But I had a story to tell. And it was a big story. It was a story about the United States and its citizens. We hear all the time that we are a nation of immigrants, but do we ever really stop to think what that means? From day one, America was built by wave upon wave of immigrants that continuously arrived to the shores, cities, and borders of this land.

As a side note, I'm not discounting the native Americans who already lived here. I do realize the effect that European immigration had on their land and way of life. I am only focusing on the birth and growth of the United States through immigration.

The story of the American Dream has been told many times, and it's usually a positive one of immigrants coming for a better life and finding it. I wanted to fearlessly add to that story and show that it isn't always as easy as it seems to become part of this dream.

It was a challenge for my father. He struggled and suffered and had many successes and failures. I wanted readers to look underneath the happy and positive immigrant mask and share a story of what the journey really feels like.

I love my country and believe in the American Dream, so my big concern was: how do I show that becoming an American has its ugly side while still showing that this is a beautiful, amazing nation worth fighting for?

The way I did it was I borrowed part of my father's journey. I created a character who shared some of my father's characteristics but who was possibly more disturbed and unethical to create a good story. As with my actual father, this character both repelled me and made me love him.

I had to be fearless and honest, and in the end, I believe I succeeded in showing a different side of the immigrant story and the price that must be paid to become an American.

Join me on October 10th on the Fearless Fiction podcast, where I'll chat with Bernadette about this and other interesting writing topics.