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If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
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April B.
1 year ago
What character was the hardest to write or imagine? And what characters came naturally?
Joe
1 year ago
Why such a bleak view on men in this novel?
Dauris
1 year ago
Why make the grandmother Yolanda suffer and not tell her family. Also,Amandeo and the teacher sleeping together that’s just weird! At first I really couldn’t get into the book thinking it was religious. But it was a good read!
My guesses-
Yolanda was to convey martyrdom and the fallacy of self importance.
The teacher was the “virgin” Mary stained by Jesus (Amandeo). I think there are a ton of religious undertones and it’s hard to interpret or notice them all.
Anne
1 year ago
What does the coyote symbolize? Is there a connection to culture with the coyote?
Coyote is a trickster figure in folklore of New Mexico. Sly and calculating. A symbol of the untamed and wild and brings trouble.
Connie Dunn
1 year ago
What intrigued you about the world you created for the book?
Lori
1 year ago
What made you decide to write a book based in the Española area?
Stefanie Eller
1 year ago
Did you grow up personally knowing the kinds of people you wrote about? The characters feel very real and personal, as if I would know them in real life.
Judy Worth
1 year ago
If I could ask the author one question, it would be if any of the characters in the book were based on a people she actually met in New Mexico.
Melody
1 year ago
I like clarity, what does the author think the five wounds are?
I think they can be interpreted on multiple levels. They more obviously refer to the Five Holy Wounds that Jesus suffered during his crucifixion. On a slightly deeper level, Quade’a five wounds might also refer to the five generations of Padillas (Tive, Yolanda, Amadeo, Angel, and Connor). Each Padilla family member was born into a certain amount of pain, suffering, and trauma – each a wounded person in their own right.
Thank you for this discussion point. I am also intrigued by the references to the absence of Ryan’s sternum at birth and how there was nothing but skin between the world and his heart. When Ryan and eventually his mother meet Connor, each of them checked for the presence of Connor’s sternum which meant his heart was protected.
Also, Ryan was so tender, so available to Angel, so available to love and to accept Connor as his own…he was vulnerable to love and to being loved. He has the sweetness of the child, Connor, and disallows the pain that Angel would have him to suffer.
I found author’s. “Acknowledgements”, addressed those queries for me.
Abby
1 year ago
This is very personal, so I do not expect a response, but this is my question nonetheless- what are you personal religious beliefs? As someone who was raised extremely religious and is now agnostic this book spoke to me on several levels and I am curious if your personal beliefs were explored or examined through the writing of the novel. I loved this book and plan to read again in the future as I’m sure there is much that I missed.
Liisa Pursiheimo
1 year ago
Did you change your mind about anyone’s fate? What was the alternative?
Cristina
1 year ago
I’d like to understand the significance behind Connor’s name. I found it notable that Angel, an “Hispanic” individual, would give her son a “white” name such as Connor Justin. My initial interpretation Is that Angel, being young and naive but intelligent, understands that more opportunity is generally available to those possessing higher degrees of whiteness. Because Connor is born of a white father, Angel gives her son the opportunity to claim that whiteness in his future. But what does this mean for Chicanx culture? What are your feelings on the matter and how do Angel and Connor work to express… Read more »
That’s not true about Conner Justin (I didn’t remember Justin) being a “White” name. I know many Conners and Justins in all races, and colors. I’m Italian, and my Mother named me Todd. Should I have been Pasquale, or Giovanni
Todd
1 year ago
Why didn’t Angel bring up the point that Brianna refused to be Connors godmother because it would be crossing a line, but she was participating in a relationship with her father?
Pat Wright
1 year ago
Is this book about the importance of faith? What is the meaning of the title?
LSS - ABQ
1 year ago
When is the sequel coming out?!?😉 i can imagine more trials and growth for each of the characters!
LSS - ABQ
1 year ago
A second question (if allowed) – Amadeo has wounds on his hands from the nails so that’s two – what are the other three wounds?!?
Sandy B
1 year ago
What is it that helped you come up with the premise of this book, the location, the characters?
Claire Thompson
1 year ago
What were the five wounds?
Abril
1 year ago
Why five wounds? Elvin, Anthony, Yolanda, Angel, Tio Tive, Marissa and Amadeo all suffered wounds.
