well as the frequency of those interruptions.  We lost our beloved Sassy Cat in 2006 at the age of nineteen.  Mr. Rigby honored his passing by doubling up the need for attention.  In spite of all those interruptions, the novel was written, went through five drafts and countless edits, and was published in 2009.

While I was in the midst of writing the sequel to Tierra Red, our Mr. Rigby continued the fine tradition he and the Sassy Cat had established with renewed gusto until the early summer of 2012.  After several months of numerous visits to our vet and several lengthy camp-outs at the vet's office, it became obvious that our Mr. Rigby was failing fast.  He joined the Sassy Cat in one of our garden beds on August 17, 2012.

When our Cinnamon Dog passed away, we were never able to replace her with another dog -- she was just so very special to all of us.  We still are not sure we will ever be able to replace Mr. Rigby, either.

Although we had raised six children along with their menagerie of cats, dogs, lizards, guinea pigs, and fish, the loss of Mr. Rigby profoundly affected us.  The absence of the Rigby Muse has greatly influenced the progress of the sequel to Tierra Red -- it was ever so difficult to write without interruption for many weeks and months.  The writing is back on track this month but I still find myself waiting for yet another interruption . . . .

As a footnote to this tribute to Mr. Rigby, I want to thank our children for bringing all those furry members of our family to us.  The Cinnamon Dog and the Stubby Cat belonged to our David primarily, then to our youngest daughters as they grew up.  The Sassy Cat belonged to those youngest daughters, Melissa and Mandy, and also to our grandson, Marcus.  Mr. Rigby was Mandy's cat until she left for graduate school and Marcus filled in for her for a time as well.  But to the end, my husband, Jim, was Mr. Rigby's buddy.

He was a most well-loved critter and he will be forever missed . . . .

1907 Dashcam Footage

As an author writing about this time period, I was thrilled to find this movie footage. Although it's location is two-thousand miles away from the Territory of New Mexico, it still provides much inspiration for my current WIP . . . .




http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/even-older-dashcam-footage-from-1907/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl48%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D255079

The New Western: A touch of class

Review by Wendy Bertsch, Author of historical fiction and humour:

Historical fiction fans are ready for a more sophisticated western, and Tierra Red fills the bill.

It offers the high suspense we want, from start to end, but with rare sensitivity and finesse.  The author's love for the southwest gives the book universal appeal, and the characters she presents are unusually complex and appealing.  (I admit to a particular fondness for the intuitive, generous-hearted Serena.)

Set at the turn of the last century, Tierra Red lands Lily Preston smack in the middle of a dangerous, high-stakes conspiracy that has been building for decades.  The plotters are ruthless and powerful, and Lily is in the way.  Where will it end?

Time and time again . . . .

Been living in two time periods simultaneously for months now.  Research for both the early 1900s and the present day has been fascinating from so many vantage points.  We often think we know so much about the time we live in but there are many surprises to be found.

The sequel -- Illusions -- has not only required research and writing in the two aforementioned eras but has found me digging around in prehistoric New Mexico, too.  My home state has a fascinating geological history coupled with amazing anthropology issues.

Writing in both these periods can leave a body wondering where the heck they are sometimes!  So much so, that I have forgotten to post to this blog many wonderful reader comments that Tierra Red has received in the past six months.  I will be updating the sidebar with all of these reader comments but I thought I would share each of them individually over the course of the next few weeks.

My dear readers and fans -- you will never know how much your reviews and comments for Tierra Red mean to me.  Your words make my heart sing!

June 8, 2012     Review by Line Bender

With "Tierra Red", author Kathy Vorenberg has created a novel that for many reasons might well stand above many better known period novels of the Old West.  She dramatically weaves and paints with authentic historical detail and intrigue, taking the reader along on a thrilling adventure into a period of history and romance in New Mexico when it was an open territory for both European and American interests.  She has brought diametrically opposed characters to life in a very creditable way and appealingly the more so, from the perspective of a woman.  Vorenberg knows her turf.  This novel will take the reader along on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and mystery not experienced since Dan Brown wrote "The DaVinci Code".  Similarly, Vorenberg's "Tierra Red"  seems already written for adaptation to a movie script.  But, at least for now, I'll take the book version!

"The Lady of White Sands"

Several years ago, I wrote a post about White Sands National Monument which you can read here .  Since White Sands Desert is a prominent location in the first part of Tierra Red, I was thrilled to discover an old Indian legend connected to it.

