Sons of Cuba Book Series by Ellen W. Martin - Book Tour - Book Trailer - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Ellen W. Martin and her new book series, “Sons of Cuba,” featuring Book One "Prelude to Revolution," and Book Two "Homecoming"!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Ellen and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Sons of Cuba Book Series

by Ellen W. Martin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB – BOOK SERIES:

Relentless political turmoil streams through the veins of Cuba like lava coursing down the side of a volcano holding the Cuban people hostage to tyranny since Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean Island.  One wonders if the country’s destiny can ever change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB – SONS OF CUBA – PRELUDE TO REVOLUTION – BOOK ONE:

In BOOK I – SONS OF CUBA – PRELUDE TO REVOLUTION Felipe Cardena, the rebel, endures lost love, the exhilaration of victory, demoralizing disappoints, imprisonment, exile, and an assassination attempt.  Nothing will stop Felipe Cardena until he achieves his ultimate goal — free Cuba from tyranny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB – SONS OF CUBA – HOMECOMING – BOOK TWO:

In BOOK II – SONS OF CUBA – HOMECOMING after victory is declared by the Cuban rebels, the plot shifts away from the revolution and centers on Tangi Montolio, a fiery redheaded activist who once was one of the rebel leader’s most passionate supporters.  Tangi and her family become a victim and suffers under the hands of Felipe Cardena’s new leadership.  The rebel now turned dictator will discover that his brief interaction with Tangi will lead to the destruction of his legacy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

EXCERPT ONE:

FROM SONS OF CUBA – PRELUDE TO REVOLUTION – BOOK ONE:

“FELIPE...  Felipe Cardena,” the old man whispered, shaking the young recruit.  “Wake up, you must hurry.”

“Wha... what is it?”

“El Presidente is sending the Cuban Navy to intercept this ship.  He canceled the invasion of Santo Domingo.”

Felipe yawned and rolled over “So what?  Maybe he changed his plans.”

The man dug his fingernails deep into Felipe’s shoulder.  “Yes, there’s been a change in plans.  A revolution may start any day and you’re on the wrong side.”

Felipe rolled over on the hard steel deck of the frigate’s makeshift dormitory, fought the sleepiness lingering in his head.  He grabbed his heavy boots and shoved them on his feet trying not to wake the nearby soldiers.

He looked over at the old man.  “Who the hell are you?” he whispered, fumbling with his laces.

“That’s not important.  What’s important is Salabarrìa’s police shot and killed Emilio Trò.  Fires are burning in the streets of Havana; mobs are overturning cars and buses.  The rumor is that the troops on this ship are heading back to Havana to overthrow the Cuban government instead of liberating Santo Domingo.  No one on this frigate is to be trusted.  That includes you, my young amígo.”

Felipe rolled his sleeping bag, picked up his machine gun and backpack.  He waited a moment for his eyes to focus in the darkness.  Sounds of snoring and the odor of week-old sweat saturated the stale air in the lower deck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK TRAILER:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspired by Headlines:  How to Put Your Spin on Real Life Events:

My two book series SONS OF CUBA was in fact inspired by Headlines and a news item on national news for over nine months.

In late November 1999 fourteen people climbed into a seven teen-foot aluminum boat and navigated across the treacherous and unpredictable ninety-mile stretch between Cuba and the United States.  Out of those fourteen people, only three survived — two adults and a five-year old boy.  Since the boy’s mother drowned before reaching U. S. soil, his fate was left in the hands of two governments flexing their muscles as to where this child should live.  While Cuba and the U.S. played their tug of war for over nine months, this child’s life remained in limbo.

I had my headline, but how would I put a spin on actual events?

Before going into the “how”, I need you to understand that when I started this laborious project I did not plan to write a book about Cuba – and definitely not about that particular five-year old boy.  I set out to put a puzzle together to help me to try to understand why so many risked their lives giving up their homes, their families, friends, businesses, and their culture.

The next thing I knew, I was reading everything I could get my hands on about Cuban history, the culture, and the people.  One of the key elements I discovered in my research was Cuba has endured several questionable leaders over many years, each with their own set of motives.  The Cubans have lived off and on under these conditions since Christopher Columbus discovered the Island in the late 1400’s.

Going back over six hundred years of Cuban history would be a daunting task (particularly since I was only doing this to satisfy an obsessive curiosity, not get a degree in Cuban history).  I needed to choose one time period.  The obvious choice for me was the Cuban Revolution starring Fidel Castro and his passionate band of rebels.

I made a chronological outline of the events leading up to the Cuban revolution and after.  Without realizing it at the time, I uncovered a “character” who was both hero and villain.  My heart and my sympathies already belonged to the refugees and ex-patriots which were initiated by the predicament of that one five-year old boy.

While writing SONS OF CUBA, I followed actual chronological events.  Most all the characters I created in both books are fictional.  However, my main character does resemble Cuba’s infamous leader Fidel Castro.  Since I was writing a historical fiction book, the spin needed to have believable characters that would fit in with actual historic events.

How did I do that?  I created four women characters whose sole job was to influence the main character in profound ways as a person and a leader.  I wanted my character to experience the euphoria of love and the deep despair of a loss.  He needed to know victory and absorb the crushing blows of defeat.  In my story these women in each of their own way helped shape my main character into the man he was.

