The Killing Land by Jacqueline Seewald

The Killing Land by Jacqueline Seewald is an historic novel that captures the heart of the American West.

This novel is set principally in the Arizona Territory of the early l880's where a courageous settler from the East and an aristocratic cattle baron become involved in a love/hate relationship. The two, although attracted to each other, are initially distrustful and antagonistic toward one another. The dangers they face draw them together.

Mary suspects that Cal is responsible for trying to drive the homesteaders and sheepherders off the land cattlemen consider rightfully theirs. When her uncle is murdered, Mary intends to discover who is responsible and why. In so doing, she becomes a person of interest to a vicious outlaw.

First Reviews of The Killing Land:

"The rugged West, a greedy villain, violence, and true love…Jacqueline 

Seewald brings it all."  

Pamela Nowak 

2014 Colorado Book Award 

HOLT Medallion Winner 

********

Historical Novel Society 

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-killing-land/

(Review Excerpt)

“The Killing Land is set in the Arizona territory in the 1880s, and opens with an intriguing hook that snags the reader’s attention quickly… Seewald does a fine job with character development, including with her secondary characters. Several are intriguing and complex... The plot itself is quite detailed as well…She does well with some of the state history, such as the Tewksbury and Graham clan feud. Fans of western romance should be pleased with this novel.”

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Killing-Land-Jacqueline-Seewald/dp/1432831194

Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATYI6WU/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-killing-land-jacqueline-seewald/1122846630

and many other booksellers. It can also be requested at local libraries.

Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Sixteen of her books of fiction have been published to critical praise including books for adults, teens and children. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies such as: THE WRITER, L.A. TIMES, READER’S DIGEST, PEDESTAL, SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY MAGAZINE, OVER MY DEAD BODY!, GUMSHOE REVIEW, THE MYSTERY MEGAPACK, LIBRARY JOURNAL, and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. She’s also an amateur landscape artist and loves blue grass music. Her writer’s blog can be found at: http://jacquelineseewald.blogspot.com

Romance and/or Mystery?

From the day back in grade school, when I received a handmade valentine from a boy I had a crush on, Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday. Through the years, when I got candy, flowers or jewelry from the current man in my life, my feelings for the holiday were reinforced. For me, love will always be “in the air” on Valentine’s Day whether or not I’m romantically involved.

But, as a mystery writer, there’s a flip side to the coin. I still see romance on Valentine’s Day but I also see mystery. It all started many years ago when, for three consecutive years on Valentine’s Day, I received a single red rose from someone who chose to remain anonymous. There was no note and no indication of who it was from.

When I opened my apartment door the first time it happened and saw the rose on the mat, I had mixed emotions. I remember glancing around, thinking someone I knew was watching me, waiting to step out from their hiding place to tell me “Happy Valentine’s Day.” But there was no one there. Did I have a secret admirer? That thought was both intriguing and frightening.

I was determined to find out who had given me the rose. I figured it had to be from someone who lived close by because it was obvious from the condition of the rose that it hadn’t been there long. I wasn’t dating anyone at the time so I went through a mental list of possible “suspects” including a few male friends, my father and an ex-boyfriend. One by one, I asked them if they’d given me the rose. But no one admitted to it.

.

I had several male neighbors and there was one man in particular who seemed to always be lurking around. Truthfully, he gave me the chills and I hoped it wasn’t him. I have to admit to being a little paranoid; I started looking over my shoulder.

For the next two years, the same thing happened on Valentine’s Day. Until I moved. Now, I could assume it was from my weird neighbor but, as in any good mystery, without proof or a confession, I’ll never know for sure. So, it remains a mystery to this day.

We writers often use bits and pieces of our own experiences in our novels. My “rose experience” gave me the idea for my fifth Malone Mystery, which I’m currently in the process of writing. Of course, my main character won’t be me and the location and the plot will be entirely different from mine. But that’s where the fun and magic of writing fiction comes in.

Regardless of whether you see romance, mystery or a combination of the two, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Madeline Gornell has posted my article "Visiting the Scene of the Crime" at:
https://mmgornell.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/patricia-gligor-visiting-the-scene-of-the-crime/
and
Pat Hernandez is interviewing me at: 
http://palmaltas.blogspot.com/
I hope you'll stop by.