Tag: Writing a First Novel
-
Cloudy Sunday, Light Workload, Hope for Tomorrow
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Audiobooks, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Computer and Video Games, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), MicroProse Software, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age, Stefan (Steve) Lee, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Winter in Florida, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftSunday, February 22, 2026 — Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It is a grey, brooding late‑winter day in Central Florida. It’s almost noon, and as I write this, the temperature is 74°F (24°C) under cloudy skies. We’ve already had scattered light showers, and more are expected to pop up throughout the afternoon on this last Sunday…
-
On Writing and Storytelling: The Case of the Rogue “44”
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Orlando, Florida Hi there, Dear Reader. While working on the omnibus edition of The Jim Garraty Chronicles last night and reviewing the Reunion: Coda section, I stumbled across a funny little typo in the Kindle Create file. Somewhere in the process of moving the text from the original Reunion: Coda project…
-
Progress, Patience, and a Quiet Anniversary
—
by
in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Audible, Audiobooks, Blogging, Books, Brandon Padilla, Bryan Haddock, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Family History, Jeronimo Diaz-Granados, Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, 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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
“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,…
-
Confessions of a $7.64 Author
—
by
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
On Writing and Storytelling: Jim, Mrs. Brillenstein, and the Confluence of Memory and Fiction
—
by
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…
A Certain Point of View, Too 