Marketing, Memory, and Miami Skies

Midday/Early Afternoon, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 — Miami, Florida

I awoke this morning to the symphony of a torrential, thundering downpour. It was already past 8 a.m.—long after sunrise—yet the sky was still steeped in darkness, reminiscent of last night. The steady hiss of heavy rain filled the air, punctuated by the occasional crack-boom of thunder that rattled the walls. My first conscious thought, once I realized it wasn’t a dream: So much for that forecast of scattered light showers throughout the day.

Thankfully, most of the storm has passed. Now, as I sit and write, I can still see scattered patches of heavy rain—drifting westward over the Everglades and eastward across the Atlantic. The forecast for the remainder of this Hump Day calls for partly sunny skies and a high of 86°F (30°C). A typical Miami brew of heat, humidity, and the possibility of afternoon showers or a rogue thunderstorm.

If you know me well—either in person or through my blogs—you’re likely aware that mid- to late July is emotionally turbulent for me. Ten years ago, my mother was dying of dementia and other age-related illnesses. My relationship with my older half-sister was unraveling, though we both pretended it wasn’t. I was physically drained, emotionally frayed, and grieving the impending loss of the only parent I’d truly known. (My father passed away fifty years and five months earlier, leaving me without any real memory of him.)

I’m doing my best to steer away from the shadows of that difficult summer in 2015 and instead pour my energy into writing. Right now, I’m promoting two books: Reunion: Coda, my debut novel, and Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, a short story designed to serve as a quiet but hopefully resonant companion to the Reunion Duology, which began with Reunion: A Story back in 2018.

Marketing these two works simultaneously is no walk in the park. Some of my friends are devoted nonfiction readers who wouldn’t touch fiction with a ten-foot pole. And let’s face it—there’s a lingering stigma around being an indie author. In certain literary circles, you’re not seen as a “real” writer unless you’ve jumped through the traditional publishing hoops: securing a literary agent, pitching to the big names like Penguin Random House or Hachette, landing an advance, and—if fortune smiles—making the New York Times bestseller list.

Plus, I have friends who simply don’t read much, or if they do, they stick to narrow genres or loyal favorites. So…yeah. It’s not easy. Especially when you realize there are thousands of writers out there—some brilliant, others less so—all jockeying for a precious spot on a reader’s TBR pile.

Still, I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep telling stories. Because it’s what I know, and it’s what I love.

If you haven’t yet explored the Reunion Duology or Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, I invite you to give them a read. These stories are close to my heart, and I hope they resonate with you in meaningful ways.

And if you’ve already picked up a copy and spent time with Jim, Marty, Maddie, or Kelly—thank you. If the characters stayed with you even after the last page, I’d truly appreciate a review or a few words shared online. It’s one of the most impactful ways to help an indie author be seen.