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Cloud Dancer
Woman Warrior -- As the Spanish put their mark on the "New World," young Cloud Dancer's peaceful life at Acoma Pueblo crumbled before her eyes. Alone and bitter, the beautiful maiden learned the fierce Apache ways of her lost love White Hawk and vowed never to kneel before the enemy again. Spirit Warrior White Hawk was still very much alive. And his heart knew boundless joy when he found Cloud Dancer had not perished in the massacre of her people. But the lovers faced a new struggle as tribal conflict and the ever-encroaching Spaniards threatened their sweet reunion.
300 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Bechko
24 books81 followersPeggy Bechko , aka P.A Bechko is author of fourteen novels that have been sold to major publishers in several genres; western, romance and SciFi/fantasy: Blown To Hell, The Winged Warrior, Cloud Dancer, Dark Side of Love, Stormrider, Gunman’s Justice, Sidewinder’s Trail, Hawke’s Indians and others. Most recently she's joined forces to create a new comic series with Charlene Brash-Sorensen called Planet of The Eggs.
Published in hardcover, paperback, audio and Ebook formats, her books have been published with Doubleday, Harlequin, Pinnacle and Thorndike Press as well as The FictionWorks http://www.fictionworks.com online and others. Her books have been reprinted internationally and currently her book, Stormrider was released by publisher Zorba in hardcopy edition on the Indian subcontinent which includes publication in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
Her spec screenplays have been optioned domestically and abroad, her screenplay titled Replica (formerly Spitting Image) climbed to a high ranking place in two well-known competitions while one of her short stories, Skykicker took two first place prizes in competition. She’s also written a produced episode of a 1/2 hour animated series, Diabolik, for Saban Entertainment.
Peggy is also a ghostwriter having ghosted a full-length movie script, a screen treatment and a non-fiction book. She’s published articles with her own byline (travel articles, articles on writing, biographical article) in a number of areas digitally and in hard copy
Over the years Peggy has taught writing in different venues as well. On the ground she’s taught workshops locally. Online, she’s taught Romance writing with UCLA Online Extension and she is currently putting together a new class to be taught online.
Awards and Acknowledgements:
• Replica (formerly Spitting Image) placed in the quarterfinals of the Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting
And
semi-finals of the Writers Foundation sponsored America’s Best screenwriting competition.
• 2007: First Place Writer In The Machine Short Story Contest – “Skykicker”
• 2003: First Place Art Affair Literary Contest – Western Short Story – “Skykicker”
• Judge for Western Writers of America’s Golden Spur award in 1980’s
International Editions published in:
Germany
Switzerland,
Belgium,
Italy,
Brazil,
New Zealand
Australia,
Holland,
Great Britain
Sweden
Canada
France
Published in hardcover, paperback, audio and Ebook formats, her books have been published with Doubleday, Harlequin, Pinnacle and Thorndike Press as well as The FictionWorks http://www.fictionworks.com online and others. Her books have been reprinted internationally and currently her book, Stormrider was released by publisher Zorba in hardcopy edition on the Indian subcontinent which includes publication in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
Her spec screenplays have been optioned domestically and abroad, her screenplay titled Replica (formerly Spitting Image) climbed to a high ranking place in two well-known competitions while one of her short stories, Skykicker took two first place prizes in competition. She’s also written a produced episode of a 1/2 hour animated series, Diabolik, for Saban Entertainment.
Peggy is also a ghostwriter having ghosted a full-length movie script, a screen treatment and a non-fiction book. She’s published articles with her own byline (travel articles, articles on writing, biographical article) in a number of areas digitally and in hard copy
Over the years Peggy has taught writing in different venues as well. On the ground she’s taught workshops locally. Online, she’s taught Romance writing with UCLA Online Extension and she is currently putting together a new class to be taught online.
Awards and Acknowledgements:
• Replica (formerly Spitting Image) placed in the quarterfinals of the Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting
And
semi-finals of the Writers Foundation sponsored America’s Best screenwriting competition.
• 2007: First Place Writer In The Machine Short Story Contest – “Skykicker”
• 2003: First Place Art Affair Literary Contest – Western Short Story – “Skykicker”
• Judge for Western Writers of America’s Golden Spur award in 1980’s
International Editions published in:
Germany
Switzerland,
Belgium,
Italy,
Brazil,
New Zealand
Australia,
Holland,
Great Britain
Sweden
Canada
France
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 8, 2013
I must say that Cloud Dancer captured my heart from the very beginning. Taken back to a time of native territory wars, you are thrown into the lifestyle of the pueblo Indian tribes, and the terrible suffering they went through as the Spanish soldiers took over their land.
When Cloud Dancer, a Kere Indian, first meets White Hawk, an Apache warrior, she is completely drawn to him and his strange ways. Not a fan of the typical “woman’s work” of her people, she burns with the passion of becoming a warrior woman.
White Hawk is taken with her, as he works to teach the Kere learn the ways of war. They soon find themselves in love, but the Spaniards are coming, and they have no time to see what their new feelings mean. When the Spaniards come, Cloud Dancer is forced to witness the slaughter of her people, only to fall in the battle. Saved by a Spanish soldier, who had abandoned his people, he fleas the battle and carries the badly wounded Cloud Dancer to safety.
Through the struggle of being separated from her people and the hatred she holds in her heart for the Spanish, Cloud Dancer is forced to travel with this soldier. She battles with the want to harm any of the Spanish, but as she is on the brink of death, she is forced to let him care for her. She learns his language and he learns hers as they journey together out of the soldiers reach. Without giving too much away, her journey is a hard one that has her having to seek a tribe that will take her in, all the while dealing with the loss of her people and her love, White Hawk.
