Welcome to my stop on the blurb blitz for When We Return by Eliana Tobias. This blitz was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stops, I have an excerpt from the book as well as the blitz wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Title: When We ReturnAuthor: Eliana Tobias
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Publication Date: May 17th 2022
Print Length: 297 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Who should be held responsible for public wrong?
By 2008, it finally seems that the Peruvian government is ready to make amends to its citizens after the violent guerilla movement of the last three decades.
Otilia and Salvador, a mother and son torn apart during the conflict and separated for twenty years, are eager to have their pain and suffering acknowledged. But they hit a roadblock when the government denies responsibility in their legal case.
Things begin to look up however when Otilia meets Jerry, a kind man and the son of Jewish parents who escaped the Holocaust. Grappling with his own upbringing and the psychological struggled his parents endured, Jerry is just the person to empathize with Otilia's feelings. Together, Otilia, Jerry and Salvador must support one another through the turbulent journey that is healing from historical trauma. And through it, find the courage to rebuild their lives and open themselves to love and companionship.
Artfully weaving together different timelines and countries, this novel examines the nuanced topic of grief a community endures after a collective tragedy. In this exploration of the culture of remembrance following displacement and loss, we discover what happens when out past calls us back to what we must do to achieve justice and reconciliation when we return.
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
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EXCERPT:
Salvador entered the prison gates, following an orderly line of elderly men carrying multiple plastic bags. When a person in the back started to yell, the advancing lineup came to a stop. Almost immediately a guard raised his baton and struck the unruly man to one side.
At the first security checkpoint, bags were opened for inspection. Since Salvador carried no package, he was told to move on. Next, he spread his legs wide for a pat-down. Up ahead, after showing his identity card, he was given a metal token with a printed number he’d have to return to the guards on his way out to account for his visit. Lastly, while shuffling along, he was asked to contribute a few coins for soft drinks for the guards. He reached into his pockets and found some money for drinks for the guards, which he dropped in a box at the end of the corridor.
In the prison yard, Salvador was keenly aware of the throng of people milling about. These places are jam-packed, he thought as he looked for his uncle in the crowd. Inmates talking to suited lawyers, visitors meeting up with family members, joggers getting exercise, and a group of men shooting hoops. Cooked meals, fruit, drinks, batteries, radios and clothes for sale were set up in stalls against decrepit walls. Long lineups of raucous men waited to use a few public phones that only accepted calling cards. Among the cacophony, supervising guards moved through, keeping an eye on the inmates while yelling into their megaphones.
Salvador noticed Tomas, drawn and frail, walking slowly toward him dragging his feet, his face grim. He seemed shorter than Salvador remembered him. It’d been years since they’d seen each other last, and the man had aged badly.
Tomas let out a deep breath, nodded, and pointed to a bench. Salvador checked out the courtyard, wrinkling his nose at the stench. Before Tomas rolled down his sleeves, Salvador noticed the naked female tattooed on his uncle’s forearm. Tomas pulled two cigarettes out of his stained pants pocket and held out one for Salvador.
“No Thanks, I don’t smoke.”
“So you found me, kid. How about that?” His voice was loud. He lit his cigarette with trembling hands. “How’s life?”
Salvador had no stomach for small talk. It was colder than usual for the end of March, and he wanted to be out of there as soon as he could.
Tomas coughed.”I’m stuck in this place.”
“I’m here for only one reason,” Salvador said, staring him in the eyes.
“Thought you’d be wearing your cop uniform.”
“Cut the crap,” Salvador snapped.
Tomas looked puzzled, his face carved with age.
Salvador removed a pad of paper and pen from the inside pocket of his light jacket.
“What is that for?” Tomas sneered.
“I need facts.”
“Say that again; I’m hard of hearing,” Tomas said leaning in.
“Since when?” Salvador looked at Tomas doubtfully.
“Be nice. Remember that I took you in when you were an orphan - when your mother and father left you alone. You were just a grimy little beggar. Now it’s your turn to take care of me- get me out of this nightmare.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Eliana Tobias was born in Santiago, Chile, to immigrant parents who escaped
the Holocaust. She graduated from the University of Chile then completed
other degrees in early childhood and special education in the United States and
Canada. After working in this field in various capacities, including teaching at
the National University of Trujillo in Peru, she moved to Vancouver, where she
has lived for thirty years and where she discovered her love of writing. Her rich
experience of political turmoil, of listening to stories of the Holocaust when
Jewish communities in Europe were shattered, of losing family in Chile under
military dictatorship, and living in Peru during a time of intense civil conflict,
fueled her passion to write about the ways in which people caught in devastation
rebuild their lives. Eliana Tobias lives in Vancouver, B.C.
