The Loretto Chapel of Santa Fe

The Loretto Chapel in old Santa Fe is as mysterious as it is beautiful. While attending the Women Writing the West writers’ conference, I joined our group on a walking tour of the old Santa Fe’s historic district. The highlight of that tour was the Loretto Chapel.

Loretto Chapel was almost completed in 1878 when the builders realized the chapel had a major flaw: there was no access to the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem, but they all concluded that building a staircase would take too much space from the limited seating of the small chapel, and that the only access would be a ladder.

The Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared with a donkey and toolbox looking for work. He had two requirements: that he work completely alone and that the nuns furnish vats of hot water several times a day. They honored his request.

Months later, on the appointed day, the nuns entered the chapel to find an elegant circular staircase with two 360-degree turns and no visible means of support. The staircase was built without nails, only wooden pegs. Mysteriously, the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks.

The staircase was said to sway slightly and ten years later banisters were installed for safety in climbing to the loft.

Today the chapel is now a private museum and maintained for the preservation of the Miraculous Staircase and the Chapel itself. In addition to serving as a museum, the Chapel is a popular site for weddings.

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Mary E. Trimble is the author of two memoirs, SAILING WITH IMPUNITY: Adventure in the South Pacific, and TUBOB: Two Years in West Africa with the Peace Corps, plus three contemporary western novels, Tenderfoot, McClellan’s Bluffand Rosemount. In addition, she has written 400+ magazine and newspaper articles on sailing, RV destinations, disaster preparedness, and items of interest to homeowners. She recently retired after serving 20 years as a volunteer with the American Red Cross. Trimble lives on Camano Island, WA with her husband, Bruce. www.MaryTrimbleBooks.com

New Releases - November 2016

Maria Ines
Anne Schroeder

An Indian girl born under Padre Serra’s cross at Mission San Miguel de Arcángel witnesses the political intrigue and greed of Spanish, Mexican and Yanqui invaders who plunder California, destroying everything she loves. A refugee in her own land during the Time of the Troubles, Maria Inés struggles to survive while she reclaims her family, her faith and her ancestral identity. A moving must-read for fans of the Old West and Native American history.

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October Member News

Marsha Ward, The Complete Owen FamilySaga is a chronological box set of the five novels: Gone for a Soldier, The Man from Shenandoah, Spinster's Folly, Ride to Raton, and Trail of Storms. Join Rod and Julia Owen, their sons, daughters, and neighbors in Colorado Territory and beyond for action, adventure and romance in 19th Century America.

Louise Lenahan Wallace’s short story, “The Warning” is included in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s The Joy of Christmas under the section Holiday Miracles. And a miracle it was. I didn’t know where the overpowering feeling of dread was coming from that Christmas Eve afternoon, but I’m thankful to the depths of my soul that I heeded it.

AWARDS

Heidi M. Thomas, Dare to Dream and Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women have both received Finalist awards in the Book Excellence Awards contest, Dare in the Young Adult and Cowgirl Up in the non-fiction categories.

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September Member News

Donna Baier Stein, The Silver Baron's Wife traces the rags-to-riches-to-rags life of Colorado's Baby Doe Tabor (Lizzie), who worked in the silver mines and had two scandalous marriages, one to a philandering opium addict and one to a Senator and silver baron worth $24 million in the late 19th century. Hers is the tale of a fiercely independent woman who bucked all social expectations by working where 19th century women didn't work, becoming the key figure in one of the West's most scandalous love triangles, and, after a devastating stock market crash destroyed Tabor's vast fortune, living in eccentric isolation at the Matchless Mine. An earlier version of this novel won the PEN/New England Discovery Award in Fiction."

Paty Jager, Reservation Revenge: A Shandra Higheagle Mystery (Book six of the Shandra Higheagle Native American Mystery Series). Upon learning a cousin is suspected of murder, potter Shandra Higheagle travels to the Colville Reservation to support her family and use the insight she receives from her Nez Perce grandmother in dreams. Detective Ryan Greer soon discovers his own hidden secrets could be as dangerous as century old feuds, jealousy, and the drug running that is connected to the murder. ​

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Marion Mutala, Ukrainian Daughter’s Dance. A poetry collection that speaks to the heart as they document a woman's life journey, as a Ukrainian-Canadian, and as a prairie woman, and her voyage of self-discovery. Her story can be anyone's story. Poems explore issues of immigrant identity and voice in the prairies, and celebrate a cultural heritage expressed through song, dance, art, work and life.

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 AWARDS

Linda Shuler, HiddenShadows, has won or placed in numerous awards. Winner: Willa Literary Award for Original Soft Cover; 2016 Global Ebook Award for Fiction - Popular Literature; NABE Pinnacle Book of Achievement Award for Fiction Finalist. Finalist: Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Contest, Long Contemporary category; Will Rogers Medallion Award, for Romance Fiction; NERFA (National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award) sponsored by First Coast Romance Writers, for Novel with Romantic Elements; WFWA (Women's Fiction Writers Association, Shining Star Award), for Best Debut Finalist. Short-listed for Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize; Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award (highest scoring books by debut authors); Honorable Mention, General Fiction, Eric Hoffer Award; Da Vinci Eye, Eric Hoffer Award for the cover; NIEA (National Indie Excellence Award) for Literary Fiction; Top Ten Finisher, Best Other novel: Predators & Editors Readers' Poll 2015.

Nancy Godbout Jurka's illustrated poetry book, The Bright Star of Palmer Lake, recently won the 2016 Colorado Independent Publishing Association 3rd Place EVVY Award in Poetry.  The Bright Star of Palmer Lake is a beautifully illustrated in watercolors by artist Kay LaBella celebrating the historic Palmer Lake Star shining each holiday season for 80 years in the small town of Palmer Lake, Colorado where Nancy Jurka resides.

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