Power's Garden by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff
If it's done well, historical fiction can capture our imagination and carry us back in time, introducing us to people and events from long ago in a tangible way. As we get to know them, they teach us important life lessons that are every bit as applicable today.
Power's Garden, a gripping first novel by bestselling author Dianne Ebertt Beeaff, does just that, masterfully weaving a tale of two southeastern Arizona families-one Texan, the other Mormon-whose lives dramatically collide in the midst of World War I. Their story of heartbreak and triumph is woven around a vivid depiction of the 1918 "Power's Garden" shootout, a controversial altercation between a Mormon band of sheriff's deputies and a group of Texas ranchers that left four men dead and sparked the most intensive manhunt in Arizona history.
Scheduled for release in April 2009, Power's Garden is the spellbinding story of a "Texan gentile" who becomes employed by a devout Mormon family to make ends meet during trying economic times. Long-kept secrets unfold with unforeseen consequences as the Brennick and Beecham families develop an embattled but gripping relationship, navigating uncertainties, challenging traditions and ultimately learning to love.
Why this particular story? And why now? "I have always had a fondness for the American Southwest," Beeaff explains. "Not long after I moved to Arizona from Canada in the late 1960s, I heard about the historical shootout in Power's Garden and did some preliminary research. What really intrigued me about it was the clash of cultures, primarily based on religious intolerance;
Power's Garden, a Five Star Publications book, retails for $15.95 and may be purchased through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com, target.com, walmart.com and indiebound.org. Power's Garden will also be available at Five Star Publications' online bookstore, www.fivestarpublications.com or www.PowersGarden.com
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