When it comes to how authors get their start, the journey often involves endless hours of reading, writing, and growing into their craft. For Jane Rosenthal, this path has been one deeply rooted in her community, influenced by the landscapes she’s called home and the rich cultural experiences she’s embraced along the way. Let’s take a look at how they have shaped the unique and immersive storytelling she is known for today.
A slice of California
Despite a successful career path as an award-winning radio journalist, poet, and teacher, Jane Rosenthal always dreamed of two things – becoming an author and a western cowgirl. After living on a horse and cattle ranch in the Sierra Mountains, 3500 feet above the Central Valley, she turned her attention to writing, drawing inspiration from her rugged experiences.
Rosenthal honed her craft while living on her ranch, channeling the stillness and beauty of the surrounding landscape into her work. As her writing evolved, so did her surroundings. She later relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she found fresh inspiration in the state’s rich cultural and historical tapestry. Living in an area known in the native Tewa language as ‘where the heart water meets the canyon,’ Rosenthal now explores the region’s famed cultural landmarks — from Ghost Ranch to the ancestral cliff dwellings of Bandelier.
During the winter months, she heads south to Old Mexico where she visits pueblos magicos like Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende. In the latter, she attends the San Miguel Literary Festival, a vibrant event that brings writers and readers together. It is in these places, rich with history and culture, where her creativity thrives, and she continues to grow as a writer.
One of the premier authors from California, Rosenthal writes thrillers and mysteries that capture the landscapes and cultures that have shaped her life. Her first novel, Palace of the Blue Butterfly, is set in the heart of Mexico City, a place she still visits regularly to catch up with friends and soak in the exciting atmosphere. Her second book, Del Rio, is set in fictional Del Rio, California, a once-thriving Central Valley farm town now filled with run-down Dollar Stores, llanterías, carnicerías, and shabby mini-marts. Her pulse-pounding writing keeps readers on the edge of their seats, hooked until the very last page.
Exploring the world
For Jane Rosenthal, becoming an author was just the start. Whether on her ranch in California, taking in the beauty of Mexico, she remains perpetually inspired – her next story always on her mind. Now, from her office overlooking the vast New Mexico landscape, she continues to craft novels and master the art of storytelling.
Jane’s next book The Serpent Bearer is an exploration of the world, blending the intrigue of a World War II spy thriller, a sweeping romance, and the unraveling of long-buried family secrets. The novel takes readers from Spain to Hollywood, from a small Jewish community in South Carolina to a crumbling hacienda in the Yucatan.
No matter how this author got her start, we are ecstatic that she did.