Photo Essays: Tombstone, AZ

By: Lorelie Brown

In October, 2009, my family moved to Arizona. On the weekends, we spend our time taking daytrips to all sorts of places. But what we love most of all are the ghost towns. They combine my husband's love of the wild with my sense of history--like they're tiny little pockets where both combine.

So naturally we had to visit one of the most famous Old West locations in Arizona. We made it to Tombstone in January, 2010.

The fabulous part is the old portion of Tombstone looks almost exactly like it did more than a hundred years ago:

See? Here it is today, with only the addition of some asphalt in the street (Well, and the tourists.):

I've always had a special fondness for Western romances. I feel like they harness that special optimism that's so very American. Of course we can put a town in the middle of a desert with no water around for miles, just for the silver under ground. And of course men can make their fortunes on dust.

Stagecoaches still roam the streets in Tombstone and for a small fee you can take a ride in one. I did, naturally:

We stopped by Boot Hill on our way out of town. Rows and rows of all sorts of people. Chinese who came with the railroad, gunslingers, gamblers, even women and children. My head went the places it usually does. Who were these people? What would prompt them to live in Arizona, of all places? I imagine they'd have to be a hardy, blunt sort to make it, whether living there was their choice or not.

The Bird Cage Theater is almost exactly the same as it was back then. What would life have been like if that had been your primary source of entertainment? No Blackberries, no iPods, no movies.

I won't say that Tombstone was the only influence on my upcoming western romance. Obviously, there's no silver mining and Dean is dragging Maggie halfway across the country, not staying in one town populated by gamblers and miners. But I like to think that a tiny bit of Tombstone's spirit--since it's "The Town that Wouldn't Die"-- has imbued CATCH ME.

Lorelie Brown's first book, JAZZ BABY, is currently available from Samhain Publishing in both e-book and paperback formats. CATCH ME, an 1880s-set western, will be published by Carina Press on 18 July.

Real Life Heroes: Cochise and Thomas Jeffords

By Elizabeth Lane

No, the photo below is not of Cochise. It's Jeff Chandler, the Brooklyn-born actor who played the great Apache chief in three different movies, winning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal in the 1950 film, Broken Arrow.

No verifiable photograph of the real Cochise is known to exist. But accounts of the time describe him as tall and handsome with a fiercely majestic presence. At a time when Native Americans were commonly played by white actors, Chandler (who was 6' 5" and Jewish) did a first class job. The scene where James Stewart walks into the Apache camp and Cochise, played by Chandler, first steps into sight is pure goose bump material.

The real Cochise was born some time between 1812 and 1815, most likely in the Chiricahua Mountains of what is now southern Arizona. By 1835 he was leading raids against the Apaches' traditional enemies, the Mexicans. His ferocity in battle and his chiefly bearing soon made him a leader among his people.

Cochise tolerated the growing presence of Americans in his territory until an incident in 1861. A rancher had lost some cattle and his half-Mexican son. The local army commander summoned Cochise to his tent. Cochise came with his wife and son, his brother and several nephews. Cochise, who was innocent, was accused of the crime. When the soldiers tried to arrest him, he drew a knife, slashed the tent and escaped.

The soldiers held Cochise's family hostage. To ransom them, Cochise kidnapped four men from a stagecoach station. Believing that his family had been killed, Cochise tortured and killed his captives. In retaliation, the soldiers killed his brother and nephews, who were still prisoners. Cochise's wife and son were released, but the damage was done. Throughout the 18960s Cochise made war on the Americans, raiding, killing, striking terror into the hearts of settlers and outwitting the army at every turn. When his father-in-law, the great Mangas Coloradas, was murdered by whites, who removed his head and sent it back East, Cochise's rage reached new heights. By the end of the decade Cochise was the most feared Indian in America.

Enter a new player in this drama. Mail supervisor Thomas Jeffords was the one white man Cochise respected and trusted. Their friendship is one of the greatest legends of the West. Through a series of events, Jeffords managed to arrange a meeting between Cochise and General Howard, known for his fairness toward the Indians. A treaty was arranged, which gave the Apaches a reservation in their beloved mountains and named Cochise's friend Jeffords as the reservation agent.

