Obdulia L. Marini was born under an avocado tree in the far off mountains of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Her father was a farmer and married a young lady who was a lot younger than him.

He was always self-employed doing different jobs like black smith, carpenter, lime burner, and builder. The family moved from towns to villages, to ranches, and even under trees.

Obdulia was the fifth of eight children and the only one with a dark complexion. Her oldest sister was born with white hair and very light skin and was very ashamed on Obdulia, even saying she wasn't her sister. The family lived in a town where Mexicans and Indians were fighting and killing each other, then moved to another town where the son of a church member went on a rampage killing seven innocent people in one night.

Time went by and many things happened. Obdulia's mother, left alone, stole chickens to feed the family and slept with her husband's boss to get meat and cheese. Her parents separated, but never divorced, starting a battle in which the children were "like a piece of meat between two dogs."

Her father hid the children from their mother, living under trees, in the mountains, in caves, in the fields, under storms. They suffered colds, shame, hunger, and sickness. Obdulia was once dragged by a swollen river. She was abused and mistreated by family members.

As a teenager, she bounced from living with her oldest sister, to living with her father and brothers, and then back with her sister again. With God's help, she was able to find a way to attend college. She found a job as a teacher in a small village and then finally moved to California.

This book paints a detailed portrait of Obdulia K. Marini's early years.

"Baby Blue's Destiny: Part One" is a 262-page paperback with a retail price of $36.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-2865-8. It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at www.dorrancepressroom.com or our online bookstore at www.dorrancebookstore.com.