Darlene Matule

A slice of fresh bread in my left hand and a jelly glass full of sljivovica in my right was all I needed to change my life forever. That and the thought, "What if?"

What if I lived right where I was sitting now? In a century-old farmhouse in Croatia? What if I were seventeen? What if was 1888?

What if I was in love with a handsome young man? What if my father refused to let us marry? The "what ifs" didn't stop.

My life became an adventure from that moment on. My vacation turned into a quest.

When I returned home from my Yugoslavian trip, I cut my work hours-- took Fridays off. I sat at my sturdy oak table in my ultra modern kitchen and gazed out the window at the flowing waters of Chambers Creek, my hands poised above the portable Smith Corona typewriter I'd taken to college. And I began to write.

Ljubica became my best friend. We shared everything. I agonized when her husband made her change her name to Marija. How could that monster Vik take away her very selfhood? Her name? I felt her labor pains. I laughed with my heroine when her neighbor Kathleen demonstrated Marija's first English word--jump. I watched the two of them jump and giggle together. New friends.

I read. Late at night. History, history, history. About Croatia--Ljubica's home in the old country. About Butte, where Marija became Americanized. Characters moved into the chambers of my mind, many unannounced. They wouldn't leave until I put them down in print.

Thus, "Under the Gallus Frame" was born.

Now I can share my adventure with you, my readers. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.

.....For more information.....go to www.darlenematulesbooks.com