This is a photograph of the real Jeffords, who was played in the film Broken Arrow by James Stewart. The romance between Jeffords and the Apache girl, played by Debra Paget, was entirely fictional. But the rest of the story is mostly true.

Cochise honored the treaty to the end of his days and died in his sixties of natural causes. His grave has never been found. His eldest son Taza, who followed him as tribal leader, also walked the path of peace. He died of pneumonia on a visit to Washington DC in 1876. Cochise's younger son Naiche and his warrior daughter Lozen continued to battle alongside another Apache leader, Geronimo.

Elizabeth Lane has written more than thirty historical romances, several set in the early 20th century. Her latest is CHRISTMAS MOON, a time travel set in present day and 1870s Wyoming, available in print and Kindle from Amazon.com, and in other e-formats from E-Reads. Watch for her latest Harlequin Historical, THE WIDOWED BRIDE, in March 2011.

Guest Author: Liz Fichera

This week on Unusual Historicals we're welcoming Carina author Liz Fichera as she celebrates the release of CAPTIVE SPIRIT. It's different from many of the books profiled here in that the main characters are all Native American and it takes place around 1500AD in the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest. Liz is giving away one free copy of CAPTIVE SPIRIT to a randomly selected person brave enough to leave a comment or ask a question!

Aiyana isn't like the other girls of the White Ant Clan. Instead of keeping house, she longs to compete on the Ball Court with her best friend Honovi and the other boys. Instead of marriage, she daydreams of traveling beyond the mountains that surround her small village. Only Honovi knows and shares her forbidden wish, though Aiyana doesn't realize her friend has a secret wish of his own...

When Aiyana's father arranges her marriage to a man she hardly knows, she takes the advice of a tribal elder: Run! In fleeing, she falls into the hands of Spanish raiders and finds herself being taken over the mountains against her will. Now Aiyana's on a quest to return to the very place she once dreamed of escaping. And she'll do whatever it takes to survive and find her way back to the people she loves.

***

"Readers will cheer for the intrepid Aiyana and brave Honovi as the teens fight for their chance at love despite the collapse of their world." ~ RT Book Reviews

"This isn't your traditional romance--it's much more!" ~ Peeking Between the Pages

"CAPTIVE SPIRIT was utterly gripping and engaging." ~ Debuts & Reviews

***

How long have you been writing? Is Captive Spirit your first book or have you written any unpublished works?

CAPTIVE SPIRIT is my first published novel. It's also my first historical romance. I've written several novels before CAPTIVE SPIRIT and am hopeful that at least one of them will be published! I've been writing since I was about ten years old, but I didn't start to get serious about being published till about five years ago. I write mostly young adult and women's commercial fiction.

What were your inspirations for creating a story based on Native American culture? How much research did you need to complete for this story?

Living in the American Southwest, it's hard not to be inspired by Native American culture. For CAPTIVE SPIRIT, I did a lot of research online, in the library, and at a wonderful place called the Phoenix Heard Museum which has one of the most comprehensive Native American collections in the entire world. CAPTIVE SPIRIT involves an intriguing people called the Hohokam Indians.

When I first moved to Phoenix, Arizona, from Chicago, I remember learning that the Hohokam were the first inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert and of Phoenix, in particular. They traveled to the desert from Mayan and Aztec cultures around 300 BC and existed peacefully as master canal builders and farmers till around 1500 AD when they vanished for reasons unknown. Archaeologists still don't know why they disappeared--abandoned their whole lives, really--and it was the Pima Indians who called them Hohokam which means "Those Who Have Gone." I always thought that little bit of history was so unbelievably cool. It's also what inspired me to write CAPTIVE SPIRIT.


If you watch the book trailer for CAPTIVE SPIRIT (above), you'll see the rugged setting for the book--much of it hasn't changed in hundreds of years--along with Hohokam petroglyphs. I always wondered if maybe the Hohokam were trying to leave us a message with their petroglyphs about what happened to them? We'll never know, but it teases the storyteller in me.

