The Latina
Book Club wishes Fathers everywhere a Happy Father’s Day.
We also
welcome author Celeste Leon, who shares with us the story of her “lucky” father
and the reasons she just had to write a book about him.
And many
Felicidades to Celeste on her book, LUCK IS ONLY THE BEGINNING, being named a
Finalist in the 2016 International Book Awards, and a Finalist for the Mariposa
Award for Best First Book in the 2016
International Latino Book Awards.
 |
| Three Generations Author, father & daughter |
FROM CELESTE
LEÓN:
In 1944 my
father, Ramón León, won the lottery. $18,000, a fortune! ($500,000 in today's
money.) To say that it changed his life and the lives of others is a gross
understatement.
His story has
become such family lore that ten years ago, I decided I must tell it. “Why do
you want to write about me?” my father asked when I said I was writing a book
about him. His response shows his humility. What he accomplished is
extraordinary, though he’d never admit it.
Ramón León
grew up in the remote seaside town of Maunabo, Puerto Rico. From the age of
seven, he carried trays of pastries on his head into the nearby sugar
plantation to sell to field hands. He saved every penny he earned. At 19, he
had a premonition – a vision. A number flashed across the sky: 14007. “Guillermo,” he said to his friend, “I need to
play that number in the lottery!” He felt it so strongly that for the first
time, he bought a full sheet of tickets, something only the very wealthy did.
And he won. Going from poor to rich in a heartbeat caused as many problems as
it solved. He struggled to use his winnings to stay true to himself, ensure
family and community harmony, and fulfill his dream of being a healer.
 |
| a young Ramon Leon |
Years before,
a dentist known in his village as “El
Humanitario” had cured Ramón's abscessed tooth. Since that day, Ramón
dreamed of helping others as he'd been helped. Puerto Rico had few dentists and
no dental school in 1944, so, though he knew no English, he attended Michigan
State University. Although it was far from easy, his winnings allowed him to
live his dream and ultimately return to Puerto Rico to carry on the work of his
beloved mentor, “El Humanitario”.
Weeks before
my novel inspired by his story was released, one of my dad’s old patients read
my story, A LUCKY MAN (2006).
She posted it on our town’s Facebook page.
Testimonials
from Dad’s former patients poured in, 25 years after he'd retired. “Best
dentist I ever had.” “One of a kind!”
One patient told how Dad saw him on a Sunday after a terrible car accident.
Recognizing the serious nature of the young man's injuries, Dad referred him to
the nearest hospital. Dad made house calls, and if someone couldn’t pay, he
bartered for services.
 |
| Dentist Ramon Leon |
My father
showed respect to everyone without question, and in turn, earned it. These
lessons and values shaped the person I am today in my work as a physical
therapist and author. In sharing intimate details of his life as I wrote Luck
is Just the Beginning, he revealed a humble heroism.
Life has come
full circle. His dream came true and, with the publication of my novel, LUCK IS
JUST THE BEGINNING, so has mine. Readers have told me how the book inspired
them, how they rejoiced during the good parts and cried during the bad.
I share this
story in honor of Father’s Day. From selling pastries on sugar plantations to a
career as an acclaimed dentist and healer, with a big boost from the Puerto
Rican lottery, my father's story is truly amazing.###
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR: Celeste León is an award
winning author. Her debut novel, Luck
is Just the Beginning, was awarded Finalist in the Multicultural
Fiction Category in the 2016 International Book Awards and the Mariposa Award for
Best First Book in the 2016
International Latino Book Awards.
 |
| Floricanto Press |
Celeste was
named “One of Ten Latina Writers to Watch and Read” by The
Latina Book Club, and shortly thereafter they published this
interview in honor of Women’s History Month (March): Beyond a Stroke of Luck: An Interview with Celeste León by Teresa
Dovalpage.
Celeste is
a 2013 alumna of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. She is the recipient of
First Prize in the annual contest for the High Sierra
Writers group in Reno, Nevada for her essay, Finding
Home, about her travels to Puerto Rico in search of her family roots.
When Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor read the piece, she said, “If your
work on your short story reflects your work on your book, it will be
successful.” The piece was also a finalist in the 2014 annual contest for The Preservation Foundation. Celeste is a physical therapist and lives in
Truckee, CA with her family. Visit her
social media sites:
For 2016 International
Book Awards announcement, click here.
HAPPY FATHER’S
DAY!
READ LATINO