Sonoma Book Club Introduces Saving El Chico

It was a pleasure to meet with a Sonoma book club to introduce Saving El Chico.  The setting was in a beautiful Sonoma farm house with a group of brilliant women who read and then talk about that month's selection which this time was MY NOVEL. (WOW - surreal) The discussion included opinions about the characters, the town, but most importantly, the drought situation throughout the U.S.
After the discourse we enjoyed an over-the-top dinner of Texas Caesar Salad, King Ranch Chicken, Barbecued Ribs ..... and Sonoma wines - of course.... with a centerpiece of boot filled yellow roses.  The evening was topped off with live western music.
What a way to introduce Saving El Chico!

REVIEW FROM MY COUSIN......

This review note from my cousin, Bob, was expecially meaningful to me.

DEAR META,

I GOT YOUR BOOK YESTERDAY AND READ INTO THE NIGHT AND FINISHED WITH TEARS IN MY EYES, YOUR BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING AND HEART WARMING AND FOR THOSE THAT KNOW YOU NOT A SURPRISE. IT SHOULD BE VERY ENLIGHTENING TO ALL. YOU HAVE, IN A VERY SIMPLE LITTLE BOOK, GIVEN YOUR READERS A GLIMPSE OF THE OPTIMISM AND FAITH THAT WE ALL NEED SO MUCH IN OUR LIVES TODAY.

SHOULD BE A FAITH BASED MOVIE AND A STAGE PRODUCTION WHICH I KNOW IS SO CLOSE TO YOUR HEART

YOUR COUSIN,

BOB

READERS' BOOKS, SONOMA, SAVING EL CHICO LAUNCH PARTY

It was an exciting evening for Saving El Chico. A standing-room-only crowd

appeared to hear me read from the novel. The first of what I hope will be 

a number of such events around the country.  

FROM THE NOVEL, SAVING EL CHICO

Rocks tumbled down the mountainside as horse and rider made their way over a dry creek bed. Jake Johnson squinted, pulling down his large, sweat-stained Stetson to avoid the blinding sunlight. Crowds of buzzards circled then feasted on small animals dead from dehydration. There was not a cloud in the sky or a sign of water anywhere on the ranch. The cowboy thought of past times when massive cattle herds grazed here in deep grass. He sighed, turned his horse and galloped across the barren, mesquite-dotted prairie, leaving a cloud of dust.

GRAYSTONE'S SHIRTS

El Chico's character, Nicholas Graystone, must have to make some serious decisions each morning when he goes to his closet to select the day's wardrobe. Here are some of the possible shirts he could wear. I'm wordering if you agree or have more suggestions.

GRAYSTONE'S BOOTS

I've been having some fun looking at cowboy boots that Graystone might have in his collection.  Maybe you have some ideas or opinions about his wardrobe.

(If you don't know Nicholas Graystone, he's one of Saving El Chico's main characters.)

Reader Review

"Saving El Chico" reminded me so much of two other books. Neither of which were actually in the so-called novel format but more a kind of journalistic or diaristic style. These two wonderful works were "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle and "Tales Of The City" by Armistead Maupin (which originated as an ongoing tale serialized in the SF Chronicle and later published as a book). For all intents and purposes, Meta has created a tale equal in spirit and literary value to these two small but gigantic books in their own rights. As far as I'm concerned the only thing left to say is... Welcome to the pantheon Ms. Strauss––great job!”

Butch Engle