Are you working on anything else at this time?

I've just finished up a contemporary fantasy romance, and I'm starting another historical romance with a literary bent involving a well-known Apache Indian. My head is already spinning with that story.

Besides writing, what else keeps you busy? What are your hobbies and interests?

I'm one of those crazy people who actually likes to run--not 100 mile marathons or anything. But I do like to run in the desert, although I have to run inside at my local gym at the moment because it's currently 105 degrees and will probably stay that way for another month or two. I also love to visit museums and watch theatre productions in Phoenix, where I sometimes write theatre reviews for local blogs and organizations. When time and money permits, I love to travel anywhere there's a museum and really good room service.

About Liz:

Liz is an author from the American Southwest by way of Chicago. She likes to write stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary things, oftentimes against the backdrop of Native American legends. When she's not writing her next novel, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog dishing about writing, books, hunks du jour, LOST reruns, or the best brands of chocolate. Don't hesitate to connect with her at her website because it can get real lonely in the desert.

***

Thanks for stopping by today, Liz! We were thrilled to have you here.

Readers, if you'd like to win a digital copy of CAPTIVE SPIRIT, please leave a comment or question for Liz. Are you intrigued by the setting? We'd love to hear your feedback about this most unusual romance! I'll draw the winner at random next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

Excerpt Thursday: Liz Fichera

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're welcoming Carina author Liz Fichera as she celebrates the release of CAPTIVE SPIRIT, which is set in the early 16th century in the Sonoran Desert. Join us Sunday when Liz will be here to discuss this stunning Native American debut and give away a copy!

Aiyana isn't like the other girls of the White Ant Clan. Instead of keeping house, she longs to compete on the Ball Court with her best friend Honovi and the other boys. Instead of marriage, she daydreams of traveling beyond the mountains that surround her small village. Only Honovi knows and shares her forbidden wish, though Aiyana doesn't realize her friend has a secret wish of his own...

When Aiyana's father arranges her marriage to a man she hardly knows, she takes the advice of a tribal elder: Run! In fleeing, she falls into the hands of Spanish raiders and finds herself being taken over the mountains against her will. Now Aiyana's on a quest to return to the very place she once dreamed of escaping. And she'll do whatever it takes to survive and find her way back to the people she loves.

***

The Apache crept to the edge of our campsite, each step as light as a bird's feather. It was as if they walked and breathed as one man instead of ten.

When they got close, they surrounded us in a half-circle. More light crept into the sky and through the trees. Their bows quickly lowered when they saw us, cold, bleeding, and dirty. We were hardly a threat. Their eyes, unfortunately, rested mostly on me while mine spoke to theirs, pleading for their help.

Despite the early chill, they were bare-chested. They wore grey deerskin pants and skins around their feet that reached their knees and laced near the top. A dark, wide skin wrapped around their foreheads. Three of the men wore brownish-yellow feathers against their foreheads. Their hair was black and hung loose past their shoulders; their skin was brown, although their faces were flatter, less oval, and their noses longer.

The Apache who stood in the center of the men recognized Diego. He had two feathers tucked inside his headband while the others only had one. Diego mumbled a greeting and the Apache repeated the same words back to him. I did not understand their words as easily as I understood Diego. Their words were nothing like mine.

"Isdzán," the Apache said, nodding at me from the center of their semi-circle. His eyes traveled down my body. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms across my chest, mostly to keep my dress closed.

Diego turned, looked at me once before turning "Yes," Diego said. "A woman." He paused and then extended his arms. "A gift."

My eyes widened.

My surprise did not go unnoticed by the man with two feathers. Even so, I sucked back a breath and watched for Honovi in my periphery. He tried to stand by my side but his knees wobbled. I reached out to steady him but he shook his head. Finally, his knees buckled and he sank to the ground.

Carefully, the Apache with the two feathers stepped away from the circle and approached me. He was just as tall as Diego but even broader across the shoulders. Long scars sliced across his chest. On my other side, Lobo started to growl as the man approached. The Apache stopped, eying Lobo warily. I was afraid he'd draw back his bow and kill him.