A true page turner, Cloud Dancer will have you emotionally entranced from beginning, all the way till the end. Any who seek stories filled with action, love, friendship, and wants to be transported into a long ago era, will absolutely love Bechko’s novel. Her talent for description, strong plot, and characterization will have you finding a place in your heart for each and every one of her characters. Read this novel and let it take you into a truly exciting and heart wrenching tale. I am excited to read any and all work from Bechko, as she is proved to be an author with a true talent for the written word!
When Cloud Dancer, a Kere Indian, first meets White Hawk, an Apache warrior, she is completely drawn to him and his strange ways. Not a fan of the typical “woman’s work” of her people, she burns with the passion of becoming a warrior woman.
White Hawk is taken with her, as he works to teach the Kere learn the ways of war. They soon find themselves in love, but the Spaniards are coming, and they have no time to see what their new feelings mean. When the Spaniards come, Cloud Dancer is forced to witness the slaughter of her people, only to fall in the battle. Saved by a Spanish soldier, who had abandoned his people, he fleas the battle and carries the badly wounded Cloud Dancer to safety.
Through the struggle of being separated from her people and the hatred she holds in her heart for the Spanish, Cloud Dancer is forced to travel with this soldier. She battles with the want to harm any of the Spanish, but as she is on the brink of death, she is forced to let him care for her. She learns his language and he learns hers as they journey together out of the soldiers reach. Without giving too much away, her journey is a hard one that has her having to seek a tribe that will take her in, all the while dealing with the loss of her people and her love, White Hawk.
A true page turner, Cloud Dancer will have you emotionally entranced from beginning, all the way till the end. Any who seek stories filled with action, love, friendship, and wants to be transported into a long ago era, will absolutely love Bechko’s novel. Her talent for description, strong plot, and characterization will have you finding a place in your heart for each and every one of her characters. Read this novel and let it take you into a truly exciting and heart wrenching tale. I am excited to read any and all work from Bechko, as she is proved to be an author with a true talent for the written word!
March 18, 2013
The Spaniards are coming, the Spaniards are coming!
The year is 1598 and the Kere tribe of the Acoma Pueblo were about to be annihilated from their peaceful home in New Mexico.
Being a Kere Native American woman required domesticity, certainly not a hunter and warrior, but Cloud Dancer was having none of that. She couldn’t hide in her teepee any longer when the Spaniards came to take whatever food and supplies they wanted. She knew she had to stand up for her people.
In this battle, she lost. The Acoma Pueblo were wiped out. A handful managed to escape, seeking a new home with nearby tribes, but as a whole, the Acoma Pueblo were wiped out.
Cloud Dancer’s life was saved by a young Spanish warrior, who knew his people were wrong. He risked everything saving her. It was from her new friend she learned to ride a horse and shoot “the stick that thunders.”
Missing her family, friends, and previous lover - Apache warrior and medicine man, White Hawk - Cloud Dancer finds she is alone. As with other survivors from the Acoma Pueblo, she decides to live with an Apache tribe. Their ways are very different from the Kere ways, but she doesn’t want to be alone, wanting to be a warrior and hunter for the Apaches. Her goal is to fight the Spaniards when they attack again.
The story of Cloud Dancer is a brilliant historical novel filled with Native American events and details for the passionate historical fiction reader. The romance added to the story, without lessening the historical significance.
I stumbled upon Cloud Dancer in my search for historical fiction and was so glad I did. I appreciated the research P.A. Bechko devoted to her book and I aspire to write my own historical novel with as much skill and expertise.
The year is 1598 and the Kere tribe of the Acoma Pueblo were about to be annihilated from their peaceful home in New Mexico.
Being a Kere Native American woman required domesticity, certainly not a hunter and warrior, but Cloud Dancer was having none of that. She couldn’t hide in her teepee any longer when the Spaniards came to take whatever food and supplies they wanted. She knew she had to stand up for her people.
In this battle, she lost. The Acoma Pueblo were wiped out. A handful managed to escape, seeking a new home with nearby tribes, but as a whole, the Acoma Pueblo were wiped out.
Cloud Dancer’s life was saved by a young Spanish warrior, who knew his people were wrong. He risked everything saving her. It was from her new friend she learned to ride a horse and shoot “the stick that thunders.”
Missing her family, friends, and previous lover - Apache warrior and medicine man, White Hawk - Cloud Dancer finds she is alone. As with other survivors from the Acoma Pueblo, she decides to live with an Apache tribe. Their ways are very different from the Kere ways, but she doesn’t want to be alone, wanting to be a warrior and hunter for the Apaches. Her goal is to fight the Spaniards when they attack again.
The story of Cloud Dancer is a brilliant historical novel filled with Native American events and details for the passionate historical fiction reader. The romance added to the story, without lessening the historical significance.
I stumbled upon Cloud Dancer in my search for historical fiction and was so glad I did. I appreciated the research P.A. Bechko devoted to her book and I aspire to write my own historical novel with as much skill and expertise.
September 12, 2011
This is one of the books I've written. It's full of adventure, drama and the love that binds people together and pulls them through. There was a lot of research involved in getting the historical facts accurate. Originally published in paperback it's now available as Ebook from Kindle and other outlets.
Of course I, the author, would rate it amazing!
Of course I, the author, would rate it amazing!
October 15, 2012
A beautiful romance with lots of action, history, and unexpected twists. Really enjoyed this read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews