Hector Contreras

Trauma, like words, is powerful; it can change a life forever. Hector Contreras had a childhood most people didn't and endured a life most people couldn't. Born and raised in Galveston, TX, to Mexican immigrants, Hector is the youngest of 8 children.

At two years old, Hector's dad was murdered. At 8, his brother was stabbed to death, and at 14, he lost his brother in a motorcycle accident. The grief made it difficult for his mother to be emotionally available for him. So, he dealt with unfamiliar emotions without guidance.

He spent his childhood riding bikes with his nephews and fishing off the rock piers in the Gulf of Mexico. If he wasn't outside on his bike, he was at the Boys and Girls Club of Galveston, learning how to play basketball, tennis, and pool.

Kids bullied Hector for being the new kid at school, being fat, and being "girly." The message Hector received from bullying was that he needed to dim his light so others wouldn't bully him. The bullying affected his performance in adulthood as he was always scared to perform at his best in a bid not to outshine anyone.

After completing a week-long spiritual retreat in Oregon that allowed him to deal with all the trapped emotional trauma from his childhood, "Carlos Finds Courage" was born. The spiritual retreat brought him face to face with the many self-limiting beliefs he learned as a child that kept him from achieving the things he wanted in life.

Hector not only talks the talk; he has walked the walk; he has lived it. Despite having every reason to be bitter about life, he's not. Instead, he sees each new day with optimism, joy, and gratitude. He shares these experiences, not for sympathy but to demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit. Of course, it's not easy; some days are more complicated than others. Still, it's possible to live a positive, uplifting life despite the events and circumstances of your life.

He is inspired by nature and all the beauties therein. Hector received a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and worked for various news media stations. Hector now lives in the small farming community of Kirksville, Missouri.

He has four other children's books in production. "Gomez The Brave Goat," his second book, will be available in July 2021. When he's not writing, he spends his free time taking long walks with his three dogs, Harper Rose, Charlie Kash, and Loretta.