El comienzo del regreso de JD Estrada

Qué bonito es estar de vuelta en Puerto Rico. Aunque hablaremos sobre el regreso de la diáspora luego, este post es para contarles las actividades que he disfrutado con la comunidad literaria de Puerto Rico: en eventos más grandes, eventos míos como autor y como fanático de todo lo que se hace en PR en nuestra comunidad. Abajo les cuento y hacemos un conteo de todo lo que he podido participar este año, aún bregando con las mil y una aventuras de la vida.

 

Eventos de Autor: 2

 

Para no haber tenido un evento en tienda hace años, dos eventos en un mes no está nada mal. Aquí resumen de los dos.

 

Diálogos de Penumbra Parte 1: El Book Stop en Santurce

Mi primer evento de autor en años fue el 5 de octubre. Ante todo, mis gracias a Lizbeth Arroyo de Tazas y Portadas por el assist para conectar con El Book Stop. Conozco a Liz hace años, le tengo muchísimo aprecio y si en algún momento estás feliz de que mis libros están disponibles en Puerto Rico, ELLA es la razón por la cual volví a traer los libros a la Isla e incluso, la razón primordial por la cual estoy leyendo mucho más en español.

 

Eso ya establecido, el evento de El Book Stop fue en el espacio cultural en Alto del Cabro en Santurce, un espacio muy acogedor y lo más que tengo que resaltar fue lo cómodo y bien recibido que me sentí. Patrick y Aryam fueron sumamente simpáticos y la moderación de Patrick fue hiper natural y llevadera. Te lo resumo de esta manera: fue como si dos panas estuviesen hablando de libros y uno de los libros resultaba ser mío. Tuve la dicha de que autores se dieron cita así que mis gracias a Ale Wal, Abraham Delgado, Grace Bosques y Daniel Krowman por decir presente. Si quieren ver el live de nuestra charla, denle clic AQUÍ. Conste, necesito compartir el descriptivo que le dio Patrick a la colección. Dijo que es como un Twilight Zone boricua y no puedo estar más orgulloso de una comparación así. La colección es oscura sin ser extrema y es un buen sitio para comenzar con el género. Aparte de eso, lo único que les puedo decir es que pronto tengo date de ir a El Book Stop para buscar alguito para mí. Tienen una selección muy interesante, ecléctica y diferente y si están por Santurce u Hormigueros, dense cita a cualquiera de las dos localidades.

Diálogos de Penumbra Parte 2: Casa Norberto En Plaza las Américas

El segundo evento de Penumbra fue el 25 de octubre en Casa Norberto: Libros and Café Bar en Plaza las Américas. Aquí quien se lució y lo tengo que admitir fue la familia. Uno cuando hace un evento el mayor temor que tiene es que no vaya nadie y mis suegros, mis hermanos y sus esposas, los dos sobrinos que están en PR, una hermana de la vida, una cuñada, la suegra de mi hermano que es como mi tía y dos miembros de mi familia extendida fueron. Además, dos amigos muy cercanos de la universidad también se dieron cita y tuve el placer de conocer una representante de una familia que le tengo muchísimo aprecio, porque me llevan apoyando más de una década. Además, conté con el apoyo de Natalie Rosario Ruiz (nuestra querida Malamañosa) y el súper combo de Gloria y Valeria González que escriben en conjunto e individualmente demostrando nuevamente el cariño que hay en la comunidad de autores en PR. Este evento se dio 100% gracias a Marilyn Vélez quien me distribuye los libros en Puerto Rico a través de Letras Distribucion. Así que si hoy por hoy te alegra poder conseguir mis libros en Puerto Rico, eso es gracias a Marilyn.

 

Del evento, pues, si algo es importante para mí es que no importa el evento que vayas, que te lleves una experiencia única y memorable. Para este conversatorio, conté con el apoyo de mi esposa, La Capitana. La gente siempre se queda impresionada cuando la ven a ella presentar y moderar. Yo simplemente sonrío porque con 15 años casados, 5 más juntos y conociéndonos par de años más, si de algo estoy 100% seguro es que si se trata de calibre, cito a PJ Sin Suela y digo claramente que mi esposa es Top-Top-Top. Además, nos preguntaron que cuántas veces lo practicamos y nos tuvimos que reír. Aparte de una mini revisada de las preguntas, no practicamos nada porque así somos y así fluimos.

 

Hablamos de la inspiración de Penumbra y cómo surgió gracias a una invitación de Ángel Isián y Melvin Rodríguez de Libros Eikon a contribuir a la antología No Cierres los Ojos 2 (y también me invitaron a la parte 3). Nunca había escrito en el género de horror y me lo disfruté un montón no sólo escribir en él, sino darle un toque puertorriqueño. Desde las localizaciones, el lenguaje, los temas, la jerga y hasta títulos de cuentos y capítulos en la novela corta, el ADN de Penumbra es 100% puertorriqueño, aunque evitando clichés. Otro tema que siempre resalto es que la artista de la portada también es local y que Karelys Luna es una dura. Ese primer draft de la portada me dejó bruto y sonriente y si estás buscando artista para la portada de tu libro, la recomiendo al 100%. Aparte de eso, dimos un resumen breve de cada cuento, tomamos preguntas y luego firmé copias para las personas que consiguieron la suya en Casa Norberto. Fue mega bonito y me lo gocé a millón.

 

 

 

Ferias de libros: 2

 

1er Festival del Libro en Manatí de la Editorial EDP

Para este evento, me uní a la mesa de Tazas y Portadas y confieso que más que un festival de libros fue un jangueo muy chulo para ponerme al día y conocer en persona a algunos autores que llevo siguiendo hace tiempo. Conste, vi algunos autores que he visto en otros eventos pero por despistado, pues se me pasó hacer lo mismo con ell@s. Pronto los veré en otro evento y de seguro saco un momentico para decir hola. El edificio en Manatí súper bonito y el ambiente muy ameno y relax, aunque de lo más especial fue tener tiempo para compartir con gente que quiero.

 

 

 

 

Festival de libros 100x35 en Caguas

 

He visto MUCHO de este festival con muchos autores que conozco participando y se ve bien bonito el grupo de gente que se reúne y fui al de Caguas en Plaza Centro Mall. Para mí fue otra oportunidad de ponerme al día con gente que conozco y aprecio, y como siempre, llevarme otro libro (o más de uno). Muy cool este esfuerzo. 

Eventos de otros autores: 3

 

E.R. Landrón: Casa Norberto Plaza las Américas

 

Mi primera actividad de vuelta en PR fue ir a ver a E.R. Landrón presentar el segundo título de su serie de Reign of Darkness, con moderación de Chrysos Stomos. Un crowdcito de lo más cool y vi a muchas amistades de las letras. Landrón se vive su saga y su grip de micrófono como si fuese un rapero de los 90s estuvo épico. Esto fue para julio y el próximo día me di cita en Bayamón a otro evento.

 

 

 

10 en 10: Santuario Libros y Discos en Bayamón

 

Diez autores hablando sobre diez otros autores. Un formato muy cool en un espacio simpatiquísimo con un café que estuvo de show. De nuevo, me encontré a muchísima gente, me presenté a algunos y me quedé con las ganas de conocer a otros. De verdad que fue fascinante ver a unos autores con obras y estilos TAN diferentes a lo que acostumbro leer y de verdad que un espacio diferente de la mejor manera. Cada vez que veo un evento queda claramente demostrado que en PR hay talento que ni botando.

 

 

E.R. Phoenix: The Bookmark San Patricio Plaza

 

Se los juro que no tengo preferencia a autores con E.R. en su nombre de autor. :) Por último, tuve el chance de conocer en persona y comprar el primer libro del Promissa Trilogy. Otro crowd completamente diferente y muy simpática la dinámica entre la autora y Frances Torres de Franbookshelf y el host de Capítulos con Café. Aunque la trama de Promissa suena intenso y desgarrador, algo que quiero recalcar es que el alma de educadora y de empatía de E.R. Phoenix siempre brilla. Desde los temas de sus novelas a su trato con la gente que se da cita a un evento de ella.

