The first of my "Mission Mysteries" is out. Ask for it at your local bookstore "A Convenient Death at San Diego."

Don't have a local bookstore? (They are an endangered species) You can get it on Amazon.

Also have finished "Stone Wondrously Hewn" The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Looking for a publisher on this one.

Just finished reviewing the "Galley proofs" for my first mystery. Perhaps it is really going to happen. Watch for it. A Convenient Death at San Diego.  Should be out from Oak Tree Press in September.

Also have been asked to write a history of the Monastery of the Ascension for their 50the Anniversary next year.

It's a done deal! I've turned the final copy of "When the Basque Ruled California" in to the publisher. Now all we need is copy editing and final proofing. It should be released next March or April. In plenty of time for Jaialdi.

In the process now of getting some permissions to cite some copyrighted works. Can never decide if it is better to do that, over a period of months as you write the book. Or, wait until the book is finished, then methodically go through your end notes and write for permission.

There are pluses and minuses on both. I'd appreciate any thoughts.

 

It's a done deal! I signed a contract today with Caxton Press to publish When The Basques Ruled California.

This book is an historical accounting of the era from 1784-1834 in California. While researching my last book Lands Never Trodden - The Franciscans and the California Missions, I uncovered an interesting fact. During that time, almost without interruption, positions of power in what was then known as Alta California were almost all held by people from the Basque provinces of Spain, or people of Basque descent. The Father President of the California Missions, The Governor of California, The Viceroy of New Spain, and the Commanders of various presidios were all Basque.

They put their very decided stamp on the territory when huge decisions were being made with regards to the future of the state, and in particular the future of the Native Californians who had been so impacted by the Spanish conquest.

This book will chronicle a very little known period of history from a very little known group of people When The Basques Ruled California.

It should be released next spring. In time for Jaialdi Boise!!

Watch this space for further development

The Franciscans didn't just build churches. They introduced agriculture to California, now the most agricultural of all the states.

They introduced grapes, wine pressing and wineries to this state which is the United States largest wine producing area. In fact, they introduced the States largest cash crop. Yep! You can thank a lot of Franciscan Friars in the 18th century for introducing hemp to California. Its Pravda!!

Mission Tour in October

In a word: It ain't happening. I guess that is actually three words but the bottom line is that the travel agency which was going to conduct it couldn't get enough interest.

That's the bad news. The good news? We are considering doing it as a Roads Scholar (The program formerly known as Elderhostel) If that comes about it should be a lot cheaper. Watch this space for further developments. I will keep you posted.

It's been a while since I have posted anything. Busy, busy summer. I expected my first "Mission Mystery"  A Convenient Death at San Diego  to be released in June but alas, the vagaries of the publishing gam. Perhaps in July??

Meanwhile here is a photo which will be a major element of the cover. (I think)

When the Basques Ruled California

Basque names are ubiquitous in the history of North America.

BUT from  1784 until about 1834 in an amazing congruence of names and dates they were particularly prevalent in the Spanish rule of Alta California.

Ursua, Borica, Arrillaga, Sola, and Echeandia were governors for almost the entire last years of Spanish rule and in the very early years of Mexican rule.

Lasuen was the Father President of the California Missions.

Goicoechea and Loyola had positions of command in the Spanish military in California.

These are just the most important names. The ranks of both the Spanish Army and the Franciscan Missionaries were full of Basque names. It was truly an era "when the Basques ruled California."

And so . . . I have written (am writing, 200 pages so far) a book by that title.

When the Basques Ruled California- 1784-1834.

San Juan Bautista

Did she fall? Or was she pushed? Or maybe the question should be which time?

This is the mission where Kim Novak fell from the tower in Alfred Hitchcock's classic movie "Vertigo." Not once, but twice! How is that possible? Well you got to see the movie.

But look closely at this tower. It is not a tower at all, but a Campanero. Mission San Juan Bautista has no tower. Alfred Hitchcock used clever editing and splicing to create that memorable scene of James Stewart and Kim Novak climbing up those stairs.

 

Mission San Diego

Mission San Diego is the first of the California Missions built so it is an appropriate setting for the first of my "Mission Mysteries."

The historical facts, which serve as the basis for this mystery are that Captain Fernando Rivera, of the Spanish army had imprisoned several of the local natives for their part in a revolt at the Mission. Much to Captain Rivera's chagrin, the Franciscans prevailed on the governor of California to have the prisoners released.

On the day the last prisoner was supposed to be released he was found dead in his cell. Suicide was given as the cause of death. For over 200 years there has been a lingering suspicion that the Spanish army was in fact the cause of his death.

With these facts in hand I have created a mystery involving not just one but two deaths. Who is responsible? The Spanish army? A falling out among thieves? Revenge on the part of some of the Natives for wrongs previously committed.

