SUNDOG - 3-29-2007 at 06:51 PM
Outskirts Press Announces a New Book by Daphne Oberon, Daughter of an
Exlorer to 1950's Baja California, Mexico - Azuelojo
A romantic tale of wild horses, ghosts and pearls interwoven with
rural wisdom and folklore of Old World, Baja, Mexico.
Denver, CO, March 28, 2007 --(PR.COM)-- Set in a more innocent age,
Azulejo is a benevolent, suspenseful reading experience suitable for
the whole family. When Donato Perry, living with his grandfather, Don
Tomas “the wise man” on an oasis ranch, first arrives in Baja, the
only known wild Azulejo of its kind is the stallion, Espiritu. That
is until a scheming, nearby rancher captures an identical mare,
seizes five pearls Don Tomas gave Donato, and then attempts to
alienate Donato from his love, a visiting naturalist and student from
Texas, named Elyse Sutton. Donato’s outlook transforms when he
recovers the matchless pearls.
Daphne Oberon grew up in close association with local fishermen and
rural ranchers. Some of the material for Azulejo derives from the
three years she spent on the uninhabited island of Cerralvo with
fishermen, goats, horses and burros her father brought from the
mainland.
Daphne Oberon writes: From 1969 to 1972, my parents relocated their
undertaking from Cerralvo island to Rancho San Juan de La Costa. In
those days, this isolated stretch of property was a dry, mainland
delta situated south of the ill-Famed Mechudo point. No mining
operations had begun, and five pristine oasis graced the inland
regions. Horsemen, and muleteers dropped by our corrals to visit with
me on their way to La Paz. Some of them had already traveled many
miles of arduous trails all the way from their ranches; yet they
usually finished the fatiguing trip in a day.
“My accounts of pearls and buried treasure were inspired by tales I
heard from fishermen. The descriptions of various mysterious lights
combine my own accounts with those given to me by simple folk
originating from Southern Mexico to Guatemala.”
An updated geological map of Cerralvo showing the “La Gringa Fault”
named in Daphne Oberon’s honor is being compiled by UCLA.
Additional:
(1 )Excerpt from Azulejo /ghost mare
Carbonera gave birth on a full moon night when a fresh crop of
amaranth filled El Rey’s sunken crater valley. Moreover, as though to
usher in the miracle, Azulina, the ghost mare of Punta Prieta
appeared among the greenery. A timeless quintessence resides in the
mutable depths of her enigmatic blue eyes. Like a fantastic,
nocturnal mirage, her white mane and tail streamed away like vapor in
the moonlight. Carbonera’s twin foals were throwbacks to this
unearthly phantasm – the ghost of the old granddame of legend.
(2) Another Excerpt possibility /ghost light
Donato fumbled in the pocket of his slacks for a match to light, when
suddenly, he realized he was already seeing the picture more clearly
and caught his breath. How could he discern the painting’s detail in
this dim light? Except…, except…, a strange luminescence in the air
was growing brighter!
(3) Or my favorite but long and no action /setting
“LA PRIMAVERA,” Donato whispered, gazing across the expansive green
vista from the shady veranda of Don Tomas’ hacienda. His eyes were
clear and bright with excitement after his long rest. The ranch name
meant, “The Springtime.” For Donato it would also signify rebirth and
renewal. The possibility was in the essence of this enchanting land.
It was in the buzzing of the bees gathering pollen, and the large and
small butterflies floating from flower to flower. It was in the
twittering of a hundred different songbirds and the cooing of the
doves. It was also in the ringing sound of silence that stretched
across the campo. It seemed as though it had always been here, and it
always would be.
(4) Horse theme /action
The startled horse responded by leaping over the edge of the
precipice with no thought as to whether earth or air were beneath his
hooves. Sparks flew off the cliff’s ledges as his hard hooves sought
the irregularities on their surfaces with swift dexterity.
Daphne Oberon
etbooks @ juno.com
160910th St., Unit#1
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-442-6689 or 760-716-7293
1 Azulejo
2 Horses
3 Baja
ISBN: 1-4327-0115-0
Retail Price(s): 16.95
Size and Format(s): 8X5 paperback
Page Count: 240
Availability: Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com,
www.outskirtspress.com/ www.Azulejohorses.com