Author comes home to talk about book

A Colorado author with Alamogordo roots is stopping around town this week promoting her book “Rosary without Beads.”

Diana Holguin-Balogh’s award-winning book tells the story of Ambrosia Salazar, a fictional character, whose story takes place during the Lincoln County War (1878-1881).

“The story is local legend. It has an interwoven story within the Billy the Kid legend. It’s actually more a story about Ambrosia Salazar who is an observer of the Lincoln County War,” Holguin-Balogh said. “It gives voice to the people who were powerless during that clash.”

The character Ambrosia Salazar is taking care of her terminally ill mother who makes Ambrosia swear to take care of the family which includes a mentally challenged sister and another sister who is a prostitute.

Ambrosia goes to bring her prostitute sister home and is accosted by a drunk and Billy rescues her, Holguin-Balogh said.

The book’s title comes from how weak Ambrosia’s mother is that she cannot hold Rosary beads.

“So, she prays by rolling an invisible bead in her fingers,” Holguin-Balogh said. “And Ambrosia, as the story progresses, finds herself doing the same thing. That her hand is doing the same thing as her mother in praying without beads.”

As the story continues, Ambrosia struggles with doing the right thing and her attraction to Billy the Kid, Holguin-Balogh said.

“The facts of the Lincoln County War have been researched and those should be absolutely true to history and then the historical fiction part is what happens to the Salazar family,” Holguin-Balogh said.

“However, one of the members of the Salazar family, Yigenio Salazar, it’s true that he was a friend of Billy the Kid’s. He is a true person within the Salazar family. The rest are fictitious. I always believe that history is what was, and historical fiction is what could have been and so, these two stories come together.”

“Rosary without Beads” is a 2019 Colorado Book Award Finalist. The book is one out of three finalists. The winner will be announced May 18.

Holguin-Baloch grew up in Alamogordo on 25th Street.

"Alamogordo has been wonderful in opening up doors and really wanting to celebrate this with me," Holguin-Baloch said. "These are my roots and I just come back to share my publishing journey."

She donated a copy of "Rosary without Beads" to the Alamogordo Public Library.

Holguin-Balogh spoke at the Rohovec Theater at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo Wednesday evening.

She also spoke to a Alamogordo High School classes and Sertoma at the 19th Hole at noon on March 21 and at 2 p.m. at the Tularosa Basin Historical Society for a meet and greet.