Dear Members of NAWW:

I have faced the shining light which has lead me to the promise land–my first work of fiction, Beyond Bagheria.

To face the light one must fight one’s insecurities, reach for a dream, pursue a goal in spite of lack of education in that area, in spite of having to sandwich your dream time in between employment and home demands.

I find that I feel most alive when writing. I find that all actions are connected in the end. Who knew eleven years ago a picture I took on a trip would serve as the perfect cover for my book. Who knew that my father’s silly stories about the old country would somehow be woven one day into a story replete with action and suspense yet retain its ethnic character. Who knew that I’d dedicate a work of fiction to my storyteller father. Who knew that the adult ed courses on writing would be enough to catapault me into a new career. Who knew that Beyond Bagheria would capture the hearts and minds of anyone who wants to undertstand what immigrants face sometimes in a new land. My dream come true, Beyond Bagheria, is based on a true story.

E.P . Vallone