Historical Fiction from Jeff Hepple

[Susan in VA]

^^^  I think I should be the one saying sorry here....  I sent it to Jeff by standard UPS, and I should have checked to see whether he wanted this one shipped more quickly....  but you'll see that it's worth the wait!!

[Jeff]

I sent it to Jeff by standard UPS, and I should have checked to see whether he wanted this one shipped more quickly...

The mix up was only that I'd thought Susan sent it a week-ago-Tuesday when in fact it was Thursday. At least I think it was Thursday. 

Anyway, the book will get here soon, I'll update it promptly with Susan's edits and then get back to Lonely is the Soldier, which FearNot has been patiently waiting for since 2008.

[Susan in VA]

At least I think it was Thursday. 

Yep.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

The mix up was only that I'd thought Susan sent it a week-ago-Tuesday when in fact it was Thursday. At least I think it was Thursday. 

Anyway, the book will get here soon, I'll update it promptly with Susan's edits and then get back to Lonely is the Soldier, which FearNot has been patiently waiting for since 2008.

I'm looking forward to meeting Linc again. 

[tlshaw *Padded Cell 511*]

I'm looking forward to meeting Linc again. 

Me too. But then, I am sure I will have to read Treasure again.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Me too. But then, I am sure I will have to read Treasure again.

Absolutely.

[geoffthomas]

And re-reading Treasure would be a "good" thing.

Maybe we can interest some new readers to start with it.

Just sayin.....

[Jeff]

I really appreciate everyone's kind words but unfortunately, The Treasure of La Malinche is not very popular. Gone For a Soldier and now Land of the Free both out-sell it by better than 10:1. As promised however, I will soon complete Lonely is the Soldier, the prequel to The Treasure of La Malinche but I've cancelled plans to write the sequel which was to be post-apocalyptic, back-from-the-ashes adventure.

[geoffthomas]

Well I thought The Treasure was terrific.
And I liked that it got tied in to the Land of the Free.

Just sayin.....

[Jeff]

Well I thought The Treasure was terrific.
And I liked that it got tied in to the Land of the Free.

It's gratifying that you and a few others liked it but I think the step toward a future where a ditzy blonde was going to rule the world was just too much suspension of reality for most people. 

Just to be clear, I still intend to write the three books between Home of the Brave and The Treasure of La Malinche but that's going to be the end of the series.

[Susan in VA]

a future where a ditzy blonde was going to rule the world was just too much suspension of reality for most people. 

Hey now.  On behalf on blondes everywhere, I take exception to that.   

[Jeff]

On behalf on blondes everywhere, I take exception to that.   

No one would ever call you ditsy.

[Susan in VA]

Unfortunately, you're wrong there. 

[geoffthomas]

Well most of those who have met you don't.
I, for one am a fan (and I like the little kitty avatar).

Just puttin in my two cents worth.

Oh, yeah and I repeat that I liked Jeff's character.
I have known some women somewhat like her.
And more importantly I liked the intertwined stories.

Just sayin....

[Susan in VA]

Oh, yeah and I repeat that I liked Jeff's character.
I have known some women somewhat like her.

I think that's one of the great things about Jeff's characters  --  they're so realistic  --  many of them remind me of people I know. 

(And Geoff, thank you.   And I'm pretty sure my little avatar kitty would like you too...  'specially if you fed her a cat treat.   )

[Jeff]

I have known some women somewhat like her.
And more importantly I liked the intertwined stories.

Our culture often venerates beautiful women to an exalted status, to wit: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco.

Perhaps the main reason that the Treasure of La Malinche was perceived as too fanciful is that people don't really know that many of the bizarre incidents set in Mexico were actually true accounts. Here's an AP story from yesterday's Washington Post: 

Mexico president race could look like soap opera

By MARK STEVENSON
The Associated Press
Sunday, January 24, 2010; 1:35 AM
MEXICO CITY -- They appear on the covers of society magazines flanked by their partners, soap-opera bombshells. They use street parties, cheerleaders and slick televised productions to tout their state-level accomplishments to a national audience.

Neither the mayor of Mexico's biggest city nor the governor of its most populous state have confirmed their 2012 presidential ambitions, but already they are seen as the ones to beat. And while there are stylistic similarities between Marcelo Ebrard and Enrique Pena Nieto, the very different directions they propose could set Mexico's path for years to come.

While similar in age, the 50-year-old Ebrard and 43-year-old Pena Nieto bear little resemblance to the stiff, bespectacled President Felipe Calderon, 47, a no-nonsense technocrat whose term has been dominated by a brutal drug war that has killed more than 15,000 people since he took office in 2006. So far, no one from Calderon's conservative National Action Party has emerged as a top candidate to succeed him.

"Definitely, this is a new generation," said Lorena Carreno, president of the Mexican Association of Public Relations Agencies. "They are closing the circle to create an integrated marketing strategy, a prefabricated brand."

