Atlanta, Ga., September 22, 2009 – Erstwhile bad-boy chef Paul Luna kicks off the official Atlanta release of his bilingual kids’ book, Luna Needs a Miracle! ¡Luna Necesíta un Milagro!, in a one-time-only collaboration with the Four Seasons Atlanta and its executive chef, Robert Gerstenecker.

On Saturday, October 3, from 2 – 4 p.m., kids and kids-at-heart are invited to the Four Seasons Atlanta (75 Fourteenth St.), to cook up something different with chefs Luna and Gerstenecker. The two will lend their culinary expertise, share their creative genius and unveil the secret recipes for eating well and living well!

• Chefs Luna and Gerstenecker will jointly lead a hands-on cooking demonstration safe enough for kids—but fun for parents, too.
• Chef Luna will make available his recently-published and released dual-language children’s book for review, purchase and signing.
• Chef Luna will also discuss his experiences cycling across the country back to Atlanta. (Visit www.CrossCountryChef.blogspot.com for updates of his progress.)

The event is chef Luna’s Atlanta debut after a decade-long absence from the Peach. The enfant terrible of culinary shifted his attentions from the kitchen to develop the story of a Spanish-speaking boy who worries about not speaking English on his first day in school. Chef Luna left his California residence by bicycle on September 10, to promote the book with a 2,500-mile cross-country bicycle quest for a miracle. His scheduled Atlanta arrival is Friday, Oct. 2.

Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker, known for his flair in creating southern contemporary dishes, maintains a precise touch and uses the finest seasonal ingredients available. He has led the Park 75 kitchen at Four Seasons since 2004.

The Four Seasons Atlanta and chef Gerstenecker will be chef Luna’s first formal hosts to Georgia’s capital. For more information, or to confirm attendance, please call Park 75 at (404) 253-3840 or email park75host.atl@fourseasons.com.

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About Paul Luna
Paul Luna’s impressive 25-year career in culinary includes work with some of the world’s finest chefs in some of the world’s most reputed establishments, from Michele Attali at Petrossian in Paris, Terrance Brennan at New York City’s Picholine, to Gianni Scappin of Bice Ristorante, Milan. He has also opened and run a number of successful establishments in Washington, Atlanta, Italy and Canada, and, in the process, has had his creativity formally recognized in numerous media outlets.

Known for recreating himself, he has surprised his clients, friends and customers with his transition to author. Chef Luna wrote, published and released a bilingual children’s book, Luna Needs a Miracle! ¡Luna Necesíta un Milagro!, in August 2009. Currently, his efforts are focused on marketing and promoting his new endeavor while communicating a love for living in fearlessness and courage.

About Robert Gerstenecker
A 16-year veteran of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Gerstenecker joined Park 75 Restaurant as executive chef in September 2004, a promotion he considers a culinary dream come true. A former executive sous chef at Four Seasons Atlanta from 1998-2002, he helped open Park 75 and played an instrumental role in developing the restaurant’s menu.

Gerstenecker, who best describes his food as “a use of the best ingredients cooked to perfection,” also says that any great dish must include the three T’s—taste, texture and technique—and consist of flavors he describes as the three S’s—sweet, salty and sour. “My menu is always creative, vibrant and a reflection of the best and freshest ingredients cooked and prepared with passion.”

Park 75—one of only two Mobil Four-Star restaurants in Georgia for the eighth year in a row—is a 68-seat restaurant focused on southern food—redefined.

About Four Seasons Atlanta
Located in the heart of Midtown’s cultural district, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, a 244-room luxury hotel, is the city’s premier address for visitors. Where warmth and graciousness prevail, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta offers hospitality, convenience, personalized service and elegance to each guest. It is the only Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond hotel in Atlanta for eight years in a row and in was voted “Best Hotel in Atlanta” by Zagat Survey.

I was particularly impressed with their questions. They learned that I was going on a bicycle trip and they wanted to hear more about it. (If you’re curious, you can visit my blog: www.crosscountrychef.blogspot.com)

The photos do a great job of showing how excited they were. They didn’t believe I was nervous, but I was because, as one of the students said, “there’s eighty of us, there’s one of you.” They were pretty smart.

