First published 2024
Joseph Carvalko transforms his life from high school dropout to accomplished attorney and activist in this collection of autobiographical essays, fiction, and poetry. He traces his path through multiple careers and continents, representing clients from billionaires to the indigent while serving organizations like Amnesty International. Carvalko draws from his Azorean Portuguese, Italian, and New Mexican heritage as he navigates life across the East Coast, Midwest, and Mountain West. His travels through South America, Europe, and Asia introduce him to ambassadors, criminals, entrepreneurs, and mentors who shape his perspective. The author examines his roles as Congressional representative, Sioux City American Indian Center board member, and Chairman of Yale's Technology and Ethics working group. Through varied literary forms, Carvalko explores his search for sanctuary and purpose amid adversity and self-doubt, weaving together tales of history, heroism, romance, and loss into a meditation on resilience and awakening.
Genres: literary-fiction, autobiography, biography-memoir, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: East Coast, Midwest, Mountain West, South America, Europe, Asia
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
304 pages · Paperback · Anaphora Literary Press