Tales from the Gringa! recalls a road trip Ruth Tolerton made with her husband through the western United States and Mexico in 2001 and 2002 in their 1984 VW Westfalia, nicknamed Juanita. Part of it is written by Tolerton from her husband's point of view. They spend Christmas in the Patzcuaro region of Michoacan State. In a section called Dog Days of Mexico she describes living in a small Mexican town through the eyes of their Husky puppy. The final section called Juanita and the Wander Home recalls their return to Canada. The trip covered 29,000 kilometers.

After her Tales from the Gringa, Tolerton co-wrote and self-published When the Walls Sing about the mural program in Merritt which highlights the Country Music Capital of Canada and benefits troubled youth.

Ruth Tolerton was born in Quebec before migrating to British Columbia at the age of 18. She worked in local government for most of her life. She lives in the Nicola Valley.

BOOKS:

TALES FROM THE GRINGA
Travel/General
Trade Paperback
Publication date May 2007
Price: $19.95 US / $23.95 Canada
Size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 0-595-44274-9
250 pages
iUniverse

When the Walls Sing (Self-published) 978-0-9811351-0-6

[BCBW 2014]