Tag: Books
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The Summer Progress Journal: Where June Ends and the Work Begins
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Elizabeth Joan Owen, Elizabeth Joan Owen (Ms. Owen), Florida Weather, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami Senior High School, Stefan (Steve) Lee, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesMonday, June 29, 2026 – Orlando, Florida “I had turned away from the picture and was going back to the world where events move, men change, light flickers, life flows in a clear stream, no matter whether over mud or over stones.” — Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim June is about to hand the stage over…
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Remembrance: Elizabeth Joan Owen: September 8, 1929 – December 28, 2025
Friday, June 26, 2026 — Orlando, Florida “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” — William Arthur Ward Ms. Owen was my mentor. She was special — an amazing chorus director and someone I always wondered about long after graduation. I am saddened to hear of…
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When a Friend Publishes a Book: Why Honest Reviews Matter
When a Friend Publishes a Book: Why Honest Reviews Matter One of the trickiest situations a writer or reviewer can find themselves in is this: a friend publishes a book, and you’re asked — directly or indirectly — to review it. On the surface, it sounds simple. You read the book, you write your thoughts,…
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Book Review: ‘Perfect’ (2026)
Perfect By: P.J. GudkaPublisher: Wild Ink PublishingYear of Publication: 2026Genre(s): Murder Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Psychological Thriller From the Publisher A mother protecting her son.A boy spiraling into darkness.A girl who never stood a chance. Sally thinks she’s succeeded in breaking generational curses until she finds out her eldest son, James, is the prime suspect in…
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A Fateful Morning in June of 1983: An Excerpt from ‘Reunion: Coda’
The morning of June 17, 1983, rose slowly over South Miami, pressing its familiar heat against the city long before the sun cleared the horizon. It was the kind of summer day that promised sweat, glare, and the restless energy of endings. Across the city, seniors from the Class of ’83 were waking up to…
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You Are Already Moving
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in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Blogging, Books, College Life, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Life in Bogota, Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Madison (NH), Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in Miami….Again, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in South Florida, Life in the Tampa Bay area, Life in the United States, Love, Sex, & Relationships, Miami-Dade Community College, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Personal History, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Sevilla (Seville), Spain, South Miami Senior High SchoolTuesday, June 16, 2026 — Orlando, Florida I don’t usually build blog posts around WordPress’ Daily Writing Prompt, but today the universe nudged me. Sometimes it leaves a note on the kitchen counter, and this one had my handwriting on it. Today’s Prompt:What is something you wish you could tell your 20‑year‑old self? Mid‑June in…
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The Duet That Never Was: Revisiting Jim and Marty’s Unfinished Song
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Orlando, Florida When I wrote Reunion: A Story in the fall of 1998, I wanted to give my protagonist, Jim Garraty, a connection with Martina Elizabeth “Marty” Reynaud that reached beyond the unspoken love he feels for her in the novella. It could not, of course, be openly romantic; otherwise, Jim’s…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Back-to-Work Monday Blues
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Books, 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, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Thomas Wikman, Writing and EditingMonday, June 8, 2026, Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s another steamy summer day in Central Florida, which means the sun is once again auditioning for the role of tyrannical overlord. I’ve already rescued the mail from the curbside mailbox, so I can now spend the rest of the workday indoors, where the air‑conditioning—and my better…
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Writerly Wisdom
Friday, June 5, 2026, Orlando, Florida “Repeat the mantra: Writing is when I make the words. Editing is when I make them not shitty.” ― Chuck Wendig, 500 Ways to Be a Better Writer “Write without pay until somebody offers to pay.” ― Mark Twain “My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers:…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Sound of Modest Good News
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Writing a First Novel, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftThursday, June 4, 2026, Orlando, Florida Some days in the indie-author life arrive with trumpets; others show up carrying a modest little kazoo. Yesterday leaned more into kazoo than fanfare. The free Kindle edition of Reunion: Coda promo ended at midnight, and while I can’t call it a runaway success—only six readers downloaded it on…
