On Writing and Storytelling: First One In….

Friday, September 18, 2026 – Orlando, Florida

It’s early afternoon on a cloudy, hot, and humid day in Central Florida. The temperature sits at 86°F (30°C) under partly sunny skies, but with 70% humidity and an east‑northeast breeze at 12 MPH (19 Km/H), it feels closer to 93°F (34°C). Scattered rain showers are expected later, and although the calendar insists we’re in the early days of fall, the subtropics have never paid much attention to that.

As is my post‑release tradition, I bought the very first retail copy of the hardcover edition of The Jim Garraty Chronicles: A Life in Four Movements yesterday. Kindle Direct Publishing doesn’t provide complimentary author copies, and while they do offer discounted “author’s copies,” those take months to arrive and don’t count as sales. I had enough rewards points saved up to cover the cost, so I went ahead and ordered it retail — partly out of practicality, partly out of ritual, and partly because I like the symbolic gesture of being the one who gets the ball rolling.

So the premium hardcover now has its first official sale and its first modest foothold on Amazon’s rankings: #480,972 in Books, #3,950 in Friendship Fiction, #4,914 in Coming of Age Fiction, and #5,982 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction. Not earth‑shaking numbers, but a start — and every book, even an omnibus, needs a beginning.

I’ll be honest: each time I release a new book, I hope that longtime readers — especially those who discovered Jim back in 2018 — will feel a spark of curiosity and pick up the latest installment. Some have, and I’m grateful for every one of them. Their support over the years has kept Jim, Marty, Mark, Maddie, and the rest of the Garratyverse alive and evolving.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little disappointed by the quieter‑than‑expected response this time around. Not angry, not disillusioned — just a bit subdued. Writing independently is a strange emotional landscape: you pour years into a story, send it out into the world, and hope it finds its readers. Sometimes it does so loudly; sometimes it does so quietly. This release seems to be starting quietly.

Independent authors live and die by word of mouth, by reviews, and by the quiet generosity of readers who choose to spend their time with our stories. If you’ve been part of Jim’s world before, thank you. If you’re thinking about returning, or stepping in for the first time, I’d be honored to have you along.

Alex Diaz-Granados

That said, I do want to make the case — gently, without pressure — that the hardcover omnibus is genuinely a good bargain for anyone who’s been meaning to catch up. It contains four stories in one volume: Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen, and the exclusive novella The Summer of Two Movies. Buying them individually would cost more than the omnibus, even in paperback. The hardcover isn’t just a premium format; it’s the most cost‑effective way to read the entire arc in one place.

And while I don’t expect everyone to spring for the hardcover — the Kindle edition is perfectly fine — I do hope that readers who’ve followed Jim’s journey, or who’ve been curious but haven’t yet taken the plunge, will consider joining me in giving this new edition a strong start.

Independent authors live and die by word of mouth, by reviews, and by the quiet generosity of readers who choose to spend their time with our stories. If you’ve been part of Jim’s world before, thank you. If you’re thinking about returning, or stepping in for the first time, I’d be honored to have you along.

Fall may not feel like fall here, but a new book release always feels like a new season.

Amazon Readers Say….

So as this new hardcover begins its journey, I’m hopeful that more readers will join me. Jim’s story has meant a great deal to those who’ve walked alongside him, and one reader captured that beautifully:

Alex Diaz-Granados has crafted a truly wonderful read. The Jim Garraty Chronicles goes far beyond the classic trope of ‘the one that got away’ to explore the soul of a man who chooses dignity and honesty in a harsh world. Jim Garraty is guided by music, beauty, and love, making him a deeply compelling main character. The people around him are brilliantly realized—dimensional, flawed, and motivated by a core sense of goodness. If you want a story that will make you laugh, cry, and deeply contemplate your own life, you need to read this. Diaz-Granados is a throwback to the writers of yesterday who truly honor the human condition. – Anonymous