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'Acosta'
Chronicle of New Mexico Family's Journey from Tragedy to
Triumph, from Dishonor to Redemption
New Non-fiction Account of One of Baseball's
Beloved Sons
Underscored by Immigration Issues, Feminism, Family
Values, Secrets, and Politics
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Albuquerque, NM
– Yolanda and Oscar Acosta are the children of
Mexican immigrants who have found their way to
the dusty ranching town of Elida, New
Mexico—John, a morning-to-night ranch hand who
believes that only cowboys can be real men and
that young women should not be allowed to date
under any circumstances, and Concha, a woman of
great inner strength who believes that most
problems can be solved with food, love, and
prayer. |
Torn between these two conflicting approaches to life,
the spirited Yolanda sets off for a series of highly
adventurous romantic relationships and a quick rise in
local politics, while Oscar sets out to become a major
league pitcher, and when an injury precludes that, a
pitching coach second to none.
Problems arise when the feisty Oscar (who is adored by
his pitchers but never seems to get along with
management) loses one coaching job after another, and
finds himself divorced and back in Elida working for
pennies as a ranch hand. At the same time, Yolanda
learns that her husband has been cheating on her. She
divorces him, but soon after, he talks her into flying
to Las Vegas to remarry him. What he doesn’t tell her is
that the “other” woman is still in his life, and that he
has escalated his gambling habits—the combination of
which will result in a spine-chilling accident. While
Oscar and Yolanda are coming to terms with their
respective misfortunes (which both will ultimately rise
above), they are forced to acknowledge that their
father, who taught them never to give up, never to give
in, has somehow gotten involved with the Mexican Mafia
and now cannot find his way back out.
First-time author Yolanda Acosta recounts all of these
experiences in her new whirlwind memoir ACOSTA (trade
paper; ISBN: 978-1-84694-333-1; $22.95; 258 pages),
which is set to be released on September 25. Published
by O-Books on three continents, ACOSTA brings to life in
rich and luscious tones the story of a family that is
challenged over and over again—by their status as
immigrants, by their own bad choices, and by
tribulations resulting from being in the wrong place at
the wrong time—but that nevertheless holds together to
overcome the odds in unexpected ways. It is alive with
horse races and mariachi bands, wedding celebrations,
divorces and funerals, powerful court scenes, and
pilgrimages made to sacred places. And of course, there
are historical baseball moments as Oscar attempts to
impose the ranching values in his blood on both his
pitchers and other managers. And always, through all the
struggles, disagreements, and disappointments, there is
a fierce familial love that conquers all. ACOSTA is a
story full of color and passion. Never before has the
Mexican-American version of the “American Dream” been
more truly depicted.
About Yolanda Acosta
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Yolanda grew up
in Elida, NM and was the only Latina in her high
school class. She was a cheerleader, the
school’s Spirit Queen, and Class President
during her senior year. Since her Old World
strict father forbade college, after high school
Yolanda chose marriage and soon became the
mother of two children. It was during this
period in her life that she got involved with
local and national politics and even attended
the1984 Republican Convention, where she was
acknowledged as a rising star. She has since
worked in various public service positions,
including Consumer Protection and Economics
Crimes Division Administrator for the Attorney
General’s Office. She has also worked as a TV
variety show producer/host, an entrepreneur, and
is currently an Employment Specialist with the
Department of Labor. Intensely self motivated,
Yolanda even went on a human rights expedition
in 1997 to learn the details of the Massacre of
Acteal in the State of Chiapas during the
Zapatista uprising. Her findings were sent to
the State Department via Senator Pete V.
Domenici's office.
After losing her beloved brother Oscar in 2006,
Yolanda was moved to write the story of his rise
to fame in major league baseball against the
backdrop of her family’s story and her own. |
About O Publishing
O Books is a U.K.-based group of independently-minded
editors, designers and sales people scattered around the
world who have come together under several associated
imprints to offer alternative ways of looking at the
world, and an alternative way of publishing. It began by
bringing out one new title every couple of months in
2004 under the O Books imprint, mostly in the Mind Body
Spirit area, and now there are 200 new titles a year
across a range of subjects. To learn more about O-Books,
visit www.o-books.com.
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