Endorsements
★
“Maday Martinez de Osaba proves the art of storytelling is alive and well! Gorgeous, brilliant, and riveting, Ocean of Stars and Dreams swept me up into the life of her family and transported me through time and cultures—an adventure I’ll not soon forget. This story has all the makings of a true Hollywood blockbuster!”
—OZZIE AREU
Founder and CEO of AREU BROS. Studios,
the first major Latino owned and operated media studio in the United States
★
“Ocean of Stars and Dreams beautifully captures the true essence of the Cuban American immigrant experience. Maday Martinez de Osaba’s epic family journey demonstrates that the human spirit is incredibly resilient. You can start your life over again and achieve your dreams. It is a story of making sacrifices and taking risks for a better tomorrow. A story that I know will inspire people around the world to achieve their dreams.”
—RALPH DE LA VEGA
Former Vice Chairman of AT&T, Inc.
Author of Obstacles Welcome – Turn Adversity to Advantage in Business and in Life
★
“Ocean of Stars and Dreams is a beautiful true story and an amazing way to pay homage to a family that never stopped dreaming and working to build a better future for their children in the US. I love how Maday Martinez de Osaba takes us into the journey of her immigrant parents and shares their stories with emotion and pride! This book is an invaluable family legacy that Maday Martinez de Osaba now shares with the world and it resonates with so many immigrants like me, thank you, amiga!”
—JUDITH MARTINEZ SADRI
Emmy Award Winner Journalist, Podcaster, and Producer
★
“Ocean of Stars and Dreams is an incredibly thoughtful, unique, detailed narrative of the author’s personal family immigration journey. It is written in a way that draws you in and allows you to experience their journey as if you were there. Maday Martinez de Osaba expertly navigates historical world events with the tragedies and triumphs faced by many immigrant families. It provides a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughter to tears from one chapter to the next, a testament to the honesty in storytelling that is presented throughout the book.”
—PIERLUIGI MANCINI Ph.D.
Author, Expert on Immigrant Behavioral Health,
Social and Racial Justice, Health Equity and Health Disparities
★
“Through beautifully written prose, Maday Martinez de Osaba inspires and informs as she recounts her family’s compelling immigration journey to the United States. It’s a critically important story for all audiences to learn more about the hope and heartbreak of human migration.”
—ISABEL GONZALEZ WHITAKER
Journalist, and Encore.org senior fellow
★
“A powerful and intimate story of a family’s epic and emotional immigration journey away from oppression toward freedom, from Cuba to Spain, and finally to the United States. Maday Martinez de Osaba’s writing style viscerally pulled me into the story—I felt like I was part of this beautiful human experience of peaks and valleys and everything in between. One of the many aspects I like about the book is how the story of her family provides a history lesson from an authentic and personal perspective that we rarely experience.”
—CHRISTIAN ESPINOZA
Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur
Bestselling Author of The Smartest Person in the Room
★
“In Ocean of Stars and Dreams, Maday Martinez de Osaba tells a captivating and inspiring story of the human heart and its longing to be free. It is a story of her family’s determination in escaping the heavy hand of communist Cuba and their patient suffering together through trial and tragedy to triumphantly find freedom in the United States. Maday Martinez de Osaba has beautifully and intricately crafted an essential story that transcends time and culture and speaks to the deep longing of every human soul.”
—BRANDON ANDRESS
Author of What Can’t be Hidden—A Novel
★
“Martinez de Osaba’s beautifully written story captivates the heart through her wonderful journey of family, love, perseverance, and the power of connection. We all are able to find a piece from this wonderful story that we connect to. A must-read to uplift your heart”
—LIA VALENCIA KEY
Keynote Speaker and Creator of Valencia Key Jewelry
★
“Everyone loves a good story. Even more, everyone loves a good story that is true. Ocean of Stars and Dreams is a compelling true story that will draw you in and have you emotionally connected to the characters and their journey. Read it, enjoy it, and be reminded to celebrate your own journey.”
—DR. JASON YOUNG
Author, Keynote Speaker, and Executive Coach
★
“Maday Martinez de Osaba has provided the reader with a passionate and detailed history of her Cuban-American family and their amazing journey through life and their eventual immigration to the United States. I was both educated and encouraged through this writing. We are shown that anything is possible in life. The perseverance and determination showcased in these pages are truly inspiring.”
—TIM DRAKE
Author of Inherited Freedom, Solitary Vigilance and Death is the Final Reckoning
★
“In reading the compelling stories of Maday Martinez de Osaba’s family’s journey, I found striking similarities between immigrants overcoming adversity to follow their dreams and world-class athletes overcoming obstacles to achieve their goals. Ocean of Stars and Dreams made the resilient part of my spirit rise up—the part that perseveres, works hard, and never gives up—knowing that endurance will be rewarded—and it will do the same for all who read it!”