CARRANZA

Ladislao Acuña’s family is massacred before his eyes in a church in 1847 during the War of the
Castes, killed by rebels in revenge against the white man for the murder of the their leader
Jacinto Pat. Running for his life Ladislao loses his way in the jungles of Yucatan and finally ends
up on the edge of a magnificent cenote where he establishes a village and names it Carranza.
Life is peaceful in this new community and no laws are needed. Years later a rain of dead male
crows begins to fall on this lost community signaling the end of its tranquil existence.

BENJAMIN’S REASON (checar contra a titulo final)

Benjamin Castillo is a righteous man, strong, respectable, a man of convictions. The death of his
beloved wife plunges him into a deep state of despondency, she was his only passion, his reason
to live, love taken away by death. Now the mistress of his life is gone and he is insane with grief.

FLOR ESTHER’S NEW YEAR

A wealthy Isla Mujeres family searches for their daughter on New Year’s Eve. The entire island
helps them. In a mixture of celebration and anxiety the community gathered at the south point,
near the temple of Ixcel- where pre-Hispanic Mayan women arrived in canoes with small female
shaped statues to worship the goddess of fertility- combs the island looking for her. When they
search the sad ruins of the pirate Firmin Mundaca y Maracheaga’s hacienda what they discover
leaves them horrified.

NATALIA
Chetumal, Quintana Roo, in her cloistered room a woman carries on a bittersweet monologue
describing the love triangle of which she is sole survivor. Her twisted interpretation of biblical
quotes and intimate descriptions are tinted by a subdued madness that is both frightening and
fascinating as the reader witnesses her final plunge into insanity.

THE ITALIAN’S WOMAN

When Rossini the cobbler met Jeremina little did he imagine that this beautiful cinnamon skinned
woman would one day be his wife. Years later he would carry her half dead in his arms through
the ruins of Chetumal devastated in 1955 by hurricane Janet. Afterwards, for years they lead a
happy life until Rossini’s sleep becomes tormented with recurring nightmares. In the bucolic
haze of a town which falls asleep every day during siesta time, he discovers the truth behind his
terrible dreams. His revenge is savage and also takes his best friend over the edge.

LOVE AFTER DEATH

Between the maze of pipes and white sand dunes of a turtle hatchery, surrounded by the smell
of seaweed, Francisca Sagal de Prieto and Ezequiel Arizmendi meet again to relive their
adolescent passions. Days later the quiet fishing village of Puerto Morelos is rudely awakened
by the cries of its cemetery keeper. The dead have risen from their graves, exposed by an
unprecedented quake, Quintana Roo never trembles, at least it shouldn’t.

OVERVIEW
Seven short stories that take place in the magical Mexican Caribbean, gathered into a
handcrafted book made of jute fiber, hand bound and illustrated by Quintana Roo artisans. The
author, Mario Perez Aguilar is a native of this region, born in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. His
writing captures the unique character of the area’s inhabitants and skillfully describes the heavy
aromas of its jungles weaving them with grand descriptions of majestic cenotes and rich wildlife
into a marvelous tapestry.