The Wall
THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA. They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon. Thomas's dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States.
DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street. Domingo's dream is to move to America as well so that his seven-year-old daughter NANCY can grow up speaking English and having a good education and a better life than he and Blanca had.
When armed gang members invade their neighborhood to demand "protection" money and threaten them with death if they don't pay, Thomas and Domingo's dreams for the future take on a new perspective. They decide to flee the country with their families through Guatemala and Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.
But their journey is more challenging than expected, and they face a myriad of difficulties and must overcome multiple obstacles that put not only their dreams but also their lives at risk.
Read an Excerpt
Thomas was in a bad mood and amid closing his restaurant on what had been a busy Saturday night when Juan and José showed up accompanied by two muscular young men in black jackets.
It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. Cecilia had left hours ago, accompanied by Carlos, the busboy, and Thomas was tired. He had to persuade three male customers celebrating a birthday to take their party elsewhere because he needed to catch some sleep so he could take his wife to church the following day. It hadn’t been easy; the friends had been enjoying the evening and were at that point in their drunkenness when they laughed at the silliest of jokes. When they ordered a third bottle of rum, Thomas presented them with their bill and politely marched them out of the restaurant and onto the street. He could hear them outside now telling lies to each other about all the women they had known and singing romantic songs off-key.
And now what?
“Buenas noches, amigo,” Juan said. “We stopped by for a drink.”
“You guys never sleep?”
Thomas’s comment prompted loud laughter from Juan and José, but not from the other two gorillas, who remained fish-eyed and impassive.
“I want you to meet Moro and Campi.” Juan pointed to the two black-jacketed men without looking at them. “They just joined the organization, and I wanted to introduce them to you.”
“Organization?”
“Yes, we’re growing. Business is good.”
“I bet.”
Juan gazed at the men and nodded toward Thomas. “Say hello.”
The men grunted something unintelligible, which could have been a greeting or a curse. Thomas wasn’t sure.
“Hola,” Thomas said to the men, who stared at him with the same effusiveness of a blank wall. He turned to Juan, who was smiling at him. “What happened to the other Black Jacket? The one who came with you the first time?”
“King Kong? We used to call him that because he was so big and had a face like a gorilla.” Juan stuck his tongue out and ran his hand from one side of his neck to the other, causing everyone at the table to break out in loud laughter as if he had told a great joke. “He was processed by the Mara 18. He was seeing a woman on their turf. The 18s caught him one night and beat him to a pulp with steel rods—you know cabillas used in construction? They broke every bone in his body. Even his mother couldn’t make a positive identification to the police.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It was his fault.” Juan shrugged. “We told him. There are plenty of pretty women in our territory. You got one. That guy with the big muscles in the shop across the street got another one. Isn’t that right, José?”
José gave a big grin. “Si, Jefe.”
Thomas wasn’t happy with the way the conversation was going. The mention of Ceci made his stomach muscles tighten. He felt his face getting hot and his heart beating faster. He tried hard to keep his composure.
“Well, aren’t you going to invite us to have something to drink, amigo?” Juan asked.
“I was about to go home.”
“Ah, amigo. Stay a while. Share a moment with your friends and business associates.”
Friends and business associates, my ass. Gangsters and murderers.
Thomas swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth and tried to keep his voice steady. This was not the time to start a confrontation. He had to wait for the right moment.
About the Author:
Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, Pereda had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Qatar, among others.
A member of MENSA, Pereda earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned BA degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.
Pereda lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College.
Website: http://www.davidpereda.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Pereda-Writer/345490998614
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidPeredaAVL
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/davidmpereda
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/David-Pereda/e/B002BML17Q%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095137M8S/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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I want to thank you for having me on your blog today. I will be checking in and out during the day to answer any questions about writing, the book, me that you or your readers may have.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI read The Wall and loved it. I found myself invested in the two families trying to flee violence in Central America. I can't imagine the fortitude it has to take just to make the trip, even before having to learn a new culture and language.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Rita. It is also a realistic book because it is based on the actual experiences of undocumented immigrants.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading about their adventures while trying to escape to America
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, katioscarlet. Some of the most dramatic episodes in the book are based on real events--and the characters in the book, including the dashing and trouble-prone Prince Stanislaw (Alex) are based on real people.
DeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Cali. Coul luk on the giveaway.
DeleteThis promises to be an intense and emotional read.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Mary. Readers have experienced different reactions while reading THE WALL: some have cried, others felt fear, still others experienced exhilaration and joy. They have all agreed on one thing, though: the book was worth reading.
DeleteSeeking asylum in the United States is a very real subject. The story should be good. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Lynn. It is an important subject: immigration. I wanted to write about the topic in a way that was entertaining and didn't preach--but that also showed what immigrants risk and go through in their search for a better life for themselves and their families.
DeleteI love the ominous cover. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteOminous is the perfect adjective to describe the cover, Christina. You will see why when you reach the first of the two climactic scenes in the novel.
Deletenice excerpt
ReplyDeleteThank you, bn100. Enjoy the novel and good luck n the giveaway.
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteAs the author, I'm prejudiced. Speaking for those who have already read THE WALL, they believe it is a great read and possibly the best I've written.
DeleteThis sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Debbie. Those who have read the book believe it is a great read.
Delete"THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA."
ReplyDeleteI've never read a book in that setting. Sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for your comment, Christina, and good luck on the giveaways.
DeleteEl Salvador is one of three countries in the violent Northern Triangle of Central America, the other two being Guatemala and Honduras. The murder rate in those countries is sky high mostly because of rampant gang violence. Those countries have poor economic growth and corrupt governments.
It seems like an interesting story, asylum has always been a problem for people.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has always been a welcoming land for the rest of the world--and it all started with a bunch of people who climbed aboard a ship named The Mayflower and came here from England seeking a better life.
DeleteGreat cover.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover too, Bridget. It's from my favorite cover designer, Dawne Dominique. It captures the essence and mood of the book--and and the hope.
Delete"They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon."
ReplyDeleteI like the plot so far. Thanks for the giveaway!
There are two climactic scenes in The Wall. One may bring tear to your eyes, as it has other readers, and the other may make you smile.
Delete"Thomas's dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States."
ReplyDeleteThis is a problem for so many couples. Thanks for the giveaway!
During the past four years, it was nearly impossible to obtain visas if you lived in Latin America unless you lived, perhaps, in Venezuela and Cuba. Even visas from Eastern European countries were substantially reduced.
DeleteThis book sounds intense.
ReplyDeleteIt is intense, lildevilgirl22. It should also be uplifting.
DeleteAs a Canadian watching the news of immigrants at the US/Mexico border it breaks my heart to see them struggling. If only Mexico and South America could be safe and prosperous for its people. I do not think the world will get any better.
ReplyDeletelindacfast@hotmail.com
Linda, that's an excellent comment. I agree with you that we need to fix the problem at the source. As long as those countries are riddled with crime, have poor economies and corrupt governments, we are to have immigrants seeking a better life. What would you do if you were afraid for your life and that of your children and couldn't find a job to support your family? Or, more importantly perhaps, what kind of future could you provide for your children?
DeleteWould you or wouldn't you? Would you sit there and be killed or starve to death or risk it all for the hope of a better life?
"DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street."
ReplyDeleteAre they friends or foes? Thanks for the giveaway!