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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Juana Briones: a California Heroine (Deepest Roots of the Heart)

by Chautona Havig · 18 Comments

DROTHcoversmAnother research gem that I unearthed while writing Deepest Roots of the Heart was an amazing Californio woman, Juana Briones.  I do not remember Briones from my study of California history.  I don’t know if she simply wasn’t included or if somehow I missed her (I suspect the former), but this is one seriously amazing woman.

Juana was married to a Mexican cavalryman–a drunk abuser, no less. After receiving a church sanctioned separation from him (practically unheard of from what I can find), she moved onto her own property (modern day Palo Alto) with her children (she had eleven, including an adopted native child, but I don’t know if all of them were alive at that point), and ran her own ranch.  She was an herbalist–a healer.  In fact, she traveled to Marin county in order help with the smallpox epidemic there.

But the thing about Briones that astounds me is her legal acumen.  She managed to do what almost no other Californios did–keep her lands.  While her fellow ranch owners lost their ranchos to squatters after the annexation of California to the US, Juana held onto hers.  Then, when she finished with that, she fought for her husband’s property after his death–all the way to the US Supreme Court!  This amazing woman inspired me in so many ways.  I used her in this novel in a completely fictionalized way. I found no evidence that she helped with a smallpox outbreak in Napa or Sonoma counties, but it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that she could have.

Juana will make more appearances in book three of the Legacy of the Vines series.  I can’t wait to get to know her better.

 

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Filed Under: New Release, Writing Tagged With: Deepest Roots of the Heart

Previous Post: « Historical Surprises: Deepest Roots of the Heart
Next Post: Amelia’s Interview: Deepest Roots of the Heart »

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Comments

  1. Tristan says

    January 21, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    Shared on Facebook today.

    Reply
  2. Carol Paine says

    January 21, 2015 at 2:49 am

    On facebook last night

    Reply
  3. Jackie says

    January 20, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    Shared on fb

    Reply
  4. Virginia says

    January 20, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Done!

    Reply
  5. Cathe Swanson says

    January 20, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    I got my reviews posted! Loved it!

    Reply
  6. Lucinda says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Shared on FB 🙂

    Reply
  7. Cathe Swanson says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Shared it on facebook!

    Reply
  8. Lora says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Shared on FB

    Reply
  9. Jessica S says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Shared on FB!

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    Shared on facebook.

    Reply
  11. MS Barb says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    I shared on Facebook!

    Reply
  12. Jen Harris says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    Shared on FB! Love this story, too. Reminds me of the stories of some of our pioneer woman ancestors in Tennessee who were known for keeping “the law” off their land “by force of arms”. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Sharon B says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    shared

    Reply
  14. April says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I shared it!

    Reply
  15. Brenda says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    shared and pinned…

    Reply
  16. Jennifer Miles says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    I posted to facebook. So excited to have a chance to read another fantastic book by you!

    Reply
  17. dhbarbara says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    shared 🙂

    Reply
  18. Penny Dunn says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Pinned it. Still trying to get it to post to Facebook.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 214: A Chat about After the Shadows with Amanda Cabot
March 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 213: A Chat about Daughter of Eden with Jill Eileen Smith
March 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 212: A Chat about Code Name Edelweiss with Stephanie Landsem
February 28, 2023
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Episode 211: A Chat with Lynn H. Blackburn about Under Fire
February 24, 2023
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Episode 210: A Chat with Jennifer Deibel about The Maid of Ballymacool
February 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 209: A Chat with Tracie Peterson about Remember Me
February 17, 2023
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Episode 208: A Chat with Author, Hallie Lee
February 14, 2023
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Episode 207: A Chat with Daniella Rushton about Portal Fantasy
February 10, 2023
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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
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