Late Morning, Friday, February 7, 2025, Miami, Florida
For me, the writing process is the same as the reading process. I want to know what happens next. – Neal Asher
It’s remarkable to think that today marks 23 months since the inception of what has now become Reunion: Coda. Back in early March 2023, I found myself deep in the revision process of my earlier novella, Reunion: A Story. This was all thanks to the wisdom of my esteemed, now-retired journalism professor, Peter C. Townsend. Professor T, as we affectionately called him, had stumbled upon the original 2018 edition of Reunion on Amazon and was kind enough to share his thoughts.
He believed the novella had potential but was missing a proper copyright page and needed a few tweaks, particularly concerning New York City’s architectural details. Though I hadn’t seen him since my days at Miami-Dade College, Kendall Campus, his advice was invaluable. I dove headfirst into the editing and refining process, determined to elevate my work.
As the days rolled by, the project evolved, taking on a life of its own. The more I delved into the story, the more I realized the depth it could reach. It wasn’t just about fixing minor issues; it was about breathing new life into the narrative.
Back in March 2023, I had no concrete plan to write a novel, much less a follow-up story to Reunion. I was focusing on making revisions and finding tiny, annoying mistakes that needed fixing (a process that didn’t end until December 2023). I might have been satisfied with just that. After all, I had started and abandoned three novels and wasn’t keen on trying again.
What changed my mind was a follow-up email from T saying that he enjoyed Reunion: A Story and wanted to share it with a few others, including his friend (and my creative writing instructor) David Schroeder. He also urged me not to rest on my laurels but to keep writing new stories and not waste my talent. That’s what got me to start writing Reunion: Coda sometime around March 9, 2023.
I found myself captivated by the characters and their journeys, much like a reader eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next. The process was exhilarating, a blend of discovery and creation, reminiscent of the way Stephen King masterfully weaves ordinary lives into extraordinary tales.
And here I am, nearly two years later, on the cusp of sharing Reunion: Coda with the world, grateful for the journey that began with a professor’s insightful critique and a writer’s relentless pursuit of perfection.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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