| About The Book |
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Monument Valley is a remote area, home to the Navajo Native American
Indians, and mysteriously studded with impressive red stone monuments. It
is desert dry and the last place one would expect to find a flourishing
marina complete with house boats to rent. In the spring of 1987, however,
the author Wanda Morlan Eilts and her husband, Terry would be hired to
operate a marina on the San Juan River arm that joins Lake Powell, Utah.
The marina was located 29 miles Goulding's Trading Post, in Monument
Valley, and could be reached only by driving down a trail cut through the red
desert terrain. There was only one way in and one way out. The marina was
the result of a collaboration between the Navajo Nation and the National
Park Service. The goal was to have the marina become Navajo-owned and
operated. Wanda and Terry would be training 22 Navajo employees to
eventually take over every aspect of the operation.
Shortly after their arrival at the San Juan Marina, the Eilts had a surprise
visit from Mrs. Leona (Mike) Goulding. She and her husband, Harry, were
the original pioneers who established a successful trading post with the
Navajo in Monument Valley. Aware that the Eilts would be making history,
Leona encouraged Wanda to keep a diary of all their experiences. The book
"Floating Hogans in Monument Valley" is the result of that special
encouragement. Since there is no word in Navajo for houseboat, the closet
translation is "floating hogan" or "a home made of logs that floats on the
water.
During the year they lived at San Juan Marina, the couple would come to
love the land, the Navajo people and their culture. They would endure
severe challenges from the harsh environment as well as man-made
challenges which included drug-runners, graft, greed and corruption and
even a murder.
The book is a fascinating revelation of what went on behind the scenes
during that year. The authors chose to write the book following Wanda's
diary formula; which keeps the prose flowing from one day to the next and
brings the characters to life on its pages. You will find your self laughing out
loud one minute and the next will gasp in astonishment as the story unfolds.
For those of you who treasure the Southwest, want to learn about history
and the Navajo culture, this is a book truly worth reading. (Book review by
Terri Helmn from the Four Corners Free Press, June 2008)
Indians, and mysteriously studded with impressive red stone monuments. It
is desert dry and the last place one would expect to find a flourishing
marina complete with house boats to rent. In the spring of 1987, however,
the author Wanda Morlan Eilts and her husband, Terry would be hired to
operate a marina on the San Juan River arm that joins Lake Powell, Utah.
The marina was located 29 miles Goulding's Trading Post, in Monument
Valley, and could be reached only by driving down a trail cut through the red
desert terrain. There was only one way in and one way out. The marina was
the result of a collaboration between the Navajo Nation and the National
Park Service. The goal was to have the marina become Navajo-owned and
operated. Wanda and Terry would be training 22 Navajo employees to
eventually take over every aspect of the operation.
Shortly after their arrival at the San Juan Marina, the Eilts had a surprise
visit from Mrs. Leona (Mike) Goulding. She and her husband, Harry, were
the original pioneers who established a successful trading post with the
Navajo in Monument Valley. Aware that the Eilts would be making history,
Leona encouraged Wanda to keep a diary of all their experiences. The book
"Floating Hogans in Monument Valley" is the result of that special
encouragement. Since there is no word in Navajo for houseboat, the closet
translation is "floating hogan" or "a home made of logs that floats on the
water.
During the year they lived at San Juan Marina, the couple would come to
love the land, the Navajo people and their culture. They would endure
severe challenges from the harsh environment as well as man-made
challenges which included drug-runners, graft, greed and corruption and
even a murder.
The book is a fascinating revelation of what went on behind the scenes
during that year. The authors chose to write the book following Wanda's
diary formula; which keeps the prose flowing from one day to the next and
brings the characters to life on its pages. You will find your self laughing out
loud one minute and the next will gasp in astonishment as the story unfolds.
For those of you who treasure the Southwest, want to learn about history
and the Navajo culture, this is a book truly worth reading. (Book review by
Terri Helmn from the Four Corners Free Press, June 2008)
| Navajo Wedding Day Picture Wanda and Terry Eilts June 19, 2004 |
Fifteen years after this life-changing
adventure, Wanda and Terry returned to their
friends in Monument Valley and completed
their "circle of life" by being married in a
traditional Navajo style wedding ceremony. It
is detailed in the last chapter of the book.
adventure, Wanda and Terry returned to their
friends in Monument Valley and completed
their "circle of life" by being married in a
traditional Navajo style wedding ceremony. It
is detailed in the last chapter of the book.
| Vishnu Temple Press (For Wholesalers and Distributors) P. O. Box 30821 Flagstaff, AZ 86003 (928) 556 0742 hazel@vishnutemplepress.com |
| And Now Our Circle is Complete |