My voice shook. "Quiet," I whispered to Lobo. I patted the top of his head with my free hand, clutching my deerskin with the other, eyes still locked on the Apache.

The Apache tilted his head curiously and looked from Lobo and then back to me. He turned to the other men standing behind him and said something that made the whole line chuckle, including Diego, but Diego's laugh sounded forced.

Another step and the Apache stood directly in front of me. My nostrils flared as I raised my eyes but not my head. He studied me strangely, his dark eyes narrowing, his brow furrowing, like he'd never seen a girl before.

The Apache's eyes were as black as Honovi's but there were more crinkles in the corners. I could see my reflection in his eyes and I looked terrified. Finally he stepped closer so that our noses almost touched.

My neck pulled back. The Apache was so close that I could feel his warm breath on my face.

His eyes widened; his head tilted with curiosity. He pointed to my eyes.

I blinked, confused. What did he want?

"Ya'ài," he said. "Ya'ài."

I turned to Diego, pleading for a translation.

Diego was on the ground, cross-legged, his hand pressed against his neck. He was still glaring at Honovi. I wondered if he'd help me.

He surprised me.

"The sun," Diego said, pausing a moment to turn his attention away from Honovi. His voice was flat. "He believes your eyes hold the sun."

I turned back to the Apache and shook my head, confused. I wanted to tell them that they were simply green, like my grandmother's and the grandmother before her. Nothing more, nothing less.

But then Diego said, "He's never seen anyone with green eyes before, Aiyana."

What Surprised Me: Picacho Peak

By Lorelie Brown

Mention the US Civil War and I pretty much think of the Eastern Seaboard. South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi. You know, the South, with all the images that invokes.

So imagine my surprise on moving to Arizona and discovering I'm living in the vicinity of the westernmost Civil War battle, fought in the sand and cacti and rocks. Huh.

Now where the westernmost battle was kinda depends on your definition of "battle."

But lemme back up really quick. Arizona didn't exactly exist before the Civil War broke out. The land it now encompasses was actually part of the Territory of New Mexico. But as military officers were called back to the various folds and had to decide where their loyalties laid, someone got the bright idea to carve out part of New Mexico and call it the Arizona Territory--and claim it for the Confederacy.

They really wanted Southern California, to give the Confederacy access to the Pacific Ocean, but that never really happened. Instead California troops fought for the Union, including driving the Johnny Rebs back pretty handily into the desert. (Johnny Rebs don't belong in the desert. Didn't anyone tell them that?)

Control of the stagecoach routes fed into this back-and-forth. Each side wanted 'em, naturally, because who wouldn't want the established, easy-to-navigate routes? So here we come back to our original topic--the farthest west battle.

There was an engagement at Stanwix Station, near Yuma, but calling it a battle is a little bit of a stretch. Confederate troops were burning hay meant for California cavalry horses and they got busted. Whoops. There was a small shoot out, but the only casualty was one Union soldier who healed up just fine apparently. But Stanwix Station is still up for consideration because bullets passed back and forth.

But then we come to Picacho Peak Pass, which is kind of the leader for the title of "westernmost Civil War battle." On April 15, 1862, Lieutenant James Barrett lead approximately a dozen men, looking for the Confederates reported to be lurking nearby, though they weren't supposed to actually engage. Well, they found them. From what I can tell, they kind of stumbled onto three of the Confederates and promptly captured them. But they sort of missed the seven other men, who opened fire. And Barrett kept his men pursuing the Johnny Rebs even into a thicket. Perhaps not his best decision, and it has the unfortunate distinction of being his last. He died in the hour and a half long battle, along with two Union privates.

Every year, Civil War re-enactors show up at Picacho Peak Pass and play out the skirmish. But over the years, the event has grown and more than the needed two-dozen men show up. They've had to expand into New Mexico battles to fill their time. But I hear it's a grand old time. The Picacho Peak State Park was slated to be shut down to help Arizona make up their huge budget shortfalls, but it's been saved by an arrangement with local governments to take over the costs. So I do believe I might have to check it out next year.