The Adobe Gate Fall 2005 / Volume #14 / Corrales, New Mexico by Aimée and David Thurlo

Dear Friends,

We're pleased to offer all of you our newsletter in this new format. We love being able to bring you color photos and images and hope you'll be pleased with the results.

Please note that we have added a banner for the Animal Humane Society at the top. The AHA is working round the clock to help animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers are working nearly twenty hours a day, sometimes at risk to themselves, to make a difference. Even a small contribution can help.

Fall's our busiest time of year. In addition to our book signing (see below for details) we'll be at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, October 6, 2005 to inaugurate their new speaker series. We'll be talking about how we create our characters and come up with our ideas. San Juan College is located at 4601 College Blvd. in Farmington, New Mexico. All are welcome.

A NEW LEE NEZ NOVEL IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN!

"In the Thurlos' fast-paced third adventure to feature Leo Hawk, a half-vampire Navajo and New Mexico cop who "died" in 1945, Leo and FBI agent girlfriend Diane Lopez team up to hunt down Stewart Tanner, a vampire who's been driven insane.... Tanner is captured, but later escapes from his cell after an electrical outage and goes on a killing spree that leads Leo and Diane on a breathless chase.... As usual the authors smoothly combine action and investigative procedure with insights into Navajo culture." --Publishers Weekly

BOOKSIGNINGS We'll be signing copies of our Ella Clah books, our award winning Sister Agatha books and, of course, PALE DEATH at Page 1 Books in Albuquerque Sept. 22 at 7/PM. We hope to see many of you there. If you're unable to attend, please call: 1-800-521-4122 for your signed copy. Also, if you'd like a book signed in a special way--for someone's birthday or other occasion--just let the bookstore know and we'll be happy to do that for you.

ELLA CLAH NEWS:

MOURNING DOVE, the eleventh novel featuring our Navajo Special Investigator, will be published in April of next year. The title was taken from a Navajo legend that says Mourning Dove could report things swiftly and reliably and, at such tasks, had no equal.

In MOURNING DOVE, Ella faces her most baffling case yet. What seems to be a carjacking gone sour leads to the death of Jimmy Blacksheep, a Navajo member of the New Mexico National Guard, home from Iraq. To solve his murder, Ella must sort out the secret message he sent her, couched in a childrens' story. When FBI experts are unable to figure out the dead man's message, Ella realizes she must use Navajo lore, not cryptography, to decode it.

This twisting and winding story is packed with a powerful and surprising ending.

FOR YOUR POCKET OR PURSE:

PLANT THEM DEEP

Our novel featuring Rose, Ella's mom, is now out in trade paperback. This is one of our personal favorites.

Booklist said, "This novel shines the spotlight on Rose...as she plunges into her own investigation. Rose is a Plant Watcher, a guardian of the Plant People, the Navajo term for plant life. When the tribe asks her to conduct an official plant survey for the Navajo Nation, Rose discovers that many plants have been either stolen or destroyed by the land, which is slowly dying from uranium mines' waste chemicals. Her cataloging segues into an investigation that puts her at odds with people inside and outside the reservation. Rose...remains a fascinating character and focusing on her life makes a nice twist in a popular series."

AVAILABLE AGAIN:

For those of you searching for our backlist, we have good news- Ella's third adventure BAD MEDICINE is now back in print!

SISTER AGATHA NEWS:

We've been receiving lots of wonderful letters in response to THIEF IN RETREAT, the latest Sister Agatha novel. It's good to know that you're all having as much fun with our motorcycle riding nun as we are! Thanks so much for taking time to write to us. Your letters really brighten our day.

THIEF IN RETREAT, Sister Agatha's second adventure, continues to do well. The book has received wonderful review from readers and reviewers alike.

Publishers Weekly said, "Extern nun Sister Agatha looks into some odd doings at the Retreat, an upscale New Mexico resort that was once the Monastery of St. John of the Pines, in her divine second outing from the prolific Thurlos. The disappearance and reappearance of a number of religious statues and artwork that were allowed to remain at the Retreat after the sale of the monastery prompt Archbishop Miera to call in the curator of the local college's museum. Enter Sister Agatha, her Harley and Pax, her white German shepherd. Sister Agatha and the curator joins forces with Sheriff Tom Green.... Suspects that include the local sheriff and an assemblage of mystery writers, plus a resident ghost that haunts the Retreat's halls and even has Sister Agatha wondering about unrest in the afterlife, keeps this cozy humming. Readers will cheer as Sister Agatha puts God first and follows His lead."

PREY FOR A MIRACLE will be out June 06. It's the most exciting Sister Agatha story yet. When a little girl with an active imagination claims to see angels, no one pays attention...until strange and beautiful things begin to happen. PREY FOR A MIRACLE is a fast paced story with enough twists and turns to keep our readers up late into the night.

FUTURE PROJECTS:

MOURNING DOVE, our next Ella Clah novel will be published April 2006.

PREY FOR A MIRACLE our next Sister Agatha novel will be out in June 2006.

SURROGATE EVIL, our next Lee Nez novel, will be out October 2006.

In 2007:

TURQUOISE GIRL, an Ella Clah novel, will be published April 2007.

FALSE WITNESS, a Sister Agatha novel, is now scheduled for June 2007.

We want to thank all of you for supporting our work and enabling us to continue to entertain you. We're very pleased to be able to bring you more adventures featuring your favorite characters.

HOME FRONT NEWS:

The New Orleans tragedy hit close to home. Aimée graduated from Ursuline Academy in New Orleans and went to LSUNO before coming to New Mexico. We want to thank all of you who wrote us asking about Aimée's family. Though our family and friends have been uprooted, they're all safe and sound.

Our three standard poodles, and our pit bull, all rescues, continue to thrive here at home and are excellent companions. They keep us company during our long hours working. We also have two pet rats, Arnie and Newley, who are rescues, too. The first time David, (who taught science at the time) brought home a rat, Aimée made him take it back to school immediately. Yet, slowly, she got over her fears and discovered that they are affectionate, intelligent pets. Now they're a permanent part of the Thurlo household.

Every day Aimée rides the Thurlo's horse, Ariel. Since Ariel's in her thirties and doesn't need the extra weight of a saddle and tack, Aimée rides bareback. David walks beside the horse, which calms her...but doesn't totally prevent her from throwing Aimée on occasion. Fortunately, Aimée bounces well.

RECIPE

Some of you have written asking about "fry bread" so I thought we'd share our favorite recipe.

Navajo Fry Bread

2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking pwd.
1 pinch of salt
2/3 cup of warm water (approx.)
Cornmeal or flour
Shortening

Mix the first three ingredients in a mixing bowl, and then add water to the mixture. Knead into a smooth dough. Divide the dough in portions the size of an egg then roll out on bread board covered with either cornmeal or flour. Roll each portion into a circle that's about 1/4 inch thick.

Heat about 2 inches shortening to about 350-375 degrees then fry the dough until each piece is puffed up and golden on both sides. Place on absorbent towels. Once cool, enjoy alone, with honey, or use the fry bread as the foundation for a delicious Navajo taco.

This page copyright 2005 by Aimée and David Thurlo.