Category: Blogging
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On Writing and Storytelling: Now Comes the Hardest Part….
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon DE, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Book Reviews, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, Creative Writing, Goodreads, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High School, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftWednesday, July 15, 2026 – Orlando, Florida “The hardest part of publishing a (book) is attracting a reader, and especially one who would give a damn.” — Veronica Purcell Well, folks, I did it. The Jim Garraty Chronicles — the fourth book in a series I never planned but somehow ended up writing — is…
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When Writers Have a “D’oh!” Moment….
I must admit something that will surprise absolutely no one who knows how excited I’ve been about The Jim Garraty Chronicles finally reaching readers. When the official KDP release email arrived, I opened it with the kind of enthusiasm normally reserved for fireworks or unexpected tax refunds. Unfortunately, I also read it with the accuracy…
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THE JIM GARRATY CHRONICLES — Official Release Announcement
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High School, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesTHE JIM GARRATY CHRONICLES — Official Release Announcement Some projects take years to find their final shape. Some take decades. The Jim Garraty Chronicles is a little of both. I’m very happy to announce that the Kindle edition of The Jim Garraty Chronicles will be released on July 15, with the paperback edition following on…
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Taming the Subheadings: A Small Victory in a Sweltering Florida Summer
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There are days when writing feels effortless — when the words line up, the formatting behaves, and the software cooperates like it wants you to succeed. And then there are days like today, when the outside world is sitting at 95 degrees with a feels‑like of 105, and even my PC seems to be sweating…
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A Writer, Not a Programmer, Battles the Subheadings
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Royalties, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesWednesday, July 8, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Happy Hump Day, dear readers! Well, here we are at midweek, and my little corner of Central Florida has apparently been set to “steam-clean.” As I write this, it is a torrid 92°F (33°C) under mostly sunny skies, with a heat index of 104°F (40°C)—the kind of number…
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All the Things She Taught Me
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, All the Things You Are, Creative Writing, Elizabeth Joan Owen, Elizabeth Joan Owen (Ms. Owen), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Melodies and Memories: Music, Songs, and Singers, Music, Music & Concert Specials, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High SchoolAll the Things She Taught Me Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Orlando, Florida On this exquisitely hot July afternoon in Central Florida, I find myself thinking about the lasting impact truly great teachers have on our lives—and how even the smallest things can bring their memories back. That feels especially true as we grow older, and…
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My Not-So ‘Glorious Fourth’: The Semiquincentennial That Fizzled
Sunday, July 5, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s already early afternoon here in my corner of Central Florida on this post-America 250 Sunday, and the weather is making its best impression of a steam room with palm trees. It’s a classic Florida summer day: hot, sticky, and flirting with rain. Right now, it’s…
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America at 250: Beyond the Powdered Wig Myth
Saturday, July 4, 2026 – Orlando, Florida “When in the Course of human events…” With those words, the Continental Congress introduced a document that would reshape the world — not by creating a nation overnight, but by declaring that the old bonds between Britain and its colonies had finally snapped. Setting the Stage Hi, everyone.…
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An American Musicale
Friday, July 3, 2026 – Orlando, Florida In honor of America’s 250th birthday, I offer this Independence Musicale! American Salute (Gould) Goin’ Home (Largo from Dvorak’s Symphony from the New World Yankee Doodle (Traditional) March from “Midway” (J. Williams) March from “1941” (J. Williams)
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On Writing and Storytelling: Why Jim and Marty Had to Meet in the Chorus Room (And Not in Journalism)
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Creative Writing, Elizabeth Joan Owen (Ms. Owen), Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in South Florida, Miami-Dade Community College, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami Senior High School, Student JournalistThursday, July 2, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Why Jim and Marty Had to Meet in the Chorus Room (And Not in Journalism) Every so often, a writer hits one of those crossroads where two parts of his own past tug at him like siblings fighting over the front seat. For me, the tug‑of‑war was between…
A Certain Point of View, Too 