Indian Voices • June 2009
13
San Diego Publicist Paula Margulies Weaves A
personal and the political, even the
human and the animal, become increas-
Graceful Tale of Love and Redemption in Coyote Heart
ingly difficult to differentiate. This novel
bravely explores the difference between a
relationship that bends and one that
breaks; it even suggests that a healed
SAN DIEGO, CA – Book publicist professor, Carolyn finds herself drawn modern Native American culture.
fracture is stronger than what was origi-
Paula Margulies announces the release of into an unexpected love affair. Torn by “I wrote this novel, in part, because
nally whole.”
her debut novel, Coyote Heart (ISBN conflicting feelings, she discovers a I’ve always been fascinated by what
978-1-933794-16-7), a multi-cultural secret about her husband’s past that makes a marriage work,” said Margulies.
Paula Margulies is the owner of Paula
love story set against the backdrop of the forces her to confront her divided emo- “My sense is that many marriages survive
Margulies Communications, a public
Pala Indian Reservation in San Diego, tions and choose between the two men not because the two individuals involved
relations firm for authors and artists. She
California. Prior to publication, Coyote that she loves. are meant for each other, but because
has received numerous awards for her
Heart received numerous awards, Set against the simmering backdrop of
the losses and hardships that they’ve short stories and novels, and her essays
including an Editor’s Choice Award at local politics on the Pala Indian
endured forge a bond that is difficult,
have been published in a number of pro-
the San Diego State University Writers’ Reservation, Coyote Heart explores the
and sometimes impossible, to sever.”
fessional journals and magazines. She
Conference. Coyote Heart was also a intricacies of illicit love and marriage,
The novel has received praise from
has been awarded artist residencies at
finalist in the Santa Fe Writer’s Project the strength that comes from sacrifice,
established members of the writing com-
Caldera, Red Cinder Artist Colony, and
Literary Awards Program, a worldwide and the courage to forgive the injuries of
munity, including Pulitzer Prize-nomi-
the Vermont Studio Center. Margulies
competition that included over 350 the past. The novel calls on several San
nated journalist and former Seattle Post-
entries. Diego landscapes, including the Rancho
Intelligencer editor, Mark Trahant, and
resides in San Diego, California, with her
Coyote Heart tells the story of Penasquitos preserve and the Pala Indian
celebrated author Peter Rock, who
husband and two teenagers.
Carolyn Weedman, a forty-year-old Reservation, to give the story a unique
writes, “With Coyote Heart, Paula
For more information on the author
librarian trapped in a troubled marriage local flavor. Written with haunting natu-
Margulies uses lyrical, yet restrained or Coyote Heart, please visit www.paula-
with a disabled husband. After a chance ral imagery and lyrical prose, Coyote
prose to take us into a world where the
margulies.com or Kirk House Publishers
encounter with a widowed Pala Indian Heart tells a compelling tale of love and
usual definitions will not fit—where the
at www.kirkhouse.com.
San Diego County vs Medical Marijuana
Supervisors Horn, Jacob and Slater- Judy Strang and Rebecca Hernandez.
Price now say they will follow State law Strang and Hernandez routinely speak
and will discuss issuing ID cards at their against medical marijuana patients at
San Diego County’s Board of medical marijuana laws as the County
June 16th meeting. While this is a big public forums. Their organization was
Supervisors exhausted their last appeal contended. The County appealed this
victory for the medical cannabis move- formed “to combat popular culture”
earlier this month in their bid to chal- ruling, lost again, and then appealed to
ment it still leaves the problem of safe according to supervisor Horn in 2005.
lenge medical marijuana law. The both the California and US Supreme
access. San Diego law enforcement have In their capacity as culture warriors,
California legislature passed State Bill Courts. These courts refused to hear a
worked with federal authorities to close Strang and Hernandez have gone to
420 in 2004 directing Counties to issue challenge to the lower court ruling. In
dispensaries and delivery services since great lengths to try and fight San Diego’s
medical marijuana identification cards to their over-zealous efforts to attack med-
their vote in 2005. Currently there are acceptance of marijuana. Their actions
qualified patients. In 2005 the board ical marijuana the supervisors unwitting-
over 20 dispensaries and delivery servic- have included, requiring bands at the
voted 3-2 not to implement ID cards. ly handed medical marijuana law its
es open in San Diego. Del Mar Fair to sign a contract saying
This vote by supervisors, Bill Horn, biggest victory to date.
