Silvana Villarreal/ VAQUERO RADIO PHOTOS/ Pictures edited by America Salazar
Novelette author Amy Frazier displaying her new book “Brujeria in South Texas”.
Silvana Villarreal/ VAQUERO RADIO PHOTOS/ Pictures edited by America Salazar
It’s a tale as old as time, a book about a woman who has been bewitched and is on a quest to figure out what path she should take.
UTRGV Writing & Language Studies professor and short story writer Amy Frazier will soon release a novelette titled “Brujeria in South Texas”, in partnership with Austin Macauley Publishers.
“Faith, hope and love,” as Fraizer puts it, are the words she would use to describe her book.
“You know why? Because… there are relationships between individuals that will give up their lives for each other,” Frazier said.
The book follows Isabella, a woman who is suddenly puzzled by objects that appeared on her porch and lawn. Believed to have been a subject of witchcraft, Isabella’s health deteriorated as the days passed and objects keep appearing in front of her home, so she looks for someone who can break the spell.
Father Andrew, one of the main characters, is in the pursuit of helping Isabella and ties the story together from the witchcraft storyline to a child trafficking subplot.
“I added three more chapters, and I ended up writing a frame story. A story within the story.”
Liliana Gonzalez, an accounting major at UTRGV said the story has much to do with tales grandparents tell children, myths and culture from the Rio Grande Valley.
“It has a lot to do with old folktales, and what we grew up listening to from grandparents,” said Gonzalez. “I would read a book like that.”
Frazier, a woman with little to no experience on the topics written, had to make extensive research and said she decided to include three chapters on child sex trafficking to bring awareness to the topic.
“But who’s gonna help the children?” Frazier said. “[I said] this is my moment, this is my chance to raise awareness.”
She gives all the credit of writing the book to God.
“I can’t take any credit for it [the book], I can’t. Everything comes from God. All my talents and gifts come from him,” Frazier said.
As a book that is not afraid to discuss taboo topics, such as child sex trafficing and withcraft, it is not recommender for readers under 18 years of age, and it is categorized as a thriller.
The fictional story is set to be released on November 30th, and will be available in most English speaking countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
The book can be found in stores and online Barnes & Noble, Amazon, among others.
