Monday, October 11, 2010

Bolita

Yes folks, that’s the name of my second novel.  Currently, the book is in the process of seeking representation for a publishing deal.  This is where I get to take a short breather and think about future projects.  Rest assured, I don’t plan on keeping a certain young girl waiting forever, so the second volume of Dust is the logical choice.  But let’s not stray away from the topic du jour—Bolita.  What is it?

bolita: [boh-lee-tuh, buh-] Cuban-Spanish literal
translation:  “little ball”.
An illegal form of lottery popular with working-class ethnic groups during the latter 1800s through the mid-1900s.  One hundred numbered small ivory balls are typically placed in a bag for random selection.  Brought from Cuba to the United States of America in the 1880s, the games were run by members of organized crime families.  Over time, the Hispanics developed a name for each number (“La Charada”) based on Chinese origins, creating a superstitious method for interpreting drawings, or 
 placing bets according to dreams.

Bolita is a running theme throughout the novel, but the story itself is a fictional adaptation from true stories involving the Tampa City Police Department’s ongoing mob-entangled corruption during the ‘70s.  The story also has quite a bit to do with why yours truly came to roost for many years in a sleepy North Georgia lake town.

More Soon!

T
T. Nelson Taylor | Official Site | DusT | Bolita