I also gave my main character a best friend who shared this characters passion toward freeing his country.  As a devout follower and friend, he often became frustrated with the decisions his leader was making.  Throughout both Books I and II his task was to try to keep their leader on track so the revolutionaries could accomplish their ultimate goals.

I wrote many drafts of SONS OF CUBA over a two-year period from 2000-2002.  I had no idea what “show don’t tell” meant, much less how to write dialogue, an effective plot or create believable and interesting characters.  After multiple rejections of my first writing attempts, I only wrote occasionally.  It became obvious to me that if I wanted to be a writer, I needed to try to learn the tricks of the trade. 

I sought out online writer’s groups, joined with fellow local writers, and established a local writer’s critique group so we could help each other grow in our new passion of becoming “real” authors and not just wannabes.  I attended Writer’s Conferences and met successful writers, agents, and publishers who offered a wealth of knowledge and encouragement.

It wasn’t until the fall of 2019 both Books I and II of SONS OF CUBA were published.  After almost twenty years from the time I wrote the first drafts, I finally had a printed copy of my books in my hands – all the result from a HEADLINE I read several years earlier. 

For more information about my books check out my website:  https://www.booksbyellen.com.  And while you are doing that also take a look at the SONS OF CUBA Book Trailer now playing on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/eBhRzVlegdg.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

After a lifetime of personal adventures, travel and escapades (a lot of risky escapades), author Ellen Martin, is living her sunset years bouncing around a tennis court or clicking away on her keyboard.

Outrage at social injustices, the thrill for suspense, and unraveling a good mystery are triggers that motivate Ellen to write memorable stories and colorful characters.

Over 30 years as a military wife, she has resided both in the Orient and in Europe where she became no stranger to social injustice and poverty.  She and her family have lived in the Philippines, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands — not to mention both U.S. coasts and Kansas in the winter.  She is fascinated by real-life, colorful personalities.

On a more personal note Ellen was a flight attendant for the Charter Airline Saturn in the 1960’s.  Her job was escorting United States troops in and out of Viet Nam.  Her adventures in the war zone continued until she was swept away by her fighter pilot husband.

After retirement the couple’s travels included Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungry, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland and topped off with a visit to Cuba.

God gifted Ellen with one “perfect” son and three grandchildren.

You wrap all this in a package and Ellen has been rewarded with an endless supply of fodder for her fiction.

In her historical fiction Book-I SONS OF CUBA–PRELUDE TO REVOLUTION she weaves an embellished tale of the most notorious and charismatic Cuban rebel in modern history.  There’s a chance you might find him charming, intriguing and actually root for him in his early endeavors to free his beloved Cuba from tyranny.

However, in Book II - SONS OF CUBA – HOMECOMING, the story takes the reader from the rebel’s exile in Mexico to preparation for the revolution from the Mountains of the Sierra Maestra.  This is where you will meet the fiery redheaded peasant girl, Tangi.  The narrative shifts its focus from the revolution and centers around the fictional character, Tangi, and her family’s struggles, fears and disappointments in the new regime.

How the story in real life ends is no secret.  But, in Book II – SONS OF CUBA – HOMECOMING, the characters and the author may just get the last word. 

In 2020 Ellen’s new book INTO THE DEVIL’S DEN turns from historical events to present day reality – Terrorism — terrorism in our own backyard.

Check out her website for excerpts from her books: https://www.booksbyellen.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH ELLEN:

Website:

https://www.booksbyellen.com

Email:

ellen@booksbyellen.com 

BookBub Book Page – Sons of Cuba – Homecoming – Book Two #1:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/sons-of-cuba-by-ellen-w-martin

BookBub Book Page – Sons of Cuba – Homecoming – Book Two #2:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/sons-of-cuba-by-ellen-w-martin-2019-12-23

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19848749.Ellen_W_Martin

Goodreads Book Page – Sons of Cuba – Prelude to Revolution – Book One:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49784507-sons-of-cuba

Goodreads Book Page – Sons of Cuba – Homecoming – Book Two:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51000269-sons-of-cuba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS – SONS OF CUBA – PRELUDE TO REVOLUTION – BOOK ONE:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/36SmrS3 

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/34DunDY

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-cuba-ellen-w-martin/1134550000?ean=2940163189229

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-cuba-ellen-w-martin/1134550000?ean=9781647180096

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sons-Cuba-Ellen-W-Martin/9781647180096

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sons-Cuba/Ellen-W-Martin/9781647180096

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sons-of-cuba-book-1

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49784507-sons-of-cuba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BOOK BUY LINKS – SONS OF CUBA – HOMECOMING – BOOK TWO:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2SASw8w

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3d5O36W 

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-cuba-ellen-w-martin/1135036710?ean=2940163113392

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-cuba-ellen-w-martin/1135036710?ean=9781647180829

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sons-Cuba-Ellen-W-Martin/9781647180829

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sons-Cuba/Ellen-W-Martin/9781647180829

Kobo eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sons-of-cuba-book-ii

BookBub Book Page #1:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/sons-of-cuba-by-ellen-w-martin

BookBub Book Page #2:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/sons-of-cuba-by-ellen-w-martin-2019-12-23

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51000269-sons-of-cuba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO: 

Ellen will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.