Today, S. Derrickson Moore of the Las Cruces Sun-News wrote an article announcing the premier performance of "The Lady of White Sands", an original ballet based on the same legend -- Pavla Blanca -- which will be performed in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Saturday, June 30th.  Las Cruces will be treated to another performance on August 4th, then El Paso will be the site on August 10th.

My first impression upon reading about this legend was one of pure delight.  I am equally delighted that it has inspired yet another art form!

A dose of high country research . . . .

We traveled 818 miles this weekend and had the opportunity to visit with many dear friends.  Last week we experienced three days with temperatures in the mid-90s here in southern New Mexico.  This past weekend up in northern New Mexico we wore sweaters and jackets and even experienced a full night of rainfall.  Rain?  We had almost forgotten what that form of precipitation was like as we have had less than a half-inch of rain since January 1st here in Las Cruces.

Saturday afternoon one of our friends told me something that would gladden any author's heart.  She was traveling through the Phoenix airport one weekend and while waiting for her flight took a seat in the passenger area.  Across the aisle a young woman was reading Tierra Red.  This occurrence not only put a grin on my friend's face but made my heart sing!

Yes, we were in Tierra Red country over the weekend.  Did some rather important research up in the mountains at about 8,000 feet in elevation.  We drove through a ranch with open cattle grazing which meant the cows and their calves were meandering across the road in search of greener grass.  The sky was overcast, the air was chilly, and the wind was rustling through the pine trees -- it could have been a day in 1900 or a day in 2011 during which the sequel takes place.

And, yes, the sequel is progressing nicely . . . .

Awesome Indies lists Tierra Red

Gosh, what a pleasant surprise today!  Tierra Red is now sharing some wonderful company with its historical fiction listing on the Awesome Indies web site as well as on the Awesome Indies Facebook page.  Be sure to check it out and while you are there scout out all the other wonderful books, too. 

2012 Casas de Antano -- Houses of Yesteryear

The state of New Mexico is celebrating it's centennial year of statehood throughout 2012.  Festivities that were held on January 6th -- the hundredth anniversary of the day the territory became a state -- were just the beginning.  We are being treated each month to awesome historical events.

This past weekend, Las Crucens had the opportunity to tour seven historic adobe homes and buildings that were standing in 1912.  Each of these properties has been well preserved and offered a glimpse in the living standards that existed before statehood occurred.

Since Lily's story continues from Tierra Red into the sequel, Illusions, it was a special treat for me to tour homes she might have visited or places in which special events were held.  The home above dates from the 1850s.

This was the home of Samuel F. Bean, a relative of the well-known historical figure Judge Roy Bean, and was built in the early 1890's.  It has been lovingly restored and is still recognizable from an 1892 photograph.

Perhaps the most astonishing example of early 1900 architecture in Las Cruces, the above 1907 photo is of the H. B. Holt House.  It was designed by Henry C. Trost, a contemporary architect of Frank Lloyd Wright.  The interior of this home is exactly the same as it was when built and has extraordinary architectural elements throughout.

This is the Frank Amador house which was built in 1905.  The eighteen-inch thick adobe walls, twelve-foot ceilings, original fir floors, and an ornate marble fireplace mantle are original features.  Hidden by the trees in this photo is a widow's walk on the roof.

All these homes,the Amador Hotel (which is being restored at the moment), and the Nestor Armijo House (which dates from 1877 and is also under restoration) were simply amazing to visit.  When I imagined the house that Lily Preston built on the edge of town in 1898, I envisioned spacious rooms with many large windows.  I was delighted to discover that all of these homes on tour had the same features.

Those Dangerous Gibson Girls!

I received the most fascinating piece of Victorian trivia in my email box a few days ago from Melissa Rolston of the Victorian Trading Company :

Few would regard such ornamental accoutrements that pierced lavish bonnets as a liability.  But scouring through past events it was obvious that Gibson Girls everywhere were armed and dangerous.  I attended an antique show last week anxious to hear further tales from the sellers of all things old.  One gentleman ceremoniously extracted a Victorian hatpin from his jeweler's case.  The heirloom was encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires and cast in the form of a sword with a filigree sheath.  He shared with me the theory that this sacred artifact was utilized as a self-defense weapon.

The intrigue of this practice prompted me to delve deeper into the subject.  It appears that the suffragette movement denounced the Victorian fashion trend of ribbons tied under the chin to be naive and submissive.  Edwardian women opted for a more practical approach to securing their magnificent headpieces against an unannounced gust.  A controversial event that occurred in 1908 launched bans on the sharp jewelry.  It was recorded that an insecure English judge demanded that women on trial remove their hats in fear of weapons in his courtroom.  Soon thereafter it was mandated that any woman piercing her bonnet with a hatpin required a license should her pin extend 9".  Many ladies were forced to have their pins cut down in order to sport them in public, frequently wearing them as "stick pins" upon their bodices . . . . 