San Jose, Calif., July 10, 2009 – Just in time for “Back to School,” local talents announce the release of bilingual children’s book, “Luna Needs a Miracle!” with a book launch party at the Ste. Claire Hotel in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, August 16, 2009 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm. The book was written by starred chef of more than 20 years, Paul Luna, and illustrated by college student, Gabrielle Gramegna—both South Bay residents. While the event is free, attendees must RSVP, as space is limited and the chef will execute a variety of treats. (Call (408) 271-3358, (808) 344-0958 or email info@chefluna.com to RSVP.)

Aged more than 20 years apart, the unlikely pair combined their talents to bring to life the story of a young Spanish-speaking boy, also named Luna, who experiences the fear of not speaking English on his first day at school and learns the magic of the unspoken.

“It’s not every day a starred chef with a lifetime entrenched in culinary decides to get creative by writing a book that has nothing to do with food or cooking. This was definitely a new step for Luna, even if it was a natural extension of his life,” says Cynthia Thomet, chef Luna’s fiancée and publicist.

Thomet has seen the Dominican-born Luna inspire people of all ages to pursue a fearless life, from the likes of debutant restaurant owners to underserved youth on Maui.

For Gramegna, whose illustrations grace the pages of “Luna Needs a Miracle!” this project is also a first. The artist is getting ready to return to California College of the Arts in Oakland where she will be a sophomore working towards her bachelor’s degree in Illustration.

The author recently received several boxes of “Luna Needs a Miracle!” so he can offer it for $20—significantly lower than the publisher’s $31.99 retail price—on his own website, www.ChefLuna.com, and at the book launch event.

“Seeing the boxes of hardcover books makes it real,” says Luna, the executive chef and partner of an Italian restaurant in downtown San Jose. “It’s exciting. I’m an author!”

Luna Needs a Miracle! ¡Luna Necesita un Milagro! by Paul Luna
Picture Book; $21.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2060-9
Picture Book Hardcover; $31.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2061-6
www.ChefLuna.com

The morning sunshine, the early mists, the hills, and the abundant greenery. What’s not to love about Carmel? The place is magical.

Of course, I couldn’t go without taking my new kids’ book, Luna Needs a Miracle! I talked to just about everyone who would listen! Even a lovely couple who I can tell have been lifelong friends!

Friendship is Universal

They understood the magic of the unspoken. And, in their silence, I just know they supported my efforts to get the word out about this story. (They wouldn’t stop smiling when I shared the heartwarming story with them.)

My fiancee and I were charmed. It was nice to see the love eternal shared by my new friends in Carmel. Now, that I’m back in town, I look forward sharing with my friends what I learned in my travels.

This little article is well-timed, given that the Marketing department with the self-publishing company I contracted insisted on pushing the religious angle on the book, when truly the intent of the book was not religious in scope–even if it did have a hint of religion in it, I still have a reputation to uphold. (More on that another time!)

Anyway, I was tickled to be in the Gossip column of this weekly newspaper–and it’s fun to surprise old friends after so many years. I even shared space with culinary peer, Chef Joel Antunes (who has also done the disappearing act. (Joel — We need to get together. LOL))!

Check it out!

San Jose, Calif., June 22, 2009 – Surprising many of his family members, close friends and loyal customers, Chef Paul Luna announced last week the publication of a bilingual children’s book called, Luna Needs a Miracle!, a short story treating such issues as love and fear, family and friendship—not food or the food industry.

The author has pre-ordered the book at mass quantities to be able to offer it at a price significantly lower than the expected $31.99 retail price. Those who request the book directly from him by sending him an email at info@chefluna.com, or filling out the email form on his website, www.chefluna.com, will be offered the reduced rate while supplies last.

“Experiencing something radically different from what you know can be frightening, but it can also create a window of opportunity upon which you can take action with clarity and confidence,” said Luna, explaining the experience of the book’s character of the same name, who fears his first day at school because he does not speak or understand English.

