Starting Over, Building Dreams – A Memoir by Elija Villanueva
New Release by a Winnipeg Author · Now Available Worldwide
Starting Over, Building Dreams
A Memoir of Finding Home, Taking Chances, and Discovering Purpose
by Elija Villanueva, founder of Bathala Scents & Natural Wellness
What happens when you leave behind everything you know and start over with just two suitcases?
After more than ten years of building a life in the United Kingdom, Elija Villanueva landed in Winnipeg, Canada, in the middle of a pandemic. He carried his Filipino roots, a few treasured bottles of essential oils, and one big dream: to bring his family together again.
What he found first was silence. Empty streets, lonely nights, and the quiet fear that he had made a terrible mistake.
But one brave phone call led to another. A small table at a community market became a kiosk at Kildonan Place. And a simple idea grew into Bathala Scents & Natural Wellness, a business inspired by culture, nature, and the courage to begin again.
Inside this warm, honest memoir:
- 🏡 Finding home and belonging in a new country
- 💪 Surviving slow sales days, costly mistakes, and self-doubt
- 🌱 Leading a team, giving back, and redefining what success really means
Each chapter ends with a thought to carry and a small, practical step to try, making this book a gentle companion for newcomers, dreamers, and anyone rebuilding their life or starting a small business.
This is not a story about having everything figured out. It is a story about taking the next step anyway.
If you have ever wondered whether it is too late to begin again, this book is for you.
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About the Author – A Winnipeg Entrepreneur's Story
Elija Villanueva is a Winnipeg author, Filipino-Canadian entrepreneur, and the founder of Bathala Scents & Natural Wellness, a local Winnipeg business with kiosks at Kildonan Place, CF Polo Park and Outlet Collection Winnipeg. Starting Over, Building Dreams is his first book: a memoir and practical guide for newcomers to Manitoba, small business owners, and anyone interested in entrepreneurship in Winnipeg.
Looking for books by Winnipeg authors, a local business guide, or an inspiring read about starting a small business in Canada? This book shares real lessons from building a Winnipeg small business from a community market table to shopping mall kiosks.
Topics: Winnipeg author · Manitoba memoir · Winnipeg local business guide · entrepreneurship in Winnipeg · newcomer to Canada story · Filipino-Canadian author · small business inspiration.