Dear Reader:

It is with much respect and pride that I introduce you to Nothing Ventured | An American Life.

There are moments when the words 'synchronicity' and 'destiny' perfectly converge, and when a book appears that fulfills both these definitions, it really is a bit of a marvel. So it is with Nothing Ventured | An American Life, by Steven L. Pease, the story of a man who always manages to be in the right place at the right time.

Given Steve's innate pluck and determination, the road from his hometown in Spokane, Washington was in some ways a predictable one. There were early successes as a business consultant, a serial entrepreneur, a venture capitalist, and as a corporate turnaround guy—standard fare, you might say, for a Harvard Business School grad.

Then came Russia.

In 1985 Steve became intimately involved in Russian investments. “He conceived a new partnership that owned and operated 5,000 railroad tank cars. In his 50 trips to Russia, he became an on-the-ground eyewitness to the complexities of its quirky, and sometimes dangerous, economic landscape. For seventeen years he served as pro bono chairman and CEO of The U.S. Russia Investment Fund and, in 2023, directed its closure. He is past co-Chairman, and continues to serve as a director, of The U.S. Russia Foundation.

In light of the current world stage, Steve's perspective is both timely and valuable in understanding the Russian mindset. But there's much more to Steve than business expertise. He is now a compassionate activist and philanthropist devoted to giving back as much as possible to his family and his community in Sonoma, California.

As always, your support of small presses and independent authors is what keeps our literary landscape vibrant and alive. My thanks to you for that!

Happiness & Inspiration,

Karen Mireau

Founder | Literary Midwife

Azalea Art Press

Azalea.Art.Press@gmail.com