Date of Award

Spring 5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Creative Writing

First Advisor

Richard Bausch

Second Advisor

Dr. Joanna Levin

Third Advisor

Dr. Renee Hudson

Abstract

The Claiming of Carmen de Luna begins in Aguascalientes, Mexico in 1918 where the main character Carmen has just lost her sixth child who only lived a month. In her grief, she begins to doubt both her circumstances and her future and the future of her children during this revolutionary time. When her abusive husband whom she was forced to marry announces his plans to marry off their tween age daughters to much older men, Carmen takes matters of the family into her own hands. With the help of both her older brother and the ghost of her baby, Carmen poses as a widow and moves her family to the United States, leaving behind a horrible marriage to begin life anew.

Comments

This is the third draft of the novel and the thesis project ends as the family lands in El Paso, Texas but does not follow the family through to the end in Los Angeles. That is for draft number four.

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