The protagonist of this mystery is a Franciscan Friar who is also a physician. He is called upon to use his unique set of skills in unraveling a very tangled set of facts

 

Mission San Diego

The first of the "Mission Mysteries" A Convenient Death at San Diego  will be released in Mid June. Watch for it. It is based on an actual incident in the very early history of the mission. There had been a revolt and several Indians were imprisoned. On the day the last one was to be released he was found dead in his cell. Suicide was given as the cause of death. Foul play has been suspected for over 200 years.

Mission San Miguel Collonade

Look carefully down to the far end of this colonnade. Why is there a cannon at this mission??

Mission San Miguel

Mission San Miguel "The Un-retouched Mission."  Some how, in over 200 years of existence this mission has escaped the "restorer's" usually misguided efforts. When you step into this mission and look at the painted decorations on the wall you are seeing the work of Native Californians. Esteban Munras directed Salinan craftsmen in creating beautiful swags, columns, and draperies. This mission, more than any other gives one a real sense of being back in the 18th century.

The All Seeing Eye of God at Mission San Miguel

Mission San Juan Bautista

San Juan Bautista is the only "three aisle" California Mission. It is the largest of all of the California Missions.

This is the Mission where Kim Novak fell to her death in the movie "Vertigo," not once, but twice.

The famous bell tower, which James Stewart and Kim Novak climbed in the movie never existed. San Juan Bautista has a campanero, but no tower. Alfred Hitchcock did some very creative film editing and splicing to create that scene.


Hitchcock wanted to use this mission because it is co-located with the California State Park at San Juan Bautista. The hotel, and stables across the street were perfect for creating an early California Scene in Madeline Elster's remberances. The coroners inquest in the movie was held in the old hotel across the street from the mission.

Mission Soledad - The Lonely Mission

Tucked into the inland side of California's Coast Range Mission Soledad was a lonely and desolate place.

I

In its forty six year history, almost thirty different priests were assigned to it. That is a turnover record that no other mission even comes close to. It was at Mission Soledad that Father Vincente Sarria wrote the first ever medical treatise in California. Father Sarria wrote a description of "how to perform a Caesarean Section" and distributed it to the Franciscans in all of the Misions. In the 18th Century in California the Franciscans were generally the most educated of all of the populace and they were often called upon to attend to difficult or complicated births.

 





 

 

 







Mission Soledad

Mission Soledad was nicknamed "The Lonely Mission." It may be the only mission named by one of the Native Californians. An unverifiable myth claims that when Gaspar de Portola first visited the site in 1769 he was greeted by a native woman who gave her name as "Soledad." Whether Portola misunderstood her or whether this woman had, prior to the visit of the first known Spaniard in that area, picked up one word of Spanish has never been sorted out.

The name as a religious representation represents Mary, on the day after Christ's death. Certainly there could not have been a more bereft figure than a mother, the day after her son's crucifixion.

The Eerie Image of Our Lady of Solitude

Mission Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the only mission named after an object (Holy Cross) and not a saint, angel or religious event.

 

Although the original mission building was destroyed by a combination of Nature and Man many of it's artifacts were saved. The three statutes on the altar, Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Joseph and Saint Michael were originally in the old church. The painting of our Lady of Guadalupe on the left rear wall of the church was done in Mexico in 1791 and came to the Mission in 1797.

Santa Cruz was the site of a somewhat spectacular and gruesome death of one of the Franciscans. Father Andres Quintana was known as a cruel disciplinarian and shortly after he died under mysterious circumstances some of the Natives claimed that they had not only killed, but in the process castrated the priest. The facts are still murky and likely the truth will never be known.

Mission Santa Cruz

 

This mission is an unfortunate object lesson in "what we almost lost." The pile of rubble in the picture is all that is visible of the original Mission Santa Cruz. After an earthquake in 1857 seriously damaged the church what remained was razed, and the present Holy Cross Church was built over the ruins. Several of the missions came perilously close to the same fate in the late 1800's. 

The present Mission Santa Cruz, seen below is a replica, about half the size of the original which was built in 1931. It is across the street from Holy Cross Church, which is built on the ruins of the original Mission Santa Cruz.

California Missions

I've had a new article posted to the "Franciscans in The Americas Web site. Go to www.stfrancis.clas.asu. Click on the "Science and Culture tab" then Click on "Historical Events" You will find an article by me on "How a Band of Franciscan Monks Kept the Russians out of California" Give me your thoughts

Mission La Purisima

La Purisima was chosen as a job site for the CCC in 1934. Not only were original materials used in the rehabilitation, but original tools and building methods.
Because it is maintained as a State Park many consider La Purisima one of the most "authentic" of all the missions.  The typical soldiers barracks, attached to most of the missions is faithfully recreated  as are looms, candle making and leather shops.On certain holidays "re-enacters" in period dress give demonstrations of the crafts.

 The looms produced clothe of the very highest quality, which was much in demand in the territory.