 On a recent road trip from Tucson to Santa Fe, I was reminded how many of my books are set in the southwest. As we headed east on I-95, we drove through a lot of western-expansion history. This is Apache country, where soldiers built forts and families settled in the far southwest. We are near the US-Mexico border, Tombstone, and El Camino Real or Royal Road, from Mexico City to Santa Fe. A LASTING LOVE was my first glimpse into living in the distinctive southwest through my character when she moved west.  If you take the I-25 turnoff toward the south, you can be in Mexico in less than an hour. One settlement near Tubac, along the Santa Cruz River, was ravaged twice by Apaches in the 1700's. Now it's a beautiful little arts & crafts town, and the setting for LOVE'S DAWNING. If you go further southeast, there's Tombstone, the town too tough to die. That's where we find CALLAHAN'S GOLD. Further East lies Douglas, a dusty, rusty town right on the border. ROGUE DIAMOND came from a news story of baby trafficking from Mexico with a transfer house here on this remote border. At Wilcox, don't pass up Annie's Apple Orchard! UNDER THE DESERT SKY and UNDER THE DESERT MOON tell stories of inspiration and following your dreams in an area above a mile high that produces apples and wine.  An interesting stop along the way to Santa Fe is the well-preserved El Rancho de las Golandrinas. There you can see 17th Century culture in action featuring housing, food, tools and transportation. I was invited to their Panza LLena Food Festival to present my co-authored, nonfiction books. PANZA LLENA, CORAZON CONTENTO has authentic Mexican food recipes and TALES FROM WIDE RUINS is for those who are intrigued by trading post history (as I am).  Far horizons, a vast blue sky, and amazing stories of strong, adventuresome people are some of the reasons we love the southwest. Take a trip through my books for your adventures west.
You can also travel to northern Arizona in RARE BREED, set in the Grand Canyon, and SPEAK TO THE WIND, set in the White Mountains. All of my books are available on my website-www.marytateengels.com and at Amazon and Smashwords. My non-fiction, print books are available by contacting me, marytateengels@gmail.com . HAPPY TRAILS MARY TATE |