A richly-drawn saga on the American West and the California gold rush, on the scale of Gone with the Wind.

Fireweed: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America

CAMPBELL, CAROLYN EVANS

Georgetown Editions

From prize-winning Colorado author Carolyn Evans Campbell, the explosive opening of the American West comes alive through the trials and triumphs of one invincible woman, Jenna Daggett. In this epic novel, young Jenna is orphaned on a covered wagon journey to California, then hardened under the cruel guardianship of zealot missionaries. Wagon master Blue changes Jenna s fate, leads her to Sutters Fort, then to Hacienda San Gabriel and the tutelage of a bitter spinster humiliated by Mexico s defeat by the United States. Within the conflict of two cultures, she becomes a desirable woman, passionate for a murderous Mexican, then enchanted by a bewitching Irishman entrenched in statehood politics. Jenna inherits Hacienda San Gabriel and emerges a rich entrepreneur in bawdy San Francisco, speculating in cattle, railroads, gold and real estate before her dramatic return journey to Colorado. Fireweed, A Woman s Saga in Gold Rush America, spans fifteen years, 1848 to 1863. Through sweeping prose and colorful characters, Fireweed creates a vivid and authentic portrait of early California and the promise of the American West. A coherent and entertaining read of endearing characters. Definitely the best regional novel in years. Colorado Central Magazine Carolyn Evans Campbell One of the West s most versatile writers, Carolyn Evans Campbell has drawn deeply from her life in Latin America, California and Colorado. With five books of poetry and a full-length play, The Ballad of Hallelujah House, she received the Colorado Book Award and first prize for five consecutive years from the Colorado Authors League. THE SURVIVORS These here are fireweeds ain t they grand? There must have been a grass fire here. These are the first flowers to poke up through the charred ground. God must take care of them. She picked a stalk and handed it to Jenna. We all got to be like the fireweed. THE SAN GABRIEL FIRE Already, the fire wind was spiraling across the meadow, a scorching dragon s breath sparking other fires. Devil Flames danced like madmen, open-mouthed, frenzied. Satan s Hell, the padre shouted. Can t you see? It s Lucifer leading a revolt of the angels. THE SEA OFF MONTEREY Without warning, a large wave crashed and sent its watery tongue deep into the beach, lapping up shells and tangles of slimy kelp, lifting and sucking Jenna into the hungry sea. . . . Jenna felt the grip of two strong hands grab her under the arms and lift her out of the greedy water. SAN FRANCISCO Some streets and walkways were planked with wood; others were cluttered with stepping stones of wooden crates, barrels, old stoves, broken wagons and garbage. Although many surrounding hills were sweet with wild, ripe strawberries, the town smelled of fish and manure, stagnant marshes, oil and smoke from the ships. COLORADO When at last the stage turned directly south toward Denver, the sun felt warm, the trees blew gracefully In feather-green leaves just opening, new and timid like a young girl in her first party dress. The range of white-peaked mountains bordered Jenna s journey, their lofty beauty thrilling her moment by moment and when a meadowlark sang, her heart sang with it. ACCOLADES A sprawling saga of America s westward expansion. Denver Post/Rocky Mountain News Fireweed s episodic structure and geographic scope burn bright, offering narrative energy and unexpected beauty in a rugged new world. Evergreen Living Magazine Willa Cather Literary Award Finalist for the best in literature for women s stories set in the West. Heekin Group Foundation

Literature & Fiction

Contemporary

Xlibris, Corp.

Fireweed

"FIREWEEDA WOMAN’S SAGA IN GOLD RUSH AMERICAFIREWEED is a bold epic novel about the explosive opening of the American West, and Jenna Daggett, a survivor. Young Jenna experiences tragedy and loss on her journey west, a vulgar reality at the hands of a missionary, the squalor of a muddy gold rush camp dressed as a boy, and an uncertain future in a sensual, unfamiliar land.Later, educated and refined in the grandeur of an early Spanish rancho, Jenna grows into a desirable woman while two cultures ruthlessly clash after the Mexican War, and California becomes a reckless new state with boom and bust wealth in a brutish world dominated by men.Wealthy, beautiful and passionate, Jenna carves out her destiny in raucous San Francisco, and tastes the sweetness of innocent love, only to suffer the rage of revenge. Rape and humiliation, riches and romance, survival and rebirth, FIREWEED is a richly-drawn and authentic saga on the scale of Gone with the Wind. It vividly portrays life in the 1800’s, from hardships on the Oregon Trail, California’s wild gold rush years, San Francisco’s lusty heyday, and ends high in the Colorado Rockies where, once again, gold shines in men’s eyes.A Finalist for the Willa Literary Award for Historical Fiction 2004, granted by Women Writing the West.CAROLYN EVANS CAMPBELL"