De paso, les cuento un detallito de ese último evento que NO me esperaba. Mientras esperaba para que comenzar el conversatorio, me cogieron MEGA fuera de base cuando alguien viene y me dice —¿Estrada?. Y yo como que wow, sí. Soy yo, que vine a apoyar a una colega de las letras. Ahí nos pusimos al día, qué estoy haciendo, qué estoy escribiendo y fue una sorpresa TAN bonita. Así que seas autor, book toker, o lector, si me ves por ahí y me quieres conocer, en confianza me dices hola JD u hola Estrada que será un gustazo charlar un rato.

 

Ahí hasta donde voy por ahora este año. ¿Inventaré o participaré en algo más? Desde ya te digo que sí. ¿Vienen cosas para el 2026? ¡JA! Digamos que sí y a ver cuánto te puedo sorprender. Eso dicho, es un gustazo estar de vuelta en la Isla y poco a poco pues me reincorporaré en PR para unirme a autores locales que están haciendo cosas bien cool.

Por ahora, pues dos abrazos, un adiós y nos vemos pronto.

 

JD

 

 

I can't drive 45

* * * * 

Although my birthday was back in August, it’s taken me until now to find the proper headspace and circumstances to get these thoughts down, which I think is a hell of a message of what it is like to be 45. So, in case you need the math, that’s 68 days since my birthday, or a hair over two months. 

In that time, a couple of things have happened, which is why I took much longer to get to this post. There’s no doubt that 2025 has been a mad little year for everyone with a pulse. In that time, I moved back to Puerto Rico, have set up our apartment, had a shift in career direction, had one book event, and will have another by the end of this week. I’ve also surfed some of the best waves in years, had my first root canal, met up with a lot of friends, set up my Substack page, with weekly posts, and much more goodness for people who sign up for free with extra goodies for anyone who signs up for the paid version, including video readings, tips on video, first looks into future releases, and more slices of life…which brings us back to this blog.

You may be thinking I would be closing down this blog, though you’d be wrong. The only reason that would happen is if data scrubbing got so out of control that I would consider it a much better option to close shop. My Substack responds to certain interests and things I want to write. This blog responds to others. My upcoming releases respond to others. And LinkedIn shall respond to other things as well. 

Why the fragmentation? Well, because each audience is ideal for something different. My Substack is titled Organic Creativity and I go into my process in regard to most things, while also inviting readers to try different things to reconnect with their creativity and to do so directly. In these AI obsessed times, I see how some people lose touch with that spark that makes them enjoy what they do. Sure, they may be “more productive” but what does that even mean? That Substack continuously talks about the human experience and the importance of it, especially during these times. 

For LinkedIn, I will be posting several things focused mainly on my advertising career. I’ve been wanting to write about those experiences for years and to share whatever little nuggets I think could benefit other people, even if the focus of so many is to use AI for most things. I will write about synergy, about the power of conversation, about things to do during film shoots and VO recordings, and how little touches can help you get a better product and also nurture relationships with producers, talent, and clients. 

So, what the hell will this blog be about? About anything and everything. Don’t expect a tone shift though expect things to be as personal as usual, talking about things that are important to me and I think would benefit us to discuss. In the end, every writing endeavor is self serving and serves me for a reason or three. What I do in this blog would not be a good fit for the other places. Might I eventually adapt what I write into another collection from the blog? That’s very possible, but only time will tell.

As a writer, the act of writing brings me joy, satisfaction, and balance. With it, I decipher the madness we live as a collective and the one within. Quite often, I write and I feel a weight lifted and I’ll continue being thankful for it. 

