Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Shadow Catcher's Daughter

I'd like to introduce you to my newest work in progress for the new proposal I'm writing for. In the last week I've written 5,000 words and done a ton of research.  I'm having such a great time with it. And since I'm such a visual person, I created a graphic montage of my characters and setting.




The Shadow Catcher's Daughter (formerly titled Sunlight and Shadows) my contribution to a 3 book set about romance in the Four Corners (CO,UT,AZ,NM). This historical romance is set in 1875 in Colorado Territory during the surveying expedition of the four corners, which will mark the quadripoint where all four states/territories meet.

Eliana Van Horn has assisted her renowned father with his photography for years. When he is asked by the U.S. Land Grant Office to be the official Photographer for a government survey of Four Corners, he insists that his assistant be allowed to accompany him. Eliana's own heritage shines a light on her own self discovery on this grand adventure.

Yiaska Wilcox, is hired on as the Guide for the Four Corners survey expedition. Son of a mountaineer and a Navajo woman, he lives and breathes the freedom of the great southwest. When he meets Eliana he soon discovers that his heart is not as free as he thought, he has been living in the shadows of his past and longs to understand who he really is. (Yaska is Navajo for "after the night has passed")

Are Eliana and Yiska are worlds apart, but do they have more in common than they might ever realize?

20 comments:

  1. Sounds like a gripping tale, full of all kinds of intrigue. I applaud history buffs, wading through the ages to produce a fresh spin on things!

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  2. Oh boy. Sounds like my kind of book. My female character in my current WIP is part Cherokee. Can't wait to see how you progess with this!

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  3. Carla, This sounds like an amazing start! I love the names you've chosen. Having the hero be part native is dear to my heart, as you'll soon see. This moves high on my wish list of future reads! Praying for you today, dear friend.

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  4. Sounds like my kind of story. I look forward to seeing how this develops, and look forward to one day reading it.

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  5. Compelling! I'll bet you actually begin to feel like you know your characters ... as if they're part of your own life experience?

    Blessings, and great success as you put the finishing touches to your word portrait.

    Kathleen

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  6. Carla, it's incredible! Best as you continue with the project.

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  7. Oh wow! It sounds fantastic!! And the visuals...very nice. Really great names, too.

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  8. Sounds wonderful, can't wait till you're done and we can read it:)

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  9. This definitely sounds like something I'd pick up off the shelf :)

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  10. I too have been doing a ton of research, albeit of a different nature. You WIP sounds exciting, thanks for sharing.

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  11. Carla:
    This looks like a great beginning! I can't wait to read the whole thing. I think you will wonder what happens to your characters as you go along... they become real people to you as you write and process their lives.

    Blessings and I'll be watching for more.

    Sonja

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  12. You hooked me, Carla. When the book comes out, I'll be waiting on line. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  13. It's wonderful that it's coming together for you so well. 5,000 words in a week is fantastic! Sounds like a great story - keep at it. :-)

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  14. Is sounds like you are off to a great start! It's so fun when you can feel and see your characters, and live their story. It'll be fun watching your progress on this :D

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  15. Great job! You did pull me in to want to know more. I loved the topic too.

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  16. I'm already hooked and it's not even published yet!!! I can't wait to read it. I'm impressed with the prep work you've done right down to finding pictures of your hero and heroine! May your fingers fly across that keyboard!!!

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  17. Thank you everyone for all the great words of encouragement! It means so much to me and it's really helpful to have all this support. You guys are awesome! Blessings right back at you.

    Love,
    Carla

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  18. Carla,

    This story sounds fascinating! Congrats on the research and the word count! That's wonderful!
    Best of luck as you continue to write this.

    Jen

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  19. Carla you got me as soon as you said 1870s! I'm anticipating this with a glad heart. My wip is set in the 1870s too - a hemisphere away from yours:)
    Blessings
    Dorothy

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