Tag: Writing a First Novel
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Progress, Patience, and a Quiet Anniversary
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in Blogging, Books, Creative Writing, Personal Thoughts, Family History, Audiobooks, Life in Florida, Jeronimo Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Alex Diaz-Granados, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Reunion Duology, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Audible, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, ACX, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty ChroniclesFriday, February 13, 2026 — Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone—thanks so much for joining me. Another workweek has wrapped up, and while progress on The Jim Garraty Chronicles has been slower than I’d hoped, I’m grateful to have resolved many of the formatting headaches caused by the Kindle Create app. The omnibus is still moving forward,…
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Audiobook Update: ‘Reunion: Coda’ is Complete!
A quick but exciting midweek update: I’ve officially approved the audiobook edition of Reunion: Coda. After several rounds of spot‑checking (and more than a few moments of hearing lines I’d forgotten I wrote), I’m happy to say that Stefan’s performance brings Jim’s world to life beautifully. His portrayal of the characters — across both timelines…
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When Fiction Shops Local (Even If the Store Doesn’t Stock the Book)
When Fiction Shops Local (Even If the Store Doesn’t Stock the Book) There’s a moment at the start of the Jim–Maddie arc where Maddie walks into the Moonglow Club carrying a Book Culture bag stuffed with Jim’s books. Jim, of course, has no idea. He only sees a refined stranger with caramel hair, a sky‑blue…
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“So You Think You Want to Write a Novel?”
“If writing were easy, everyone would do it.” – as a wise soul (or three) allegedly said At my core, I am a storyteller—a weaver of tales, a conjurer of characters, a writer with ink in my veins and metaphors rattling around in my head. The precise age when I let go of my other,…
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Confessions of a $7.64 Author
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in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Books, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftSaturday, January 3, 2026 — Orlando, Florida This morning, true to my routine (and perhaps with a sprinkle of wishful thinking), I logged into my Kindle Direct Publishing account. I crossed my fingers for a modest bump in sales—though, let’s be honest, I wasn’t exactly holding my breath. Living in a country where writers and…
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On Writing and Storytelling: To Write Is Human… To Edit Forever Is Me
To Write Is Human… To Edit Forever Is Me Hi, everyone. One of the quirks of being both a writer and an editor is this: no matter how many times I revise my own books—whether I’m working or simply rereading for pleasure—I always manage to spot mistakes long after I thought the job was finished.…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Writing Romance Without Reading Romance
📖 Writing Romance Without Reading Romance: Why Reunion: Coda Works I’ll admit something: when I started writing Reunion: Coda, I worried. I don’t, as a general rule, read romance novels. My shelves are filled with history, memoir, and fiction of other stripes, but not much in the way of “romance.” So when I realized my…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Jim, Mrs. Brillenstein, and the Confluence of Memory and Fiction
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Blogging, Books, Creative Writing, Life in Florida, Life in South Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami Senior High School, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a Craft2 Late to Homeroom 7:45 AM I was late for homeroom. Mrs. Brillenstein didn’t like that. She was a young-looking woman, maybe in her early thirties, with long auburn hair and big brown eyes that could be friendly or fierce, depending on her mood. She taught English 2, Regular, and drama in Room 230, which…
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“The Last Afterschool Walk Home”: Writing Friendship, Farewell, and the Emotional Geography of South Miami High
🌇 “The Last Afterschool Walk Home”: Writing Friendship, Farewell, and the Emotional Geography of South Miami High This is a story I don’t tell often; I’m a private man, and I don’t like to spill my guts about my love life, or lack thereof. I’m fine with talking in front of a crowd – whether…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Price of a Missing Paragraph
Or: Why Editorial Blindness Isn’t Just Annoying—It’s Expensive There’s a special kind of heartbreak reserved for writers who reread their own work and discover something missing—a line, a transition, a comma that once held the rhythm together. It’s called editorial blindness, and it’s not just a cognitive quirk. It’s a budget line. This weekend, I…
A Certain Point of View, Too 