To save her family's hope of citizenship, Artemisia steps into the lair of powerful, vindictive deceivers. HAVING EVERYTHING is a story of life in a migrant camp and the importance of joyful moments. Racial tension and greed embolden a powerful family to act with malice when Artemisia tries to right past wrongs against her father. Inspired by true events, this gripping story of joy and tragedy lays bare the vulnerability of illegal immigrants in America.
Carlisle, Charles: - I met Charles (Charlie) Carlisle by happenstance on a long airplane flight. We were both writing a novel. Charlie, who had both degrees and experience in the field of fiction, pushed me. Prodded me. Annoyed the heck out of me. Finally helped me 'kill all my darlings' in favor of the story before you. Thank you Charlie.
Gale, Jeanne Arlene: - As a child, Mrs. Gale and her parents lived with her maternal grandparents at their chicken ranch in Soquel, Califorinia, where she attended a one-room Quaker school. Subsequently acquiring a Bachelor of Art in Economics and a Juris Doctorate, she practiced law in Northern California. Inspired to write fiction by her sister, Katherine (Trinka) Margua Simon, this is her first published novel. On a personal note: I tell Artemesia's story through her eyes. To me, her life had laughter and passion and unconditional love. I'd seen some of this before I met her, but as a young lawyer, it was still mostly alien to me. Artemesia's story taught me to embrace laughter and passion and unconditional love because sometimes that's all you have. I was a young lawyer working in California when the judge appointed me to defend her in juvenile court. I'm not young anymore and my memories have woven a tapestry of her that has colored and ripened with time. Yet, even after all these years, I cannot forget what happened nor can I forgive myself for my failure to anticipate the depth of human cruelty. My client lived with her father and her four younger siblings at a migrant farm in California. I was acquainted with the culture of migrant camps as I occasionally accompanied my father in his journeys to attend to the health, welfare and education of migrants and native Americans in California and several other western states. The federal agency that oversaw these matters was my father's employer. I had also become acquainted with immigrants from Mexico through my father's friend, Bonifacio, his wife, Artemesia, their children and extended family. They were our neighbors for two years while my father attended a university. When our house burned down, Bonifacio, Artemesia and their family took us in. I have borrowed their names for this story out of my love for them and my desire to protect, as much as is still possible, the young woman I represented in juvenile court.
Simon, Katherine (Trinka) Margua: - Katherine is my sister and my champion. She is an extraordinary artist, teacher, writer and the world knows her as Trinka Margua Simon. She was the primary artist teaching at the Smithsonian and the Nationally Gallery in Washington D.C. for many years. Most of her major works have been purchased and are in private collections, however, our family has kept a few. One is on loan to the County Library in Eureka, CA, entitled "Rollerblading in the D.C. Metro." It's 8' by 6', you can't miss it. You can also visit her art and find more at her website: trinkamarguasimon.com
