The Doomswoman: An Historical Romance of Old California

In the sun‑baked courtyard of Governor Alvarado’s Monterey house, the festive air of a christening sparks a chance encounter that will haunt a young woman named Chonita. Amid laughter, music, and whispered gossip, she learns of the enigmatic Don Diego Estenega—a self‑taught scholar with a restless spirit, whose reputation for daring intellect and daring deeds precedes him. The vivid portrait of early Californian life—its mingling of Mexican, Spanish, and nascent American influences—draws listeners into a world where cultural boundaries blur as easily as the tide on the coast.

As Chonita navigates the swirl of celebrations, she becomes entangled in stories of a mysterious caballero who defies the priests’ bans, gathers forbidden books, and roams the redwood forests of the north. Their conversation hints at a magnetic attraction tempered by personal secrets and the looming pressures of a changing society. Listeners will feel the rhythm of a bygone era, where romance and ambition rise together against a backdrop of fragrant orange groves and the restless Pacific.