Category: Writing a First Novel
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A Cover Story: Navigating Book Cover Challenges for ‘Reunion: Coda’
Dear readers, As the author of Reunion: Coda, I’ve cherished every step of the journey to bring this story to life—from crafting its intricate plot to developing the characters that I hope will resonate with you. But today, I want to share a glimpse behind the scenes of an unexpected hurdle I’ve faced: creating the…
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Perfecting ‘Reunion: Coda’: The Editing Process Revealed
Afternoon, Friday, April 11, 2025, Miami, Florida “Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.” ― Truman Capote Hi, everyone. Well, here we are on the last day of the workweek, and I’m still hard at work trying to make Reunion: Coda as captivating a…
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Behind the Scenes of Publishing My Debut Novel
Late Afternoon, Thursday, April 10, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a gray, gloomy, and somewhat sticky South Florida afternoon. Outside, the skies are shrouded in a blanket of gray-white clouds. For a while, it seemed like there would be light rain showers, but they never came—at least not to Coral Terrace. My room feels as dark…
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Reunion: Coda (Print Edition) Update—A Tale of DPI Drama, ISBN Shenanigans, and Sleepless Nights
Ah, self-publishing—the glorious path where passion meets the occasional pothole. While Reunion: Coda’s Kindle edition has been available since April 5, print aficionados (and me!) must exercise the fine art of patience for just a few more days. Why? Because the journey to put ink on paper isn’t exactly a jaunt through a field of…
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Dear Reader, Let Me Tell You About….My Reunion Duology
The Curtain Rises on the Complete Reunion Duology: A Milestone in Storytelling It’s official! The Reunion Duology has reached its emotional—and ambitious—final act. With the Kindle edition of Reunion: Coda launching on April 5, the saga that began with Reunion: A Story is now complete. A heartfelt thank-you to all my readers, beta reviewers, and…
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Dear Reader, Let Me Tell You a Story…with My First Novel’s Afterword
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Madison (NH), Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in the Tampa Bay area, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftOn Wednesday, April 2, 2025, I finished writing the main body of Reunion: Coda, the second book of my Reunion Duology and, more importantly, my first novel. Yesterday, I added the first two sections of the book’s “back matter”: the Afterword and the Acknowledgments page. I still need to complete three additional sections for the…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: The Morning After…on Finishing ‘Reunion: Coda’
Late Morning, Thursday, April 3, 2025, Miami, Florida “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy,…
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Dear Reader….Habemus Novellam!
Habemus Novellam! After two years of writing, revising, brainstorming, and navigating the ups and downs of creative life, I’m thrilled to say… we have a novel! Reunion: Coda is finally complete—penultimate scene, ending, and all. This story has been a labor of love, a journey full of growth, emotion, and a few unexpected revelations along…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Ending My ‘First-Time Novelist’ Journey with One Last Scene for ‘Reunion: Coda’
Midday, Tuesday, April 2, 2025, Miami, Florida “Finish the book. The world is full of first chapters.” – Julia Quinn Upon returning from my usual midday break, I will sit down in front of my computer, stare at the blank page on my Word app, and type the opening line to Scene Four in Reunion:…
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Completing My First Novel: A Journey of Passion
Midday/Early Afternoon, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Miami, Florida “Write what you love, and love what you write. You are your first audience, and if you don’t love it, why should anyone else?” – Caroline Linden I’m almost finished. It’s been 754 days since I embarked on writing Reunion: Coda. Not on a mere whim, but…
A Certain Point of View, Too 