Josephine Ashton Knihy

Set against the backdrop of historical events like WWII and the contributions of the Navajo Code-Talkers, the story intertwines the lives of Little Bravebird's grandparents with his own coming-of-age journey. As a five-year-old orphan struggling with learning, he relies on his grandparents' wisdom and life lessons to navigate challenges. Through their shared experiences and games, he discovers his unique learning style. The narrative follows his growth into adulthood, where the enduring gifts of his grandparents shape him into a teacher, writer, and warrior, blending heartfelt moments with themes of resilience and legacy.

Petey Punkin, a shy and lonely young pumpkin, yearns to explore his Sunflower and Punkin Patch. His adventure begins on Halloween Eve when a strong wind causes the Scarecrow to lose his head. A friendly hired hand helps by placing Petey atop the Scarecrow's shoulders, allowing him to experience the world from a new perspective. This encounter not only satisfies his curiosity but also alleviates his loneliness, leading to unexpected friendships and discoveries in the patch.

Set in a fictional southwestern town in 1965, this sequel follows Sheriff Robert Gallegos, a Mexican-American and Native American ex-Marine, as he navigates a landscape filled with mystery, murder, love, and loss. The vibrant Aragón Valley, reminiscent of Brigadoon, is home to a diverse cast of characters—friends and foes alike—who shape the community's dynamic. With its rich cultural backdrop and engaging plot, the story promises excitement and depth, immersing readers in the sheriff's world of challenges and connections.

Sheriff Robert Gallegos, tall, handsome, quiet, friendly, Native American/Hispanic, an ex-WWII Marine is determined that the encroaching Juarez, Mexico drug cartel that will stop at nothing to take over his south eastern New Mexico, Aragon Valley - will not, on his watch, succeed. But as intimidation, rape and murder stalk the rural community, the reality of the threat, this summer of 1965, grows ominously closer. A man's man, with friends dating back to childhood and enemies current, romantic when the time is right, the Sheriff's real companion is Old Lady Sara Tree-Root Tampoya, the part-Hopi Medicine Woman who communicates with Grey Lady Between the Mountains, bringer of passages of life and of death, as he struggles to stay centered in the present and decipher the past, to understand who he really is. The wild red- dust wind gallops day and night through the streets of this fictional Aragon Valley county and town, situated near the Rio Grande, somewhere between Las Cruces and the borders of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico. Santa Feans, Easterners, Denver and West Coast hippies, foreigners and lovers are welcomed, Juarez drug cartel goons are not, and all soon learn to ask no personal questions.