From the Mountains, To the Valley, To the Promised Land

The journey of Luz Luna will help you appreciate the blessings you have been given. It illustrates the power of forgiveness and demonstrates to all that, through hard work and perseverance, dreams can be fulfilled in spite of overwhelming odds.
Luz Luna's story begins with the extraordinary marriage of her father and mother. Luz endures her mother's death and horrible abuse as a child. A multitude of hardships and extreme poverty would seem to doom Luz to a wretched life in her Zaragoza, Mexico neighborhood.
An indomitable spirit helps Luz strive for something better, life in the United States. She barely survives her first illegal border crossing. Luz endures the painful impact of racism, and the agony of a yearlong depression in America. Adultery destroys her marriage, and she is left to raise two children on her own. How can she hope to achieve her dreams of peace and fulfillment?

Steve Aicinena was born in San Diego, California, and because of its proximity to the Mexican border; he was able to travel to the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Ensenada on dozens of occasions throughout his youth. He also had the opportunity to spend three months traveling throughout Mexico while in his early twenties. Differences and similarities between various cultures and religions have always been of interest to him. Aicinena is currently a Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas. He also serves as the university's athletic director and head volleyball coach. Though he has published one book and numerous professional papers, this is his first novel. Many of his recent academic publications have addressed morality and ethics in sport from a religious perspective. He hopes that you find Luz Luna's story to be both a blessing and an inspiration.