Josefa's Curse
Manuel A. Melendez
ISBN: 0741433435
Infinity Publishing
Reviewed By Chelsea Perry
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Ten
year-old Eduardo Santiago, affectionately known as "Eddie," lives a
life considered normal by most standards; a typical day involves
playing with his brother & sisters and reading comic books. What's
not so typical about Eddie's life, though, is the special gift he has
to communicate with spirits of the nether regions, and – unbeknownst to
him – that very gift will soon become a curse on his entire family's
existence.
A sinister force that has plagued Eddie since birth
soon inflicts its evil will upon the Santiago clan. The target of its
wrath: not Eddie, but his mother, Josefa. Bound together by a secret
bond the depths of which she's not even aware of, Josefa and the evil
spirit that has invaded her home soon find themselves directly engaged
in spiritual warfare with none other than Eddie's life as the ultimate
prize. Abandoning all her previously held notions regarding faith and
the spirit world, Josefa must race against time and belief if she's to
save her precious son's very soul.
In the process, she watches
almost helplessly as her family comes apart at the seams: her husband
cracking under the pressure of familial responsibility, her oldest son
degenerating into the criminal underworld, and her three younger
daughters barely able to handle the chaos of it all. Of course, in
every tale of Good Vs. Evil, the most unsuspecting of supporters always
comes to the rescue at just the right time, and, as the drama of Josefa's Curse
unfolds, the reader will surely find him/herself at wits end with each
turn of the page, eagerly anticipating just whose efforts will
ultimately prove victorious.
A well-crafted narrative with taut storylines and imaginative twists, Josefa's Curse
is quite the unusual tale of suspense and intrigue – which works quite
well in its favor. Readers are sure to find themselves pleasantly
surprised at how seamlessly Melendez interweaves fact & fiction,
reality & fantasy in order to present an enjoyable morality play
with a very real, very human touch. With a compelling cast of
well-rounded characters in settings surprisingly familiar for many,
this supernatural thriller doesn't disappoint.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Manuel Melendez (Josefa's Curse)
Apex Reviews: Manuel, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book.
Manuel Melendez: Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity, and let me add the great job that was done on the book video trailer...top notch.
AR: The overall storyline of the book is tight, despite the many plot twists you introduce along the way. How did you manage to keep the action so unified and harmonious?
MM: I followed the voices of the characters, hahahaha. Actually I have no problem keeping up with what's going on. Sometimes I have the ending before the beginning or I might have Chapter 5 before I have Chapter 3. Plus I try to see the story as if I'm directing a movie in my head.
AR: Though the book has a relatively happy ending, many of the characters still suffer agonizing fates - especially some of the "good guys." Why did you craft the story in such a way?
MM: Because I feel life, regardless of how many happy endings we encounter, there's a lot of heartaches between those happy endings. Plus I'm not comfortable unless I make the characters walk through hell for a bit.
AR: Despite his intentions, why does the spirit that haunts Josefa throughout her life not realize he's doing more harm than good?
MM: Love... simple. Ever fallen in love so much with someone that rejects you and that love is so strong it becomes hate? Throughout the news you see what I'm saying... love kills more and destroys more than just plain old hate.
AR: What's the origin & significance of the phrase "Benedicion" that the family uses to greet one another?
MM: The phrase is part of the Puerto Rican culture. It's a way to show respect to our parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. We are asking their blessing from God. Their response is usually Que Dios los bendigan, which means May God bless.
AR: What's your take on Santeria?
MM: Santeria is a religion that I grew up around...its part of the Latino culture. I do not practice the religion, but I have gone to them at times to search for answers. I respect the religion and the people that practice that type of lifestyle.
AR: Do you have any personal experience with spirits and/or curses?
MM: Yes I do. The book is based in the way I received my name. Plus writing the book there were forces that tried to stop me from writing it. Many pages that I had completed were wiped out from the computers. At another time I was caught in the rain, the only thing that was ruined was a notebook that I kept notes for the story. And while writing the book many nights I felt the presence of something around me. It took some prayers and lighting candles to remove whatever was around me.
AR: How has your experience been with Infinity Publishing?
MM: The crew at Infinity Publishing is the most professional crew I have been associated with. They are quick, attentive and excellent at what they do. I see myself with them for a very long time.
AR: What's next on the horizon for you?
MM: I'm working on publishing two more books. Both are collection of short stories. The first book is stories from the streets of New York the other Christmas stories that take place in Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rico. And I'm in the middle of a novel where Eddie from Josefa's Curse will be re-introduced as a man. I'll be able to keep readers abreast of what happened to Josefa's family. But the main character is a serial killer in a very supernatural way.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MM: Yes, their input & comments are very important in making me the best writer I could be. They could always visit my web page at http://authorsden.com/manuelamelendez. They could leave me messages plus they could also sample other short stories and poems.
AR: Thanks again, Manuel, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
MM: You're welcome, and once again thank you for allowing me to introduce myself to readers out there...and to everyone...Que Dios los bendigan.