Fascinated by the intrigues of history, Christine carefully researches the past before sharing its bounty through powerful, vivid historical novels.  Her writing has received awards and enthusiastic critical reviews, and her novels have become recommended reading by state Departments of Education.  Her latest novel has just been released and it is available at www.christinebender.com
 

	Christine Echeverria Bender and publisher Caxton Press have released Bender’s third novel that tells of the 1364 arrival of a storm-battered Basque whaling ship on an eastern shore of North America.  The Whaler’s Forge reveals a savagely beautiful land where Kepa de Mendieta becomes the victim of a terrible accident. When his ship returns to Spain he is left behind, seemingly forsaken. With winter approaching, Kepa struggles against the brutal forces of humanity and nature in a fight for survival as well as redemption. The Whaler’s Forge follows Bender’s first two novels Challenge the Wind and Sails of Fortune that detail the great voyages of Columbus and Magellan. www.christinebender.com
	"The voyage is incredible, spun by a master storyteller." Peter D. Laxalt, Author and Editor "This is a wonderful book! It is exciting, well written, and faithfully follows the principal historical events surrounding the lives of Ferdinand Magellan and the primary protagonist of the tale, Juan Sebastian de Elcano." Dr. Errol Jones, Retired Professor of Post-Columbian History "The novel will delight old salty dogs and readers without sea legs; Bender has clearly done her research, but it is not necessary to have strong historical or technical knowledge to enjoy this tale. Bender’s third-person narrative is extremely adept." Andrea Bell, Historical Novels Review
	"This fascinating and well-researched tale will make you look at history with new eyes during a journey on the Santa Maria with a young Basque sailor. The book places you on storm tossed ships and down in moldy holds. It will take you from first love to first contact. Domingo Laca dreams of going to sea and his dreams are answered, but like all heroic voyages, along with seeing new and exotic places; the hero comes back with losses, and changed forever by the journey. So is the reader." Karen Glennon, International Reading Association www.christinebender.com