Long a venerable monastery, the Convent of Saint Margaret in Granada is known throughout Spain for its production of the most exquisite laces of the time, the laces that robed dukes and counts, princesses, and even the king and queen of Castile.           Set in the sixteenth century against the backdrop of Andalusian Christian, Jewish, and Islamic influences, A Stitch in Air is a love story involving Hernán de Vigo, a priest/playwright, and an earnest nun named Adela. Unbeknownst to the sisterhood, de Vigo has been sent by the Holy Office of the Church (the leadership of the Inquisition) to Saint Margaret to explore claims of heresy. Under the guise of playwright, he investigates these claims. He writes and directs two comedias during his stay and casts the sisters in his plays. Mystical and mysterious events occur along the way, among them miracles seemingly arranged by the Virgin Mary.           The first American novel to treat conventual life in Spain, A Stitch in Air is a tribute to The Golden Age, as well as a humorous and inspirational tale of love, hope, and faith.