Award-winning screenwriter and author, Beverly Gandara, wrote Concrete Wings, a coming of age narrative of a survivor from Communist Cuba and his life in New York.

What is Concrete Wings all about?

Concrete Wings is inspired by a true story. Julian, an abused teen, knew there was little chance for personal growth and independent thought in Castro’s Communist Cuba. Sent out of Havana to retrieve smuggled family jewels, he comes of age in New York City at the height of the sexual revolution and earns his political freedom. By a twist of fate, he begins to lose his liberty when his oppressive parents arrive and refuse to assimilate into American Society. Torn between protecting family secrets and striving for economic and personal freedom, Julian learns that success isn’t always measured by what one becomes, but often by what one overcomes.

What inspired you to write the book?

I fictionalized a story told to me over many years about an immigrant family who came to the United States searching for freedom and an improved quality of life. With all the elements of strong storytelling, it includes, danger, betrayal, love, loss, family relationships and ultimately success which is in my opinion, timely and compelling.

What is your target audience for the book?

Teens and adults, all genders, all ages.

What do you hope readers could get out from your book?

Hope and that the quest for freedom is a worthy pursuit.

What are your future goals/plans for the book?

Concrete Wings has a screenplay attached. My desire is to see the story on screen.

And something more about yourself.

I began writing screenplays after retirement. I won the prestigious Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film FestivaI for my comedy screenplay, Rent Money. My second screenplay was Concrete Wings and at the suggestion to two producers, took the challenge and converted it to a novel, which to date has earned;

2021 Speak Up Radio Firebird Book Award

2018 Florida Book Festival’s Honorable Mention

2017 Literary Classic’s Seal of Approval with a recommendation for school and home libraries

2017 New York Book Festival’s Honorable Mention

2017 The Readers’ Favorite Five Star Seal

I write in different genres and have completed several screenplays, a suspense thriller novel, titled Soaring in Silence: One Woman’s Triumph Over Fear, which received a Five Star Readers’ Favorite Seal and a nonfiction book titled, Women, Work and Triumph: Interviews with Fascinating Women, a compilation of interviews with a diverse group of 26 fascinating women in 26 careers from A–Z with 1 goal: acceptance and respect. It, too earned a Five Star Readers’ Favorite Seal.

I encourage anyone with a lifetime ambition to never give up on their goal as I believe there is no expiration date on one’s dreams.

For more information about my work and where my books can be purchased, please visit my website or go directly to Amazon.

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