Author Stephen Estopinal grew up in the swamps and bayous of Southeast Louisiana. Forced to relocated because of the devastation wrought by hurricane Katrina, Mr. Estopinal now lives in Gonzales, Louisiana which is halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. A land surveyor and civil engineer, he has written numerous professional articles as well as two textbooks.
His first text book, "A Guide to Understanding Land Surveys" published by John Wiley is now in its third edition. A second text book, which he co-authored with Wendy Lathrop, "Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions" is also published by John Wiley.
Intrigued by the study of local history, a requirement of boundary survey research, and fascinated by family oral history told to him by his Isleño Grandfather who spoke the 18th Century Canary Island accented Spanish, Estopinal became a "Living History" volunteer at the Jean Lafitte National Park where recreations of the Battle of New Orleans included living and sleeping as did the original defenders did two hundred years ago.
Estopinal's novels are historical fictions set in Louisiana during the late 18th and early 19th Centuries told from the point of view of settlers, the Isleños, who were brought to Louisiana from the Canary Islands by Spain. All of the novels involve the deMelilla family and include details of daily life not often found in history books.
"El Tigre De Nueva Orleáns" is his first novel. It is set during the War of 1812 and tells of a young Isleño's transition into manhood by battle and love. "El Tigre De Nueva Orleáns" has been approved for sale in the Chalmette Battlefield National Park Bookstore.
"Incident at Blood River" takes place in 1795 in Spanish Colonial Louisiana and is the story of a grieving widower who rediscovers love with a Acadian girl, but first, he must survive a desperate battle.
"Anna" takes place in 1825 during the explosion of commerce along the Mississippi River brought on by the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the Steamboat. Anna's courage and determination is instrumental in saving her family's shipping business from a clandestine take-over by the powerful East India Company.
"Escape to New Orleans", set in 1778, is the story of a family's desperate flight from the Canary Islands and their hardships in Louisiana. The Spanish army's vital, but little known, victories over the British in Louisiana during the American Revolution form the back drop for the novel. Spain's General Gálvez fought several battles against the British from 1779 to 1781. Spain, as an ally of the United States, seized control of the Mississippi Valley, Mobile and Pensacola. Gálvez was the only General during the American Revolution who was victorious in every engagement.
"Mobile Must Fall" - The year is 1780 and the American Colonies are in revolt against Britain. Spain entered the conflict as an ally of the rebels in 1779 and seized Baton Rouge from the British, securing the flow of supplies to the western front. Bernardo Gálvez, the Spanish Governor-General of Louisiana has determined to send a reconnaissance force into Florida to prepare for an assault on the British fort at Mobile. Sergeant Diego deMelilla of the Spanish Fixed Regiment of Louisiana has been selected to lead that reconnaissance. Grieving over the recent loss of his beautiful wife, deMelilla is confronted with hardships, British soldiers and a mysterious woman. Through it all, one fact remains - if Spain and the American Revolution are to succeed, Mobile Must Fall.
"Pensacola Burning" - The American Revolution persevered despite several losses and disappointments. By 1781, the revolution had entered a critical phase. Britain controlled the south, or so they thought, until Spain declared war. Allied with the new United States, the forces of Spain, led by Bernardo Gálvez, the Spanish Governor-General of Louisiana attacked British fortifications along the Mississippi River valley and the Gulf Coast, conquering them one at a time until only the fort at Pensacola remained. Sergeant Diego deMelilla of the Spanish Fixed Regiment of Louisiana is serving in the vanguard of the Spanish attack on Fort George at Pensacola. During what proved to be the longest siege of the American Revolution, Sergeant deMelilla finds himself isolated, confronted by a shrewd and deadly professional army, his past and his fate seemingly controlled by a young Choctaw priestess.
"Solitario - Bootlegging on the Bayou" - Michael Demill, a wounded veteran of the Great War, returned home to discover those he left behind had abandoned him. Impoverished and squeaking out a living harvesting wild oysters, he is given an opportunity to become wealthy.
Demill, fluent in Spanish, French and English, uses his seamanship skills acquired as a professional fisherman to become an importer of rum during the American Prohibition. He soon discovers that bootlegging is both highly profitable and very dangerous. Once in, retiring from the business is complicated, but a beautiful woman provides a strong motivation.
"The Man From Red Hill" - An Irish bondservant, Mary Fermoy, is sold with her infant son to a Cherokee, Billy Redhand. A veteran of the Red Stick Wars, Redhand settles on a farm and accepts Mary as his wife. Redhand names the boy John Circles-the-Tree. The death of John’s mother and the murder of Redhand leaves him orphaned and embroiled in political intrigue and danger. In an attempt to escape arrest, John flees to Texas and is caught up in the Texas Revolution. Guided by a mysterious girl in his dreams, he returns to the Cherokee Nation as the renowned warrior, Man-from-Red-Hill, just in time to become entangled in the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee Nation was at war with itself and many sought vengeance. Will the Man from Red Hill become an instrument of retribution?
"Beneath the Bonnie Blue Flag" Napoleon has all of Europe at war. Spain has been defeated and the Emperor of France has declared his brother, Joseph, to be king of Spain. The deposed King Ferdinand has ordered all Spaniards to conduct a Guerrilla War to resist Bonaparte. Louisiana has been sold to the Americans but Baton Rouge and what is known as West Florida remain under the Spanish crown. The European conflict threatens to spread to America and uncertainty grips the land.
Esteban deMelilla, guided by a Choctaw priestess, struggles to recover from the loss of his wife and child. A businessman and former Spanish soldier, Esteban remarries only to be drawn up into a conspiracy to free West Florida from European domination.
Most of the citizens of West Florida support the restoration of King Ferdinand. A few conspirators, including Esteban’s father-in-law, want to establish an independent republic. What sort of government will live under the Bonnie Blue Flag with a Single Star? France, Spain, Britain, and the United States all covet West Florida. What must Esteban do to uphold his honor and protect his family?
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