Voted ‘Fiction Book of the Year’ by Corporate Live Wire! __
Mat Rufs loves to hop on a plane and travel to a destination—by himself and on the spur of the moment—to explore and immerse.
This time he is lost in a Mexican cave, near the Volcán de Colima, and finds himself amid a heart-racing thriller with a historical twist and an international scope that will keep you up at night.
This book is about travel, adventure, unexpected turns, ancient customs, intuitive decisions, pandemics, international business, and life as it happens!
So are you ready for a thought-provoking adventurous journey?
Then grab your copy of The Adventures of Mat Rufs, and hop on and join the ride!
Meet A. Liachenko
Anna Liachenko is an award-winning writer, entrepreneur, and author of The Adventures of Mat Rufs series which has won the Fiction Book of the Year award from the Corporate Live Wire. Alongside her writing, Anna leads Montreal-based marketing agency ZZINC health marketing inc. as its Chief Executive Officer. She is also a real estate investor, a mother of two wonderful boys, and an enthusiastic world traveler, having explored more than 30 countries with her partner, alone or with her family.
1993. The war-torn Bosnian countryside. Jane Abbott, a seasoned English conflict zone photographer who is no longer easily surprised, is surprised. Stunned, in fact, to’ve come across the son of THE notorious Ingrid Heimlich—who, until her traceless disappearance twenty years ago, had been the world’s most infamous leftist terrorist. Ben Heimlich, the stranded German kid and wannabe reporter she has picked up by the roadside, is either fearless or incredibly naïve—though probably naïve—and were it not for the platoon of Serbian partisans who intercept them on their way, she’d pestered him incessantly with questions of his mother’s whereabouts.
1994. Still reeling from the horror he had seen in Bosnia—and, as ever, wondering where in the world his mother is—Ben Heimlich moves to the United States and settles in the sparkling local neighborhood and global allegory known as Hollywood. As he gets older and, eventually, more affluent, Ben realizes that, no matter how ostensibly successful he’s become, he can’t escape his lingering despair. When he meets Isabel, who’s left her own traumatic early life in Mexico behind to make a new beginning in Los Angeles, his life takes a dramatic upward turn.
Chapter after chapter, Ben and his mother’s backgrounds and personae are illuminated from a multitude of angles by, among others, a former student activist aboard a hijacked airplane on a dusty stretch of tarmac in the capital of Libya in 1971; an aging homeless actor in Los Angeles still waiting for his break in 1994; a young girl who stumbles through the smoldering ruins of Berlin in 1945; a US State Department operative who interferes with sovereign states all over South America; the involuntary teenage wife of an imperious Sinaloan drug lord who attempts to flee her gilded cage; and the ninety-something-year-old son of German immigrants who’d fought for the United States against his parents’ onetime countrymen in World War II.
Meet Florian Schneider
Born and raised in Germany, Florian Schneider is a former small-time photo journalist turned marginally less small-time advertising photographer. He lives in Southern California with his unbelievably impressive Mexican-American wife.
His latest novel, The Auctioneers, was featured on Reedsy’s Best New Book list with a five star-review in December 2020. In January 2021, Manybooks(dot)net featured The Auctioneers as Best Literary Fiction book of the month. In January 2022, his second novel, The Sins of Others, was named Best Literary Fiction book of the month by Manybooks(dot)net.
Experience the challenges and joys of making a difference while meeting new friends all over the world
Many people dream of seeing the world and making a difference. Not everybody will act on that dream, an undertaking that can be scary and overwhelming. Kandy puts those feelings aside and sets off to volunteer as a nurse in Peru. But things do not always work out as expected. Kandy does not know that she will end up doing voluntary work as a nurse in Guatemala, with children in Thailand and South Africa, and dogs in Jamaica and Mexico. She is left stranded in the middle of nowhere, jumps off the world’s highest commercial bridge, connects with monkeys, snorkels with seals, and so much more!
Will the joys of her self-discovery journey outweigh the hardships, or will she want to return to a stable life in Canada?
Love, Travel, andVolunteering is a travelogue about self-discovery and making a difference. It captures the many obstacles that need to be overcome as a solo traveller. This travelogue is a must-read for those who love books that take them around the world and talk about different cultures as well as the challenges and joys of volunteering abroad.
A portion of each sale will be donated to The Animal House Jamaica. This donation will help cover the cost of vet bills, dog food, fresh water, adoption fees, and so much more.
BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!
REVIEWS “What a gift to read about in a day and time where everyone remains so self-centered and the news is so depressing. THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK!!!! This is where you are uplifed and encouraged! What are you waiting for?!?! Get out – enjoy life – do good! Thank you for sharing your heart and passion for life!”
“Great read, very inspiring. The author’s journey touched my soul. This book is a road map for anyone looking for adventure and wanting to make a difference in the world.”
“As a longtime, solo backpacker volunteer traveler myself, I am glad to see other female volunteers sharing their experiences to encourage others to do the same. We can all help each other out – and doing so in other countries breaks down barriers and stereotypes while buidling empathy and understanding.”
“If you’re intending on setting off into the world, and thinking of volunteering in third-world countries, this book gives a lot of tips and experiences about the subject. The author combines her own experiences working with children and animals in very undeveloped regions, with lists of items you would need to know if you want to follow in her footsteps. A useful book to have with you on your journey.”
“Do good and be good! I love this book and the author’s down to earth manner and real-life stories! I couldn’t help using one of the stories in a sermon I was preaching because of its relevance and the lesson learned (something that is soooo valuable).”
Meet Kandy Ostrosky
Kandy is from Hamilton, Ontario. She has been a registered practical nurse since 2012 and began her career on a stroke rehabilitation unit. Currently, she works on a neurobehavioural unit. Her love and passion for nursing and helping people created her desire to volunteer in underdeveloped countries. She began journaling her trips in 2017 and will continue to journal her future adventures, as she wants to create a second part of this travelogue.
