Coyote Woman

Shawanadese was the name bestowed on her when she was born into the prehistoric Anasazi tribe. Her fate seemed much like that of any other young girl until her magical powers began to erupt at the dawning of womanhood. It was then that a sacred name--Coyote Woman--was granted to her, a name that would come to identify her as a high priestess and draw the lustful and the faithful to her side. No one could have imagined the mystical charms of the high priestess, and nobody could have expected the force of attraction that would draw many men into her life. Shawanadese ignited a passion within the Mayan prince, the fiery rebel and the young warrior, and she engages in an epic struggle to defeat the sinister ways of man while maintaining her authority as the high priestess in the canyon of Chaco.

Told in both Spanish and English, this story tells of a young coyote who teaches an old woman to recycle when her trash heap begins to clutter his desert.

This volume brings together twenty-one traditional tales recently retold by Hopi narrators. Complete with English translations and original Hopi transcriptions on facing pages and a bilingual glossary. Hopi Coyote Tales is important to an understanding of the Hopi language and folklore. To nomadic hunters such as the Navajo, who competed with him on the open range, Coyote was by turns a formidable trickster, a demonic witchperson, and a god. As sedentary planters, the Hopis tended to reduce Coyote to the level of a laughable fool. In these tales Coyote is a friendly bumbler whose mistakes teach listeners what tricks to avoid. Time after time he is hurt or killed for failing to understand a situation correctly. The collection is as amusing as animal fables should be, as simply told, and as instructive. Published as a companion volume to Father Berard Haile's Navajo Coyote Tales, Hopi Coyote Tales is a valuable contribution to cross-cultural studies.

"You're more likely to hear her than see her ... and when you do, better watch your back!" In the small community of Stone Mill, the Coyote Woman has become legendary. Everyone enjoys telling and listening to tales about her, but most folks say she's not real. Sarah knows otherwise. Struggling with the death of her father, Sarah and her friend, Wade, explore the alluring caves and ravines of southern Indiana, where they piece together clues about the mysterious Coyote Woman. Can a legend be some strange mix of myth and truth? (www.MotesBooks.com)