Author: Alex Diaz-Granados
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Book Review: ‘Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer’
Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer Author: Mari SanGiovanni Publisher: Bywater Books Year of Publication: 2006 One of my personal tenets: never trust back-cover blurbs. So when Mari SanGiovanni’s debut novel, Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer, came with a bold “Warning: This Book May Have You Laughing Out Loud in Public,” I…
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On Writing and Storytelling: When a Reviewer Truly ‘Gets’ My Story: Denise Longrie Reviews ‘Comings and Goings’
When a Reader Sees What You Meant to Say There are moments in a writer’s life that feel like exhaling after holding your breath for years. Reading Denise Longrie’s review of Comings and Goings was one of those moments. “The story is not a romance, but rather an enjoyable, insightful journey into empathy and the…
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Book Review: ‘Schindler’s List’ by Thomas Keneally
Schindler’s List (1993 Reissue) Author: Thomas Kenneally Publisher: Atria Books Year of Publication: 1982 (First Edition); 1993 (Movie Tie-In Reissue) Schindler’s List: Thomas Keneally’s haunting and unforgettable account of one man’s moral awakening amidst the unfathomable cruelty of the Holocaust remains one of the most compelling historical narratives of the 20th century. Published in 1982,…
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From Miami to Cape Coral: A Leap Toward Independence
Life has always been a series of chapters for me—some filled with beauty and connection, others with challenge and growth. My time in Miami was one of those transitional chapters: meaningful, necessary, but always intended to be temporary. It was a place to catch my breath, reflect, and prepare for what was next. Now, I’m…
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Book Review: ‘Starring John Wayne As Genghis Khan: Hollywood’s All-Time Worst Casting Blunders’
Starring John Wayne as Genghis Khan: Hollywood’s All-Time Worst Casting Blunders By: Damien Bona Publisher: Citadel Press Year of Publication: 1996 Genre(s): Film, Film History, Humor 🎬 A Rollicking Ride Through Hollywood’s Casting Catastrophes What separates a “good” film from a “great” one? The answer is delightfully complicated. A truly great movie needs a sturdy…
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$31.91 of Validation
On rest days, royalties, and the ripple effect of honest storytelling Writer’s Log – Stardate 0725.20Sunday, July 20, 2025 – Miami, Florida This morning, I received a cheerful email from Amazon Accounts Payable: my Kindle Direct Publishing royalties for May will arrive around July 29. The EFT won’t be anything to frame—just $31.91, according to…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Advice for Aspiring Writers
Advice for Aspiring Writers So, you want to write—or maybe you already do, scribbling stories in the margins of your day, chasing sentences that shimmer just out of reach. The path isn’t paved in gold, nor is it mapped by a single, shining formula. It’s a winding, idiosyncratic journey, full of turns, detours, and the…
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✨ Three Stories. One Heartbeat. ✨
✨ Three Stories. One Heartbeat. ✨ If you’ve ever stood at the crossroads of memory and longing or wondered what might have been if you’d spoken up when it mattered most, then Jim Garraty’s journey may feel achingly familiar. 📚 Reunion: A Story follows Jim in 1983, a quiet high school senior with unspoken feelings…
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July 19: Remembering My Mother Amid Political Turmoil
Afternoon, Saturday, July 19, 2025 – Miami, Florida It’s a quintessential summer day in South Florida—sunny skies, no thunderstorms looming, and a heavy, palpable heat that clings to everything. At 91°F (33°C) with humidity hovering at 64%, the “feels like” temperature is a sweltering 101°F (38°C). For anyone who doubts the effects of climate change,…
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The Last Smile
Afternoon, Friday, July 18, 2025, Miami, Florida “Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speakknits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.”― William Shakespeare, Macbeth Today isn’t a good day—not because it’s a “sad anniversary” sort of day, though it is that too—but because daily life feels unusually heavy. I’m overwhelmed by…
A Certain Point of View, Too 