“Sometimes, we need to see how someone overcomes the obstacles in their life to muster up the courage necessary to meet our own. Maria’s Scarf is a portrait of courage that will inspire dreamers, both young and old. A timely immigrant story of a family pursuing the American dream. You’ll be thinking about these heartbreaking, hilarious, and harrowing adventures long after you put the book down!” Joyce Meyer, New York Times bestselling author
Description
A beautiful and transformative memoir, Maria’s Scarf is the incredible story of a mother’s love, a family’s unbreakable bond, and a starry-eyed boy who never lost sight of his dreams.
As the fatherless biracial child of a Mexican immigrant, Danny Donnelly was never expected to amount to much. Before the age of nine, his single mother had moved her seven children more than thirty times—from the impoverished streets of South Central Los Angeles to rural Oregon and everywhere in between.
Sometimes there was no home to go to, so they slept in their ’62 Chevy; sometimes dinner was a slice of bread; sometimes they showered in a nearby park. Desperate yet ever hopeful, they clung to the only thing they had—each other. Through it all, Danny longed for his father’s love and approval, ultimately channeling his pain and transforming himself into Zoro, one of the world’s greatest drummers.
Eloquent, hilarious, and remarkably tender, Maria’s Scarf: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love, a Son’s Perseverance, and Dreaming Big, tells the story of a family fighting for survival against almost insurmountable odds. Through laughter, tears, and many misadventures, Zoro touches the heart of every reader—young or old, citizen or immigrant—and speaks to the dreamer in all of us, emboldening everyone to live fantazmical lives.
An Educator’s Guide is available: Click here to view or download
Praise
“Sometimes, we need to see how someone overcomes the obstacles in their life to muster up the courage necessary to meet our own. Maria’s Scarf is a portrait of courage that will inspire dreamers, both young and old. A timely immigrant story of a family pursuing the American dream. You’ll be thinking about these heartbreaking, hilarious, and harrowing adventures long after you put the book down!” Joyce Meyer, New York Times bestselling author
“Both Zoro and I were blessed to live our dreams. Maria’s Scarf will inspire you to never give up on yours.” Frankie Valli, lead vocalist of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and cocreator of Jersey Boys, the Broadway musical
“With whip-smart prose and a talent for telling stories, Zoro catapults us into the world of music, but he also takes us on a journey of growing up and what it means to be a family. He captures his childhood as a dreamer that is authentic and pulses like a pattern of drum beats. Maria’s Scarf is a generous and moving story of sacrifice, family, and hope.” Melissa Cistaro, award-winning author of Pieces of My Mother
“Maria’s Scarf is the funny, touching, and inspiring story of a mother whose unending love…gave her son the faith and courage to relentlessly pursue his impossible dream.” Michael Hauge, author of Writing Screenplays That Sell and Storytelling Made Easy
“Zoro’s memoir reads like compelling fiction—a living testament to how love can nurture the soul for triumph amid life’s deep difficulties.” Laura Munson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Apr 29, 2024 |
| Release Date | April 30, 2024 |
| Release Date Machine | 1714435200 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Biographies & Memoirs, Art & Literature, Entertainment & Celebrities, Coming Soon |
Author Bio
Zoro has spent four decades performing with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, New Edition, Sean Lennon, Lisa Marie Presley, and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. He has been voted the number one R&B drummer in the world numerous times and is the author of The Big Gig: Big-Picture Thinking for Success and SOAR! 9 Proven Keys for Unlocking Your Limitless Potential. His engaging personality, ability to speak on a wide range of subjects, and authentic way of inspiring others have also established him as a sought-after speaker.
Website: zorothedrummer.com mariasscarf.com
Narrator Bio
Zoro has spent four decades performing with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, New Edition, Sean Lennon, Lisa Marie Presley, and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. He has been voted the number one R&B drummer in the world numerous times and is the author of The Big Gig: Big-Picture Thinking for Success and SOAR! 9 Proven Keys for Unlocking Your Limitless Potential. His engaging personality, ability to speak on a wide range of subjects, and authentic way of inspiring others have also established him as a sought-after speaker.
Website: zorothedrummer.com mariasscarf.com
Overview
A beautiful and transformative memoir, Maria’s Scarf is the incredible story of a mother’s love, a family’s unbreakable bond, and a starry-eyed boy who never lost sight of his dreams.
As the fatherless biracial child of a Mexican immigrant, Danny Donnelly was never expected to amount to much. Before the age of nine, his single mother had moved her seven children more than thirty times—from the impoverished streets of South Central Los Angeles to rural Oregon and everywhere in between.
Sometimes there was no home to go to, so they slept in their ’62 Chevy; sometimes dinner was a slice of bread; sometimes they showered in a nearby park. Desperate yet ever hopeful, they clung to the only thing they had—each other. Through it all, Danny longed for his father’s love and approval, ultimately channeling his pain and transforming himself into Zoro, one of the world’s greatest drummers.
Eloquent, hilarious, and remarkably tender, Maria’s Scarf: A Memoir of a Mother’s Love, a Son’s Perseverance, and Dreaming Big, tells the story of a family fighting for survival against almost insurmountable odds. Through laughter, tears, and many misadventures, Zoro touches the heart of every reader—young or old, citizen or immigrant—and speaks to the dreamer in all of us, emboldening everyone to live fantazmical lives.
An Educator’s Guide is available: Click here to view or download