Category: Books
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Comfort of Lasagna, the Weight of Goodbye
By the time I began writing Reunion: Coda in the spring of 2023, I was facing an uncomfortable truth: this was my third attempt to write a novel since 2015 and my fourth attempt overall. Each previous project had stalled out somewhere between ambition and exhaustion. I knew I couldn’t afford to abandon another one.…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Chronicles vs. Kindle Create: Round… I’ve Lost Count
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Scrivener 3 for Windows, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Writing and Editing, Writing and Editing Software, Writing as a CraftTuesday, May 5, 2026 — Orlando, Florida It’s one of those classic Central Florida afternoons—so hot the air practically sizzles. My weather app insists it’s 86°F (30°C) under a sky that can’t quite decide if it’s sunny or not. With 38% humidity and a gentle east-southeast breeze at 3 MPH (4 Km/H), you’d think it…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Why Brahms’ Poco Allegretto Has Become Jim’s ‘Letter Music’ for Me
Wednesday, June 15, 1983 My dearest Martina, I’m not sure if I am doing the right thing by telling you this now, or if I should tell you this at all. I wish I had the answers. I can’t believe our three years at SMSH have come to an end. It seems as though only…
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When a Florida Spring Gives the Keys to Summer Prematurely
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Books, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Denise Longrie, Florida Weather, Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Scrivener 3 for Windows, Spring 2026, Spring in Florida, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Writing and Editing SoftwareFriday, May 1, 2026, Orlando, Florida “God, it was hot! Forget about frying an egg on the sidewalk; this kind of heat would fry an egg inside the chicken.” – Rachel Caine May didn’t stroll in this year — it kicked the door open and asked where the nearest sauna was. Today isn’t so much…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Upgrading ‘WriteItNow’ and Pushing Forward Slowly with ‘The Jim Garraty Chronicles’ Project
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Madison (NH), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Royalties, Spring 2026, Spring in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftTuesday, April 21, 2026, Orlando, Florida Hi there. It’s a warm, sunny spring day here in Central Florida. As I write this in the early afternoon, it’s 78°F (26°C) under clear skies. With humidity at 37% and an east‑northeast breeze at 14 MPH (23 Km/H), the feels-like temperature is a comfortable 79°F (26°C). Today’s forecast…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Playing Catch-Up After Replacing a ‘Dead’ PC
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Garratyverse, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Spring 2026, Spring in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Writing as a CraftMonday, April 20, 2026, Orlando, Florida Hello there, dear readers! It’s a moody, blustery Monday here in Central Florida, the kind of day when clouds gather like gossiping neighbors and the wind seems intent on rearranging every stray leaf. As I write this, early afternoon is upon us. The thermometer reads a friendly 75°F (24°C),…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Back at the Desk, One Restart Later
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Computers, Creative Writing, Garratyverse, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Lenovo C560 All-in-One PC, Lenovo IdeaCentre (PC), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, The Jim Garraty ChroniclesFriday, April 17, 2026, Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. I’m writing today’s update from my new Lenovo IdeaCentre, which arrived yesterday morning right on schedule. With help from my landlady, Nina, I had it unboxed and set up in no time. Like my previous two Lenovo desktops, it’s an all‑in‑one machine — no tower, no cable…
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Books I Love to Read: Harold Coyle’s ‘Trial by Fire: A Novel’ (1992)
Sadly Out of Print: My Review of Trial by Fire: A Novel Trial by Fire (Book 3 of the Scott Dixon series) Author: Harold Coyle Publisher: Simon & Schuster Publication Date (Hardcover): April 15. 1992 Genre: Military Fiction/Post-Cold War technothriller Trial by Fire, Harold Coyle’s fourth novel—and the third to feature Lt. Col. Scott Dixon—marks…
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On Writing and Storytelling: When the Spark Won’t Catch
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in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Audiobooks, Books, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Garratyverse, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in the United States, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Spring 2026, Spring in Florida, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesTuesday, April 7, 2026, Orlando, Florida It’s a gray, sodden spring day in Central Florida, the kind that feels more like November than April. As I write this, it’s just shy of noon. The temperature sits at 66°F (19°C), a light rain drifting across the neighborhood like a half-hearted curtain. The forecast promises more of…
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Thoughts Upon a Hot, Humid Spring Day in Central Florida (April 2026)
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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, Florida Weather, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Spring 2026, Spring in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftMonday, April 6, 2026, Orlando, Florida It’s a muggy, cloud-thick spring afternoon here in Central Florida, the kind that feels more like early summer than April. We’ve already reached today’s forecast high of 82°F (28°C), but with humidity hovering at 63% and a lazy southwesterly breeze drifting through at 5 MPH (9 km/h), the air…
A Certain Point of View, Too 