What character was the hardest to write or imagine? And what characters came naturally?
Why such a bleak view on men in this novel?
Why make the grandmother Yolanda suffer and not tell her family. Also,Amandeo and the teacher sleeping together that’s just weird! At first I really couldn’t get into the book thinking it was religious. But it was a good read!
My guesses-
Yolanda was to convey martyrdom and the fallacy of self importance.
The teacher was the “virgin” Mary stained by Jesus (Amandeo). I think there are a ton of religious undertones and it’s hard to interpret or notice them all.
What does the coyote symbolize? Is there a connection to culture with the coyote?
Coyote is a trickster figure in folklore of New Mexico. Sly and calculating. A symbol of the untamed and wild and brings trouble.
What intrigued you about the world you created for the book?
What made you decide to write a book based in the Española area?
Did you grow up personally knowing the kinds of people you wrote about? The characters feel very real and personal, as if I would know them in real life.
If I could ask the author one question, it would be if any of the characters in the book were based on a people she actually met in New Mexico.
I like clarity, what does the author think the five wounds are?
I too would like the title explained. It is not apparent to me.
I second this question
I’ve got the same question!!
Hi I believe the title refers to the 5 wounds Jesus suffered when he was crucified.
I think they can be interpreted on multiple levels. They more obviously refer to the Five Holy Wounds that Jesus suffered during his crucifixion. On a slightly deeper level, Quade’a five wounds might also refer to the five generations of Padillas (Tive, Yolanda, Amadeo, Angel, and Connor). Each Padilla family member was born into a certain amount of pain, suffering, and trauma – each a wounded person in their own right.
Thank you for this discussion point. I am also intrigued by the references to the absence of Ryan’s sternum at birth and how there was nothing but skin between the world and his heart. When Ryan and eventually his mother meet Connor, each of them checked for the presence of Connor’s sternum which meant his heart was protected.
Also, Ryan was so tender, so available to Angel, so available to love and to accept Connor as his own…he was vulnerable to love and to being loved. He has the sweetness of the child, Connor, and disallows the pain that Angel would have him to suffer.
I like that answer 👍
I like that question. I immediately thought about the ones that I’m Amedeo received In the ceremony. Maybe that’s part of it
How did you gather information/research to create such a real, human and complex characters?
I found author’s. “Acknowledgements”, addressed those queries for me.
This is very personal, so I do not expect a response, but this is my question nonetheless- what are you personal religious beliefs? As someone who was raised extremely religious and is now agnostic this book spoke to me on several levels and I am curious if your personal beliefs were explored or examined through the writing of the novel. I loved this book and plan to read again in the future as I’m sure there is much that I missed.
Did you change your mind about anyone’s fate? What was the alternative?
I’d like to understand the significance behind Connor’s name. I found it notable that Angel, an “Hispanic” individual, would give her son a “white” name such as Connor Justin. My initial interpretation Is that Angel, being young and naive but intelligent, understands that more opportunity is generally available to those possessing higher degrees of whiteness. Because Connor is born of a white father, Angel gives her son the opportunity to claim that whiteness in his future. But what does this mean for Chicanx culture? What are your feelings on the matter and how do Angel and Connor work to express… Read more »
That’s not true about Conner Justin (I didn’t remember Justin) being a “White” name. I know many Conners and Justins in all races, and colors. I’m Italian, and my Mother named me Todd. Should I have been Pasquale, or Giovanni
Why didn’t Angel bring up the point that Brianna refused to be Connors godmother because it would be crossing a line, but she was participating in a relationship with her father?
Is this book about the importance of faith? What is the meaning of the title?
When is the sequel coming out?!?😉 i can imagine more trials and growth for each of the characters!
A second question (if allowed) – Amadeo has wounds on his hands from the nails so that’s two – what are the other three wounds?!?
What is it that helped you come up with the premise of this book, the location, the characters?
What were the five wounds?
Why five wounds? Elvin, Anthony, Yolanda, Angel, Tio Tive, Marissa and Amadeo all suffered wounds.
The 5 wounds represent the wounds Jesus endured at the Crucifiction, 2 nailed hands, 2 nailed feet and a sword in side.
What made you select the subject of redemption for your book?