Late Morning, Friday, January 31, 2025, Miami, Florida
As a writer, producing my best work is both my passion and my process. I often take my sweet time with writing, whether it’s a blog post like this one or diving into my current project, Reunion: Coda. My quirky method involves editing as I go, rather than whipping up a rough draft and refining it later. It’s a bit of a slow-dance, occasionally tedious, yet ultimately rewarding.
Typically, I’ll edit and reread my material three or four times until satisfaction washes over me like a breezy afternoon. Once I’m convinced it’s polished, I hit the “Publish” button for a blog post and brace for the world’s judgment, or I send my manuscript to my trusted Beta Reader, Denise, awaiting her pearls of wisdom before making any final tweaks.
On those rare, dreaded days when creativity takes a vacation – like yesterday – I’ll shift gears to perfecting sections of the manuscript that aren’t entirely new. Sometimes, I’ll read and reread passages or chapters I’ve revised so often they feel like old friends, needing no change whatsoever. (Victory dance.)
Still, there are moments when I gaze at a pristine paragraph, grammatically and dramatically sound, and yet…it feels like it’s wearing someone else’s shoes – fitting, but with that irksome pinch. Yesterday was one of those days. Stuck on Scene Four of Chapter 24, I swapped my writer’s hat for an editor’s visor and dove into a different task.
While the first 22 chapters are solid gold and Chapter 23 is pending Denise’s scrutiny, I turned my attention to the “front matter” pages. Inspiration struck, urging me to craft a new, dazzling disclaimer on the copyright page.
Although the original disclaimer was technically accurate and even had a dash of charm – a product of countless dedicated hours – it still didn’t sing. Determined to get it pitch-perfect, I rolled up my metaphorical sleeves and gave it a complete makeover.
Since this harmless little segment doesn’t meddle with the plot, characters, or any juicy spoilers, I proudly present to you…Disclaimer 2.0.
This novel is a work of fiction, weaving together two timelines to tell its story. While it may reference historical events and prominent figures, the characters and situations presented are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental—unless you are one of those historical figures, in which case, thank you for your contribution to history!
Some events depicted in the 1980s storyline are inspired by the author’s own experiences at South Miami High, an actual place that serves as a setting in this novel. However, remember that memory is a tricky thing, and for the sake of drama (and a good story), many of these events have been creatively altered. So, if you think you recognize yourself, don’t worry—it’s all just a figment of imagination with a dash of artistic license.
Thank you for diving into this fictional world. Enjoy the ride through time!
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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