Word Up and Dominican Writers Association celebrate the launch of Cleyvis Natera’s The Grand Paloma Resort , about a lush paradise in the Dominican Republic where guests enjoy incredible luxury, and the staff is always eager to please—that is, until they are pushed to the brink. Joining Natera in conversation will be authors Angie Cruz ( How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water ) and Naima Coster ( What’s Mine and Yours ). 

Word Up and the Dominican Writers Association are celebrating the launch of Grand Paloma Resort , by Cleyvis Natera , about a lush paradise in the Dominican Republic where guests enjoy incredible luxuries and the staff is always eager to please—but only until they’re pushed to their limits. Natera will be in conversation with authors Angie Cruz ( Cómo no ahogarse en un vaso de agua ) and Naima Coster ( What’s Mine and Yours ).

The event will take place at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, 530 West 166th Street, New York, NY, USA . 

“With compelling characters and a narrative that steals your breath from the first page, The Grand Paloma Resort offers an unforgettable, unexpected story that will upend readers’ assumptions about power, pleasure, and moral salvation.”—Xochitl Gonzalez, author of Olga Dies Dreaming

“With captivating characters and a narrative that takes your breath away from the first page, Natera delivers an unforgettable and unexpected story that will upend readers’ assumptions about power, pleasure, and moral redemption.” —Xochitl Gonzalez, author of  Olga Dies Dreaming

This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with a maximum of 100 attendees. Please register in advance .

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Laura is a local Dominican woman who, through sheer hard work, has risen through the ranks to become manager at the Grand Paloma Resort. Her idea to pair a “platinum” guest with their own resort employee to attend to their every whim has been wildly successful, and she’s just weeks away from a promotion that could blaze a path for her off the resort and toward a life of opportunity. If only her younger sister, Elena—who she’s looked after since the death of their mother—could get with the program.

Elena has tried to live up to her sister’s expectations, but to escape the drudgery of waiting on rich tourists, she’s becoming increasingly dependent on pills and partying. As a babysitter at the resort, she’s at the beck and calls of guests who are indulging their worst impulses and need someone else to watch their kids while they do so. Now, after an accident, a child left in her charge is believed dead, and Elena knows she’ll be held responsible.

When Elena runs into the child’s father at a nearby beachfront watering hole, he offers her an obscene amount of money for private time with two young local girls. Elena pockets the cash to fund her escape and prays she’s gotten the girls out of harm’s way. But then the girls are reported missing.

Set over the course of seven days, The Grand Paloma Resort offers an unforgettable story of class, family, and community, building to an intense climax in which the true costs of luxury are laid bare, redeemed only by true acts of love.

Laura is the manager of the Grand Paloma Resort. She’s a Dominican woman who has gotten to where she is through hard work. She’s just weeks away from receiving a promotion that will open the way to new opportunities. But her younger sister, Elena, whom she has cared for since their mother’s death, doesn’t seem to be cooperating.

Elena has done her best to live up to her sister’s expectations. However, to escape the monotony of serving wealthy tourists, she has become dependent on pills and partying. As a nanny at the resort, she is at the mercy of guests who give free rein to their worst impulses and need someone to care for their children in the meantime. After an accident, a girl in her care is believed to have died, and Elena knows she will be held responsible.

At a beachfront bar, Elena meets the girl’s father, who offers her an obscene sum of money so he can be alone with two local girls. Elena stashes the money to fund their escape, and although she prays nothing happens to them, the girls disappear.

Set over seven days, Grand Paloma Resort delivers an unforgettable story of class, family, and community, building to an intense climax in which the true costs of luxury are revealed, long-suppressed secrets and true acts of love are exposed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR About the author

Cleyvis Natera is the author of Neruda on the Park . She was born in the Dominican Republic, migrated to the United States at ten years old, and grew up in New York City. She holds a BA from Skidmore College and an MFA from New York University. Her writing has won awards and fellowships from the International Latino Book Awards, PEN America, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, The Kenyon Review’s Writers Workshops, the Vermont Studio Center, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, Rowland Writers Retreat, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is currently a Fulbright Specialist. She lives with her husband and two young children in Montclair, New Jersey. The Grand Paloma Resort is her second novel.

Cleyvis Natera  is the author of ” Neruda on the Park .” She was born in the Dominican Republic, immigrated to the United States at age ten, and grew up in New York City. She holds a BA from Skidmore College and an MFA from New York University. Her writing has received awards and fellowships from PEN America, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, The Kenyon Review Writers’ Workshops, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She lives with her husband and two young children in Montclair, New Jersey.