Journalist and war correspondent Mary Jo McConahay notes that of the 8 million Maya in the world, about 15% of them currently live in the United States. A long-time writer for Pacific News Service and New America Media, McConahay presents her personal encounters with the Mayan people in her new book, "Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest.” It’s a captivating chronicle of the people, politics and archaelogy of the Central American rainforest, the cradle of the Maya civilization.
In early August, NAM held a reception in San Francisco for McConahay’s book, where she discussed with award-winning author, Richard Rodriguez, highlights and analyses from her remarkable three-decade journey, traveling and living in the region’s remote and dangerous landscapes. That region, the Maya tropical forest extends from northern Guatemala to southern Mexico. In this book, the author recounts archaeological discoveries, the transformation of the Lacandon people, the Zapatista indigenous uprising in Mexico and increased drug trafficking, and her involvement in the uncovering of a war crime.
Last August, “Maya Roads” was chosen by National Geographic Traveler as its book of the month.
Mary Jo McConahay began covering Guatemala and Central America as a correspondent in the 1980’s. Her work has appeared in more than 30 magazines and periodicals including Rolling Stone, Vogue and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Odette Keeley is host and executive producer of “New America Now”, NAM’s TV show, as well as anchor for NAM segments on “Upside” - both airing on COMCAST Hometown Network - CHN 104 & COMCAST ON DEMAND. Eming Piansay and Min Lee are senior producers for NAM & YO! Youth Outlook.
Maya Roads: A Literary Journey Through the Central American Rainforest
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