However, the County is still waging a they will not mention marijuana on
Dianne Jacob, and Pam Slater-Price not This ruling also bodes well for the 12
battle against safe access outside the stage, identifying and reporting ‘head
to issue cards set the scene for the law- other States who have followed
courts. In 2005 the County setup an shops’ to the city attorney, and protest-
suit launched by the County in 2006. California in implementing medical mar-
organization called H.A.R.M.,Health ing merchants who sell marijuana related
The County promptly lost their case ijuana laws. Under the new Obama
Advocates Rejecting Marijuana. But apparel.
in superior court, with Judge William administration, the prosecution of state
unlike the name suggests the group is Even though the County has lost the
Nevitt ruling that the federal controlled medical marijuana cases has been given
not staffed by health professionals but by
substances act does not overrule state a low priority.
government funded anti-drug warriors
SEE Medical Marijuana, page 15
Michelle Shining Elk
Indian starring Wes Studi which were for the finest in Native American Nightclub, Fox Theatre, The Rogue Chef
Continued from page 10
featured at the 2009 Sundance Film fes- Entertainment then your search will lead
Culinary Academy & Restaurant, The
tival, and with booking the Pow Wow you to Shining Elk Entertainment as it’s
Producer’s Network, to name a few.
Comedy Jam with their the upcoming roster includes: Chris Eyre, Eric
and musicians in assisting them in creat-
In closing of this month’s interview
special on Showtime. Schweig, Jim Boyd, Darryl Tonemah,
ing tactics and strategies that focus on
As a producer, Michelle works in film Dennis Banks, Patrick D. Shining Elk,
with Michelle, we want to leave our
their career development, longevity and
and theatre where she is currently a co- Moses J. Brings Plenty, Keith Secola,
Indian Voices readers a note from
advancement. In casting, Michelle works
producer on a full length feature film Michael Horse, Dallin Maybee, Lowery
Michelle:
with several of the top casting directors
entitled The Lost Warrior. She also Begay, Georgina Lightning, and The Pow “Please take a look at my client list
to get them in touch with Native talent.
serves as the publicist and consultant on Wow Comedy Jam (JR Redwater, Vaughn
and offerings, and let me know if you
ensuring that Natives are cast in Native
Georgina Lightning’s full-length feature Eaglebear, Marc Yaffe and Jim Ruel). The
would like to book any, or several of
roles as well as in non-descript roles
Older than America, the documentary roster also includes a host of traditional
which is fundamental for Native
them, for your upcoming event, confer-
saving The American Wild Horse and Native American dancers, traditional
American cultural exposure and survival.
ence, festival, or production today!! You
another full-length feature film entitled singers, drum groups and traditional/cul-
Her latest casting project was an upcom-
Blood Instinct. These projects make it tural advisors and presenters.
can also learn more about me, and what
ing movie about the game of lacrosse
vividly clear that Native American art Past clients and projects have includ-
I do, via a radio interview I did with
entitled Warrior, starring Adam Beach
and Media Entertainment is here, cur- ed: Latin jazz king Pete Escovedo,
Patricia Pena, host of On Native Ground-
and Kellen Lutz.
rent and evolving. She has also created Michael Smuin’s San Francisco Smuin Where Art Speaks at www.kdvs.org
Michelle's most notable role to date in
and will be producing a multi-media Ballet, the American Indian Film
http://www.kdvs.org/shows/view/show_i
management was the integral part she
theatrical production that is slated to Institute and American Indian Film
played in launching the movie career of
d/716
tour the United States and Canada in Festival, Turtle Island Production’s
Rudy Youngblood. He landed the star-
To learn more about this amazing
early 2010. Emmy award-winning documentary
ring role as “Jaguar Paw” in Mel Gibson’s
Michelle’s current client roster is com- Alcatraz Is Not An Island, Peter Buffett’s
woman please reach out to her. For
Apocalyptic. Most recently Patrick D.
prised of award-winning Native musi- production Spirit – The Seventh Fire, the
booking information contact Michelle
Shining Elk’s roles in La Mission starring
cians, actors, comedians, professional American Musical Theatre Of San Jose,
directly at 818-813-3701 or email
Benjamin Bratt and The Only Good
speakers and directors if you are looking 42nd Street Moon Theatre, 19 Broadway michelleshingelk@gmail.com.
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