Tag: book-review
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‘Comings and Goings’: The Paperback Drops Tomorrow… But That’s Not the Whole Story
“When a book leaves its author’s desk, it changes. Even before anyone has read it… it is irretrievably altered. It has acquired, in a sense, free will… The book has gone out into the world and the world has remade it.”— Salman Rushdie, Joseph Anton: A Memoir “It was 1984, unmistakably so—Jordache and Calvin Klein…
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‘Comings and Goings’: A First Review, A Quiet Smile
A First Review, A Quiet Smile There’s something surreal about seeing your work reflected back through someone else’s eyes—especially when those eyes are kind. Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen just received its first reader review, and I’ll admit, I’m still a little stunned. Not because someone read it (though that’s always a…
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Comings, Goings, and Waiting
Afternoon, Friday, June 27, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a hot, humid, and gray-shrouded summer day in South Florida. Thankfully, it’s not one of those thundery “mean season” days, full of lightning bolts and peals of thunder that—according to my mom—were the sound of St. Peter scoring strikes in the Celestial Bowling Alley (and Grill). Folks…
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Longest Day, Shortest Royalty Check… But Who’s Counting?
Friday Afternoon, June 20, 2025 – Miami, Florida Hi, everyone— A few notable highlights from this first official day of summer: Now for a little personal update: Kindle Direct Publishing has processed my April royalties, and I’m set to receive a not-so-whopping (but still smile-worthy) $78.21. Most of that comes courtesy of Reunion: Coda, though…
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The (Almost) Unexpected Novel: Reunion: Coda and Writing Out of My Comfort Zone
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Ever since 1978, I’ve dreamed of writing a novel. Not The Great American Novel, mind you. I’m smart—and trained—enough to recognize that when I put in the effort, I’m good at what I do. Otherwise, I’d keep my scribblings—or tap-tap-tap-tappings—to myself, far from public view. Yet I’m also realistic: I’ve got a ways to go…
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Selling Stories, Writing the Next One, and the Art of Not Sitting Still
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Book Reviews, Books, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftAfternoon, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Miami, Florida “Don’t wait for the muse. As I’ve said, he’s a hardheaded guy who’s not susceptible to a lot of creative fluttering. This isn’t the Ouija board or the spirit-world we’re talking about here, but just another job like laying pipe or driving long-haul trucks. Your job is to…
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Sunlight, Showers, and Storytelling: A June Morning in South Florida
Late Morning, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – Miami, Florida Summer in South Florida is a study in contrasts—a daily performance where sunlight and shadow trade places with effortless unpredictability. For those of us who call this subtropical corner home, it’s a rhythm we know well: brilliant morning skies, the slow creep of humidity, and then,…
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Reflections on Reunion: Coda’s Complex Characters and Themes
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in Miami….Again, Personal Thoughts, Pooja (P.J.) Gudka, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, UncategorizedMidday, Monday, June 9, 2025, Miami, Florida Greetings from South Florida, folks! I don’t have much news today. It was laundry day for me, and even though I was a decent multitasker as recently as 10 years ago, I have trouble finding a suitable balance between household chores and writing. Maybe I wouldn’t worry so…
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A Grateful Reflection on Pooja Gudka’s Review of ‘Reunion: Coda’
It’s not every day that an author receives a review as insightful and beautifully written as P. J. Gudka’s take on Reunion: Coda. I’ve long admired Pooja’s ability to balance depth and clarity in her reviews, and seeing Coda through her lens has been both humbling and rewarding. First and foremost, thank you, Pooja—for not…
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Reunion: A Story of Words, Work, and What Comes Next
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Book Reviews, Books, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Life in South Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Summer 2025, Summer in Florida, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftWriter’s Log, Stardate 2506.3Miami, Florida – Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Afternoon It’s been two months since I officially became a published novelist—words that still feel surreal even as I type them. Reunion: Coda, the long-awaited second book in the Reunion Duology, is out in the world, and while I’ve managed to sell a few copies…
A Certain Point of View, Too 