Cuba has been in the news — for decades. Centuries, even. But although debates on Cuban-U.S. relations are as fresh as a three-day old guava pastry, Cuba itself is never old news. The nation remains veiled, an enticing mystery that seems just about ready to reveal itself to us. Just this morning, NPR had a segment on new travel policies’ effects on American perceptions of Cuba.

Vanessa Garcia has been writing about Cuba for years. She has, in fact, been living and breathing Cuba since birth — but she has never been there. As an “American Born Cuban,” or ABC, as she calls herself, Garcia’s struggle to make a tangible connection with the island stems not only from a legal embargo, but also from a Familial Embargo, “one that encompasse(s) not just politics but also filial love and expectations.”

This summer, Garcia will break the bounds set by so many family taboos and take a 40-minute plane ride across political, cultural, and generational borders. Last week, she announced plans to document her trip to Cuba in a self-published book, and the Indiegogo campaign she launched to make it happen. But Garcia will not stop at Cuba — her interviews with ABCs and Cuba natives will take her to Tampa, Union City, and other Cuban-American enclaves to weave a narrative that opens dialogue about real and imaginary Cuba, straight from the mouths of those who lived and created it.

If you haven’t checked out the campaign yet, watch the video summary here.