When We Left Cuba
If you’ve never been to a book signing and you’re a reader, you should really consider going to one. I’m really enjoying the regular events at Vero Beach Book Center. Often, the authors at the book signings give a short talk about their latest work and answer any questions the crowd might have. I love hearing the stories of how their novels came to be and how the stories connect to the author’s own life. I’ve also been reading books that I otherwise would not have chosen but that I end up enjoying tremendously,and I’ve found some new writers to follow!
Last month I had the opportunity to meet Chanel Cleeton at her book signing that introduced her new book When We Left Cuba, a spin-off of her book Next Year in Havana. Her own stories of family fleeing Cuba and making lives here were a beautiful background to the inspiration of these books. The story lines immerse the reader in parts of Cuban and American history in which I found myself lacking substantive knowledge, but Ms. Cleeton weaves the tale amongst facts, and I quickly filled in some of the knowledge gaps by further researching the history of the time periods. Next Year in Havana tells a story of love and heartbreak during the Cuban Revolution of the fifties when Fidel Castro came into power. It is a story of love, family, resilience, and perseverance as is When We Left Cuba though they tell the stories of two different women. I enjoyed both of them quite a bit, but Next Year in Havana was definitely my favorite.
While I was at her book signing, I grabbed a copy of Ms. Cleeton’s new book, When We Left Cuba and asked her if she’d sign it for my readers. She graciously did, so one lucky subscriber will win that copy! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog. You can also “friend” me on Facebook, follow me on Instagram @estoraadams, or on Twitter @estora_adams, or share this post on all your various forms of social media. You get an entry for each place you subscribe or follow and for each share. If you’re already a follower in a particular medium, when you share it there, you automatically get an extra one for having been a loyal fan. Be sure to tag me in the share, so that I know you did it. One day I’ll make this easier by using an app for just this kind of thing, but for today, this is what we have. The winner will be announced Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2019.
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