Father Serra - Missionary

Father Serra - Missionary
Always forward, never back

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Revised and Reformatted the Blog

So, what do you think?

I encountered a blog site - So, you're a writer - @ http://soyoureawriter.blogspot.com/ and accepted the offer to have someone review and comment on my blog - Father Serra's Legacy.
Her YouTube video @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MyMCUHAox-o was quite informative.
I've been blogging for several years now and she pointed out some things I totally missed and others I never knew existed.
If you're a blogger or are thinking about it, she is certainly worth listening to.
I've already altered both of my blogs - this and Father Serra's Legacy
My deep thanks to Carrie. I hope you will check out her blog and website.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Giving our good Father Baegert a rest

I haven't forgotten about the good father. Just reached a stage in writing Leatherjacket Soldier where I don't seem to be able to find the time to continue the story.

But also maybe because he now pops up in the novel!

In 1751, totally without the faintest idea of what it was about, Sergeant Fernando Rivera gets called to Loreto. Captain Bernardo Rodriguez died in Dec '50 and everyone expects either Lieutenant Riva or Sergeant Gutiérrez to be promoted to fill his place as commandant and governor.



Nobody expects Rivera to be the one. After all, he's young, uneducated - no college, and lacking experience.



Guess what? Wanting someone not indebted to the Rodriguez family, the Jesuits skip over everyone and promote Fernando Rivera from sergeant to captain.

Can any of us even begin to understand or appreciate the shock that came with that? I certainly couldn't. It would compare a store clerk being promoted to general manager. Or a receptionist being given the position of a company's CEO.

And, to make matters more interesting, '51 is the year when 3 new Jesuit priests are sent to California. This is where my story line gets a bit interesting – and complicated.

There are only two ways the new priests can get to California – a launch from Guaymas or a supply ship from near San Blas. And, who would be captain of that ship but Basilio de Rivera. Fernando's half-brother.

And, one of the new fathers is Father Baegert. During the time the good father gathers his strength and gets over the sea sickness, Fernando makes it a point to visit all the missions in the north that he's never seen. And, after doing that, he is part of the escort who takes Father Baegert to Mission San Luis Gonzaga.

To make the story interesting he will escort one padre south where he will encounter Lieutenant Riva, the man he once worked for and who he was promoted over.

Won't that be fun?