How to Survive a Brazilian Betrayal: A Mother-Daughter Memoir

A kooky, gregarious mother and perceptive, poised daughter introduce readers to their offbeat Connecticut family, who follow their hearts to rural Brazil. Broke and broken, they’re forced to return to the United States, and navigate their rebirth in a foreclosed 1770 New England farmhouse. Hilariously honest and heart-wrenching - blurbed by Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom.

Ehris Urban of Woodbury, CT

Ehris Urban, owner of Grounded Holistic Wellness, believes, “If you’re grounded, you can navigate even the bumpiest roads in peace.” She grew up in a family passionate about holistic medicine. Ehris is a master herbalist and holistic nutritionist, and graduate of the New England School of Homeopathy. Additionally, Ehris is a Flower Essence Therapy practitioner. She became interested in Reiki as a teenager and attained Reiki Master certification at age 17. Ehris is also an Ingham Method reflexologist. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology and is a certified ESL teacher. Ehris enjoys beekeeping, tending her organic vegetable and herb gardens, and working in her apothecary. As Grounded Goodwife, Ehris and her mom, Velya, teach a variety of workshops and presentations at their 1770 Woodbury, CT farmhouse, as well as at other venues.

Velya Jancz-Urban

Velya Jancz-Urban lives her life by the adage, “There is no growth without change.” She is a teacher, public speaker, former Brazilian dairy farm owner, and expert on New England’s colonial women. In 2011, Velya and her family bought a foreclosed farmhouse in Woodbury, Connecticut, unaware of what the house would reveal. Behind the walls, surprises and secrets waited to be exposed. Moving into this 1770 farmhouse ignited Velya's interest in the colonial era. She became obsessed with colonial women and created an entertainingly-informative presentation, The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife. Velya teaches a variety of historical/herbal workshops with her daughter, Ehris. Velya owns How Cool Is That?! (Hands-On Science & History), and believes that hands-on learning is for everyone. She has been married for 35 years and is the mother of two grown children. She has a few too many rescue dogs and cats, is happiest with a fresh stack of library books, loves thrift shops, and is passionate about alternative medicine.