Fiction
Date Published: January 2018
Sonny Galas is an only child being raised by his mother-a widow---and the loving help of his grandfather, also widowed. Living in a Santa Monica apartment complex owned by 'Grandpa' all is well and average for this close-knit family until a certain French family come into the picture, in need of a place to rent. They soon show their colors in various ways, topping it off by slapping a suit on their patient, kind landlord. Sonny's family sees no better option than selling their only asset-the apartments-and getting far away from their Lawyer-packing tenants. Far, as in 'leaving the country', and this is where their true adventure begins. South of the border becomes their new home.
From their journey through third-world narrow roads, small towns where no English is spoken, to long, hot unending desert roads and through humid coastal towns they continue toward their big city destination, Guadalajara, where their life begins and they encounter everything and everyone from kind helpers to con-artists and crazies and from strangers to good friends, both Mexican and American. From young boy to teenager, as the years pass, Sonny sees it all: his family's ups and downs, the country's ups and downs with its own political third-world corruption, and his own transformation from a simple boy in a new country to a growing youth, fully fluent in Spanish; a devilish yet fun-loving teenager now with roots firmly planted and sprouting happily in his new home, his new country. From the adventures and joys of boyhood with his friends and pals to the wild days through grade school, junior high and high school with the opportunities given him as a bi-lingual kid to living through the set-backs that could trouble any family-Mexican or American-even scare of the faint of heart, he takes it all in; after all, now he's Mexican. The fiestas, the friends, the awesome busy modern streets of Guadalajara in the early Seventies to the early Eighties, Guadalajara, the country's capital of Mariachis.
Interview with Edmond Salus
Exploring the theme of my book?
If one is to explore the theme of my
book--in itself--its the transition, evolution if you will, of a boy into his
new culture.
How I became involved in the theme/subject?
I grew up in Mexico, and it was
constantly calling on me to tell the story, to share it.
What were my goals for this book; did I achieve them?
The goal was to express the point of
view, coming from the boy, Sonny Galas, the main character of the book. Yes, I
believe I
achieved this goal. The character saw
and told it as he experienced it all.
Anything I'd like to say to readers/fans?
I hope they enjoy the wild ride Sonny
Galas rode as much as I did telling it, with its ups and downs.
What did I enjoy most about writing the book?
Remembering all the wild, crazy
moments I had lived as a kid, and re-telling them as a man, looking back,
re-living them, and
finally in detail putting them to
pen.
Little about my next book?
It is almost totally complete--a
novella--about two single guys--room mates--one an alcoholic; and their very
Rocky
co-existence sharing an
apartment.
How long have I been writing?
Regularly, for 20 years, but I knew
it was part of me since I was about 12 yrs. old when having the desire and
drive in writing
short stories at that age.
Characters in my novel EL GRINGO--
Sonny, an only child going through
his own evolution growing up with two cultures, hanging with his teenage
friends--Aldo, the
star of the soccer team, yet also a
thief; Homero, his older friend, who saw him like a kid brother-- Herman is
closest buddy, a
rich kid with little care in the
world, and the rest of them that also made the whole story live.
If I were to spend the day with a character of this novel...
It would be with the main character,
Sonny. He saw so much, he transitioned so much. I'd follow him around as he led
a boyhood
few kids have.
Edmond Salus
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