Jan Baross

This heartfelt debut is a cinematic vision, a wonderfully entertaining, accessible story that is sure to win over critics and readers of contemporary fiction.

—First place for fiction in the national Kay Snow Literary Awards.

JOSE BUILDS A WOMAN is written in the sensual tradition of magical realism. With lush prose and dry humor, Baross captures the fluid boundaries between life and death. The multi-layered saga revolves around the impenetrable passions of Tortugina, the doyenne of bad love, Gabito, the beautiful and jealous octopus diver and their son, Jose, a boy obsessed with marrying a nun.

The book's vibrant front cover is from a painting by Baross.

"Mexico has a magical draw that I can't explain any more than how the mother and son saga in Jose'' Builds A Woman began flowing out of me one rainy day," said Baross. "Being in Mexico inspired the kind of writing I didn't know I could do. It is very Latin."

What a romp. Let Baross take you for a wild ride on her magical-realism camel from the village of Octopus to the village of The Women through an extravagantly carnal Mexico of the imagination.

—Ursula K. Le Guin

Jose Builds a Woman is one of the most magical and beautiful and honest novels about men and women, lovers, mothers and sons, about life and death, that you'll ever be privileged to read. Baross has a gift for tender beauty on the page. I can't remember when I last enjoyed a book this much

—Molly Gloss, author of Jump Off Creek

Baross writes with a big beautiful new voice, exuberant and full of gritty earth and bright skies. Tortugina is a heroine for the ages-her story is about a commitment to love and honor and self-respect against all odds and along the way it's a wild trip to the Mexico of our dark northern dreams. At the end, you not only want to cheer for Tortugina, you want to stay.

—Joanna Rose, author of Little Miss Strange

Sexy, enchanting, funny and well-told, Jan Baross spins a marvelous tale filled with fantasy and passion. I loved it.

—Iris Rainer Dart, author of Beaches

...this book is about love, many kinds of love, and just by reading it, cracks in your heart will heal.

—Carla Perry

To learn more about Jan Baross, visit her website at http://www.barossmedia.com/