2nd edition.--

Puerto Rico holds a rich and fascinating history. It also holds my maternal heritage, which inspired my debut book, The 3 Marias, an historical fiction about a family living in the mountainous coffee region above Ponce. Three sisters are embroiled in rebellion, betrayal and lost love during the Spanish-American War. This updated second edition, titled A Puerto Rico Story, The 3 Marias, includes new and revised chapters.

Growing up, I knew little about Puerto Rico, although my great grandparents both came to Hawaii from Puerto Rico before finally moving to San Francisco.

I was surprised to learn that our family was part of a migration of over 5,000 Puerto Ricans to Hawaii during 1901, and that there are no passenger lists or records of the ships that brought them.

My next book continues the story of the fictional family's relocation to work on the sugar plantations in Hawaii.

First edition reviews:

"A taut and often compelling novel of the Spanish-American War ... Our verdict: GET IT!" ---Kirkus Review

"Part love story, part history, and part family tragedy. A compelling read for fans of cultural heritage fiction such as The Island of Mission Trees by Elif Shafak, and Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange." ---Jill Hedgecock, Diablo Gazette Bookends

*Accepted into the National Library of Puerto Rico April 20, 2023