By Alethea J. Salazar
My name is Alethea J. Salazar and I’m the author of the novel Angels of
Redemption, which was published in August of 2009. I’m a single mother of
four sons and I own and operate a one woman consulting business for builders
and developers in the amazing city of Las
Vegas, NV. Despite the downturn in the building
industry I have managed to create a very specific market niche’ for residential
builders and I have been able to maintain a successful career while I continue
to write and do what I can to support my family in an economy that has been
less than forgiving.
Ever since I was a child I have always had a love affair with
literature. I would read for hours on
end as I let my heart and mind escape into the stories that would take me away
to worlds that weren’t my own; worlds that were full of adventure and happy
endings. The joy I got from reading inspired my dream of becoming a writer. But
as with most dreams we often tuck them away into the back of our minds
believing that they will never become a reality. However, with perseverance and one creative
idea I began to write… and I kept writing until I finished my book, Angels
of Redemption. I worked hard sending out what seemed like thousands of
query letters to agents and publishers. But all I got for my hard work and
efforts were rejection letters… and then more rejection letters until I was
ready to use my book, my creation, as kindling. But I refused to give up and
eventually I fulfilled my lifelong passion of becoming a published author.
My inspiration for Angels of Redemption came from a life altering
experience, not unlike what so many others have gone through. Like so many
Americans I struggled to make ends meet in a faltering economy. For years I
worked as an architectural manager in the building industry… and was making a
handsome living… when I found myself jobless and collecting unemployment for
the first time ever in my 20-plus year career. I was devastated and humiliated
by the need to rely on others to help me take care of my own children.
Talk about a very humbling experience. I was unable to find a job to save
my life... no one would hire me. I had
too much experience for this job… not enough for that one. The frustration and
desperation continued to mount as the bills continued to pile up. Stress took a
crippling toll on me as well as the entire family. This was the point where my
family convinced me to start my own business. I became a consultant for
builders who no longer had the staff to run their businesses efficiently due to
downsizing. But even going out on my own I’ve never come close to replacing my
lost income. We found ourselves quickly losing ground financially. At one
point, we were even days away from having our home of 10 years auctioned off. I
was in quicksand… and sinking fast.
As we quickly continued to slide down the slippery slope of financial
devastation the fear of failing my sons and losing everything I had worked so
hard for over the last decade gripped me like nothing ever had and the thought
of being homeless after all those years was more than I could bear. Fear,
despair and persistence quickly took over. I had to take back control… but I
didn’t even know where to begin.
That is when the idea for my book, Angels of Redemption, took hold.
The story is about a woman struggling with her own loss and despair as she is
faced with the ultimate decision that will change the fate of her life and soul
forever.
Angels of Redemption is about
a woman named Sarah who loses her family in a tragic car accident and she finds
it impossible to go on day after day. Her loneliness and grief quickly consumes
her, until in a final act of desperation she decides to take her own life.
But what she finds in death is not what she expected. Instead of spending
eternity with her family, she finds herself lost, somewhere between Heaven and
Hell, with other souls just like her. Their only goal is to earn their way into
the gates of Heaven, and ultimately to their lost loved ones.
There is a catch. In order to earn their way into Heaven they must return
to earth and save souls that are in despair. But they aren’t the only ones with
an interest in these lost and desperate people. Satan unleashes his own army of
demons to inflict as much chaos and despair as possible within their power.
Sarah finds herself in a timeless battle between good and evil over the
souls of mankind, and the Redeemers will do whatever it takes to defeat the
minions of Hell.
I have had an
amazing time at many of the Las Vegas Local Author Book Signings and I have
been privileged to be one of the featured authors at several conventions across
the United States.
So far I have been blessed with a loyal reader fan base who are anxiously
awaiting the sequel, which I’m proud to say is finally close to completion. Rise
of the Demon will be the second installment in the Angels of Redemption
series. The series is currently scheduled to be a trilogy, but depending on the
response from readers after the release of book 3 I may continue the series as
an ongoing saga.
I have been
blessed with a wonderful career, the privilege of becoming a published author
and, most importantly, the mother of four of the most amazing young men anyone
could ever know. I pray I will always have the good fortune to continue writing
and give readers a world not their own they can escape to.
We wish you fortune and health in the future, Alethea! Now, go buy her book! :)
Here are the links to her book:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Redemption-Alethea-J-Salazar/dp/1448638933
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/angels-of-redemption?r=1
Good Reads
http://www.goodreads.com/search?query=angels+of+redemption
Facebook Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angels-of-Redemption
I Am Modern Magazine
http://www.iammodern.com/angels-of-redemption-by-alethea-j-salazar.html
Books-A-Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Angels-Redemption/Alethea-J-Salazar/9781448638932?id=5136474679614
Library Thing
http://www.librarything.com/work/11546635/members
Red Room
http://redroom.com/member/alethea-j-salazar
