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Unadulterated greed created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the author of Heart of Diamonds, a novel about the Congo.

West Harrison, NY, September 02, 2008 — Unadulterated greed created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the author of Heart of Diamonds, a newly-released novel about the endless violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Author Dave Donelson says his fictional treatment of the Congo’s ongoing strife points to lust for the nation’s riches as the cause of over five million deaths since 1998.

“We shouldn’t even pretend that conflicting ideologies or ethnic rivalries are the causes of this crisis,” Donelson says. “Those are nothing more than convenient excuses for the looting and pillaging that threatens to destroy the DRC.”

In his novel, Donelson uses a diamond smuggling scheme to represent the fight for control of the DRC’s gold, timber, uranium, copper, coltan, and other natural resources. An intricate plot involving an American televangelist, the President of the DRC, and the White House reflects the convoluted relationships of the factions involved in the struggle. His heroine, Valerie Grey, is a TV journalist who uncovers the scheme and fights to expose it to the world.

Donelson believes that ethnic conflicts like those between the Tsutis and Hutus that spilled over from Rwanda and between the Hema and Lindu are fronts for war lords looking to control territory in the DRC where they can exploit natural resources. Many of those militias receive support—sometimes openly—from governments or rebel factions in neighboring countries.

“Heart of Diamonds is a work of fiction,” Donelson avers, “But it is based on actual events in the most deadly conflict since World War II.” The author says he drew heavily on news accounts of rape as a weapon of terror, child soldiers, widespread corruption at all levels of government, and the very sad plight of the hundreds of thousands of refugees from the violence that continues to wrack the nation.

Donelson is a freelance writer and photographer. Heart of Diamonds is his third book, but the West Harrison, NY, author’s first foray into the thriller genre. “I wanted to write something that captures the vibrancy and complexity of Africa, and a suspenseful adventure framed against the endless war in the DRC seemed like the perfect approach,” he says.

“Since I started writing the book, there have been glimmers of hope in the situation,” he points out. “But violence continues and hundreds of thousands of people are still suffering as refugees. Peace and prosperity are still a long way away.” He adds, “I hope Heart of Diamonds will help draw attention to the crisis.”

Heart of Diamonds was published by Kunati Books, named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2008 Book Expo America.
Press release Submission by PressReleasePoint

Contact:

Dave Donelson
Heart of Diamonds
44 Park Lane
West Harrison, NY 10604
914-949-7483
dave@heartofdiamonds.com
http://www.heartofdiamonds.com

Los Angeles, CA-Rudolph Alvarado’s recently released biography The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita, which comes with a CD of Hernandez’s famous race calls, continues to gain notice and impress critics and readers.

In a recent review for the Daily Racing Form, award winning author Jay Hovdey named the book one of two new releases worth reading. In recommending the piece, Hovdey wrote, “… Alvarado’s extensive research offers an expanded image of Hernandez as a flamboyant sports reporter, a Hollywood demi-celebrity, radio personality, and successful bloodstock agent, while providing any number of tasty vignettes along the way.”

Likewise, Jay Privman and Roger Stein praised Alvarado’s biography on their thoroughbred horse racing radio shows on April 5. Reflecting on the piece Stein stated, “I couldn’t skip over it… he [Alvarado] tells a great story…. You guys gotta see this book. There’s so much in here that’s enjoyable.”

Officials at Santa Anita Park, the pristine thoroughbred race track located in Arcadia, California, hosted a book signing for Alvarado on April 5 and 6, and on April 6 members of Hernandez’s family stood in the winner’s circle with Alvarado as Hernandez’s memorable call of Seabiscuit’s win in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap was played over the track’s loudspeakers in honor of the book’s release and in tribute to Hernandez. In describing the experience, Alvarado said, “I was honored to be at Santa Anita and to spend time with Joe’s family. I was happy that the book signing was a success and that the book was so well received.” At the present time Alvarado’s biography is available exclusively at www.voiceofsantaanita.com.

An Unconventional Soldier by Heather Vallance, a recently released ebook from The Booklocker, is the reconstruction of the life and times of John YF Blake, Commander of the Irish Brigade during the Anglo-Boer War, 1899 to 1902. This is a must read for anyone interested in American influence on late 19th and 20th century intercontinental history.

An Unconventional Soldier is unique for several reasons, not least of which being its exploration of American Indian politics in southern Africa at a time when universal land struggles created unlikely alliances.

This reconstruction is only a beginning, a teaser of what is still out there. It’s history in the making.

For further information visit: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3219.html.