Santa Fe Sister
A Novel
by
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With her eyes closed, Mitzi heard her parents' muffled voices, a murmur of conversation instead of the usual clamor in the kitchen. She rolled onto her back pulling her blanket up to her neck. Although she had slept for hours, it seemed only a few minutes had passed since she collapsed onto her bed in tears. The shadows from the setting sun slide through the slats of the wooden Venetian blinds enabling her to see small dust particles floating in the air. If this had been an ordinary day, she would not be in her bedroom feeling miserable in the warm, familiar space. She would be talking to her mother, just home from work, or she would be sampling food from the refrigerator as she helped prepare dinner. Mitzi slid from under the blanket and sat on the edge of her bed. The afternoon was gone. The room was too dark to see anything but the black outline of the chest of drawers and the frames of Goya prints of ballerinas, a present from her father. Even if she had been able to make out the prints, they would not have brought her pleasure. In that dark room, thoughts of her father made her miserable. Recalling the terrifying scene of a few hours earlier, she squeezed her eyes hoping to purge the image of her father's darkened eyes on his handsome face. In her twelve years, Mitzi had never seen her father with that raging face. He was often angry, shouting at her mother or brother, but never at her, and until today he had not been violent.
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About the Book
Jeannie Weiner’s compelling novel weaves quirky, yet believable characters, through the ordeal of a father’s haunting past.
The Jewish community in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is unaware of the secret of one of its leaders, Zoltan Klein. Zoltan’s dark rages could tear apart his new life as his daughter, Mitzi, tries to break free of her father’s old world traditions. Mitzi’s rebellion leads to a dramatic turn from her family and unexpected results.
The author’s years in Santa Fe provide a loving description of the tiny Jewish community.
Santa Fe Sister is original, a page-turner.
Tony Hillerman, New Mexico’s most endearing writer of Navajo mysteries, after reading Santa Fe Sister, told the author, “You have talent!”
About the Author
I am a freelance writer and community activist. I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and now live in the suburbs of Detroit. As a writer for the local Detroit newspapers and the Detroit Jewish News, I am frequently asked about my Santa Fe roots. Santa Fe Sister, my first novel, evolved after years of responding to questions about Santa Fe, its Jewish community, and the circuitous route Jews took to arrive there. I began my novel, initially,borrowing the story of my parents' arrival in New Mexico from their homes in Hungary. I soon realized this was good backdrop, but I needed a more profound storyline. Mitzi Klein was born! The conflict between father and daughter comes from my personal interest in adolescent females. Mitzi 's dilemma in the novel developed from various experiences with many organizations concerned with mental health and the well being of women and girls. As a retired teacher and freelance writer married to a retired physician, I am delighted to have the time to write. I continue to volunteer in my community but no longer have the title of "President" of anything. I'm in the planning stages of my next novel.