To Fly With The Swallows is a biography of the woman who became California’s first native-born nun, describing a life that spanned the transitional period from Spanish rule to American statehood.

In the early 1800s, California is a quiet outpost of the Spanish Empire in America. It is too quiet for Doña Concha, the teenaged daughter of California’s acting-governor. She longs for the excitement of distant lands. But an unexpected visitor brings romance and a surprising challenge to Concha.

In 1806, Concha lived with her family in California where her father was commander of the presidio defending Spain’s New World Empire. Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov arrived from St. Petersburg requesting supplies for his ship. He stayed long enough for Concha and him to want to marry, but Rezanov was not Catholic. He left, as requested, to get the permission of the czar. the King of Spain, and the Pope in Italy. Concha waited, but after five years she received word of his death. She never married but spent her life dedicated to Saint Francis and helping those who needed her.

Dana Catharine De Ruiz is a published author of several children’s books. Some of her published credits include: To Fly With The Swallows: A Story of Old California (Stories of America) and LA Causa: The Migrant Farmworkers’ Story (Stories of America).

Debbe Heller is a published author and an illustrator of several children’s books. Some of her published credits include: To Fly With The Swallows: A Story of Old California (Stories of America), Building A Dream: Mary Bethune’s School (Stories of America) and Tales From The Underground Railroad (Stories of America).

Alex Haley, as General Editor, wrote the introduction.