The flyleaf to Anne Hillerman’s new novel, Spider Woman’s Daughter, reads, “It happened in an instant … Navajo Nation police officer Bernadette Manuelito … hears a crack of gunfire. When the dust clears, someone very close to her is lying … in a pool of blood.”
Hillerman, long-time journalist and author of six non-fiction books, will talk about her first novel Saturday, December 7, at 1:30 p.m. in the Stuckey Auditorium at Good Samaritan - Las Cruces Village, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. The event is sponsored by the Las Cruces Press Women.
Hillerman’s new novel picks up the mantle of her father Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Nation police mysteries, involving Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Office Jim Chee.
The elder Hillerman wrote 18 stories set on the Navajo reservation. After his death in 2008, Anne says, “People would ask me if Dad had left any unfinished stories in his computer. I just felt the need to continue the tales of his iconic characters.”
At Good Sam on December 7, Hillerman will explain how she came to write Spider Woman’s Daughter, developing the character of Manuelito, who first appeared in The Fallen Man. She will also talk about her father’s, and now her, love the Four Corners region and what inspired the settings for the Leaphorn-Chee series.
Bookseller Barnes & Noble will have copies of Spider Woman’s Daughter and Hillerman will autograph her book following the presentation. A members-only reception with the author will take place after the presentation.
Las Cruces Press Women is a professional organization for women and men who work in any field of communications. Membership information is available by e-mailing lcpresswomen@gmail.com.