Luck Is Just The Beginning

By Celeste Leon

Originally published by Floricanto Press, Luck Is Just the Beginning earned the Mariposa award for Best First Book in the 2016 International Latino Book Awards, First Place in the 2018 Latino Books into Movies Awards (bio-epic), and Finalist in the 2016 International Book Awards.
Praise for Luck is Just the Beginning:
"Luck is Just the Beginning announces the arrival of a gifted and intuitive writer whose heart, grace, and compassion will surely win her a devoted readership. With skill and precision, Celeste Le n explores the complexities of family, home and heritage in a refreshing new way. Le n's debut novel places her among the most exciting Latina writers working today."
--Alex Espinoza, author of Still Water Saints and the Five Acts of Diego Le n

"Celeste Leon takes the reader on a deeply affecting voyage, balancing 'the luckiest man in Maunabo's' dreams and aspirations against the push and pull of a tightly-knit community. Emotionally pitch-perfect and skillfully written, this historical novel transports the reader on an unforgettable journey to a time and place most of us have known."
-- D sir e Zamorano, author of The Amado Women

"Luck is Just the Beginning is sure to appeal to young readers everywhere. Set in 1940s Puerto Rico, the novel's message cuts across cultures. The decisions the main character, Ram n, has to make remind us of important decisions we all make in life. I recommend this novel highly, especially to teachers who will find it a valuable teaching tool."
--Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima, Alburquerque

"Luck is Just the beginning is the gripping story of heartache, courage and self-sacrifice, of one man's struggle to find the right path to his dream. It will take your breath away and warm your heart."
--David Sundstrand, author of Shadow of the Raven, Shadows of Death

"Based on a true story, Celeste Le n's beautifully written debut novel is the story of a young man in 1940s Puerto Rico who wins the lottery, only to realize that, at the title states, luck is just the beginning . . .The novel is rich with Puerto Rican flavor and historical details, and Le n writes with simplicity yet profound perception about human nature. Ram n is an endearing, likable character-an honest, good-hearted man who makes mistakes yet rises above them."
-- Mayra Calvani, Midwest Books Review

When nineteen-year-old Ram n Le n wins the Puerto Rican lottery, his dream of establishing the first dental and medical clinic in his village becomes achievable. But an unexpected chain of catastrophic events intervenes. Luck is Just the Beginning is not only the enchanting story of the joys and sorrows of family, but also the saga of one man's determination to never give up on his dream.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0C63M1XZ9
• ISBN13: 9798393902643
• Release Date: December 2015
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"