Luna Needs a Miracle! is the author’s debut in a new world of artistic expression. After more than 20 years of experience in culinary and the restaurant business and during his final months on the island of Maui, chef Luna put pen to paper and began carving a new path for himself as a writer.

“Writing this book was a way for me to break past my own fears of doing something new and unknown, while also sharing an important lesson that we are all the same. We all have fears, challenges and successes in our lives,” Luna continued.

The chef who currently works in San Jose, Calif., for a large Italian restaurant group asked his fiancée Cynthia Thomet to advance the story from hand-written words on a page to its final hardbound form. The book was translated by a friend and illustrated by local artist, Gabrielle Gramegna, who is currently studying her craft.

“I learned that in many ways the process of publishing a book and developing this book was very similar to performing a menu at dinner time,” he said. “I’ve worked with many people who don’t speak a word of English and  I’ve found that you can still have understanding without words. The miracles present themselves in ways entirely unexpected.”

Luna Needs a Miracle! * by Paul Luna
¡Luna Necesita un Milagro!
Picture Book; $21.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2060-9
Picture Book Hardcover; $31.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2061-6
www.chefluna.com

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Please contact Cynthia Thomet with any questions, or to schedule and interview.

Media Contact:
Cynthia Thomet, cynthiathomet@gmail.com
(808) 344-0958 cell

Buy it now!

San Jose, Calif., June 15, 2009 – Expressions of love and fear, family and friendship share common ground in their simplicity and universality. In Luna Needs a Miracle!, author Paul Luna explores some of the challenges and fears people encounter when learning something new and unknown. Written for adults to read to the children in their lives, the bilingual story, written in English and Spanish, provides a gateway for conversation—a safe space for expression.

“The fear associated with speaking different languages is really based on a lack of understanding. I hope this book helps forge understanding between parents and their children—children and the world,” says the author who chronicles the experience of a young boy, also named Luna, who speaks only Spanish and feels alone and fearful on his first day at a new school in a new country.

With colorful, hand-drawn illustrations by Gabrielle Gramegna, the book takes readers and kids through a journey of cultural differences that reveal a universal language based on friendship, family and trust.

“This book is really about the power of relationships built through unspoken dialogue, such as body language and the expression of hopes and fears,” says co-author Cynthia Thomet.

No matter what language a person speaks, the unspoken reveals our common need to communicate and our shared desire to live a free and fearless life. Author Luna wishes for adults and children to be inspired to discuss their hopes and fears with each other and find strength and support in the power of their relationships as well.

About the Authors
Writing a book was a first for author Paul Luna, whose professional life as a chef has allowed him to travel around the world and experience the similarities and diversities shared by numerous cultures. Luna speaks several languages and draws on his memory to chronicle the challenges, fears and triumphs he experienced growing up. Cynthia Thomet carries several nationalities and is conversant in French, Italian and German. As co-author and helper, she pulled together the talents of the book’s translator, Fiorella Pacheco-Echevarria, and illustrator Gabrielle Gramegna, who contributed the book’s colorful hand-drawn images.

Luna Needs a Miracle! * by Paul Luna
¡Luna Necesita un Milagro!
Picture Book; $21.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2060-9
Picture Book Hardcover; $31.99; 38 pages; 978-1-4415-2061-6

To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4272 x. 7479. Tear sheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Marketing Services. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4272 x 7876.

For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.

What does this announcement say to the child? And what does it say about the person who made the declaration that the third person in his party was a “half”? At what point is the child expected to be whole? And at what point will the adult in the child’s presence acknowledge that child as whole?

Because I come from a large family, I have been a witness to the rearing of children since becoming an uncle in my single digits and into my adult-age uncle-status. And I have heard how adults speak to children of varying ages. One phrase from my own childhood that I’ve heard repeated with many other children is: “You should know better; you are no longer a child.”

When I heard this customer refer to his “half-guest”, it dawned on me how it could be potentially confusing to a “whole person” (whether child or adult) regarding how she or he should … be. Would it not stem, therefore that the adult who believes in the “half-guest” struggles himself with his sense of identity or wholeness?

Does this comment indicate a “half adult” for not seeing the “wholeness” of the child in his presence? What do you think?