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| Squee!! Holding my debut novel, 2012. |
Oh, my heart, Dear Reader! The Shadow Catcher's Daughter was my first published novel, a long time dream come true. It still excites me...and humbles me...to think about it. I fell in love with the story and the characters and they will always hold a special place in my heart.
While in the midst of writing, I lost my step-father, who was my go-to guy for research on the wild west. It was so hard to "get back in the saddle" and write, but what a tribute it became. I was happy to dedicate my first novel to him. I was thrilled to have The Shadow Catcher's Daughter repackaged five years later under a the new title, Love's Compass, which included a bonus novel, Pride's Fall, Darlene Franklin. On a side note, Darlene and Susan Page Davis each wrote novels in this project that were connected by the theme of "Love in Four Corners" which stories span decades (Susan's novel: Almost Arizona). Both of these dear esteemed authors are the friends and mentors who helped me get through the process of writing my first published book!
The title, The Shadow Catcher's Daughter, stems from what Native American Indians
often called photographers in the 19th century. My heroine is a photographer's daughter, and one in her own right as well, but it is not an occupation readily accepted by society, nor is she when she wants to help her father with photographic documentation during an 1875 survey in the region we now call the "four corners" - Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah. Have you been? Its the only place in the U.S. where you can stand in all four states at once.
Researching and writing this was a grand adventure for me! I had to learn about mining, stage coach travel, the history of photography, the Hayden surveys of the southwest, I even had to study maps to plot out the journey that my characters would embark on. I also had to get to know about the Navajos and other southwestern Indian tribes during that time period.
Which brings me to tell you about my hero, a young man who is half Navajo. Yiska is a trail guide in the region and secretively, a journalist. When I thought of his character, I couldn't help but think of Sully, from Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman. 'Nough said. Eliana, our heroine, has a few secrets of her own. The spunky and talented young lady has a mind of her own in a day when women were required to be more, let's say, tame. But she has spend most of her life seeing the world behind a camera so her view of things is rather unique. Yiska, may have met his match!
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| My original vision of Eliana and Yiska. |
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Yiska - (Navajo) The night has passed
Eliana - (Hebrew)The Lord has responded, Sun |
A few of the characters, including Chandler Hayden, the head of the survey, was borrowed from history. My premise for the story being: What would happen if a young woman photographer wanted to go along on a geological survey in the 19th century? Another character was the preacher. Since I write inspirational fiction my characters needed spiritual guidance. So my question was: Where did they go to church? Yikes! There were no churches in western Colorado during that time period. But in my research travels I was introduced to Rev. George Darley,a true life missionary right smack in the midst of my story setting! He brought the gospels over the mountains, into mining camps, and even saloons! One donkey can even testify to that. I enjoyed getting to know these to gentlemen so much that they earned prominent spots as secondary characters in my novel. You can read more about my research below where I have listed some of the materials that I used while writing this book.
This novel is a little smaller than most at about 55,000 words, so its a quick read. The digital version is FREE with Kindle Unlimited. I hope you'll take the time to enjoy the adventure!!
The Shadow Catcher's
Daughter
(Colorado/New Mexico, 1875)
A daring young woman,
Eliana Van Horn, aims to make her mark by joining her
father as his photography assistant on an expedition
to survey and document the placement of a marker at
the intersection of four southwest boundaries.
Living
in the shadows of his native heritage, half-Navajo
guide, Yiska Wilcox, is thrown off course when The
Shadow Catcher’s Daughter opens up the
uncharted territory of his heart. As they travel
through dangerous terrain in Colorado and New Mexico
and overcome barriers of culture, faith, and ideals,
they at last discover common ground and stake a chance
on love.
Reviews
"This book is a debut, but it
reads like a literary journey by an experienced
guide... I enjoyed every minute spent in this historic
setting, vivid with wonderful details and obviously
well researched. Expect big things from this
author!"
Kathleen L. Maher, Novel Pastimes
"She
must be a poet at heart, as well as a terrific
novelist."
Ginger Solomon, A Bed of Roses Thorns Included
The author vividly describes the area through Yiska’s writings and makes you feel as if you are there. The author also discusses God, prayer and his love for us simply and beautifully. “it’s not the work we do that gets His attention. It’s a humble heart that seeks Him…He hears us because of His love for us, nothing more.” TDo, Amazon reviewer
“..this is your dream. Every moment, all of it. Even when you're tired or afraid. You're braver than you realize, and you will do this, and do it well."
“Love cannot be hidden. It even shines in the darkest places."
"Some days flowed smoothly while others raged over rough waters, but through it all the current brought her closer to the Lord."
I enjoy weaving in real events and characters into my novels to enhance their historical authenticity. The events can become plot points or points of interest in the story. As for characters, I, too, often utilize them in supporting roles. In each of my books I mention historical figures of the town such as doctors, ministers, sheriffs, politicians, town folks, etc. and without hesitation. Historical societies websites and antique books online provide biographies which sometimes include descriptions of physical and personality traits.
While researching, The Shadow Catcher's Daughter/Love's Compass, I struck gold! I learned about the 1875 survey of Colorado Territory along the New Mexico border by U.S. Surveyor Chandler Robbins. I decided to have my characters tag along as a trail guide and photographer! There was plenty of historical documentation: journals, photographs, maps. I discovered more treasure when I found an autobiography written by missionary Rev. George Darley. Darley pioneered the San Juan Mountains of western Colorado, preaching in mines and saloons, as there was not yet a single church. My hero turned his life to Christ because of his influence. I am personally inspired Rev. Darley’s story and am grateful for how the details he wrote about enriched my novel.
Willialm Henry Rideing
(1879)
Subtitle: A glimpse of travel among the mountains, lava
beds, sand deserts, adobe towns, indian reservations, and
ancient pueblos of souther Colorado, New Mexicoa, and
Arizona.
Attached to the geological surveys and explorations west
of the one hundredth meridian in charge of Lieutenant
George M. Wheeler, during the field seasons of 1871 and
1876.
Pioneering
the San Juans -
Rev. George M. Darley (1899)
Personal
reminisces of work done in southwestern Colorado during
the "Great San Juan Excitement".
In the 1870's, George Darley and his
brother Alexander, an ordained Presbyterian minister,
ventured into the wilds of Colorado and became the first
non-Catholic ministers to hold church services on the
Western Slope.
Colorado
Ghost Towns and Mining Camps -
Sandra Dallas (1988)
Song
of
the
Hamer
and the Drill: The Colorado San Juans - 1860-1914,
Duane Smith (2001)
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Four Corners Marker today, a national
landmark and tourist attraction.
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