Not on My Knees

Today I am interviewing Carolina Bertling of Alpine, CA about her latest book.  Carol is a member of the Alpine Writers’ Guild and works as a Spanish language translator.

Good morning, Carol.  Let’s talk about your intriguing book called Not on my Knees.

What is the genre of your book
It is historical fiction set in 1910 during the Mexican Revolution.

Can you give me a brief synopsis
Chon, the son of a wealthy Spanish landowner rebels against his father’s iron-fisted rule and harsh treatment of the poor native Indians of Mexico.  Chon slips off in the dead of night following a highly explosive verbal confrontation with his father.  Chon meets up with and joins banditos, robbing trains and coaches of their riches.  As Pancho Villa sets the Mexican Revolution in motion, the bandits become revolutionaries fighting the rich landowners and federales. Chon finds himself at a crossroad in his life having become the right hand and confidante to Chico, the bandits’ leader, and secretly loving a beautiful Indian girl.  Chon becomes the head of the family following his father’s death.  He visits his loving mother and must now decide whether to adhere to his family’s values or continue fighting for the poor and his secret love.  Is blood thicker than….?

What prompted you to write this book
Chon was my grandfather and his secret love was Antonia, my grandmother.  They were both very strong-willed people and I wanted to record their story for future generations.

How long did it take you to write the book
Two years.

Is it published and if so, when and by whom
Yes, it was self-published through www.lulu.com in February 2011.  It can be ordered through Lulu or www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com.

Do you have a favorite line from the book
Yes, it is a quote from Emiliano Zapata, one of the revolutionaries.  “I would rather die standing than live the rest of my life on my knees.”

What’s next for you
I just finished a book based on the story of my late husband, Peter.  It is called Prism.  Peter came to the United States from Germany speaking impeccable English and German.  He joined the US Air Force but his mother stopped him from going overseas.  With the help of a senator, she got him pulled out of the Air Force.  Peter went to Washington and became a double agent, working for both the United States and Germany.

Thank you so much, Carol.


This week's quote:
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.
Oscar Wilde