Minstrel’s Alley Reduces Price on Hispanic Infused California Novel for Presidential Campaign

Los Angeles, CA, February 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Minstrel’s Alley announced it was reducing the price of its latest release, “The Blood Orange,” by Gordon Basichis, to accommodate the current presidential election campaign. The novel, while a romantic mystery thriller also depicts some of the early legends of old Spanish California. The story draws from the early Hispanic experience in the Golden State and how being duped out of their lands, certain Californios turned to banditry.

"There is much controversy about our national immigration policies and how they affect illegal immigrants or undocumented workers," said M.J. Hammond, president of independent publisher and media company, Minstrel’s Alley. "Republican Presidential Debates have been rife with opinions on the immigrant question. When the Democrats get started on their presidential campaign, I’m sure we will hear even more on the immigration issue and how it relates to Latinos."

Hammond noted she has no political agendas or wish to take sides on either side of the immigration issue. “While 'The Blood Orange' is primarily a romantic mystery thriller, we think the book provides an entertaining way of shedding light on early Spanish California and how its legacy is very much an inherent culture.”

“We are not offering any political agenda,” said Hammond. “But in 'The Blood Orange,' the character, Benito Cabrillo, outlines how California came to pass from Mexican hands to ultimately becoming this nation’s thirty-first state. Readers come away with some idea how the Hispanic experience is a part of early California. It comes with the territory. Literally.”

Hammond noted that Minstrel’s Alley will be offering “The Blood Orange” at a discount in both its trade paperback and eBook forms. The eBook is available on Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and the Apple iBookstore, as well as other bookstores and electronic venues.

Hammond described “The Blood Orange” as in the tradition of classic California Noir Mysteries. However, the book is set in contemporary Los Angeles, and incorporates elements of the old Spanish California Bandit legends.

“This is not your usual romantic mystery,” said Hammond. “It’s a quirky story, violent, sexy, and darkly humorous. The characters are drawn from the author’s real experiences living in both the upscale and darker sides of town.”

She noted that sales have been good and there has been interest in the film rights to the novel. “It would make a great film,” she said. “And best of all, it could be produced right here, in Los Angeles. The cast and crew could go home to their own beds, every night.”

In addition to its recent publication of “The Blood Orange,” Minstrel’s Alley has also published “Beautiful Bad Girl, The Vicki Morgan Story,” and “The Guys Who Spied for China,” a roman a clef about Chinese Espionage networks in the United States. Both books were written by Gordon Basichis. The media company will soon be publishing “Ghosts of Havana,” by Cameron Lee, a romantic murder mystery thriller with exotic settings around the world.

M.J. Hammond is a former entertainment industry executive who founded Minstrel’s Alley to publish popular books not found in mainstream publishing.

“Mainstream publishing has its purpose,” said Hammond. “But the industry’s focus on celebrity and genre based books has left readers wanting. We hope to help bring a sense of adventure back to books and publishing.”

Background: Minstrel’s Alley is a Los Angeles based independent publisher that seeks to bring adventure back into the publishing industry by publishing books that have popular appeal but with more complexity than the standard mainstream fare. The new publishing group distributes its books through Amazon, Kindle, and assorted Internet outlets as well as through bookstores around the country.

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