Aalia Lanius
Multiple Award-Winning Novelist, Award-Nominated Executive Producer & Podcast Host
As Founder and President of UNSUGARCOATED Media, a 501(c)(3) media organization, I'm dedicated to helping survivors of trauma lead mentally healthier lives and keeping it real on matters that matter most to society right now.

I'm a leader and not a follower, with a long resume, so I’ll to cut to the chase— I’m about creating socially conscious media and events that empower, educate, heal, and inspire another the way it has for me.

I’m a multiple award-winning American novelist, business leadership mentor, and social entrepreneur with over 20 years of sharing my personal experiences with audiences of all age groups and diverse backgrounds.

As part of my efforts to create positive media, I executive produce and host the award-nominated seasonal podcast show, “UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia”.  It is a visual and audio experience that features conversations intended to amplify messages that create more empathy and understanding of one another.

I'm business savvy too, having started, co-owned and operated several companies, including a multi-million dollar revenue generating business in partnership with MetroPCS.

Having been homeless and abandoned by my parents at 14 years old, it comes as a surprise to most that I launched my first company by 25 years old, graduated university with Honors, obtaining a BA in International Business, Managerial Leadership and Entrepreneurship, followed by attending Concord Law School. During this time, I experienced personal and health challenges such as battling cancer three times and unhealthy marriage that eventually ended.

With my debut novel, "Tough Love", in 2018, I started a journey of writing fiction that strikes at social issues. With a more proficient storytelling skill and a more tempted wish to empower the under-represented groups in the society, I released "Jugend" in 2019 to directly challenge hateful rhetoric.

"Jugend", has been named the Top Multicultural Fiction Novel of 2019 by the Global EBook Awards, Book Excellence Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction, and awarded the 2019 Bronze Medal in the Readers’ Favorite Fiction-Cultural category.

In 2019, I produced and spearheaded EmpowerCon, an inaugural 1-day empowerment event, at the Los Angeles Convention Center for survivors of trauma with a focus on connection, healing, and growth.

I continue to look for opportunities to support and collaborate with other like-minded organizations and individuals.  I reside in Los Angeles with my husband, Hollywood Film Attorney and Film Executive Producer, Joseph Lanius, am a mother to four and grandmother.
Jugend is a riveting tale of two boys innocently caught in historical events that have drastically changed their lives and enormously impacted the very history of the world. Ernst and Clark are two young boys who are forced to make a decision between good and evil when children their age should just be starting to learn the intricacies of life. Fast paced and gripping, Jugend successfully tells a complex and emotional story in a way that is easy to understand. The creative writing style is subtle, without a lot of frills, and the result is a novel that is informative, enjoyable and emotionally tugs at the reader's heart.

2020 BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER, MULTICULTURAL FICTION
2019 DAN POYTNER'S GLOBAL EBOOK GOLD WINNER, MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FICTION
2019 READERS' FAVORITE BRONZE MEDAL WINNER, CULTURAL FICTION
Jugend
Unsugarcoated Media
https://www.amazon.com/Jugend-Aalia-Lanius-ebook/dp/B07PJ4898M/ref=pd_sim_351_1/142-6012211-6258619?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07PJ4898M&pd_rd_r=40027bca-4550-4986-91f1-67e33efd712e&pd_rd_w=nXi43&pd_rd_wg=dI0or&pf_rd_p=9fec2710-b93d-4b3e-b3ca-e55dc1c5909a&pf
All that glitters is not gold and this is hitting home for Aleyna, a business woman, wife and mother, as she struggles between her traditional family desires and being unhappy in a marriage with her less than faithful husband, Kyle. Being a public speaker on confidence and success, Aleyna feels she isn’t being honest with herself or the world as she learns that the cancer she once beat has returned, bringing her face to face with a choice; her life or her marriage. This is a journey of self- discovery, strength, healing and courage.
Tough Love
The Catalyst Group, LLC
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079MCTV78/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Education
Create Now
https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-now
I present a unique "Empowerment" themed creative writing course that I developed as a survivor of trauma.  In collaboration with CreateNow, I have the opportunity to present this course in person or via zoom for residential treatment centers that cater to a variety of populations in need such as youth in crisis, or women and children survivors of domestic violence. In this course, we celebrate the resilience in us all and the ability to create connection, education, and healing through storytelling.
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C560BAQFSxxp9ayqkDQ/company-logo_100_100/0/1551201571626?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=2d0NkauTGrpvxZ8g4dQEfr8VORMiEPtlDVbq5zC7ohg
Volunteer
Civil Rights and Social Action
East Los Angeles Women's Center
https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-los-angeles-womens-center
I speak to survivors of domestic violence. The East Los Angeles Women’s Center is a leading voice and advocate for survivors and their families affected by sexual, domestic, and intimate partner violence and HIV/AIDS.  In 1976 a small group of dedicated Latinas in East Los Angeles established the first-in-the-nation bilingual hotline for Spanish–speaking survivors of sexual assault.  Today, ELAWC delivers innovative, comprehensive, culturally-responsive services that build on a foundation of trauma-informed, evidence-based practices designed to heal, support, protect, and empower the communities we serve.
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C510BAQGKDyiiRt5GBQ/company-logo_100_100/0/1519886390738?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=o9xhOQpptaZHkoE7YHhTgiYZfAS67pkRHS9acw8B6Pg
Guest Speaker
Comic Con Los Angeles
Invited as panelist for "How to Build a Nerd Empire" at ComicCon. L.A. Comic Con is Los Angeles’ biggest and best multimedia pop culture convention, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting, new and innovative in comics, movies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, anime, gaming and all things pop-culture, making it Los Angeles’ ultimate pop-culture destination.
Panelist
Colorado Technical University
Business Concepts Certificate
Colorado Technical University
Management Certificate
Joanne Suarez
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        I was able to work with Aalia at the Empowercon Event 2019 and it was an incredible experience. She is very organized and has tremendous interpersonal skills and very resilient and has a golden heart to help other authors or entrepreneurs starting out. She has exuded leadership skills and is extremely motivational that makes it easy for us as staff to accomplish all the goals for the event from pre-planning, during the event, and to post event.  Another thing that was very cool is that we got to experience what the audience was feeling during the event in our break time and the speakers created such a huge impact and it was great to ask questions and be lead towards the right direction with people already in the industry. I highly recommend working with Aalia because any ideas that you develop together, she helps break down the steps in order to make it happen. 