The term "pin money" hails from the English Parliament's restriction on the popular hatpin imports from France in the early 1800s.  The British were alarmed by the effect of the highly-sought Parisian jewelry had on the balance of their trade and thereby restricted the sale of the pins to be only Janauary 1st and 2nd.  Englishwomen saved all year for this frenzied splurge known as "January Sales".

Who would have thought of our Lily as being "armed and dangerous" over an ornamental hatpin? 

Of cabbages and kings . . . .

For some strange reason, that stanza from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass always pops into my head whenever I am doing research. Perhaps it is because I begin looking for one thing, which in turn leads to looking at something else, and then again at yet something totally unrelated. Or, so it would seem.

The 1890's were a time of transition. The early 1900's was a time of lightning-fast changes. And all of this was much more evident in a place like the Territory of New Mexico than one could imagine. Especially in southern New Mexico.

Anyway, I digress. My adventure in researching this afternoon and evening led to more than a few fascinating discoveries.

Did you know that the lowly file folder has been around for over 130 years? Go to the Early Office Museum and look at the 1876 Centennial Expo page.

Did you know that during the 1890's Americans went bananas for board games? Go to this charming website and discover how many games we play today were being played then.

Do you know who wrote the bible of card games? Go to this link and read all about it.

I'll say it again -- research is fun!

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid et al . . . .

Ah, one of my favorite old movies -- who could forget the rascally Paul Newman and Robert Redford playing those roles with such panache? Imagine how much fun I had yesterday when this news article appeared online.

There I was in the middle of doing some heavy research for the exact time period that those infamous outlaws roamed the West. Not that the pair ever made their way to the part of New Mexico that was involved in my research, but it was a great reminder of the sweeping changes that were occurring at that time.

Another fascinating article popped up, this one written by Delbert Trew for an Amarillo, Texas newspaper. He offered more than a few thoughts about living in the Old West, many of which rang so true for the setting of TIERRA RED.

In quoting Louis L'Amour, he wrote: "When a man or woman came West, their past became an unknown and their present became an open book. They soon became known by their actions or lack of. No one cared who your father was or what you had done. The only things that mattered were that you were honest, had courage, and that you did your job."

Hmm, sounds a bit like some of the characters in TIERRA RED, doesn't it?

Rancher Trew also wrote: "To bring the Old West into true focus, not many realize that Santa Fe, New Mexico was ten years old when people landed at Plymouth Rock. While the new folks back East were trying to clear timber, plant crops and win their independence, the Old West was being explored, being stocked with horses and cattle, learning to cope with little water, vast prairies, and the fact that no one cared if they were independent or not."

You can read the rest of Trew's article here

Doing research is not all work -- it can be a lot of fun!

Past Times Books Author Interview

Shortly after I was invited to participate in the Past Times Books web site, the eternally scary word "interview" arose. Who, me? Yep -- there was no getting out of it.

This interview turned out to be a delightful experience, mainly because the interviewer had a wonderful sense of humor. So, if you want to know more about me and TIERRA RED, just follow the internet road to http://www.pasttimesbooks.com/?page_id=1301

While you are there, you just might want to peruse the catalog of books and authors for some great reading.

TIERRA RED + BOOK LOVER'S DAY . . . .

It's becoming a habit. Albeit a good one, though. For the second year in a row, we will be privileged to have a book signing at COAS Bookstore in the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces, New Mexico very close to the national holiday.

What national holiday, you well may ask? BOOK LOVER'S DAY! Every August 9th is Book Lover's Day. Don't feel bad -- most bookstore owners and librarians don't know about this holiday either. But we do!

So, once again, we will be visiting this wonderful bookstore which just happens to be located in the heart of the original plat of land that became the town of Las Cruces in 1849. It is here that Lily's story begins in 1898.

Come to COAS Bookstore on Friday evening, August 5th from 5to 7pm. I will have a big supply of National Book Lover's Day bookmarks on hand . . . .

Exciting News!

Tierra Red has been invited to participate in a new web site, Past Times Books, which launched this evening. This web site is devoted to historical fiction and covers a wide variety of time periods. Tierra Red is represented in the 19th Century category.


The invitation began with a wonderful reader comment:

"I've been reading Tierra Red and am quite enjoying the ride. You've done a deft job of combining a plucky protagonist with plenty of action and suspense in a vivid atmosphere unique to New Mexico . . . ."