Pena Nieto, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party that ruled Mexico for most of the 20th century, is known as "Gel Boy" for the seemingly immovable wave in his hair and his sexy good looks. He appears regularly on the national Televisa network with celebrities who fawn over public works in his impoverished state that rings Mexico City.

Ebrard, of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, is a charismatic politician recognized internationally for greening one of the world's smoggiest cities, and has created so many subsidies for single mothers, students, retirees and others that some working-class parents jokingly refer to their kids as "the children of Marcelo."

Both are flamboyant in their pursuit of attention.

Pena Nieto's speeches and ribbon-cutting events are routinely broadcast as infomercials at the end of Televisa's newscasts. He runs advertisements showing actress and singer Lucero Hogaza (whom Televisa touts as "Lucerito, girlfriend of the Americas") nodding and smiling as he rattles off highway projects he has carried out.

Ebrard hosts mass quinceanera parties in downtown Mexico City, and recently MCed a graduation ceremony for 600 city-trained female plumbers, some of whom danced for him and offered to "come over and fix your leaks." He built a Harvard award-winning bus system, and bikes to work to reduce smog - though only once a month, surrounded by bodyguards to protect him from road rage in the gridlocked capital.

"It is clear that there is a change in styles here, toward a more direct communication with the public, and a much more simple style of expression," said Victor Gordoa, an image consultant. "The old way of doing politics is disappearing little by little, as these younger people get into power."

Both Ebrard and Pena Nieto were previously married and have since hooked up with soap opera stars.

Ebrard divorced in 2005 and quickly married the dashing Mariagna Prats, an actress whose sometimes stumbling public speeches have proven an embarrassment to the mayor. People close to the couple see Ebrard as protective of his wife and say his one reservation about running for president is the spotlight it would cast on his family life.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/23/AR2010012301228.html

[tlshaw *Padded Cell 511*]

Sorry to hear that Treasure is not so popular. I very much enjoyed them. Maybe as the series is filled in it will become more popular as readers become more vested in the characters. Then, it will be time to write the sequel.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

It's gratifying that you and a few others liked it but I think the step toward a future where a ditzy blonde was going to rule the world was just too much suspension of reality for most people.   

That's why I call Vol. 2 "Maggie Grows Up."  It was clear from the beginning that Maggie was well-educated and highly intelligent.  It was unfortunate that she grew up using her sexuality to get her way.  She had progressed to a very different person in Vol. 2, and I felt that she had grown into a woman capable of leadership. 

Just to be clear, I still intend to write the three books between Home of the Brave and The Treasure of La Malinche but that's going to be the end of the series.

Good.   

[geoffthomas]

I want to add to Gertie's comment.
Good.
Good that you intend to write the three books in between.

But I kinda wanted to see what happened after Linc passed on.
Just sayin....

[Anju No. 469]

I'm waiting too - and waiting and waiting and waiting!!!

[Jeff]

Well crud. It looks like Susan's edited copy of Home of the Brave is lost in the land of UPS.

[PraiseGod13]

Okay.... please bear with me here.....  Since I want to read the series in chronological order, I would read....
Gone For a Soldier
Land of the Free
Home of the Brave
To Be Named
To Be Named
Lonely is the Soldier
Treasure of La Malinche I
Treasure of La Malinche II

Do I have it right??  These books are so excellent and I decided I want to read the whole series from first to last (once it's completed, obviously).  Don't give up on that sequel, Jeff..... I agree that once the series is filled in, readers will be wanting that last book!!

[Jeff]

Since I want to read the series in chronological order, I would read....
Gone For a Soldier
Land of the Free
Home of the Brave
To Be Named
To Be Named
Lonely is the Soldier
Treasure of La Malinche I
Treasure of La Malinche II

Yes, Judy, you're right. Thanks, as always, for your support. The chronology of both published books and works in progress is:

Published - Gone For a Soldier. (The America Revolution.)
Published - Land of the Free. (American Westward expansion and The War 0f 1812.)
Finished but not quite published - Home of the Brave. (The Mexican U.S. War.)
Complete draft - Johnny Comes Marching Home. (The America Civil War.)
First draft- To End All Wars). (WW-I) *
Rough draft - Under the Apple Tree). (WW-II ) *
Finished but not submitted to editing - Lonely is the Soldier. (Post Vietnam Delta Force operations.)
Published - Treasure of La Malinche I. (Modern Mexican/American politics intermixed with Spanish/Mexican history.)
Published - Treasure of La Malinche II. (Near future Mexican/American politics.)

* Working titles may be changed.

[PraiseGod13]

Thank you so much!!  And... it's easy to be supportive of quality.... and that's you and your writing, for sure!!!

[geoffthomas]

Thank you so much!!  And... it's easy to be supportive of quality.... and that's you and your writing, for sure!!!

Now that is the truth.
That it is EASY to support quality work.
And that these books are quality with a capital Q.
I LOVE historical fiction. And especially when the historical facts are accurate. Then tell me a story...please.
And Jeff sure has done all of that.
I look forward to many years of reading works from Mr. Hepple.
Thanks for all you do.



Just sayin....