Author: Alex Diaz-Granados
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It’s the Most Wonderful Time…(A Sunday Musicale – Holiday Edition)
Early Afternoon, Sunday, December 15, 2024, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. I don’t have much news on this sunny and mild South Florida afternoon; I finished what Christmas shopping I could afford this year, and I’m feeling a little better even though I still have a few (and irritating) cold symptoms. And since I don’t usually…
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Overcoming Writer’s Block: My Cold Journey
Hi, everyone. This week has been quite a rollercoaster, especially on the novel-writing front, thanks to a pesky cold that decided to visit me. As you might recall, I wrapped up Chapter 21 of Reunion: Coda on December 8. My amazing Beta reader, Denise Longrie, thoroughly evaluated it and suggested a few tweaks. Thanks to…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: From Page to Screen – Prologue to ‘Reunion: Coda’ Adapted as Screenplay
I am a writer. I don’t remember the exact age when I decided to write stories and make a living from it. It was probably around 12, but I became serious in the fall of 1977 after watching Star Wars for the first time. The realization that movies start as screenplays and seeing “written and…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Jim Garraty’s Graduation Day: From Page to Screen
This scene is drawn from the last chapter set during Jim’s high school years at South Miami High in the novel Reunion: Coda. The narrative unfolds on graduation day at Miami-Dade Community College (South Campus), where Jim stands among a sea of new graduates, symbolizing both an end and a beginning. While I do not…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Jim Meets Maddie (A Scene from ‘Reunion: Coda’ in Screenplay Format)
I’m excited to share an excerpt from my upcoming novel, Reunion: Coda. In this scene, our protagonist, Professor Jim Garraty, is at a pivotal moment in his life. He is about to meet the woman he will fall in love with during a serendipitous encounter set against the backdrop of the Moonglow nightclub, with its…
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Old Gamers Never Die: My Thoughts on the ‘CVBG Norwegian Sea’ Scenario in ‘Sea Power’
I have been hooked on Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age since its Early Access release on Steam last month. This naval combat simulation plunges you into the high-stakes world of 20th-century maritime warfare, giving you the thrill of commanding forces from NATO, Warsaw Pact, and even regional powers like Iran, Israel, and…
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Exploring Storytelling in Different Formats
I love telling stories in different styles and formats. My writing journey includes blog posts, reviews, poems, and long fiction. Each has its own charm and challenges. I’ve written a novella called Reunion: A Story and I’m currently working on its follow-up, Reunion: Coda. These dive into the complexity of human connections and the past’s…
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Sunday Musicale: Sharing My Favorite Piano Pieces
Sharing My Favorite Piano Pieces Inspiration from Maddie in “Reunion: Coda” Hello everyone, As I’m still feeling a bit under the weather today, I thought I would take a moment to share something a little different. Instead of my usual updates, I’m excited to share some of my favorite YouTube videos featuring beautiful piano pieces…
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Coping with a Cold: My Saturday Struggles
Late Morning, Saturday, December 7, 2024, Miami, Florida As I mentioned yesterday, I’m battling a bothersome cold. While I don’t have the more severe symptoms—like a runny nose—I am plagued by an incessant headache and an occasional urge to cough. Thankfully, there’s no fever, but the headache is hampering my focus. Consequently, my productivity took…
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Finding Creativity When Under the Weather
Midday/Early Afternoon, Friday, December 6, 2024, Miami, Florida Hey there, Constant Readers! It’s a balmy early winter day here in sunny South Florida. The temperature is a delightful 78°F (25°C) under those clear blue skies, making it a perfect day for sipping iced tea and pretending it’s still summer. Meanwhile, in Madison, NH, it’s a…
