Larry Strattner

Lola and the Raven Larry Strattner

Lola Cooper, a nurse in far northern California, cares for her rural neighbors after a massive economic recession shuts down healthcare, infrastructure and key public services such as law enforcement. Lola has found her way north after losing her parents in fighting around Mendocino in the early days of the crisis. She wanders into the clearing where Luke and Maggie Cooper have a cabin. They take Lola in, informally adopt her and school her in nursing, Maggie's profession. When Lola exhibits unusual talents and abilities Maggie arranges for her to be taught by Granny Longstreet a Yurok medicine woman and herbal medicine expert. After seeing the impressive breadth of Lola's abilities Granny sends her to Meges Nance, a Shaman, to pursue this skill as well. During her Shaman training, Lola runs afoul of the evil Shaman, Keget whose goal is to seize all the sacred tools of other indigenous people and use them to control the wealth and soul of the territory. Lola blocks Keget at every turn and their battle becomes murderous. Lola is assisted by a Raven she captures to protect her. She names him Watcher, and like all Ravens he can speak. He is a powerful friend as is Lola, his mistress. Together they battle Keget for the future. Action, romance, magic, healing and ancient rites highlight Lola's story. The stories and facts about the tribes of the Northwest will enthrall the reader. From the very first paragraph, Lola and the Raven is a page-turner.