My Soul to Keep

It was my family's long history and involvement in California's history that led me to write MY SOUL TO KEEP.  It is a sweeping saga of passionate women and their men at odds with the tragedy of changing times in 19th Century, Southern California. The story follows one family's fight to survive forbidden love - ugly prejudice - the decline of Mexico's power - bitter war - the destruction of Indian tribal society - and the ever-increasing swarm of white Americans, coming to settle their newly created Golden State.Brett Halsey, an award winning actor and author, has an intimate understanding of the passionate loves, battles and betrayals of California's founding families.  A sixth generation native Californian, he is descended from Juan Francisco Reyes, a Spanish King's soldier, who came to California with Padre Junipero Serra in 1769 to establish the legendary California Mission system.  Reyes later served as the first elected Alcalde (Mayor) of the ever expanding city of Los Angeles.