CARL PRESENTATIONS AT THE RECENT READERS MAGNET FESTIVAL OF STORYTELLERS. WWW.FESTIVALOFSTORYTELLERS.COM/BOOTH/CARL-BRUSH
THE YELLOW ROSE 2ND PRINTING
Did you know?
Historically, the term “yellow rose” referred to an attractive mulatto woman. Also historically, the original “Yellow Rose of Texas” was for sure one Emily West, and her story is intertwined in song and legend with the Texas Revolution of 1836. That series of battles, led by Sam Houston, made Texas a Republic, its own country until it joined the union in 1845.
The Yellow Rose is set during the revolution and supposes that Emily and Sam not only collaborated in certain incidents that gave the Texans victory, but became romantically involved in the process.
Coming soon
My sixth novel Swindle In Sawtooth Valley awaits publication. Any day now
There’s plenty of Writer Working news till Swindle emerges. Browse through the works already out there, and take a peek at some new reviews and commentaries.
Read my latest already-publnovel
YOU CAN’T KEEP HER
This is the first sequel to Bonita, the story of a mother’s search to find her lost daughter and then her fight to maintain a relationship with her.
“A compelling story of self-discovery and courage”
Silvia Villalobos, author
Excerpt from Chapter 1 of You Can’t Keep Her
BLOCKADE
We were in the library, which smelled of the same leather and stale cigar smoke left behind by its late owner, Benito Alvarez. It was quite a mansion Alvarez had built high on this San Francisco hill where i now stood opposite his daughter, Flora Torres. She face me with her arms folder across her chest, so straight and stiff I wanted to cut her corset strings, fancying she’d go all wobbly like a marionette. The image amused me, but I couldn’t indulge in humor now, with her stern dark eyes locked so intently on mine.
“You live an unsavory life, Bonita Kelly. Your parents were horse thieves. Your business partner, that disgusting Sylvia Gonsalves, is a prostitute. You live in a hotel instead of a proper house. You are unfit to enter my home, let alone associate with my daughter. We won’t allow it any longer.”
She gestured to the maid, who had escorted me in. “Laura will show you out.”
Her lips squeezed together like pincers. By “We” she meant her husband, Miguel, who was away on business as he so often was, leaving her to manage, and she was managing with even more than her usual ferocity.
“Two years I’ve been calling on ‘Margarita,'” I said,using the name Flora had given my daughter instead of ‘Bonita,’ the name I’d given her at birth but had yet to broach with her.
“I should never have let things go this far, but now it’s over. From this day forward, you will not cross our doorstep.”
Other novels…
Bonita
The Yellow Rose
Romance amid the cannons of the Texas Revolution.
Emily West, the original Yellow Rose of Texas, and Sam Houston fall in love and establish a new nation. Just click on the left image for a trailer, click on the right to make the adventure all yours.
The Maxwell Vendetta and The Second Vendetta
THE MAXWELL VENDETTA
AND
THE SECOND VENDETTA
Experience a family’s struggle against a marauder intent on destroying every trace of them and their legacy.
Set in 1908-1910 San Francisco, these historical thrillers comprise two volumes of a California frontier trilogy. The third book in the series is Bonita
With the e-book at just $2.99 and the paperback at $14.99, this is one of the greatest bargains in literary history. Just click on a cover image to buy immediately.
