Sunlight, Showers, and Storytelling: A June Morning in South Florida

Late Morning, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – Miami, Florida

Summer in South Florida is a study in contrasts—a daily performance where sunlight and shadow trade places with effortless unpredictability. For those of us who call this subtropical corner home, it’s a rhythm we know well: brilliant morning skies, the slow creep of humidity, and then, by afternoon, the gentle curtain of rain or the brooding arrival of storm clouds.

Today’s forecast whispers of scattered showers and a comfortable high of 85°F (30°C). My morning began with the golden spill of sunlight filtering through the dining room window, draping the front yard in warmth. Now, as the day stretches toward midday, the light through the Venetian blinds has softened. It isn’t quite the heavy gray of an impending storm—just an inviting dimness that hints at the familiar dance of sun and rain, the atmospheric push and pull that defines life here.

Yesterday’s heat was another matter entirely—unyielding, oppressive, the kind of swelter Neil Simon’s Eugene Jerome once described in Biloxi Blues as “Africa hot.” Laundry Day meant stepping into the simmering backyard and braving the even hotter garage utility room, where the washing machine and dryer hummed against thick, stagnant air. Elsewhere, the beach beckoned those drawn to its sultry embrace. I, meanwhile, settled into the weight of chores and the slow churn of postponed creativity instead.

Today promises relief, at least in degrees. No thunderstorms loom on the horizon, and if all goes well, I’ll spend the afternoon working on Comings and Goings, a short story I hope to release early next year.

Lately, my thoughts have lingered on Reunion: Coda—its journey, its reception, and where it stands in the broader tapestry of my writing. Creatively, it feels like a natural continuation of the story I began with Reunion: A Story. The early responses have been encouraging—four reviews and two ratings on Amazon so far. One rating was less enthusiastic, but overall, readers seem to appreciate the direction of Book 2 in the Reunion Duology. Pooja Gudka, a WordPress blogger who revisited the series, described Coda as a worthy successor. She’s submitted an Amazon review as well, though it hasn’t gone live just yet.

Here’s an excerpt from Pooja’s review:

 I won’t go into the details of the plot because with books like this one, giving away too much can ruin the experience for readers. But I will say there are some beautiful moments, some heavy moments, some thoughtful moments, and most importantly, the plot deals with the complex nature of relationships that humans have with one another. We crave love, social interactions, and connections, yet when we achieve them, things are often more complicated than we realise. We also spend so much time overthinking our past and present that we sometimes overlook what is right in front of us. And we forget that there is so much (everything if you’re a Stoic like me) we do not and will never control.

Then there’s the business side of publishing—the steady unraveling of Kindle Direct Publishing’s processes, where royalties take time to materialize. Payouts typically arrive within 60 to 90 days, depending on distribution options, so I haven’t yet received earnings from sales in the U.S., Canada, Spain, or the UK. April saw the bulk of sales, May trailed behind, and June, so far, has been silent. Much like the weather outside, there’s a certain unpredictability in this endeavor—one I’ve come to accept, even if I still hope for steadier rhythms.

I look forward to those royalties arriving soon. Every bit of support helps fuel this journey—one I chose long ago and remain wholly devoted to. Writing has always been my path, my passion, and when Reunion: Coda resonates with readers, it affirms what I’ve believed all along: stories matter. They connect us, challenge us, and leave us changed.

If you have the means and inclination, I’d love for you to pick up a copy of my book—available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle e-book formats. Your support isn’t just for me; it’s for creativity itself, for the belief that stories can shape, heal, and unite us.

As Leonard Bernstein beautifully expressed, “The artist’s task is to make the world a better place by creating order out of chaos.” Supporting artists means embracing that mission—ensuring their voices remain part of our shared human experience.