A local writer, producer, director, and photographer is putting the spotlight on Cuba at a difficult time. Lorenzo DeStefano, who lives in Ventura, has a new book coming out this summer entitled

“The Magic Hour (La Hora Mágica) A Photographer’s Journeys Through Cuba.” DeStefano was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i and said he was drawn to the island of Cuba and has traveled there about 10 times.

Cuba has been under a U.S. oil blockade and a trade embargo that appears to be getting worse. There are blackouts, transportation, medical problems, and shuttered hotels.

“This is not a joke,” DeStefano said. “This book I have coming out in July is called “The Magic Hour”. Thirty years ago, I started taking photos in Cuba during a time called ‘El Período Especial’, the special period in the ’90s after the fall of communism. And now we are in a special period of even greater privation. Cuba has 11 million people and they are suffering.”

In this case privation in Cuba is a state when essentials are scarce. The author called it a humanitarian crisis.

DeStefano said he was honored that “Cuba Confidential” author Ann Louise Bardach, of Carpinteria, endorsed his book.

President Trump recently called Cuba a “failed nation” and said it is next on his agenda.

DeStefano said many people are concerned about what will happen next.

For more information on DeStefano’s book visit https://www.amaurea.co.uk/amaureapress/p/the-magic-hour-lorenzo-destefano or https://themagichourbylorenzodestefano.com/