Tag: romance
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From a Journalism Major’s String Book: – Before Jim and Marty, There Was Maria
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, College Life, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in South Florida, Miami-Dade Community College, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Student Journalist, Student NewspaperI was 24 in the spring of ’87—still holding onto the hope that someday, somehow, math would make sense to me. Spoiler: it didn’t. Not then, not now. Even the so-called “remedial” kind felt like trying to read sheet music in the dark. But while numbers left me bewildered, words felt like home. I was…
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In the Quiet Between Songs: Introducing Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen
There are stories we write with plot, and stories we write with silence. Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen is one of the latter. Set in 1980s Boston, this short story follows Jim, a nineteen-year-old who walks into a party already knowing he doesn’t belong—and walks out changed in ways he’ll never quite…
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On Borrowed Light: Shifting Perspectives as a Storyteller
On Borrowed Light: A Note from the Author In most of my stories within the Garratyverse, Jim Garraty holds the narrative reins. We share a lens—male, introspective, fumbling toward clarity—and over time, that alignment has become both natural and intuitive. Writing from Jim’s point of view is like tuning an old, familiar radio: I know…
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Where Fiction Begins: The Making of Marty
She first walked into the story in jeans, a white blouse, and Keds sneakers—shy, late for chorus, and clutching a schedule change form like it held her whole academic future. I didn’t know then that she’d become the emotional center of Reunion: A Story and Reunion: Coda. I didn’t even know her name. What I…
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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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Where Time’s Winds Blow: The Scene That Started It All
Every story has a beginning. Sometimes, that beginning is clear and deliberate—a spark of inspiration that feels undeniable. Other times, it sneaks up on you, a seemingly small moment that quietly takes root, only revealing its true significance years later. For Reunion: A Story, that moment came in the late 1980s when I was a…
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A Story Concludes, A Legacy Begins: The Reunion Duology Is Complete
The Reunion Duology is Complete! On April 5, 2025, I published Reunion: Coda, the second book of a duology that began with my 2018 novella, Reunion: A Story. My first novel, it serves as both a prequel and sequel to what Amazon reviewer Meg Learner called a “lovely lyrical book” about “how the angst of…
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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…
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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…
A Certain Point of View, Too 