Based on true events, many investigated by the author personally, THE PLAZA was inspired by the murder of crime reporter Armando "El Choco" Rodriguez, of El Diario de Juarez. Plaza. Spanish: in Mexican culture, a slang word describing the territory of a certain drug cartel. "I've been a reporter for years, and a resident of Juarez, Mexico all of my life. I've never seen anything like it. No one thought the drug war would be like this...My town has become the battleground for drug cartels. Even the police are being killed on a daily basis. Bands of teenagers working as paid assassins & extortionists are hitting every business, no matter how small. Things I took for granted like going to a restaurant, getting a haircut, or even an evening at the movies with my family put all our lives in danger. Robberies and public executions have become common place. Now when I report only five homicides in twenty-four hours, it is considered a good day." - Saul Saavedra, crime reporter for The Juarez Daily in THE PLAZA. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to an orphanage in Juarez, Mexico. Any donations will be made public on facebook.com/theplazathenovel .