NOW LET’S MOVE ON TO PAST AND CURRENT BLOGS:
- AN ARC, AN ARC, MY KINGDOM FOR AN ARC - Now, I seldom, maybe almost never, talk much about the arc of a story. Even books I don’t much care for have one, for good or ill, and I tend to concentrate on character story in terms of reader impact. But I recently read two novels in a row that are very disappointing in the … Continue reading AN ARC, AN ARC, MY KINGDOM FOR AN ARC
- WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO DIE - Because I could not stop for death It was Emily Dickinson who wrote that. I thought of her lines a couple of nights ago when we gathered to remember, to laugh and pray and praise our dear friend and colleague, Peter. He was a young man who, as the phrase goes, "died too soon." And … Continue reading WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO DIE
- AIRPORT FANTASY - An airport you’d think was set up as a place for transportation, and I mean the swiftest known on earth outside rockets and spaceships. But add it all up, the time, I mean, getting to and from an airport, sitting in airport waiting for a plane, for a delayed plane, a meal you’re paying … Continue reading AIRPORT FANTASY
- BARBARA LEE SPEAKS FOR ME (AND FOR THEE) - I am just now sitting down at the computer after having watched the new film Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power, and I confess to being a bit awestruck. Lee has been my congressional representative much of my politically aware life. In 1998 She succeeded the iconic Ron Dellums as the 13th district representative to congress … Continue reading BARBARA LEE SPEAKS FOR ME (AND FOR THEE)
- WHERE IS DICKENS WHEN YOU NEED HIM? - In an article by Hannah Dreir in this morning’s New York Times answered a question that’s been on my mind for a while. Namely, what has been happening to all the refugee children whom Trump tore away from their parents or who crossed the border alone in some other manner? I’ve read about their being … Continue reading WHERE IS DICKENS WHEN YOU NEED HIM?
- CANCUN BOOGIE - The first family reunion since the last family reunion is now actually in full production here in all-inclusive color and sound. Last reunion was in October–an annual affair featuring a hayride in the vicinity of Sally and Bill’s farm in Floyd Knobbs Indiana. This one–fast forward to January–is in honor of Sally’s 70th birthday. Probably … Continue reading CANCUN BOOGIE
- FADING RESOLUTIONS - Well, not fading exactly, but not thriving either. Deep dark secrets here. I’m wasting time here, and at 81 years of age I don’t have time to waste, and yet, I am not meeting goals. I want to finish this damned novel, Nita, the third in the Bonita series. The world needs me to finish … Continue reading FADING RESOLUTIONS
- NEEDING A NEW YEAR–23 - A THANK YOU NOTE TO AARON Okay, let’s start with this. Appropriate because I’ve been trying to bring it off for 6 months or so. It’s a homage to Aaron Davidman and his words at the Peter Foley tribute/celebration of life gathering in June. Aaron gave one of his wonderful end-of life tributes at the … Continue reading NEEDING A NEW YEAR–23
- LISTENING FOR THAT SECRET CHORD - “They say there was a secret chord that David played to please the Lord”–Leonard Cohen If there was indeed such a chord, Geraldine Brooks has gone a long way toward discovering. The breadth and depth of Brooks’ literary explorations is stunning. I have written reviews of three other of her books and am working my … Continue reading LISTENING FOR THAT SECRET CHORD
- HORSE OF A VERY DIFFERENT COLOR - A strange title, I thought, but it turned out to be incredibly appropriate. I’d expect something like “The horse that. . .” or “The 19th Century Secretariat . . ” or something to point me in some direction or another. There is a particular horse in question, but you don’t know that at first. In … Continue reading HORSE OF A VERY DIFFERENT COLOR
- NOT JUST LITTLE WOMEN - The patriarch in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is Mr. March, first name unspecified. He’s a scholar, a minister, a bona fide member of the Concord, Massachusetts, intelligentsia, being a companion of such as Emerson and Thoreau. He’s also a bit of a prude and purist. Vegetarian to the point where he avoids animal matter … Continue reading NOT JUST LITTLE WOMEN
- THE FIXER GETS FIXED - I haven’t read much Malamud, though he was a dominant literary figure during the 20th century. Books like The Assistant and The Magic Barrel were widely read and discussed. Along with Arthur Herzog, Malamud was probably (at least to my limited knowledge) the premier Jewish writer of his generation. Not that either his appeal or … Continue reading THE FIXER GETS FIXED
- THE SAINTLY GIRL-WARRIOR - Joan of Arc is neither a neglected historical figure nor one whose life needs a great deal of explication even at our 600-year remove. A peasant girl who came out of nowhere to lead French armies against the hated and reviled English invaders, she would be a heroine in any culture to which she belonged. … Continue reading THE SAINTLY GIRL-WARRIOR
- HIGH ALTITUDE TREASURE - This is an old book (1983) but nowhere near as old as its subject. Robert Leonard Reid”s sterling collection of articles and essays and stories and poems about the history and nature of California’s Sierra Nevada comes as close as mere words can to fill the reader with an awe akin to visiting the majestic … Continue reading HIGH ALTITUDE TREASURE