SANTIAGO – It is finally here!

I am happy to finally present this book – SANTIAGO – Chronicles of a Young Traveler. Yes, that’s right, I have written a book. In fact, I have been writing this book for the last six years. It is a fun coming-of-age story. Although this travel story is not an autobiographical novel but fiction, I have given the character SANTIAGO some of my travel experiences. Initially, I planned to release it in 2020. But we all know what happened that year. After delays and changes, finally, here it is. And no, I don’t plan to change my career as a physician; internal Medicine will still be around. But a while ago, I heard someone say a simple phrase that is becoming more and more present to me: do more of what makes you happy. I love Medicine, but the truth is, the combination of writing, creating, and traveling makes me incredibly happy.

I have no idea where all this will take me, but as long as I have the opportunity to do it, I will keep doing it. I want to write stories where travel, and issues that affect our cities, such as poverty, drugs, mental health, and human trafficking, among many others, are reflected. This book is just that, my first attempt. A glimpse of what I want to do. This story will be, for many, perhaps, told from a Latin American perspective, but it will not always be that way. I know personally all the places where this story takes place, and I chose them carefully for it. Not only are they beautiful, exciting cities with a fascinating history, but I would dare say, even unique, that they have somehow managed to leave their mark. Ah, why is it called Santiago? Why the book in this genre? There are so many questions, I know. I will tell you more details at a later point.

But I also tell you that writing this book has been one of the hardest things I have ever done because of all that it implies. It is hard and lonely work and can be frustrating. I didn’t know in what I was getting myself into, and on top of that, to do it in two languages at the same time. I had to break down my barriers and face my conflicts. In the end, it is very gratifying. I wrote the book with an audience of 17-30 years old in mind. But in reality, anyone can read it after the age of 17. Some scenes I wrote six years ago, and they are still here, after endless rounds of editing. Today I probably wouldn’t write them as they are in the book since I’ve changed a lot too in six years both, as a person and as a writer, but I left them because they remind me of where I’m coming from in this journey.

My book is available in print in English and Spanish in all countries where Amazon exists. In South Africa, the book is available in print in English through takealot.com. Additionally, there is the electronic format (eBook); in addition to Amazon, it is available at Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Google Bookstore, and Kobo.

If you have any questions or comments about the book, suggestions, criticisms, or if you think something is wrong in the book, feel free to email me at hello@zibarna.com.

I hope you like it!

Best regards

E. Rios Lasso