Juanita of Downieville Book One Hyter

100% of profits go to Wounded Warrior Project. This is Book One of a trilogy; a historical fiction about the life and death of Josefa Segovia, AKA Juanita of Downieville, the only known woman to ever be hanged in the state of California. After stabbing Fredrick Cannon to death, a jury assembled in the town saloon, found her guilty five hours later, and before nightfall she was lynched from a bridge on July 5, 1851.
During the first celebration of California's independence as a state Cannon and a group of his friends had been out drinking. They went walking along the town's main street where Juanita and her husband Jose lived. Fredrick broke down the door and found Juanita alone. He returned to his friends a short while later and they went on their way.
Fredrick was in the area the next day and passed their doorway when Jose came outside and demanded that Fredrick pay for their door to be fixed. Fredrick refused and the two began to argue. Juanita then got involved as well, when Fredrick called her a "whore". Juanita dared Fredrick to insult her like that inside her home and both of them retreated into the house. As Fredrick entered Juanita stabbed him with a knife in the heart. He stumbled out of the house where he bled to death.
A jury, assembled in the town saloon, found her guilty five hours later, and before nightfall she was lynched from a bridge on July 5, 1851.
Book One is a view of mystical life in Mexico 30 years before the event and the first three days of Juanita's life, born as Josefa Loaiza. Book Two, currently in progress presents Juanita in her cell awaiting the gallows and telling Padre Michael her story. Book Three presents the story of Padre Michael and his struggles with his inner demons, alcohol, and his challenges with accepting God as Padre Michael sees Him.