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GIVEAWAY:
Eliana Tobias will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read- looking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful read!
ReplyDeletethanks this sounds like an interesting book
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting. What makes the description interesting for you? What genre do you enjoy?
DeleteThank you to All the Ups and Downs for featuring my novel today!!
ReplyDeleteHistorical Fiction - I am not familiar with this genre.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to give it a try.
Thank you for sharing this.
My novel is based on real events that took place. Give it a try!!
DeleteI love historical fictions. Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment.
DeleteI want to learn about Perus government. thank you
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful country to visit and they have great cuisine which has become well known these days.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your signature alcholic drink?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your question! Peru and Chile are well known for Pisco - a brandy produced in the winemaking regions. Pisco Sour is a favorite cocktail and best way of consuming pisco. The recipe includes pisco, egg white, lemon or lime juice, syrup or sugar to your taste and ice.
DeleteThe book sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
DeleteWhat inspires you to write books?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your question. I lived in South America during times of turmoil and became concerned about social problems. When I started to write I wanted to tell stories that dramatized some of the issues.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
Thanks for your support.
DeleteThe book looks very exciting. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interest. I appreciate your time to comment.
DeleteThe excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading!
ReplyDeleteSounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dianne for your comment. I hope you read it and get back to me so we can have a conversation!
DeleteWhat has been your favorite road trip?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your question Jamie. My favorite road trip was to Machu Picchu, a Peruvian archelogical site from the time of the Inca Empire. It's located at around 8,000 ft. high in the Andes mountains. A very isolated, spiritual site. Cuzco, a Spanish colonial city, at a higher elevation, is the closest metropolitan area and the point of departure to get to Machu Picchu. You can access the ruins either by road or by train and is a favorite trekking trail. When I visited, the guerilla group was active in the region and there weren't many tourists on site, which made for an exciting trip!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate you stopping by.
DeleteHow long did it take to write this book?
ReplyDeleteA few years!!
ReplyDeleteHow do you think we should warn future inhabitants of earth about nuclear waste?
ReplyDeleteThis is not my area of expertize.
DeleteDid you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
ReplyDeleteI never did. Do you think it is a good idea? Why?
DeleteDo you have characters living in your head?
ReplyDeleteYes I do. I live with my characters and think a lot about them. I cry and laugh with them and think about how they would behave in certain situations. Thanks for your interesting question. Are you a writer?
DeleteThe cover is interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf you could stay one age forever, which one would it be, and why?
ReplyDeleteWhen We Return by author Eliana Tobias sounds like a book that will engage many readers.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Thanks for your comment. I hope it will!
Deletesounds amazing!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
Would you ever be willing to take a cruise? To where?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteWhen you were a child, what book genres did you enjoy reading?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Fairy Tales!!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you go for inspiration?
ReplyDeleteBooks, trips, to sit close to a body of water.
ReplyDeleteWhen do you think you could have used a second chance in life?
ReplyDeleteDo you relax on the weekends?
ReplyDeleteWhat city has been your favorite to live in?
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favorite poem?
ReplyDeleteDo you listen to music when you write?
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a favorite subject of mine.
ReplyDeleteHow do you handle very hot weather?
ReplyDeleteIn the spring and summer I am in Vancouver Canada where it is still very cold. We've had a lot of rainy weather and I wish it was warmer. I really like warm weather and lots of sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI just love your cover and I would love to read your book.
ReplyDeleteI think that the cover of your book is colorful and attractive.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
looks like a fun one
ReplyDeleteI hope you can take a closer look. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteThe historical fiction books looks like a great book to read. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you will read it and let me know what you think. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteDo you set an alarm so you don't write for too long at a stretch?
ReplyDeleteThat is a good suggestion. I don't set an alarm but I should!! I sit for too long.
DeleteThank you so much for doing this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your endeavors.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteJust got done reading "The Nightengale" by Kristin Hannah for book-club. Loved it. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the cover and excerpt. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to comment.
ReplyDeleteHave you started another book yet?
ReplyDeleteSounds really good! Who’s your author inspiration?
ReplyDelete