Mechanic Leigh by Eric Alagan

I want to use this blog to promote Mechanic Leigh, a book by my dear friend, Eric Alagan.  Yes, I know I’ve not yet read the book, but when you have the work of a talented author like Eric ready for your reading pleasure, you can’t help but feel excited. My excitement knows no limit. That’s why I want to use this medium to introduce you to his highly acclaimed book. Eric was kind enough to write a summary for folks like me who cannot resist a good read. You can find the summary of his book below its colorful cover.

 

Book Cover

 

Eric wrote:

Mechanic Leigh is a composite of boys I grew up with in 1960s Singapore and all his stories are our stories – not only mine. When I ran this series, what I found enlightening was people from all over the world (Asia, Africa, Europe and America) could relate to his experiences and antics. It was mind-blowing for me, as I thought our childhood in rural Singapore was somewhat unique. People who are now in their forties to sixties, will discover their growing up years in the pages of Mechanic Leigh. Younger readers will catch glimpses of their parents’ childhood.

Leigh also brings to bear a child’s perspective. For example, he muses that because of desperate poverty, “we searched for reasons to laugh but adults mistook that for mischief”. In another episode, he says, “we were poor but happy because we made so much out of so little.”

But his stories are not all pensive, in fact far from it. Every episode gives one belly laughs. For example,  when the teacher asked whether he “stole fruits today”, he vehemently denies and when pressed, replies “honest, I stole them last week!” He tears out pages from his dictionary to make paper boats to float in rainwaters. When his mother asks why his dictionary was so thin, his reply, “I loaned half to my friend – the half which contains all the words I already know.”

The book is peppered with similar ‘smart alec’ cracks. In fact, the opening episode is titled, “Smart Ah Leck” a distortion of the English ‘alec’ to the Chinese name, ‘Ah Leck’.

Writing this book, opened my eyes in many ways and reinforced my belief in humanity. Leigh captures it well, “When you read Mechanic Leigh, you’ll relive your childhood. Of this, I’m sure, because inside, we’re all the same.”

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Mechanic Leigh is one of the several books , Eric has authored. You can find more about his novels and business books by taking a trip to his blog. He blogs at www.ericalagan.net.

Away from writing, Eric is an aircraft engineer and a corporate man. He’s a friend worth having.

Details of Mechanic Leigh on Amazon:

• File Size: 3563 KB
• Print Length: 363 pages
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00KA70OLS

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EN GARDE: MY BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER by Ronnie Hammer

“We have two options medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell”—Lance Armstrong

Book Cover of “En Garde: My Battle with Breast Cancer” by Ronnie Hammer

Open a conservation with anyone about cancer and you’ll learn that it’s either she or he has had the disease, knows someone who has it, or is always worried about the frightening possibility of another loved one or friend being diagnosed with the disease. In her book, En Garde: My Battle with Breast Cancer, Ronnie Hammer, talks of her fear, disbelief, and anxiety after medical tests showed she had cancer. As terrifying as the news was, she didn’t delay her treatment. She made up her mind  immediately that she would  undergo surgery. Even though her family were there to support her, once the doors of the surgery were shut, she felt alone and terribly nervous. To help deal with the situation, she visualized Percy, a tall very proper Englishman, as an embodiment of hope. Percy didn’t hesitate to come to her side. During her surgery he reached deep, took position like a fencer, and attacked the cancer cells with his umbrella.

Her successful surgery kindled her interest in biofeedback for which she went ahead to receive a training in the field. She now helps other people ready themselves physically and mentally to fight cancer and other related diseases. In her book, she also discusses how powerful anxiety can be. Like a scatter bomb, it can do a lot of damage to a person. With her step by step approach to achieving good relaxation, one is able to combat stress.

Having gone through surgery myself, I find Ronnie’s visualization technique very helpful. Before I read her book, however, she’d suggested that I invite Percy over to help me cope during my surgery. In truth, it did. I’d like as many people as possible to read this book and to share it with their loved ones as well as those among us who are ill.

 

 

Product detail on Amazon:

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Release date: October 24, 2013

Language: English

Number of pages: 132 pages

ISBN-10: 149358411

ISBN-13: 978-1493584116

 

You may also like visit Ronnie’s blog HERE. She blogs about true stories, sometimes spicing them with humor.