And when it comes to birthdays and important dates, it helps me capture the moment I’m living. And right now, it took me over two months to wrap my head around everything that’s happened the last ten months. That’s also something I can say about being smack in the middle of my 40s. I internalize and take my time to understand things better than I used to. Beyond maturity, it’s a need to understand rather than shoot from the hip. I take more precautions, prepare plans A-J at the very least, have dispensed with pessimism for the most part, and am selectively optimistic, though more often open to whatever life brings. More than any of that, I’m thankful. Thankful for health for me and my family. Thankful for opportunities given. Thankful for experiences had. Thankful for readers who read me here, on Substack, on my books, or who interact with my posts on social media. Thankful for fellow writers who offer kind and genuine support. Thankful for challenging moment and challenging people, because I learn from those exchanges. About life and myself. About what I’m willing to take, what I will call out, and what steps I will take to protect what is important to me. 

I think more than wise, I feel more conscious about many things. About the importance of the things that matter. About how I experience, react to, and take things on board. About how being close to family matters much more than other things and how opportunities have a way of popping up in different ways and different places, and you have to allow yourself the freedom to give it a go. 

I also better recognize the things that keep me happy and young in mind and body. A good surf, consistently stretching, eating as well as I can, properly hydrating, still enjoying random treats, playing video games, listening to good music, having long conversations with friends, keeping in touch with the people that are important to me, and plenty of other things. So let’s say that to me, 45 is a time to be mindful, present, and aware, or at least, that’s where I’m at and where I want to be. 

What will the coming weeks, months, and yes, years, bring? Who knows? All I know is that right here and right now, I’m happy and thankful, and that’s not a bad place to be. 

Thanks for reading and til next we connect in words…

Peace, love, and maki rolls. 

BONUS BIRTHDAY SKYTHOUGHT

 

 

 

 

Plus, a birthday #Skythought , because why not?

As I look at the book of my life
I see many pages behind me. 
Stories of every hue
Moments of bliss
All the genres mixed’
In a way that only makes sense in hindsight.

Part of me wants to sneak a peek
But the pages are blank…
Powerfully unwritten. 
 
I have committed verses to memory
And memories to stories.
I’ve danced with dreams and nightmares
I’ve sung dirges and hymns.
I have written much
In life and in books
But I can’t help but start today
With a devilish smile
Knowing the plot twists I foresee
And those that’ll just happen
One page
One word
And one breath at a time. 
©JD Estrada 2025

#SKyThoughts #poem #poetry #birthday 

A Decade of Daydreams

Once upon a time, I had a random conversation that led to dozens of ideas for short stories. Rather than let those ideas go, I wrote whimsical short stories on this blog and later released a collection with several of those adventures. Years later, I released a second installment where the stories were much bigger to be able to hold the amount the size of those adventures.

It’s been 10 years since I published the first collection of my Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore and to celebrate this, both installments are free until Friday and later free on KDP until the Fall.

These stories are extremely special to me since the project continues to evolve and grow to the point that from here on out, we will no longer be going on little short story adventures, but full-fledged Daydream novels. Out of all my projects, this is the one I invite the most audience participation, suggestions, and requests since all human characters are people I know from real life. It’s a project where I put no limits on what we can do together because it’s a space I always want there to be. So stay tuned for future adventures. I won’t say there’s no chance I won’t do short stories, because this project is what we make it, fellow dreamers. Thanks for 10 years of support with this and all my projects, for allowing me to pursue and indulge in each project to the maximum capacity and here’s to dreaming up a storm.

Peace, love, and daydreams.

JD

CLICK HERE to get your copy of both volumes of the Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore.

An Echo Within the Universe Outer Wilds DLC Review

If this is the first you’re hearing of Outer Wilds from me, maybe you want to stop by my Substack first. Or maybe you’d like to start here and then see what else you can find.

However, if you’re coming from the other posts I’ve made about Outer Wilds, then let’s get to it.

Accessing the downloadable content for the video game Outer Wilds is so simple that I had to look it up. (this is what we call sarcasm). 

While other games give you a second menu or something normal, this game goes full meta and invites you deeper into its universe. As for bang for your buck and whether it’s worth the price of admission, I’ll go on record saying I’ve never played any DLC that is half as memorable as this, because Echoes of the Eye is brimming with character, mysteries, puzzles, and enough new things to soothe that pain you have once you finish the main game.

