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He Then Spun A Tale Of Hidden Gold
White Sands Gold revolves around treasure, an ancient relic, and a mysterious group of guardians. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
Inspiration came from a conversation with a friend of mine, who said, “I’ve got the idea for your next book.” He then spun a tale of hidden gold—thousands and thousands of bars underneath a mountain north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He’d been exploring the area for years.
Me: “How’d this gold supposedly get there?”
Him: “No one knows for sure, but there are several different theories.”
Me: “When was this supposed to have happened?”
Him: “No one knows that, either, but legend says the gold’s been there a long time.”
Me: “How come no one’s found it?”
Him: “Folklore says someone did, and that fella brought some of the bars up in the 1930s. But he met an…untimely…death. No one’s seen anything since.”
Me: “Who shot him and why?”
Him: “Good question.”
So I went home and did an online search. When page after page about the fabled treasure popped up, I added a few twists, like a mysterious religious relic that’s also been there for centuries, conjured up a shadowy group of guardians, crafted some of my favorite characters, and had my next western mystery, White Sands Gold, set in New Mexico Territory, 1890. The novel has won three awards to date.
Why choose this place and time for the setting of the story?
The legend of gold bars revolves around Victorio Peak, north of Las Cruces. And I always set my western mysteries in late 19th Century America, a time in our history that fascinates me.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
That was some of the most fun. There are so many references to this legend online, and I enjoyed picking my way through them. I also visited the area to get an idea of what the land looked like. The land would not support ranching today, but 150 years ago it was fertile enough that it supported herds of cattle.
Looks like the legend may never be solved, either, as the Army has expanded White Sands Missile Range to include Victorio, so today’s would-be treasure hunters will have to try to dodge the Government.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My editor at The Wild Rose Press has my next story now. Fireflies at Dusk, my first non-western, is a coming-of-age tale about a young man’s struggles, set just prior to and during the Civil War. A budding romance and a pacifist thread add compelling twists.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
In a hidden cavern, a treasure trove of gold sits alongside an ancient relic.
To find her treasure-hunting brother, Lottie Durham enlists the help of an easygoing lawman. When a mysterious woman known only as Ma asks her to join the relic’s guardians, Lottie’s world spins. Should she take on this solemn obligation?
Twill, leader of the mysterious guardians, has sworn a vow to protect the centuries-old religious relic. Regrets bedevil him and his dedication to his oath is repeatedly tested. If he breaks his promise, he’ll fail Ma, the one person he’s never wanted to let down.
Will a looming raid by a band of determined killers be the end of the guardians, the gold, and the relic?
White Sands Gold
White Sands Gold by Mike Torreano is a classic Western story set in the late 18th century in New Mexico, America. The story starts with Yancy, who is searching Victoria mountain for the pile of gold his father died trying to find. He discovers a hidden entrance but is buried beneath stone rubble before he can finish exploring the cave. Back at home, his twin sister Lottie waits for him, knowing full well that people come back from the mountain empty-handed or they don’t come back at all.
The story does one thing and does it well – it’s a Western. There are dry plains, guns, plenty of horse-riding, and some shoot-outs, and the scene wouldn’t be complete without a failing ranch in the middle of nowhere that no one visits without a purpose. While the story sticks to its roots, it nonetheless shows that it was written recently. There are several protagonists sharing the spotlight, and one of them is a strong woman who never relies on a man if she doesn’t have to. There are men who are cool but are open about their feelings at the same time. And there’s also a matriarch who doesn’t need to raise her voice to assert dominance in a room of rowdy boys.
The plot is thrilling, the characters are lively, and even the romantic subplot is slow and steady, making it seem more believable than a rushed romance just to include romance. Both pairs are on equal footing in the relationship, which is also very nice to see, especially since the story is set in a time when women had much less power than men. It is a great intro to western literature for anyone interested in these kinds of stories but not knowing where to start.
White Sands Gold is a captivating historical Western mystery that gives readers everything they love about the old west. With characters that are relatable, readers will be engaged and invested in the story’s outcome. This is a novel readers will think about after the story is done.
Pages: 313| ASIN : B0B3714RXS
LITERARY TITAN 