Flying with El Condor

With an obsession to spend a night alone in Machu Picchu and communicate with Los Dios, a spirited young woman pursues adventure in Peru in 1958. What begins with Carolyn's first teaching job in Lima becomes a ten year commitment working and raising a family in South America during the Cold War years, when Communism was a dangerous threat around the world. Through a series of humorous vignettes, we follow Carolyn's romances: engagement to a Swede with a motorcycle; then finding Russ, the true love of her life, whom she marries after a three-week courtship and only one date. Together, after hitchhiking through South America and experiencing the realities of the Third World and anti-American propaganda, the couple begins growing up. Russ becomes a Foreign Service Officer in the United States Diplomatic Corps on important and dangerous assignments in Venezuela and Brazil. Russ and Carolyn leave the United States during the Happy Days, a time of innocence and optimism, and return home to a different country in the Seventies. Each episode in her memoir is a new awareness, an epiphany, a turning point for Carolyn. Throughout ten years living the life of a senora, Carolyn continues her spiritual pursuit, symbolized by El Condor, the great bird who flies between heaven and earth, a messenger and guide to mankind. Her encounters include a Nazi hiding in South America; Olga, a Russian spy; a Macumba priestess and a procession of maids involved in the black arts; Don Pedro, a nudist in hot pursuit; and a Deaconess of the Church, also in hot pursuit - of Russ. The story is a small piece of history, a nostalgic glimpse of an era when morals were strict, ideals were high, and optimism kept us strong.

Biographies & Memoirs

Memoirs

Virtualbookworm.com Publishing

With an obsession to spend a night alone in Machu Picchu and communicate with Los Dios, a spirited young woman pursues adventure in Peru in 1958. What begins with Carolyn's first teaching job in Lima becomes a ten year commitment working and raising a family in South America during the Cold War years, when Communism was a dangerous threat around the world. Through a series of humorous vignettes, we follow Carolyn's romances: engagement to a Swede with a motorcycle; then finding Russ, the true love of her life, whom she marries after a three-week courtship and only one date. Together, after hitchhiking through South America and experiencing the realities of the Third World and anti-American propaganda, the couple begins growing up. Russ becomes a Foreign Service Officer in the United States Diplomatic Corps on important and dangerous assignments in Venezuela and Brazil. Russ and Carolyn leave the United States during the Happy Days, a time of innocence and optimism, and return home to a different country in the Seventies. Each episode in her memoir is a new awareness, an epiphany, a turning point for Carolyn. Throughout ten years living the life of a senora, Carolyn continues her spiritual pursuit, symbolized by El Condor, the great bird who flies between heaven and earth, a messenger and guide to mankind. Her encounters include a Nazi hiding in South America; Olga, a Russian spy; a Macumba priestess and a procession of maids involved in the black arts; Don Pedro, a nudist in hot pursuit; and a Deaconess of the Church, also in hot pursuit - of Russ. The story is a small piece of history, a nostalgic glimpse of an era when morals were strict, ideals were high, and optimism kept us strong.

The FIREWEED saga spans fifteen years, from 1848 to 1863.Jenna Daggett is orphaned on the Oregon Trail, and begins a journey intowomanhood in a young, volatile American west.She first faces reality under the cruel guardianship of zealot missionaries,Faithful and Cora Squibb. Blue, the wagon-master, rescues Jenna andaccompanies her to Sutter's Fort where she is placed in the care of DarceyHiggins, a plump, lively redhead hungry for gold and a man to love.Harsh circumstances force Jenna to Hacienda San Gabriel and thetutelage of a bitter spinster, Dona Juana de Archuleta, who seeks revengefor Mexico's defeat by the United States.Growing up in the conflict of two cultures, Jenna matures into a strongwoman with a passion for Enrique, the Dona's murderous nephew, andenchantment with Danny McDaniels, a bewitching Irishman in Monterey.After inheriting the Archuleta land, she is thrown into San Francisco'sgreed and violence, only to emerge a rich entrepreneur speculating incattle, gold, railroads and real estate.Then, in 1863, at the height of the American Civil War, Jenna traversesthe plains back to Colorado with a child and a dog, into an unexpectedclimax to her saga.

Genre Fiction

Writers Media

FIREWEED: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America

Pinecone Book Company

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Books by CAMPBELL, CAROLYN EVANS

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Fireweed: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America

Fireweed: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America

Fireweed: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America

Flying with El Condor

Flying with El Condor

Fireweed

FIREWEED: A Woman's Saga in Gold Rush America