New Mexico: Land of Enchantment

  Someone once asked me why all of my books and short stories take place in New Mexico. To an outsider who's never been there or who knows New Mexico only through the TV show, Breaking Bad, this is easy to explain. 

      New Mexico is truly a land of enchantment. Old adobe ruins sit side by side to new structures. Hotels and shopping centers reflect the  Southwest motif of the ancient and current Pueblos. During winter and cold summer nights, the air is thick with the scent of pinon pine burning in the fireplaces or outside horno ovens, and the night sky is a panorama of endless stars. 

     From orange tinted arid deserts to snow covered mountains--even in summer, the terrain remains unendingly captivating. And on this land, one can find peoples of traditional, native dress; people dressed like a cowboy; or others in city clothes--typical of any city. And then there are those citizens who wear a colorful combination of any of these.

       The arts and crafts of New Mexico reflect the multitude of religions and cultures. Though many objects are sacred, many are made commercially to be sold as jewelry and home decor.

       New Mexico moves slower than the rest of America. Dinners and get to gethers are casual and homey.

      Meals are enhanced by the combination of Indian and New Mexican foods: beans, tortillas, and the ever present green and red chiles are found in everyone's kitchen. No where in the world is the combination of  these foods found and combined as in New Mexico!

      One has to visit New Mexico to understand and feel what I do. However, if you can't, open one of my books or any of the others I included in my book list.  Close your eyes because the blue sky is unbelievable rich, the sun is brighter than its neighboring states, and the stars are too plentiful to count. Enjoy your journey.