Book’s characters leap from pages to romp at poolside

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By Barbara Sands

Yes, there they were—many of them—the characters in former U.S. Consular Agent's Jenny McGill's new book that's receiving rave reviews all over Vallarta and beyond. The book, 'DRAMA & DIPLOMACY in a Sultry Mexican Beach Town,' has been invading bedside tables and lounge chairs around town as well as jumping into suitcases for travel reading since its appearance a few weeks ago. But it was the people IN the book who arrived at Burt Hixson and Jerry Battle's Villa Verano on Tuesday, 22 May to celebrate Jenny's triumph.

It was a perfect afternoon for a fiesta and the guys had outdone themselves in decorations including "Jenny's Bar," that was serving margaritas and other hot weather beverages. The music was sublime with a charming undertone of marimba. Tables were draped with red, white and green and red, white and blue banners and Jenny, selling and signing her books was assisted by her Guadalajara friend Carol Wheeler, editor in chief of the online site MexConnect, Sally Conley of the Children's Library in Pitillal and Laura Cardenas of "I Do Vallarta." An important exchange of books took place between Jenny and Luis Brambila, editor of Vallarta Opina who gifted Jenny with a large volume on local lore. Wayne McLeod, editor of Vallarta Today was also greeting old friends and Jeri Grant of the Viva Publishing Group was both greeting and photographing while Heather Wilson found a comfy perch with friends.

Jenny and Howard's old friends on the scene included Eva Montecon, Dr. Jose Luis Romo, Lynne Bairstow, Mary Shaw and Juan, Gary Thompson of Galeria Pacifico, Margaret Tolton and Mayo Warren. Cathy VonRohr and Judy Galeana, both mentioned prominently in the book, were there as was Toody Walton who had helped Jenny put together her stunning linen outfit for the occasion. And, as they say, many, many more.

Sr. Ismael Perez of Celis and Dr. Romo were two individuals who worked with Jenny on the grimmer aspects of her position as consular representative. As she wrote in her book, before taking on her position a State Department individual had told her to expect "deaths, destitutes, detentions and disappearances" as principle items on her duty menu. Dealing with deaths often required the assistance of both gentlemen and one of Jenny's somewhat gallows' humor comments concerned the good fortune of Sr. Perez in being the one to ship bodies home.

The book is a great, lively read and could be, at a lean 188 pages, a bit too short. Angela Corelis, Judith Ewing Morlan and husband Ed and many, many more have registered solid thumbs up reviews as do I! You can get hold of your own copy at Rizo's where Tina has taken over sales, and in book stores including Plaza Caracol. The cost is 200 pesos or twenty dollars.

Picture, Newspaper publisher Luis Reyes Brambila and Susan Hehr congratulate author Jenny McGill, right, on the publication of her book "Drama and Diplomacy" at the book signing event May 22nd.