Category: Personal Thoughts
-
An Even Briefer Note from the Author
Monday, December 8, 2025, Orlando, Florida This is just a quick note to let you know that I am back home from Miami, and I retrieved most of my belongings. I woke up at 2 AM, though, so I’m exhausted. See you tomorrow!
-
A Brief Return to Miami on Pearl Harbor Day
Sunday, December 7, 2025, Orlando, Florida Sunday, December 7, 2025, marks the 84th anniversary of a significant day in history, and coincidentally, I find myself headed to Miami. The purpose of my trip is to finally retrieve my belongings—my cherished books, CDs, collectibles and movies—that have been waiting for me in South Florida. While I…
-
A Brief Note from the Author
Saturday, December 6, 2025 — Orlando, Florida Hi, Dear Reader. I may not be writing here tomorrow or Monday. I’m heading back to my hometown of Miami on a trip I’d rather not take, but one that’s necessary: reclaiming the belongings I was forced to leave behind. Among them is my newer laptop, so I’ll…
-
On Writing and Storytelling: Behind the Curtain – Marty’s Origins
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Audiobooks, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Creative Writing, Garratyverse, Passage of Time, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High School, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty ChroniclesBehind the Curtain: Marty’s Origins Ever since the day I first sent my novella, Reunion: A Story, out into the world back in 2018, the questions started coming. Sometimes they arrived shy and quiet, like old friends at a backyard barbecue, and other times they landed with surprising directness. Most often, it was a fellow…
-
Another Workweek, A New Month, and Another Season
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Blogging, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, 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, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Winter in FloridaMonday, December 1, 2025 – Orlando, Florida Another Monday, another new workweek, another new month—and, meteorologically speaking, another new season. (It’s also rent day, though thankfully my landlady is considerate and understanding of my circumstances. Compared to the steep payments I made during my ten months in Miami, this arrangement feels far less onerous.) It’s…
-
A Thanksgiving Musicale
Today is Thanksgiving 2025! It’s the first recurrence of the occasion since 2023 when I celebrate the holiday with other folks. Last year, I spent my first Thanksgiving back in Florida by myself; today, I’ll at least have the company of my current landlady in Orlando. I don’t have time to write a proper post,…
-
On Writing and Storytelling: Jim, Mrs. Brillenstein, and the Confluence of Memory and Fiction
—
by
in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Blogging, Books, Creative Writing, Life in Florida, Life in South Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami Senior High School, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a Craft2 Late to Homeroom 7:45 AM I was late for homeroom. Mrs. Brillenstein didn’t like that. She was a young-looking woman, maybe in her early thirties, with long auburn hair and big brown eyes that could be friendly or fierce, depending on her mood. She taught English 2, Regular, and drama in Room 230, which…
-
On Writing and Storytelling: Leisure Time Activities (Even Writers Need Time Off!)
Sunday, November 16, 2025 — Orlando, Florida Hello, Constant Reader. Today is a day of relative rest. Aside from this post, I don’t plan to do much writing. Most of my energy lately has gone into the release of Comings and Goings’ audiobook. I don’t yet have a clear vision for “The Next Big Project,”…
-
Chilly Tuesday, Audible Dreams
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Audiobooks, Audiobooks, Autumn in Florida, Books, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Madison (NH), Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaTuesday, November 11, 2025 – Orlando, Florida It’s a chilly late autumn day in Central Florida, courtesy of the season’s first strong cold front. As I write this, it’s 52°F (11°C) under sunny skies. Not quite New Hampshire cold—Madison, my former stomping grounds, is sitting at 32°F (0°C) with light rain—but still brisk by Florida…
-
A Somewhat Stressful Monday in Orlando
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in the United States, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A StoryMonday, November 10, 2025, Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s Monday afternoon here in Central Florida, and I’ll be honest—it’s been a bit of a nerve-wracking day. Earlier, I had to complete a mandatory phone interview with Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) to qualify for SNAP benefits—what most folks still call “food stamps.” I…
A Certain Point of View, Too 