Unlike the main game, Echoes of the Eye’s tone is much darker, with genuinely creepy moments that offer plenty of jump scares, while expanding and deepening an already rich lore. Whereas the main game is hopeful quite often, this chapter often feels and plays downright Lovecraftian and the stakes are just as drastic as in the main game, except you have new hazards to worry about.

While Outer Wilds explores several planets within a solar system, Echoes explores a cloaked spaceship somewhere hidden in orbit of said solar system. The first time you get past the veil and see the spaceship, it is a huge moment. Gravitationally, navigating around the vessel can be extremely tricky until you decipher how to approach it effectively. Once you get inside, the space feels so vast and constricted at the same time. It’s a marvel and you can see that they fleshed out a story before they designed the rest of the game, which seems to be the opposite of how they developed the main game. What results is a narrative heavy epilogue that becomes more so a sequel. You discover another race of beings that explored this solar system. Very polished, very organized, and quite often, very much out to get you.

In the main game, you’re surviving against the elements around you. In the DLC, on more than one occasion, you are running like crazy in the dark trying to get away from creatures who have realized you are where you shouldn’t be. These moments of tension might not be to the liking of many people, though I found them extremely exciting.

As for the tone, it reminds me of the Room mobile phone games. Dark, ethereal, heavy. Quite often you find yourself discovering a new room or a new piece of the narrative that is unsettling. Quite often you see a sequence that kind of rattles you and suddenly, there’s a flash flood or a super nova goes tabula rasa on you so that you can get your bearings and dive back in to explore that ship.

The ship has several zones and rather than have its own distinct flavor like each of the planets, everything here feels connected just enough to lead you into a shadow world. If this sounds a bit out there, it is. If it also sounds a bit complicated, you’re also right. 

Mechanics, narrative, gameplay, and puzzles are heavier and harder than the main game. Whereas with Outer Wilds I was able to decipher roughly 80% of the game, with this DLC, I needed help almost half the time. The clues are there, but they’re subtle. And in some areas, you have to turn so many ways in the dark while avoiding sentries, that a walkthrough is recommended, because although it won’t be easy, it’ll be doable. In this game, making a sound draws attention and sentries are agile and will outwit you and force you to restart on several occasions.

But like I said above, the narrative is heavier, and with that heaviness comes a rich story that shakes you as deeply as the main game, but in a different way. What the main game has better is that you have quite a few solutions to a couple of things while the DLC is very specific in when, how, and if you have to do something to get a solution or not. Although it was frustrating that I needed to ask or look for help, it never took away from the game. And once the end credits roll for this second part, you still feel that desire for more, though have to applaud the team for going to the lengths they did to present something so different while still maintaining the core of its DNA.

From all I’ve posted, I think it shows that playing Outer Wilds and its Downloadable chapter of Echoes in the Eye is one of the best and most profound video game experiences I've ever had the privilege to ply. This is storytelling and exploration reimagined in ways that should invite artists of any medium to challenge themselves and their audiences. These are games that reward exploration, experimentation, curiosity, and painstaking attention to detail. These are not games merely developed to reach into your wallet. It’s an experience that reaches into your soul to shake your hand, pat you on the back, and wish you well upon the journey of life.

Or maybe it’s just a video game.

To Héctor Álvarez, thank you for the game recommendation, brother. My apologies for taking so long though I wanted to write and create something worthy of the experience.

To the kind readers of this blog, my Substack, or my books, thank you as well. As a small thank you for tagging along, I mentioned there was one more breadcrumb as a thank you for joining me on this little scavenger hunt. It’s the least I can do as thanks to everyone who’s joined me. Feel free to share the link to the Substack, this blog, or just what’s below.

CLICK HERE For a thank you to my fellow dreamers. Better if you click from July 22-25 ;)

The Ends of the World

Before the world ended as we know it in 2020, my world as I knew it ended in 2019. It’s been six years since my Mother passed away and it still feels like yesterday. I think about her often, I talk and write to her often, I ask for advice and for her to guide me through my intuition in some way, and you’d be surprised how often my gut reaction is on the money.

