David A. Jacinto’s new book, Where Eagles Fly Free, is based on the true story of the author’s ancestors, Thomas Wright and his young wife, Annie, who leave their home in the British Isles in the mid-1800s for the promise of freedom, liberty, economic opportunity and land of their own in America.
Spanning a year, from June 1868 to May 1869, in a transformative period just after the end of the Civil War, the novel recounts Tom and Annie’s adventures, hardships, tragedies and awakenings—from their arrival in New York City, after a harrowing ocean voyage, to their dream of raising their future children in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Their plan is to catch a steamer up the Hudson River to Albany and a ferry to Niagara Falls; continue by rail to Chicago; take a steamboat down the Mississippi River toward Nebraska; then head west to Wyoming and, finally, hitch a wagon train to their final destination, California.
As they set out up rivers, over plains and mountains, the Wrights encounter disasters and losses, Native American uprisings, racism, exploitation and brutality. Their odyssey is also marked by Tom’s crucial involvement in the greatest technological feat of the 19th century—the construction of the transcontinental railway line, tying the wild Western frontier to the cosmopolitan Northeast—and consequential real-life figures, including Brigham Young.
Jacinto, who now lives in Encinitas, in Southern California, was born into a family living on the wrong side of the tracks in Sacramento and has been a storyteller ever since. The first in his extended family to attend college, he was a student athlete at Brigham Young University, where he received his degree in civil engineering.
Where Eagles Fly Free is the second book in Jacinto’s historical fiction series, The Courageous Series. The first, published in 2023, Out of the Darkness, won numerous awards including New York City’s Book Award for best historical fiction and first prize in the Firebird Book Awards.
David Jacinto’s next book signing will be held at Barnes & Noble, 5555 S. Virginia St., in Reno on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m.
Excerpt from ‘Where Eagles Fly Free’
Chapter 1
Ladies and gents!” thundered the booming voice from the quarter deck of the Brigantine Colorado.
Tom, his wife Annie, heavy with child halted their conversation in mid-sentence. They eased over to join the rest of their family – little brother Joey, sister Edie, her husband Andrew and their five children, to listen to their rugged American captain.
“I’m Captain William Preston, and this here’s my ship the Colorado!” A man of medium height in his mid-forties, Captain Preston had a hardened look about him with muscular forearms, dark brooding eyes and a heavy circle of bushy sun-bleached beard that framed his face from his ears down to below his chin and jawline. “If ya ain’t bound for New York Harbor, you’re on the wrong boat.”
The throng of passengers pulled-up close to listen.
Annie leaned over and whispered into Tom’s ear, “He looks like a mischievous rogue peering through a hedge considerin’ mischief!”
Tom, frowned, “Humm.” Then furrowed his brow.
“Just sayin’!”
Captain Preston, in a stern, commanding voice began to lay out the rules for the voyage from Liverpool across the Atlantic. “There’s only one hard and fast rule on board this ship to concern yerself with.” The captain paused for effect while the passengers grew silent. Most were strangers to one another from all over Europe. They stood apart from each other in families with an uneasy separateness. Most clearly concerned for the seaworthiness of this bucket of soggy timbers.
“While yer on my ship, you’ll be under my rule and mine alone.” Squinting in the morning sunshine, his steely eyes looked squarely into the eyes of each man and woman. “Onboard this brig, my word is like the iron rule of God Almighty. You’ll obey it, or suffer the consequences.” He paused to spit out a chaw of tobacco that slid across the deck. “On the length and breadth of this little brig, I lay down the law to be brutally enforced wit’ the power to cast judgement over life and death.”
“You’re free to inspect the ship with me if ya like,” the captain turned and pointed to a tall, burley sailor with a four-day growth covering his leathery face, “or, if ya wish, ya can join my first mate Mr. Jenkins here for a tour below decks.”
Tom eyed the captain. There was a gleam of unyielding determination in his life hardened eyes.
“He clearly intends to remind us he holds our lives in his hands for the next two fortnights.” Tom reached for Annie’s arm to help steady her as they walked the rolling deck, “I’m thinking he’s gonna be a force to be reckoned with. I pray to God it’s a force for good.”