Mom's Tree House

Archive for the ‘Author Spotlights’ Category

The following is a guest post from Ilka Perez, Mom writer for Rise Magazine, advocating for families in the Children’s Welfare System. 

The Power of a powerful Latina is the fact that the Apple does not fall far from the tree, or should I say Mango. The third child born to migrating Puerto Rican parents, I was raised to  multi-task, to be strong and powerful. I earned my strength from the most amazing Latina women in my Family.  Now, with three additional females added to this generation we are a total of ten.

My family has grown. I now  show my youngest girls the value of running a household, career and owning up to who they are by practicing their Spanish speaking skills. You see my Grandmother and Mother do it all, from sewing, cooking to the disciplining the children. I now know why I am the way I am. I wouldn’t change a thing! So as I rush to drop my four children to summer camp, look for parking and make it to work by 7:30 am for my 43 hours a week schedule, I still make it through the day to cook my kid’s favorite dish of yellow rice with fried breaded chicken cutlet, do the laundry and still greet my husband with a kiss when he walks exhausted with the weight of his own day.

 Should I complain? Society may say so, but this is who I am.Thanks Grandma, “Abuela, para todo”. Thanks Mom for teaching me that giving up is not an option. This child has grown into a woman and has also filled “the shoes”. I am 32, four children and now care for my ill mother. I truly believe that if it wasn’t for the way I was raised, I would not be able to go through what I go through in my daily life. My mother and I now spend time together preparing dinners and sewing. I may not see all my siblings but, we each share a slice from our family mango tree.

About the Author

Ilka Perez is a mother of four and currently works as a Administrative  Assistant for Economic Workforce Development of Norristown, PA. Ilka also writes for Rise Magazine, bringing awareness and education on how parents are affected by the Children’s Welfare System. Ilka currently lives in Norristown, PA with her husband, her mother and four children. To see more of Ilka’s articles, visit Rise Magazine. Ilka is also my baby sister, so I share a slice of that Mango Tree.

Okay guys, today I want to introduced you to a new upcoming author Mike Draper. Mike just published his first thriller, Splattered Blood, due to be released this fall. This highly anticipated book is the first of many to come as Mike is already in the works for his second book  titled, Three Strikes and You’re Dead.  

Here’s a sneak peak of Splattered Blood;

The person in charge of security of a professional basketball team notices an unusual number of incidents to the star players that make them unable to play.  The security chief begins investigating and is later murdered, his death however, is made to look like a suicide. His widow goes to her financial advisor and tells him of her husbands death in disbelief that he would do so,  since he just bought a $500,000  life insurance which, would not be paid in the case of a suicide. Through some police friends, the financial advisor obtains a  copy of the suicide note. It’s proven to be forged. So, the insurance is paid and when the official investigation stalls. The widow hires the advisor to help find her husband’s killers leading to a discovery never to be expected.

The books sounds interesting enough, right? I know I can’t wait to pick it up. The book is scheduled to be released this Fall, so we all have to wait till then.

So, who is this Mike Draper?

Well, I had the pleasure of meeting Mike on line by coming across his blog,  
Mike Draper of Guilford, Ct in where he write book reviews. Mike’s blog however, gives readers a detailed review of the books he has currently read without giving the ending away yet, with enough details and information to make you think of the plot or characters he is discussing leaving you to want more.

In addition, he also writes reviews for Amazon as to reach a wider audience. Mike does look forward to feedback and asks for his readers to always respond if the review he wrote was helpful or not as to improve his reviews. Yet, when I read his reviews, I usually just put the titles on my “to-read” list. So, no improvement needed there.

Mike’s own background  has been in life insurance and retirement planning  for state and municipal police clients. Mike has been working on his book for the last couple of years and soon, it will enter the book shelves making it’s mark in the literary world.

So, Tree House members, let’s pass by over to Mike’s Blog, over ar Mike Draper of Guilford, CT and show some support.

Mike, Congratulations on your book!!! We can’t wait to read it!