Hi everyone! Today am hosting author Emily Gallo today and we are going to learn about her latest, DREAMer.
Get to know the author: Emily Gallo
Welcome, Emily! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
I spent 30 years teaching in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Northampton Mass, and Sacramento in low-income, ethnically diverse neighborhoods. During my time, I founded the multiage department in one of the first charter schools in California, performed literacy coaching in the UC Davis Writing Project, and mentored Sacramento City Unified School District teachers and teachers-in-training. I retired to Chico, California, where I have spent the last fifteen years with my husband, dog, and several cats on two and a half organically-farmed acres. It is quite a change from my early life growing up in New York City, attending a Quaker school, and receiving my BA in English from Clark University in Worcester, Mass.
During my time in Chico, I founded a writing group for the homeless and published two volumes of their work in a literary magazine called Derelict Voice. I started writing screenplays in 2006 and began writing novels in 2014. I published my first novel, Venice Beach, in 2015. Since then, I have written six more novels: The Columbarium, Kate & Ruby, Roads Not Taken, Murder at the Columbarium, The Last Resort, and DREAMer.
What inspired you to write this book?
I am not a solitary writer and do most of my writing in cafes. My story ideas come from talking to people, my past, the news; sometimes, they come from a minor tidbit of information. My books are character-driven, and it is through the stories people tell me that put me on the path of the plot. I was inspired to write “DREAMer” from the stories told me by the immigrant children and their families I taught. I also had a teacher friend who went to Tijuana to teach the children who had been separated from their parents at the holding facility there. She had many exciting stories to tell me, as well.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
It took me about a year.
What makes your story unique?
My Quaker schooling and progressive Democratic parents gave me a foundation for caring for disadvantaged people. Thus, my books delve into topical, social themes such as homelessness, racism, gender identity, the legalization of marijuana as a medical alternative, cultural diversity, and the value of interpersonal relationships. I love quirky, eccentric people who my characters become. “DREAMer” delves into the problems immigrants face and brings other current political and social topics into the forefront without being heavy-handed.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
Everyone.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
I’d like to quote some reviews to answer this:
“At its heart, DREAMer challenges our notions of immigration and who we are as a culture in flux. Personalizing the issue through the story of one young girl offers a compassionate look at the heartbreaking circumstances that being an outsider or “illegal alien” can generate, especially for a child.” – Lena A (Amazon)
“Over the years, Gallo’s made it a point to celebrate those who live on the margins. It’s one thing to scan a headline, or hear a story on the news. Something far different to see political struggles playing out in the life of a frightened, twelve-year-old child.” – Nancy M. Heinzel (Amazon)
“Themes of racism, despair, and ultimately trust and comprehension are woven throughout the narrative and shed light on a broken immigration system that criminalizes the most vulnerable among us.” – E. Ferguson (Amazon)
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
The quote I put at the beginning of the book:
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
DREAMer
Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won’t speak, but that doesn’t deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.
Learn more about the book on Emily’s website, Goodreads, Indie Story Geek and Amazon.
Book Excerpt from
DREAMer
Lawrence drove out on Palm Canyon Drive and veered left onto the curvy, steep highway. “At least the drop offs are less nerve-wracking when climbing,” Lawrence murmured, “but it’s harder to enjoy the far views.”
“Yeah,” Kate said as she craned her neck to see out his side window. Beyond the peach colored rock lay the Borrego Valley far below –– and further east broken land fading into blue gray desert haze. Somewhere out there was the Salton Sea. Lawrence then swerved to avoid a rock in the road, so Kate decided it was prudent to keep her eye on the road, too.
They drove silently for a while, listening to music and lost in their own thoughts. “Was that a young girl?” Kate suddenly blurted out.
“What?” Lawrence slowed down. “Where?”
“Back there, sitting by the side of the road.” “Lawrence, turn around. We need to see if something’s wrong.”
Lawrence climbed through more blind curves before he found a spot he could make a U-turn. He coasted down until the girl appeared again, sitting forlornly on a boulder, her back to a thousand-foot precipice. “How old do you think she is?” he asked as he pulled over.
“I don’t know. Maybe twelve?” Kate opened her door and half-stood within the opening. “Are you alright?” she called to her. The girl stared at her, but didn’t answer. Kate walked over to her and realized she was frightened. “Do you need help?” The girl said nothing.
Lawrence got out and forced a friendly smile across his face for the girl’s benefit. “Is she okay?”
“She won’t talk to me.” Kate looked up and down the endless empty curves that made up the road. “Should we call 911?”
“Is there even cell service up here?” Lawrence wondered as he pulled out his phone.
“There’s the valley below,” Kate said with a sweep of her hand.
“Yeah, but we can’t see Borrego Springs.” He tried to make the call. “Nope. No coverage.”
“We can’t leave her here,” Kate said as she turned toward the girl who was still staring at her and breathing hard. “Who are you with? Are your parents somewhere? Are you lost?”
The girl finally averted her gaze and looked over the side of the cliff. Lawrence and Kate glanced at each other. “Do you think she was in an accident and she’s trying to tell us that the car went over the side?” Kate murmured.
Lawrence reluctantly went to the edge peered over the cliff while Kate stayed with the girl. “Do you see anything?” she called out to him.
“Not really.” he answered. “It’s not like there are tall trees, are there? I mean you’d see a car wouldn’t you?”
“I guess so.” He walked back to Kate. “I guess we should take her with us and see if there’s a sheriff in the next town. What is the next town and how far is it?”
“I think it was called Ranchita, but I’m not going to be able to get the map up on my phone if there’s no service.”
“Do you think it’s a regular town with businesses?”
“Maybe. I recall a store of sorts there when I was looking for restaurants.”
“Okay. Then let’s take her to Ranchita and hope they’re big enough to have a sheriff or at least cell service.”
“Well, if nothing else, we’ll be able to use a landline and call someone.”
“The question is whether she’ll come with us,” Lawrence commented dubiously.
Kate took the girl’s hand. “Will you come with us and we’ll take you to the nearest town?” The girl didn’t budge. “Are you hungry? We can get you something to eat there.” The girl still didn’t move. “You can’t stay here alone. Please come with us.”
“We’re not going to hurt you. We want to help you,” Lawrence added. Kate put her arm around the girl’s shoulders and after a shudder and a sigh, the girl reluctantly got up and walked with Kate back to the car. Lawrence held the back door open and the girl got in.
Interested?
Find DREAMer on Goodreads, Indie Story Geek and Amazon.
Many thanks to Emily for sharing an excerpt with us! Connect with Emily on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, her website, Amazon and Goodreads. You can also sign up for her newsletter. Thanks to Christopher for getting in touch and making this collaboration possible!
I will be back with a review for this book in the coming months.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details.
Cover image: Photo on Unsplash
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