Be safe. Stay Strong.
PAGE 6 | THE VILLAGER • July 2, 2020
Greenwood Village author releases novel about the 10th Mountain Division
BY STACEY BAUM
It’s hard to write the story of this inspiring young woman in just a few paragraphs. Apshara Siwakoti recently graduated from Grandview High School. She is a Daniels Fund Scholar, who will attend University of Denver in the fall. At the young age of 18 (her birthday is this week), she already has goals that span far beyond the vision of most. But it is what she has experienced in her short life thus far that punctuates her already impressive accomplishments. Her story begins during the Bhutanese refugee crisis. Apshara was born in the early 2000s, where her family found themselves living in a small bamboo hut with no running water and little to live on. Apshara giggles as she mentions her favorite memory Apshara Siwakoti will be attending the University of Denver in the fall. of that refugee camp in Nepal. From the age of 6 until about Although BHGH has been introduced to a counselor that the age of 8, it was her job a lifeline to Apshara when it saw her motivation and knew every day to get up, leave her comes to many things, she is she just needed the opportunity mom and younger brother, and and additional guidance to really incredibly determined and credcarry five 10-liter jugs to the break out. That is when she was its that desire to achieve to the water tap. She would fill those need to set an example for the introduced to the Boys Hope containers with water that her rest of her family. Currently she family would use to cook, clean, Girls Hope program. Boys Hope Girls Hope’s mis- has over a year of experience bathe and drink that day. Even sion is to get academically moti- as a nurse’s aide, serving hours at that young age, she recogvated children-in-need, like Ap- on end during the Covid-19 nized that if she got up early pandemic, and plans to apply shara, through high school and enough, she could get a head this week to provide nursing help them ultimately earn their start on everyone and would assistance in either Oregon or not have to wait in line. School college degree. The scholars in the program are bright, talented, Washington for a few months started at 7 am, there was no this summer. She also plays the and driven, but often lack the time for that. violin, is learning to fly small resources and support to finish Just before she turned 9, the aircraft and hopes to get better high school, much less get into family’s United Nations repat longresentative boarding. explained that Asphathey would ra is the have an opfirst in her portunity to family leave Nepal to earn and settle elsea high where. Their bhghcolorado.org school first choice degree. She earned a four-year was America because there were and graduate from college. BHGH provides structure, men- Daniels Scholarship and will better educational opportunities toring, tutoring, and guidance to enter University of Denver’s in the States. They also had help kids break down walls and Pioneer Leadership Program family on the East Coast and this fall. Not surprisingly, she reach their goals. Each student were able to obtain jobs a bit already has her sights set on receives one-on-one support easier. medical school after graduation. throughout both their high When Asphara first arrived school and college careers. She’d like to end up in the Air in Massachusetts, there was a “My parents cannot speak Force and become an aerospace short waiting period before she English,” says Apshara. “Going medical specialist or flight surcould start school. She would to a parent-teacher conference geon. The end goal is to work sit in the window of her 3rd was hard. I was translating for the United Nations and build floor apartment and marvel at the entire time. And even then, a clinic in Nepal, to help others the sheer number of cars this sometimes they just were not just like herself. country had. She also assumed When asked if she ever takes home and could not attend. I that since only the wealthy in a day off, she says, “I’ve somewas also presented with many Nepal lived with running water times felt I needed an hour to opportunities but no way to that she would be getting up just do nothing. In that hour, I get there because they were early once again and trekking am a normal teenager, but then gone during the day. I appreto obtain water. She couldn’t I get fidgety and need to get up believe both the kitchen and the ciated that Boys Hope Girls and start doing something. I Hope came with me to my parbathrooms had water! really don’t like to sit still.” ent-teacher conferences when She has never forgotten her She credits her friends as my parents could not and made experiences as a young girl. some of her biggest motivators sure I had transportation to so She continues to remember where she came from. She uses many things that helped me suc- and admits that she still sees herself as a work in progress. ceed. I also didn’t know what those memories to motivate her If you ask her if she has taken and never let the little things get an application was, let alone how to fill one out. And what is some to time to reflect on this to her. moment and all she has accomEventually, the family moved a resume or cover letter? Boys plished, she says, “Yes, I am Hope Girls Hope helped me do to Colorado when jobs became proud at what I’ve achieved. scarce out east. It was in middle and understand so much. It has But I still crave more.” been tremendous.” school when Apshara was first
Apshara
Gail Mencini’s intrigue with the World War II 10th Mountain Division soldiers inspired her to feature them in a novel. She wanted to honor these heroes because of their success in battle and their monumental impact on Colorado and the ski industry. Her book It Happened in Tuscany was released on February 18th, the 75th anniversary of the troops’ courageous and successful battle on Riva Ridge in Italy’s Apennine Mountains. Mencini’s novel tells the story of Will Mills, a young, scrappy Colorado boy who fought with the 10th Mountain Division. Seventy-five years after the war, cantankerous Will returns to Italy to find the girl who saved his life and face the demons that have haunted him since the war. Emotional wounds drive his traveling companion, thirty-two-yearold Sophie Sparke, to escape and join Will on his quest. As a child, Gail vacationed in Eldora every year and considered Colorado her second home. She moved here in 1981 and worked in public accounting as a C.P.A specializing in tax law. Mencini’s switch from a left-brained profession to right-brained writing happened because of a ghost. Gail shared the story of the ghost with us. She and her husband, Dr. Ray Mencini, vacationed one summer in Key West, Florida. As a lifelong reader, Gail wanted to tour Ernest Hemingway’s house. Standing on the veranda, with six-toed cats at her feet, she grabbed Ray’s arm and asked him if he could feel the strong, palpable presence of Ernest Hemingway. He did not. That experience, coupled with her admission that she wanted to write novels, led to Gail’s self-education on
writing fiction. She read hundreds of books on the craft of writing and attended seminars, workshops, and conferences. Despite representation by a New York agent and winning contests, her first manuscript, a thriller, is, as she said with a smile, “in the drawer, where many first attempts belong.” A diagnosis of breast cancer changed Gail’s focus on writing. After completion of her surgeries and treatment, Mencini knew she would only be published if she first believed in herself. “Cancer makes one realize your time on earth is finite. I believe one should move with purpose and passion in the direction of your dreams, and that’s what I did.” Gail attributes persistence, disregarding rejections, meticulous research, a positive attitude, a supportive husband and family, and many rewrites as her keys to success. Both Gail’s debut novel, To Tuscany with Love, and her latest novel, It Happened in Tuscany, have been Denver Post #1 Best Sellers. Her books have received multiple awards, including a prestigious IPPY award for It Happened in Tuscany and the Beverly Hills International Book Award for To Tuscany with Love. Gail and her husband, Ray, have lived in Greenwood Village for twenty-seven years. They raised four sons here, all of whom graduated from Regis Jesuit High School before continuing at colleges and graduate schools. It Happened in Tuscany can be ordered in paperback through any bookstore and on Amazon in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. For more information about Gail Mencini or her novels, go to www.gailmencini.com.
