Synopsis
In a high desert landscape as unforgiving as it is beautiful, two families work to build a life and make a living even as they wrestle with the dilemmas of race, gender and politics that characterized America in the second half of the 20th Century. Set in the American Southwest, this collection of short stories introduces two ranch families: Tacho the horseman and his wife Sofia, a beekeeper, who trace their families' heritage to the time of New Spain; Sara, who escapes the turmoil of the eastern cities to join her husband, the narrator of these stories, whose ancestors came to the desert with the railroad soon after the Gadsden Purchase; their children, Anita and Nico; Andrea and Linnaeus; born to ranch life. Sol y Sombra chronicles their joys and sorrows as they seek harmony with the desert and one another. Joined by occasional lawmen, a few fancy women, cowboys good and bad and dudes from the cities, theirs is a story of hard work seasoned with trust, loyalty and compassion. To survive in the desert, one must always wear a hat, always take water, matches, and a pocket knife. Heavy boots are a given. Nothing compares to the usefulness of a good horse. This climate is so hostile to human life, yet lovely and extremely alluring. You will discover why through reading these stories. Sol Y Sombra recalls life in the Sonoran Desert before the days of cell phones and GPS's, when survival depended on skill with horses and guns, strong families and respect for the land. These stories bring forth insights into that life and honor that legacy.
About the Author
Steve Brown combines his love of the desert and his determination and commitment to promoting communication and collaboration among people and groups in this unique collection of stories. He is the founder and principal of Commonwealth Solutions, a Centerville, Massachusetts firm whose mission is to enable people and organizations to define and achieve their goals through relationships that promote human dignity. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Master of Arts degree from Boston College. In 1988 he was commissioned by the Boston College Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry to a community-based ministry of healing and reconciliation. He is a member of the Barnstable, Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Church. Steve completed training and Certification in Group Dynamics and Facilitation from the Ecumenical Leadership Education Program (Andover Newton Theological School, 1984) and has completed coursework for the (Arizona) Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC) exam. His community work has included seven years as the Director of Development for the Association for Retarded Citizens of South Norfolk County, which serves people with mental retardation and autism in 15 suburban Boston towns; and three years as Development Coordinator for Physicians for Human Rights, a Boston-based medical organization with chapters and active programs throughout the world. This organization was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize as a founding member of the International Coalition to Ban Landmines. From 2000 until 2008, Steve served as the Community Coordinator for Barnstable County (Massachusetts) Department of Human Services, helping to develop Monitoring the Human Condition, a community action designed to identify regional health and human service needs and to respond in ways that improve the quality of life for Cape Cod residents, especially those who live on the margins of society or who experience discrimination in any form. As part of his County responsibilities, he served on the Cape Cod Sustainability Indicators Council, which connects health issues to environmental and economic conditions in Barnstable County. He currently works as a Project Manager for a Compassion Capital Fund through the University of Massachusetts. The youngest of four children, Steve Brown was born in the 1940's and grew up on a cattle ranch in the Sonoran Desert. In 2007 Steve was struck by a major physical disability that led to a long hospitalization, followed by an extended recovery period. The stories in Sol Y Sombra emerged during his recovery process. Set in the landscape of his youth, these stories incorporate into fiction many of the themes of Steve's life. Steve is father to Amelia and Lisa and married to Alice Robertson Brown. They live in Craigville, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.
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