Publisher: Las Vegas Publishing Group, LLC (Dec 20, 2018)
Category: Memoir, Las Vegas, Non-Fiction
Tour dates: Feb-Mar, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-732720-1-2
Available in Print and ebook, 282 pages
Description Tenacity: True Life Story by Ron Coury
Tenacity tells the gripping true story of how Ron Coury, a Las Vegas businessman, Marine and former Brooklynite survived corruption and cancer to achieve the American Dream. The aptly-titled memoir focuses on the determination necessary to overcome any and all unjust obstacles that may stand in the way of one’s dreams.
Tenacity chronicles the evolution of the natural-born entrepreneur, a major business figure in Las Vegas for decades. As Coury climbed the ladder toward success, he faced a barrage of constraints including political and police corruption, bribery, coercion and even death threats. Along the way, he also had a couple of offers to settle matters discreetly, with a few well-placed bullets. His choices would have life altering consequences for many.
Interview With Ron Coury
TR: Please tell us something about the book that is not in the summary. (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)
RC: Describing the manner and level of corruption I encountered in this small town city government and its influence on their city attorney and police department was enjoyable for me. To limit competition in his business, the city councilman stooped to unimaginable levels and describing how I fought back and ultimately prevailed depicts a true David and Goliath story. After surviving his misuse of the criminal justice system against me, the payback I orchestrated against his reelection campaign makes for some dramatic and inspiring reading.
TR: What is your favorite part in the book? Why?
RC: Part of my story includes the use of a private investigator. An unenviable position few find themselves in is the scenario where faced with multiple felony charges fueled by a vendetta-driven small town police department, the accused can hope and await a just outcome with a jury or be proactive in mounting their defense. In my case, I had a thieving accuser who used the age old “accuse your accuser” defense and fabricated an enticingly violent story that this corrupt city could use against me. In my true life case, I opted to employ an undercover operative to get close to my accuser and hopefully document the truth to clear me before a trial and jury became necessary.
In one scene, his undercover team hit a wall during an operation in Mesquite, Nevada, the last known employment site of my accuser. A chance encounter we staged might provide the opportunity for my investigator to befriend him. We learned he had it bad for a gorgeous longtime bartender named Julie who I employed. She was a willing participant in helping to clear my name. As our staged plan went awry and just missing an interaction with the target seemed to doom the elaborate plans we made, the quick thinking of Julie and how she salvaged this seemingly missed opportunity serves as one of my favorite true life stories. This creativity on her part and how she succeeded in staging a “chance encounter” served to set the stage for the possibility of clearing me on multiple felony charges. My private investigator, through Julie’s remarkable spur-of-the-moment reaction and subsequent acting skills, became my accuser’s new best friend. What developed was unexpected and riveting.
TR: How much time and effort went into your research for the book?
RC: It was a lifetime of living in Brooklyn, New York, California and finally Las Vegas the past 45 years with more than two years of writing and editing during 2017 and 2018 to make this book a reality.
TR: Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself?
RC: My youngest son, Tom Coury, recently graduated college with a degree in computer graphics. As I was completing the writing of the book and began contemplating the cover, he offered to do a cover design. I provided him a tentative working subtitle, “From Brooklyn to Vegas via the U.S. Marines” and he took it from there. He included the Brooklyn Bridge, Las Vegas images, the Marine Corps emblem and a red, white and blue patriotic theme thereby capturing what he knew to be features in my life story. He created a cover that would visually attract a potential book buyer to possibly purchase the book.
TR: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
RC: As the book tells my story from the age of 12 through 66, I think someone in his 40’s who could be made up to look younger and older may be the best option; a Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon or Ben Affleck type. Michael Madsen did my audiobook adaptation and, after learning my entire story, has expressed an interest as well.
TR: What book/s are you reading at present?
RC: Killing The Rising Sun by Bill O’Reilly. As my dad fought in the arena described in this book, it gives me insight into what he faced on an island near Japan in the South Pacific during World War II.
TR: If you could be somebody else for a day who would you choose and why?
RC: I’m just happy being me.
TR: What are you currently working on? Is there another book in your future?
RC: As a first time author, marketing this book is my current highest priority. When my entire life story was put to words, it exceeded a 140,000 word count. My editors assisted in deleting nearly 60,000 words to make it the book it is today. If a second book is in my future, I might review what was deleted and determine if there’s a sequel possible. I am currently a large investor and board member in an early education learning tool with Andre Agassi. Named Square Panda, it helps children learn to spell and read as early as two years of age. It is also being used to help children in other countries learn English. My hopes are to help it become a worldwide success in 2019.
TR: Is there a question that you would have liked me or another blogger to ask but didn’t?
RC: To what would you attribute your entrepreneurial successes and what would you share with the youth of today?
Answer: My family unit which taught me essential values from an early age and engrained parental standards that I feel molded me into the adult I became. The Marine Corps guided me to set a standard for myself in all that would come in later years. Being a good friend to others contributed to attracting some terrific business partners with whom I’ve enjoyed unimaginable successes. Setting a good example for my three children to follow rounds out what motivates me every day to work hard and make good choices.
As to the youth of today, I fear a lessening of the standards I was raised to respect renders many of them incapable of reaching their potential. Less reliance on the internet and making them think for themselves and problem-solving the old fashioned way might be something to brighten their future achievements. Being able to speak, without the constant use of the “F” word in nearly every sentence, would be a terrific change in the trends I witness on a regular basis.
About Ron Coury
Ron Coury is a name that is well-known to long time residents and members of the business community in Southern Nevada. A former U.S. Marine, Coury has seen and done a lot in his 45 years in Las Vegas. Coury is an observational entrepreneur, a “niche finder,” in his words. With nearly every venture he has undertaken, along with various business partners, he identified operational nuances that led to enhanced levels of success with all their ventures. This mindset was fascinating to execute in a young, growing town like Las Vegas since his arrival in 1973.
Coury has worked as a casino dealer, real estate agent, founder of a limousine service and a partner in bars, restaurants, major graphics and glass companies, along with several automobile dealerships in Nevada and California.
From growing up on the streets of Brooklyn in the ’60s and early ’70s to surviving the good-ole-boy and Wild-West business and political climate of old school Las Vegas, this book is a testament to how Coury’s courage and perseverance enabled him to prevail against unethical, illegal and seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the path toward achieving his goals and dreams. Coury also chronicles his biggest challenge of all, beating esophageal cancer against the longest of odds.
Website: https://roncouryauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonCouryAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roncouryauthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncouryauthor/
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This giveaway is for one print copy or ebook copy of the book. Print is available to the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends on March 29, 2019 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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