Vagabonds

STRANGERS IN THE LAND Galen the nine-banded armadillo must accept the Tex the ambitious outsider as leader of the search for the fabled Faralone Falls a place they can finally call home. But on the frontier survival is the only thing that matters. Follow the armadillos on this epic quest for a home. An Epic Quest Across a Dangerous Frontier In the tradition of Warriors Seekers or The Guardins of Ga-Hoole comes the American fantasy VAGABONDS the sweeping saga of El Garros armadillo colony the scouts and pioneers who have always been at the forefront of the migration. Rumors from their original homeland the jungles far to the south suggest that El Garros colony may be nearing the fabled Faralone Falls where they will find the answer to why they have traveled northward for decades. On the frontier the armadillos face the unknown. Each step each decision is uncertain full of dangers. Galen must find the courage to take the necessary steps even though he fears the outcome. A Quest for a Home: An Immigrants TaleVAGABONDS is an American fantasy set in the Ozark mountains. Like El Garros clan we are a nation of immigrants people who have known the sacrifice of leaving everything behind in hopes of finding a future and a hope for their families. Your heart will ache for Galen as he must leave behind his Four sisters.Youll weep with him when he finds his brother Rafael who has been blinded--and yet he sees.Youll marvel at the courage and compassion of these endearing vagabonds as they push the very boundaries of their world in search for a home. Travel for a season with Galen Corrie Victor Blaze and Rafael. Experience the Ozark Mountains in all their glory - an American fantasy.This isnt a fast read; instead its a compelling read. Read Vagabonds and follow Galen as he grows into a leader among his people one worthy of being remembered in ballads. WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK? Once upon a time there was a boy and girl who met in college at the U of A and they found they both enjoyed hiking in the Ozarks. It began a life long love of hiking.People say to write what you know: I was learning about camping and the Ozarks. One day we went camping at the Steele Creek campground on the Buffalo River and just at sunset we saw armadillos digging in the bushes. I studied armadillos and found that they are an invasive species coming up from Mexico into the U.S. and had already moved into the Ozarks of southern Missouri. Popular articles in newspapers at the time talked about how surprising it was that armadillos were able to withstand the cold as they moved north but speculated that they were able to survive by digging deeper holes. Did you know that armadillos are the only creatures besides humans that have been known to contract leprosy?Did you know that armadillos are always born as quadruplets? All boys or all girls.Did you know that when startled armadillos jump straight up? It accounts for most of the road kill you see. Until finally I knew enough to put them into a fictionalized story. Now I wasnt writing what I knew but what I imagined to be true. It seemed natural to make it an immigrants story. These were creatures moving from South America through Mexico and into North America. Immigrants. Ive always been fascinated with the difficulties faced by immigrants: leaving their home crossing new lands learning new languages.