Broken Promises

The Past Lives in Us

Broken Promises recently made news as the best Young Adult Fiction at the San Francisco Writers Conference. An interviewer asked me some questions that shed light on my inspiration as an author. Q - What is your biggest takeaway from working in the field of political service that has transitioned into your passion to write historical fiction? A - In the 1980's to 2000, my political work was centered on bringing new voices to the decision-making table: women’s voices, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, and other marginalized people groups. From that work, I wrote A Passion for Politics, independently published in 1999, and co-authored Women Seen and Heard in 2004 with Dr. Lois Phillips. In 2016, I began to write about other unheard voices and untold stories in our Western history. This resulted in my Mission Bells trilogy for young adults. Q - You have spent a career helping women find their voice in politics; does this translate into your latest novel, Broken Promises, which features a female biracial teen caught between both sides of war? A - Broken Promises (2023) is the third novel in that series, intended to represent and respect untold stories that are foundational to our region. My character, Sparrow, struggles with multiple challenges and finds her voice. See the entire interview and a photo at; https://www.independent.com/2023/04/10/anita-perez-ferguson-discusses-the-inspiration-behind-her-award-winning-historical-fiction-trilogy-mission-bells/