Tag: Book Reviews
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Dear Reader, Let Me Tell You a Story…About the Characters and Settings in ‘Reunion’
Q: Is Reunion: A Story inspired by real people and events, or is it purely a product of imagination? A: It’s a mix of both. When I began crafting this story in the mid-1980s, the primary setting was always South Miami Senior High, my high school in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Even in its earliest form—a…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: What’s in My Novelist’s Toolkit?
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Book Reviews, Books, Copilot AI, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, OpenAI (Bing Chatbot), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftOne of the coolest things about being a writer in 2025 is the amazing array of technological tools available to help create, analyze, revise, and improve literary projects. Some, like Microsoft Word, are time-tested classics that I’ve used since the late 1990s. However, I do think the app could use some tweaks by folks who…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Behind the Scenes of ‘Reunion: Coda’
Late Morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a delightful and warm Valentine’s Day in my little slice of South Florida. The temperature is already a toasty 78°F (25°C) under a brilliant, cloudless sky. Today promises to be like an early summer day, with the mercury set to rise to a perfect 83°F (28°C),…
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Book Review: ‘How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily Ever Afters’
How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters (2019) By: The Editors at Avon Books Publisher: Morrow Gift, an imprint of William Morrow Although I’m not a romance novelist, I find myself diving into the delicate art of crafting love stories within my novel, Reunion: Coda. While…
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‘Reunion: A Story’ – Selected Reviews by Amazon Readers
Are you looking for a heartfelt read that will tug at your heartstrings and make you reflect on the pivotal moments in your own life? Look no further than “Reunion: A Story” by Yours Truly. This compelling novella has captivated readers with its poignant tale of love, regret, and teenage angst. Don’t just take my…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Sunday’s Unexpected Creative Marathon: Crafting ‘Reunion: Coda’ and the Journey of a Fretful Novelist
Mid-Morning, Monday, January 13, 2025, Miami, Florida From Rest Day to Writer’s Grind: Perfecting ‘Reunion: Coda’ – Insights, Reviews, and Copyrighting Although yesterday was supposed to be a rest day, I found myself knee-deep in Reunion: Coda. Rather than diving into new writing or revisions, I wisely saved those for the workweek—afternoon shift, here I…
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Writing Progress: Chapter 20 of Reunion: Coda
Mid- to Late Morning, Friday, November 8, 2024, Miami, Florida Greetings, Constant Readers. It’s another warm, humid late fall day here in South Florida as I prepare for the last day of my regular workweek. The temperature is 82°F (28°C) under sunny skies, but with humidity at 73% and the wind blowing from the east…
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The Challenges of Writing a Novel in 2024
Late Morning, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Miami, Florida Hello, Constant Readers, It’s a warm and windy day in my corner of South Florida. The temperature is 84°F (29°C) under mostly cloudy conditions. With humidity at 80% and the wind blowing from the east-southeast at 19 MPH (30 Km/H), it feels like 89°F (32°C). Today’s forecast…
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Election Day 2024: Weather and Writing Updates from Miami
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Autumn in Florida, Creative Writing, Going Full Circle: Back to South Florida I Go, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Life in South Florida, Miami-Dade Community College, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaMid- to Late Morning, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Miami, Florida Hey there, Constant Readers. It’s a gray, windy, and potentially rainy late fall day in South Florida on this pivotal Election Day 2024. The temperature is a balmy 82°F (28°C) under cloudy skies. With the wind blowing from the east at 19 MPH (31 Km/H)…