Queen of America

Available now!

As a hardcover,

for your e-reader, your Kindle

and as a downloadable audiobook, read by Luis

 

After the bloody Tomochic rebellion, Teresita Urrea, beloved healer and "Saint of Cabora," flees with her father to Arizona. But their plans are derailed when she once again is claimed as the spiritual leader of the Mexican Revolution. Besieged by pilgrims and pursued by assassins, Teresita embarks on a journey through turn-of-the-century industrial America-New York, San Francisco, St. Louis. She meets immigrants and tycoons, European royalty and Cuban poets, all waking to the new American century. And as she decides what her own role in this modern future will be, she must ask herself: can a saint fall in love? At turns heartbreaking, uplifting, and riotously funny, QUEEN OF AMERICA reconfirms Luis Alberto Urrea's status as a writer of the first rank.  

From Luis:

About Queen of America

This is the sequel to The Hummingbird’s Daughter.   It’s a personal favorite because I feel I made some happy forward moves in my writing.  It is, by nature of the milieu, different from its predecessor.  Yet it still trods the pathways of the former book.  You can imagine it this way:  19th century indigenous Mexico offers different magic than, say, early 20th century Manhattan.  It goes from a planted, native tale, to the story of immigrants entering not only a new world, but a new century.  With miracles.  Or:  how does a young woman go from Mexican sainthood to her day’s version of pop-stardom?  How does one try to be the Madonna, while being Madonna?

Ain’t easy, friends.  But it is compelling, and sometimes wildly amusing, frightening, even romantic.  I had to surrender to the story more than the history books or the shamanic teachers.  So this book is faster, I think.  Everything I have ever learned about writing burst on the page before my eyes.  I will have to leave it to readers and critics to decide if it is great, or even good.  But I was writing with lightning in my hand on some pages, and it never felt so good.

Tucson, El Paso, Clifton, San Francisco, St. Louis, Los Angeles, and ultimately New York.  Marriages, births, deaths.  Travel and travails.  After twenty-six years, the saga is complete.

And I love Little, Brown for the astonishing cover they created!

My daydream is to someday see a box set with both books in a nice case.  Boy, would that be a fat box.

Book club members have been some of my most enthusiastic and careful readers. I’m thrilled to share my work with you, answer your questions and tell you some of the stories behind the stories. This is our spot, just for us. Here, we can chat:  If I’m nearby, I’ll come and visit your club. Otherwise, we can Skype, talk over the phone or email. Sometimes, I’ll send surprises or hold contests.

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upcoming events

One Book, One San Diego Launch Event
One Book, One San Diego Launch Event Feb 29th San Diego

More Details to Come. For more information.

San Diego
Feb 29th
2012
AWP Chicago
AWP Chicago Mar 3rd Chicago

More details to come

Chicago
Mar 3rd
2012
Reading Together Kalamazoo
Reading Together Kalamazoo Mar 6th Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo reads Into the Beautiful North! Details to come. For more information.

Kalamazoo, MI
Mar 6th
2012
Tucson Festival of Books
Tucson Festival of Books Mar 9th - Mar 12th University of Arizona

Schedule to be announced. See Tucson Festival of Books for more information.

University of Arizona
Mar 9th - Mar 12th
2012
The Open Book
The Open Book Mar 21st University of South Carolina

Honored to help inaugurate this impressive author series, hosted by Elise Blackwell, at the University of South Carolina. For more information

University of South Carolina
Mar 21st
2012