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Anita Perez Ferguson
a book bubble about
Golden Secrets
Teens
Author Insight
Confusing Middle
You have just been dropped into the middle of my book and if you have not been following the story of Alicia and her sister Clara it's going to be confusing. Sorry. Their story, Golden Secrets, really is about gold that is secretly hidden somewhere on their family's property. The time and place are early 1800's in colonial California before statehood. The complications include a tax collector who happens to be a distant uncle, a sailor named Harris who wants to swindle the family out of their land, and a drunk who probably knows where the gold is hidden. This is the second book in the Mission Bells historic fiction series for young adults. It has a definite coming-of-age theme perfect for teens and, unfortunately, you've arrived when Alicia is starting her minstrel cycle for the first time. She hasn't got a clue what to expect. Her friend Nina tries to explain things in her broken English. My best advice is to start the trilogy in book one, Twisted Cross and read through to book three, Broken Promises. All three books are available here at Bublish.com. You can learn more about them on my website: https://anitaperezferguson.com. I also invite you to follow my weekly newsletter, Diverse Voices - Bravo! where I will introduce you to other Latinx authors each week. https/: anitaperezferguson.substack.com Thanks for taking a moment to read this post.
Book Excerpt
Golden Secrets
“Tío Salvador may be the only one who can answer your questions about the past.” Clara washed off everything she imagined old Ernesto had touched. “Harris and I have our plans all worked out. We’ll show him our ledger tomorrow. Make sure you do nothing to ruin it.”
No one in the house slept that night except Tío Salvador. His snores sounded like a thunderstorm. Clara and Harris worried about the next day’s conversation with him. Alicia lay awake imagining the worst about what he might know of the shipwreck and the gold. She giggled to herself, recalling his unexpected arrival and the look of shock on Clara’s face.
The rooster crowed long before anyone wanted to hear him. Alicia rolled over, still caught up in a dream. In it she and Nina were in the special cave and Nina served her tea to soothe her spirit.
“Oh! My stomach!” Now awake, Alicia curled into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. Her sheets were sticky and wet. She wiped her hand on her thigh and saw the blood collecting between her legs.
“Nina, come help me.” She called out, forgetting that Nina was not in the house. How could she move, much less clean herself up and begin the breakfast preparations? I made blood—like a woman, she said to herself.
“Tea? Special tea for you.” Nina appeared at her bedside, just like in her dream.
“Are you truly here?”
“Take. Hot. You make blood,” Nina said. “Me too. Tea hot.” She put down a cup next to Alicia and drew clean rags out of her pocket. She knew just what to do.
“But Tío. He is here,” Alicia stammered.
“In garden with trapper now. We come early; I fix breakfast.” She took Alicia’s sheets for cleaning and brought her fresh clothing.
“Bless you. Thank you.” Alicia sipped her soothing tea. “How did you know? I dreamed of us in our cave.” In the care of her friend, Alicia’s pains lessened.
“You and me.” Nina nodded toward the clean rags and showed Alicia how to fold them.
“Why so much pain?” Alicia said.
“Make space for baby,” Nina said. Could Alicia trust her information? It seemed like she was leaving something unsaid. “Tell me dream.”
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