Serena, at thirteen, leaves her home on the colorful Caribbean island of Curaçao and her beloved grandmother, Oma, when her ambitious, impulsive, and emotionally unstable mother takes her and her sister to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. They drive from Miami to Hollywood, where their luck runs out and a 1963 Ford Galaxie becomes their first American home. Compelling and exotic, the narrative weaves together the hard realities of 1970s Hollywood and memories of an innocent past. The story is rich and tangy, filled with images from around the world. The timeless wisdom Serena’s grandmother imparted to her becomes the compass by which Serena navigates the unscrupulous world she confronts. Filled with brilliant and visceral characters from multiple countries that come to life and reveal themselves and their cultures, The House of Six Doors gives the reader an intimate look at the complexities of an immigrant’s journey and a young girl’s coming of age in a multicultural Los Angeles. A pageturner, this story is so distinct and intimate that it becomes universal and leaves the reader with profound insights.

If you feel as though the circumstances of your life are against you and you wonder whether this will ever change, this is a story that will fill you with hope. If you have ever wanted to believe that the circumstances of your life really do work for your ultimate best interest, read The House of Six Doors. —David Robert Ord, Namaste columnist and author, “Lessons in Loving, A Journey into the Heart”

“This is an honest and compelling coming-of-age story that follows a girl as she moves between two cultures, cradled between longing for her indigenous past and the glittering promise of her future in America. Selbert artfully shines light upon the honest transformation of an immigrant family, moving from memories of a windswept island and a grandmother’s wisdom to the poignant integration and reality facing all American immigrants.” – Carol Prunhuber, author of “Women: Around the World and Through the Ages”

“Selbert’s powerful, poignant tale provides a source of strength, in a brilliant, beautiful portrayal of a girl’s coming of age and her struggles with cultural differences.” —Reiki Master Julia Elizabeth Carroll, author of “Nu Reiki Oneness”

“This story rings true from beginning to end. From the moment we meet thirteen-year-old Serena with her fierce and erratic mother in the Miami airport, we know a heroine’s journey has begun. After leaving the Dutch island of Curacao and her beloved grandmother, Serena navigates two worlds, which the author captures in harsh details and lyrical memories, connecting past to present, and inviting the reader on a juxtaposed journey as well. Serena’s road is full of trials, tragedies, and triumphs, and in the end, we discover a determined young woman and writer has found her way.” —Janet Lucy, author of “Moon Mother, Moon Daughter ~ Myths and Rituals that Celebrate a Girl’s Coming of Age”

“Patricia Selbert weaves a powerful and poignant tale of wisdom in a tapestry providing a source of strength. The House of Six Doors tells the story of Serena’s authentic transformation: from young island girl to woman, from small town to big city life, with a strong helping of self-realization. This is my kind of fiction!” —Janice Cook Knight, author of “The Follow Your Heart Cookbook: Recipes from the Vegetarian Restaurant”

“You will find yourself torn between cheering for the mother and wanting to sit her down for an intervention. You will think about yourself and how you would deal with things if you were in that situation. You would wish to be enveloped in Serena’s grandmother’s arms and hear her wisdom. You’ll take that wisdom to heart for your own life. You will want to take Serena and hide her away from herself but then on the next page feel a sense of pride for her achievements. You will wish to live in Curacao but then thankful to live in your own town. You’ll find yourself wanting to read more of this book.” –Steena Holmes, book blogger at “Chocolate Blessings”

About The Author

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