Alethea Pascascio How to move beyond the pain of our past into the positive possibilities of our future. Company: Queen Publications Location: Antioch, Illinois Website: www.alethea.queenpublications.com

Biography:
A surge of adrenaline, a shot of sensuality, and a dynamic dose of drama are proof we've found something special as we turn the pages of Alethea Pascascio's debut novel, Bag Lady. The novelist who gave up Engineering to be a fulltime mother, wife, and writer, calls this reading experience entertaining yet thought provoking, and she's worked hard to deliver a life changing message.

While maintaining the suspenseful, jaw-dropping elements in her story, Alethea also stretched her author muscles to deliver a richly textured story with deeper emotional resonance. Bag Lady is the first treat readers will get to experience which also has universal appeal and is not ethnically or culturally exclusive.

The story starts in Gary, Indiana, Alethea's home town, but then there are a couple of moves throughout the Midwest and even down to Texas. The heroine, teenage Faith Donnovan, leaves Gary where she has fled a life of drama and dysfunction, and goes on a dangerous journey for love, acceptance, and self-discovery. You will find yourself cheering Faith along as she meanders through certain issues that keep her from finding and accepting TRUE love for several years. And finally, as Faith travels the road to forgiveness, you will also travel with her; feeling each lump and bump along the way.

Of her path to writing stories that inspire change, Alethea Pascascio says, "As a natural progression of writing, I am growing and stretching in different ways. People who have heard about the novel have actually started seeking advice from me on their personal matters. I probably take that responsibility more seriously than writing because I can possibility change the course of another person's life. But even with this added responsibility, I will still continue to write and study the craft."

Alethea, not only gives her advice, she also gives to her favorite churches, and charities. Prior to becoming a fulltime mother, Alethea spent many volunteer hours working with and promoting awareness for such nonprofit organizations as Reach Out Touching Lives (ROTL). ROTL is committed to assisting with the immediate needs of cancer and heart disease patients. In the future, when her load lightens, Alethea plans to volunteer her time at a local women's shelter. Perhaps her compassion for battered women was her impetus to devote pages in her book to outing the, often generational, effects of domestic violence. She has infused her entertaining story with a real life quality, helping her readers get deep into the heart and soul of her characters.

A self-proclaimed master of relaxation, Alethea finds her best times to write are early in the morning after prayer and meditation or late at night when her daughters and husband are asleep. The sight and sounds of rain and thunderstorms also enrich the creative process for her. Alethea finds that this process calms her enough to create a heartbeat for each character.

What causes Alethea's heart beat to accelerate in real life? Her real life Belizean husband tops the list, but she's also passionate about their two daughters. When not writing, Alethea loves to indulge her passion for traveling, attending church, watching movies, reading fiction and non-fiction, chatting with friends, shooting pool, watching NFL and NBA games, and shopping.

This new bright star in fiction's publishing galaxy has earned undergraduate degrees in Electronics Engineering and Telecommunications Management. Alethea and her family now live in northern Illinois, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Availability:
Available as a public speaker and relationship consultant.