GILROY
– The Gilroy Writing Project will have a visit from San Jose
author Nina Marie Martinez, whose first novel,
”
Caramba!: A Tale Told in Turns of the Card,
”
was released this year and has already drawn critical
acclaim.
GILROY – The Gilroy Writing Project will have a visit from San Jose author Nina Marie Martinez, whose first novel, “Caramba!: A Tale Told in Turns of the Card,” was released this year and has already drawn critical acclaim.
The tale is a zany romp involving best friends Natalie and Consuelo; a transvestite named True-Dee; Lulabell, a “practiced and capable witch;” and Lulabell’s son, Javier, a born-again mariachi.
The novel takes place in Lava Landing, Calif., which is the site of the annual Miss Magma beauty pageant and of a dormant volcano.
Consuelo’s recently deceased father is stuck in Purgatory, and, in order to free him, Consuelo must go to his hometown in Mexico, gather the townsfolk, take them to the railroad tracks where he was killed and pray for him.
Consuelo is afraid of long car rides and public transit, so Natalie must accompany her.
Martinez also sets up a number of side stories.
The cards alluded to in the title are Lotería cards, from a bingo-like game, and are also the source of the book’s illustrations.
Martinez is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is an avid hunter of vintage clothes.
She will be speaking at the Gilroy Public Library, 7387 Rosanna St., at 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, contact Dennise Julia, 842-8208 ext. 3413.
