Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Book Tour & Giveaway ~ Catch the White Tiger by Tony Assali and Michael Ashley

 


Autobiography/Memoir

Date Published: April 5, 2022

Publisher: Acorn Publishing



In 1970, at the age of 17 and with only twenty-eight dollars in his pocket, Tony Assali flew to America to escape war in his homeland, Beirut, Lebanon. With the intention of establishing a foothold so that he can bring the rest of his family to safety, Tony must find work quickly. Luckily, Tony possesses a special skill: the ability to perceive white tigers, rare and valuable opportunities other people either do not see or are too afraid to pursue. From humble beginnings working in a doughnut factory, to parlaying his charm into a position selling men’s suits by the thousands, Tony fulfills his promise to his family. Then Tony dares to dream bigger, creating a thriving business that makes him a millionaire. But even with these victories, Tony still hasn’t found the white tiger he’s really looking for—the right partner to make his life complete…until a woman he can’t stop thinking about walks into his life. Complications arise, but she might just be the one, and Tony is never the type of person to let an obstacle stop him.


EXCERPT:

The year 1975 rolls over into 1976 with little change in the Lebanese civil war. As for me, I’m seeing a new girl, Paula. We’ve been dating for a few weeks when, in mid-August, I take her to see The Platters perform at Copley Square. I love The Platters and their classic style of 1950s rock ’n’ roll. After the concert, audience members are invited to the stage to compete in a dance contest. I’m just jazzed enough from the concert to participate. Backed by the pounding music, I shake off all my inhibitions and let loose.

Sweat pours down my face as I twirl Paula, twisting and turning to the beat. I look up for a moment to see a crowd forming as the disco ball lights bathe us in a rainbow of colors. The crowd cheers, and for a moment all of the tension from these last few years ebbs. Time disappears as I fling Paula faster and faster, kicking up my heels and throwing back my head. The shouting gets louder. Paula smiles back at the crowd as I sweep her off her feet and high into the air before dipping her back against my knee.

When I pull her up, everyone explodes into applause, and later on, the organizers find me to tell me I won first place.

“Thank you. Thank you,” I say.

I’ve recently purchased a new orange Chevy Camaro convertible and, in my excited state, I can think of no better way to top the evening than to take it for a late-night spin. Although it’s now well past midnight, the air is still hot and humid. With Paula riding beside me, I lower the roof, roll down the windows, and drive.

We’re cruising up I-93 North toward Medford when I pull even with a late model red Corvette. As I glance over at the car, the driver looks at me and nods. This man wants to race! A second later, we both floor it. Paula laughs, cheering me on as the speedometer quickly climbs. Seventy miles per hour. Eighty miles per hour. Ninety miles per hour!

Suddenly, I notice two slower moving cars ahead in the far left and far right lanes. Only the center lane between them offers safe passage. The Corvette and I remain neck-and-neck. Only one of us is going to make it through. My fevered brain quickly makes a series of mathematical calculations; I’m going too fast to stop. Way too fast.

The Corvette and I continue to blast forward, jockeying for position. My heart is racing so fast I can feel it pounding in my ears. The slower-moving cars are coming up on us quickly, almost as if they’re standing still. Paula screams.

Somehow, I turn at the last second and thread the needle between the two slower-moving cars. The red Corvette isn’t so lucky. It hits the rear of the car in the right-hand lane. I’m confused. Terrified. I don’t know what to do, so I just keep driving.

Easing my foot off the pedal, I struggle to breathe. Once again, something has rescued me from a near-certain disaster. Today is not something I am proud of. In fact, I feel ashamed. I put myself—and Paula—in mortal danger for no good reason. This is not the way a grown adult, let alone a responsible parent, is supposed to behave.

It’s almost 4:00 a.m. by the time I arrive home. I check on Scotty. He’s fast asleep. So is our babysitter, a high school girl who lives nearby. I gently wake her and, in light of the late hour, pay her overtime. Afterwards, Paula volunteers to drive the girl home.

A few minutes after Paula leaves, the phone rings. When a phone rings at 4:00 in the morning, it’s never good news. Immediately, I fear Paula has gotten into an accident. I lift the handset, expecting the worst.

“Hello?”

There’s a lot of static on the line. The voice at the other end is distant and scratchy. But I recognize it, and it takes my breath away.

 

About the Author

Tony Assali is the president of a well-established escrow company in California and new author of his autobiography, Catch the White Tiger, where he tells his story about growing up in Beirut, establishing life in America, and discovering the keys to success. The debut author has been married for 25 years. He has 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. On his time off, he enjoys drinking wine, dirt bike riding, board games, and he is a coffee connoisseur. He is blessed to have the Lord in his life, and he thanks Him daily and pays it forward as a born again Christian.


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