<p>A devastating flood of the Ventura River in 1832 nearly destroys Mission San Buenaventura on the coast of California. But it also unites three unlikely friends: Inigua – a rebellious Chumash elder, Father Francisco Uria – the eccentric Padre-Superior of the mission, and Pablo – an orphaned mestizo boy who yearns to become a vaquero.When Padre Uria pairs Inigua (a former vaquero himself) with Pablo, each is leery of the other, but they eventually form a bond as strong as the braided rawhide lariat they plan to make. The two travel inland to Rancho Ojai to begin the reata, but soon run afoul of the vicious mayordomo – the master of the mission whipping post. To escape his wrath the old man and the boy go into hiding on deserted Santa Cruz Island.As work proceeds on the painstaking art of making the reata, Inigua braids his own life story into descriptions of what life was like before the coming of the Spaniards, the changes they brought, and the destruction they wrought on a maritime culture that had thrived here for thousands of years.Pablo begins to see his own mission upbringing with fresh eyes. He begins to question his faith as well, while pondering the rich tapestry of Chumash mythical lore. By the time the reata is complete he must determine which strand of his mixed-blood heritage pulls the strongest.</p>

Making The Reata

Literature & Fiction

Tallent, Terry

Genre Fiction

Silver Spur Publishing

Authors of best selling books unit to give advice on business.

How to Succeed in Business Without Kissing Ass

Business & Money

Kracke, Don

Whipple, Lee

Business Culture

<p>Terry Tallent recounts numerous misadventures inspired by his own life in this sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-rending collection of 44 short stories. Some of the tales are interconnected and woven among free-standing yarns. Diverse themes are explored throughout. Among them: the game of pool, a California beach town in the 1950’s, romance in the South Seas, an unsolved library murder, surfing in the early 60's,the rise of modern-day Berlin after reunification, sea turtle biology, Samoan culture, Poe’s ominous bird of yore, coitus interruptus, bohemians &amp; debauchery. The collection’s title piece, “The Loose Rack,” won first place in the 2014 Ventura County Writers’ Club Short Story Contest. Another story, “My Dinner With Andrea,” won first place in the “Best Worst Sex Scene Writing Contest” of 2005. Also by Terry Tallent -- don’t miss his historical novel, “Making The Reata,” (2012) which tells the story of the founding and ultimate demise of Mission San Buenaventura from the Chumash Indian point of view. Available at Amazon.com, Silver Spur Publishing, and selected museum book stores.</p>

The Loose Rack & Other Stories

Short Stories & Anthologies

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Books by Silver Spur Publishing