New Mexico Historical Fiction

It’s 1929 in New York City. In an apartment high above Lexington Avenue, the painter Georgia O’Keeffe feels stuck. At 42, she should be at the apex of her powers as an artist, and yet something is missing. Her husband - the gallerist Alfred Stieglitz, who helped build her reputation in the art world - has grown needy and insecure, not to mention unfaithful. More than this, her work has lost its fire, and she knows it. The calla lilies and poppies for which she is revered now seem careful, predictable.

In a bid to outrun her past, Carrie Ballentyne accepts a nursing position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. She knows the journey from New York to Santa Fe will not be easy, but she relishes the adventure. However, nothing could have prepared her for the wilderness she encounters. Its vastness and power are awe-inspiring, stunning in both beauty and brutality. To endure, she must learn to rely on her fellow travelers—and one enigmatic man in particular. As the small, tight-knit group tackles challenge after challenge, she feels her heart opening to this rugged land.

The once-bustling community of Madrid, New Mexico, provides the background for this fictional story. Using an interview storytelling technique, George Pintar weaves the history, culture, and economy into an intriguing, easy-to-listen tale.

While visiting with my aunt and uncle, in Itching Tree, Idaho, I received a telegram. It was from Mayor Madison of Windy Butte, New Mexico. I had taken care of a problem they had when we passed through there on our way to Velvet Sky, Arizona. It seemed they had a similar situation now. The new sheriff they hired was causing all kinds of grief and trouble.