Welcome
 About the Story
Like a Latino "Gone With the Wind," A HANDFUL OF SAND depicts the violent class struggle and repulse of a French invasion that raged in Mexico at the same time as the U. S. Civil War. The history is brought to life by a compelling love story. Spirited aristocrat, Isabella, and charismatic Juarista colonel, Miguel, fall in love and begin a secret second life. Isabella, independent in a male-dominated society, betrays her father and class to give covert aid to Juarista guerrillas. Miguel leads daring raids against the French on the northern desert. Their clandestine love affair, woven into turbulent Mexican history, is a web of secrets, lies, and subplots with the intrigue and suspense of a mystery. The star-crossed lovers try to find fulfillment amidst real and perceived betrayals.
Target Audience
All readers will enjoy A HANDFUL OF SAND, historically enlightening and emotionally moving, a beautiful love story set during the War of the French Occupation, recalled by Mexicans every year when they celebrate Cinco de
Mayo. The novel will be especially meaningful to English-reading Latinos educated in U. S. public schools, who may know little about their rich heritage. Though set in Mexico, the story will strike a chord with all Latinos--Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Central and South Americans with roots in the oppressive 300 years of Spanish colonization in the Americas.
Excerpt
From Chapter Ten, Isabella's fifteenth birthday, her Quinceañera:
Twirling in front of the full-length mirror, she saw a desirable woman, a little girl no more.
"Isabella." Papi tapped on the door.
"Come in." Her throat tightened. He did not know about Miguel yet. She had waited until the last minute to tell him. He might have tried to stop Miguel from coming.
"Bella!" Beautiful! You look so like Mama. Her eyes and hair. And you smell delightful." He held two pearl-studded combs in his hands. "I gave these to Mama on our wedding day. Wear them today in memory of her."
"Si, Papi." She kissed his cheek and then stood before the mirror and pinned her long hair behind her ears with the jeweled combs. Dark waves fell to her waist, sunlight shimmered on the pearls, a glint of emeralds sparkled in her eyes, and her gown's luminous threads glimmered like diamonds. She felt like a princess. All she needed was her prince.
Breathing hard, as if she'd just run a race, she said, "I've invited my own guest, Papi."
"I thought I invited everyone. Who is it, Isabella?"
"Miguel Torres. You remember him, the university student we met in Mexico City."
Papi's face turned white. Then red. Then he exploded.
"He's a mestizo, Isabella. He'll have to stay in the orchard with the workers."
"I've invited him to be my escort. He will stay with me at the house."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm not out of my mind. I'm in love."
"!Madre de Dios!" Papi sat down on her bed in a heap. "As an invited guest, I will treat him with courtesy, but you have wounded me, Isabella."
She sat beside him, took his hands, and looked into his eyes.
"We cannot choose whom to fall in love with, Papi. It just happens."
"I won't spoil your day because of this, but . . . .
Contact me
Email me at
mlu2u2@ earthlink.net. I'd love to receive feedback from readers and will be happy to answer any questions.
Book clubs
Have motor home, will travel. I'll speak at your meeting if feasible. If you're too far away, contact me at the above email address.
About me
I taught the children of immigrant Mexican farm laborers. My students celebrated Cinco de Mayo but didn't know why. I taught them the history of their native country, and in the process, I became fascinated by the turbulent history, rich culture, and passionate people of Mexico. My first novel is about them, and for them, and for all who love history and romance.
Of Interest
An interview, up close and personal at Inside Scoop Live:
http://insidescooplive.com/author-pages/McCaffrey-Mary_Louise-reading-interview.html
My interview with Reader Views - the one-stop center for author needs:
http://www.readerviews.com/InterviewMcCaffrey.html
Article in Visalia LIFESTYLE Magazine, WORD PLAY by Bonnie Hearn Hill.
Award-winning Author Publishes Historical Novel.
Mary Louise McCaffrey, of Fresno, the 2006 Yosemite Writers Conference first-place short story winner, has just published her first novel, "A Handful of Sand." Described as "a Latino "Gone With the Wind," the historical novel is set in Mexico at the time of the Civil War in the United States. Prediction: The novel is just the begining for this talented writer.
Order
A HANDFUL OF SAND, hard cover, paperback, or e-book can be ordered from Barnes & Noble, in store or online, and from Amazon.com or iUniverse, or any bookstore. ISBN 0-595-39348-9
Contents and photographs copyright 2007
by Mary Louise McCaffrey
Design and graphics copyright 2007 by Karen
McCullough
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