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Watsonville Book Signing Party & Celebration of Charley Parkhurst a Huge Success

By abadmin on December 12, 2011 Leave a Comment

New novel based on stagecoach whip

Author hosts book signing in Watsonville

By TARMO HANNULA OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Published: December 8th, 2011, Register-Pajaronian, Page 3

Author Karen Kondazian launched The Whip, a historical fiction novel about famed stagecoach whip Charley Parkhurst, Wednesday at a book signing in Watsonville. The Whip was inspired by the true story of Charlotte “Charley” Darkey Parkhurst (1812-79), who lived most of her life as a man in California.

Parkhurst became a renowned stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her, Kondazian said. It wasn’t until Parkhurst died of cancer in 1879 in Watsonville that it was discovered he was a woman who had maintained a false identity as a man.

At the signing, Kondazian addressed a group of about 40 people and told them that Watsonville was the first book signing she chose because it is key to Parkhurst’s life and death.

Filed Under: Book Signing, Charley Parkhurst, Event, Karen Kondazian, The Whip

Article in San Francisco Books & Travel – Winter 2011/12

By abadmin on December 11, 2011 Leave a Comment

COWBOY UP: Art Kusnetz reviews Karen Kondazian’s The Whip

One thing I learned growing up around horses is an appreciation for Cowboy culture. Cowboys by nature tend to use idioms as shorthand to express their feelings. For example, “I loved you better than my horse.” This means I’m breaking up with you and I regret my foolishness for letting you into my heart—a mistake which I now recognize and rectify. Cowboy culture can be both a philosophy for life and a mindset for dealing with the world. This mindset lends itself to great stability especially in the face of adversity and is often invoked by the simple phrase, “Cowboy Up.”

Like a nugget of gold pulled from the riffles, Karen Kondazian’s debut novel The Whip embodies this cowboy culture. The Whip is based on the true life story of Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst, who, for thirty years, passed as a man. Working as a Whip, a stage coach driver, for Wells Fargo, she became one of the best at her job and that was before she shot and killed a notorious bandit in a gunfight! Her secret only became known upon her death—her motivations remained a mystery.

Filed Under: Karen Kondazian, Review, The Whip

BookBabe Review of The Whip

By abadmin on December 11, 2011 4 Comments

The Whip by Karen Kondazian

by Tara Chevrestt, Book Babe Blog

Charley Parkhurst was a stagecoach driver for 30 years. Charley Parkhust was really Charlotte. She started out as an abandoned baby in on an orphanage step and became a drinking, shooting, tobacco spitting, revenge getting stagecoach driver. This is her story.

The orphanage: A cruel headmistress goes too far with her punishments. On one hand, she accidentally introduces Charley to her lifelong love: horses. On the other hand, she turns a kind and caring boy into the makings of a monster. This boy was Charley’s protector and will soon become her enemy.

Rhode Island: Charley falls in love, but the rest of society, and namely, her “brother” don’t agree with her choice of love interest. The loss of her man and her baby lead to the loss of her femininity as she dons male attire and becomes a stagecoach driver in order to travel to California to hunt down and kill her husband’s killer. But will she get her revenge before the man can do her, her life, and her loved ones more damage? Will she be able to do what needs to be done? Life hasn’t been good to her as a woman that’s for sure. Will it treat her better as a man?

Filed Under: Review, The Whip

About “The Whip” Novel

By abadmin on November 4, 2011 1 Comment

The Whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man in the old west.

As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love with a runaway slave and had his child. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track the killer.

Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her.

Charley was the first woman to vote in America in 1868 (as a man). Her grave lies in Watsonville, California.

Filed Under: The Whip Tagged With: Novel