Narrative Threads: A Conversation on Crafting the Reunion Duology, Part the Third

How do the settings of South Florida in the 1980s and New York City in the early 2000s influence the narrative of the duology?

I grew up in South Florida, and except for a six-year stint in Latin America until I was nine, I lived there until 2016. In every version of Jim Garraty’s story—even that steamy fantasy—the teenage Jim lived with his widowed mom in the same county where I did. The main difference? Jim could walk to South Miami High, while I had to take the bus. The advice to “write what you know” really influenced me.

I’ve given Jim a lot of my traits, from our similar interests to our romantic vibes, but I made sure his life took a very different path. I had to leave college because of a learning disability, which cut my academic journey short. But Jim had a stellar academic career; he breezed through Harvard on a full scholarship and graduated with high honors. He went on to write three majorly praised non-fiction books on military history and now lives in a fancy high-rise in Manhattan, with the means to enjoy the city’s never-ending hustle.

I’ve written two books that were well received, but I still haven’t made it to the New York Times Bestsellers list. I keep dreaming of going back to Miami, where I feel at home, reminding me of goals still out there.

When I started creating the first half of the story in 1998, I chose New York City for Jim Garraty’s adult life—different from our South Florida roots. He could’ve gone to Florida International University or the University of Miami, but I wanted him to live out a dream I once had. My brief time in New York as a college kid in the mid-80s left a big impression, making me wish I could stay there long-term. Since I didn’t get to live that dream, I decided to let Jim have the NYC experience I longed for.

Alex Diaz-Granados

When I started creating the first half of the story in 1998, I chose New York City for Jim Garraty’s adult life—different from our South Florida roots. He could’ve gone to Florida International University or the University of Miami, but I wanted him to live out a dream I once had. My brief time in New York as a college kid in the mid-80s left a big impression, making me wish I could stay there long-term. Since I didn’t get to live that dream, I decided to let Jim have the NYC experience I longed for.

This choice reflects the dual settings in the Reunion Duology, symbolizing the divide between dreams and reality, what is versus what might have been.