I am so delighted to be a part of this effort. When you visit the web site be sure to sign up for the newsletter so that you can be apprised of new additions to the catalog. If you love reading historical fiction (and I know you do), this web site promises to bring new authors into your life.

Happy reading!

Historical Fiction is alive and well . . . .

One of the greatest pleasures I experience at book signings is discovering how many people love to read historical fiction. Another is the lively discussions these readers engage me in -- they often inadvertently add to my research with wonderful details and occurrences. To say we have a great time is putting it mildly!

I am also quite impressed with the number of twenty-somethings who also have a passion for historical fiction. Perhaps because we are a university town there are more readers of this type, but it is still heartening to find so many of them. Especially when they linger a while and open discussion on a particular topic.

My husband and I used to think that the great number of history buffs we have encountered was more peculiar to our living in the Southwest, but I have found that many of the newcomers from both coasts, the Midwest, and the north are just as fond of reading historical fiction as those of us from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

And nothing makes the heart sing more than hearing someone say: "I like your writing style . . . ."

Good things . . . .

Received a wonderful email from a reader last night: "I saw the column on your book in New Mexico Magazine and it sounded so great I finally bought a copy. It has been such a good read and I will be sad when I finish it . . . . thanks again for such a delightful read -- I can see the places in my mind so vividly."

Nice thoughts to sleep on, right?

Tierra Red will be attending the 3rd Annual Healthy Woman's Anniversary Celebration event on June 9th at the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I will be signing books from 4:00 to 6:00pm at the Tierra Red booth.

Come by and visit with me . . . .

Aargh!

For some strange reason, Blogger insists on producing my last post as one continuous paragraph! Sometimes all this wondermous technology can leave one simply scratching their head . . . .

Research of sorts . . . .

Yesterday, a former classmate emailed me a file of photos taken in the early 1900's of our hometown, Cleveland, Ohio. He doesn't know that I spend a lot of time in my head back in that time period, not in Cleveland but in the Territory of New Mexico. The photos were of extraordinary quality and the details were mesmerizing: the hairstyles, facial expressions, and clothing; the mixture of horse-drawn vehicles and autos on the streets; the buildings -- some already old and others in progress; the hustle and bustle of people going about their business on foot. Since Cleveland is situated on Lake Erie there were many photos of people at the beaches and people boarding excursion boats. The details were delightful! When I look at photos taken during the same time period in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the people and streets look much the same with some exceptions: the streets are not paved and are dusty with more horse-drawn carriages and wagons and an occasional auto; there are no factories or tall buildings with awnings at nearly every window which contrasts with the abundance of adobe structures and the occasional brick or wood one or two-story building; and, of course, no lakefront but lots of desert sand! But the people are much the same as their eastern counterparts, with the occasional difference in headwear or footwear. And, of course, the slower pace of life is clearly evident, too. Viewing these photos brought me full circle from the origins of my own past into the origins of my writing here in the west. The women in those photos were dressed similarly to Lily and the other women in Tierra Red, women who lived far, far away from the "civilized" society of our country. I am sure their daily worries and duties were similar as well. Thank you, Dan, for that photo file! It definitely made my day, one that was filled with yet more research and writing (yes, that sequel is in progress) . . . .

Tierra Red + Valentine's Day . . .

(photo taken at High Sierra in Ruidoso, NM)

. . . make a terrific pair! If your valentine loves to read, Tierra Red promises a great mystery with a wonderful romance plus lots of suspenseful action. Lily and Roman may exist in a turn-of-the-century story but their tale is timeless.


I will be at Hastings Books & Video, 2350 E. Lohman Avenue, in Las Cruces on February 5th from 1:00 to 3:00pm and would enjoy personalizing a copy of Tierra Red for your valentine.


See you there!

TIERRA RED goes to Ruidoso, New Mexico --

-- in a BIG way!


We have four -- yes, you read that correctly -- FOUR book signings scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend in Ruidoso, New Mexico:

November 27th

Pinecliff Resort, 401 Hwy. 70W -- 10am to 11am
Books Etcetera, 2340 Sudderth Drive -- 1pm to 3pm

November 28th

Crown Point Condominiums, 220 Crown Drive -- 10am to Noon
High Sierra Condos, 504 Excalibur -- 1pm to 3pm


If you have always wanted to visit this beautiful mountain community, Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to do so. Holiday spirit abounds, the ski area opens, and thousands of visitors come to shop and play. Ruidoso is charming to visit any time of the year but the holidays seem to enhance the experience.

Come visit with me at any one of these venues!