That’s because when I say my world ended, I’m not saying it in a tragic sense, even though it’s obviously sad that I don’t have Mom on this plane to talk to. It was a personal paradigm shift where I found myself without grandparents or parents and it was odd. It’s not like I shed a skin, though it was transformative. It has to be, simply because you have to come to terms with the fact that those calls in the morning, lunch, and in the evening would become monologues and that responses would come in signs, feelings, and all manner of random things where Mom keeps popping up and saying hi. 

 

Today is also Father’s Day, and yesterday I was lucky enough to spend time with both my brothers and two of my cousins to celebrate in family. So it was natural for me to also think about Dad. My middle brother showed a picture where he had grown a magnificent mustache and looked like a green-eyed variant of Dad. 

Dad, Mom, and my bro.

So it’s a day with a lot of mixed emotions, though I can’t say sadness. Longing for a chat? Yes. But not melancholy. It’s not that it doesn’t happen and doesn’t come along, it’s that today I don’t feel melancholy. It probably has to do with everything that’s going on in the world and things being so heavy that thinking about my parents doesn’t weigh a ton today. It’s been six years without Mom, and twenty-two without Dad. And it’s weird, because I also remember that when he passed away it was also an end of the world moment. One that brought a lot of life lessons, though so has the hindsight I’ve experienced in two decades without him. 

 

I think that as we get older, chunks of the world or versions of our world fade away, evolve, shift, fall, break, or transition. I think it depends on the life event, the person, and the circumstances, though it still becomes a different world. One day you have a parent, the next you have a memory but you still carry that love, though by nature, it is forced to change and evolve. And it’s not a bad thing, it’s just life. 

 

While thinking about this, I think about my home spot where I surf and how it shifts with tides, swells, storms, erosion, and all manner of things. There are some core things that shall always be there, like certain parts of the reef. Sure, many things in the environment change, but those pieces of reef do not. 

 

 

No matter how big the waves come... 

 

No matter how violent the storms... 

 

No matter how much or how little the sands shift...

 

That chunk of reef is a constant and I think back to when I was a kid and I realize how many things I keep alive and maintain to this day, all pieces of my reef. And I realize that constants help remind us of who we are, regardless of what the world brings, and how many of those worlds end. 

 

So on this Father’s Day that coincides with Mom’s anniversary, I raise a glass to both Mom and Dad. I live in a different world than when you were here, though my reef remains, as does the love for you, which shall always be there. 

 

Cheers Mama Estrada, Cheers Papa Carlos, and to you kind reader... 

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls.

 

 

2024 Report Card

Another year, another report card. Were there challenges? Lord. Next question, please.

To be honest, it was a very hard year to gauge and maneuver, let alone grade. So many ups and downs. So many curve balls. So many surprises. Yet somehow we made it through.

After some thought, I gave myself an A- though A+ for effort and resilience. So let’s break it down to see why I didn’t give myself a solid A or more…or less. I usually focus on things I got done, but there’s a variety of aspects that deserve a closer look and a proper run down.

Health. Health in your 40s is quite the adventure. I'll tell you that much. You can do everything right, but one strong sneeze or cough or even a bad movement, and your back can quit on you…completely or partially. I was lucky that last year it was only a partial ARGHHHHH versus 2023’s end-of-the-year adventures in feeling my age and having to visit urgent care. For 2024, I was also able to steer clear of burnout for the most part, but just barely. There were three very close calls. But this is a win, because I didn’t land in burnout (or crash, as it were). Luckily, I learned from past experiences and spoke up. Could it have been better? Yes. Oh, definitely yes. But it could have been so much worse. In short, I allowed myself to be human and asked for help, resources, or time and got what I needed for the most part. And when I felt off, I didn’t push through, I took time off. I did notice that my stamina took a hit because I went from more intense workouts to mainly walking, but these walks and yoga helped me in other ways. Was I a bit sluggish surfing at the end of the year? Yes, and we can blame that on the conditions I actually surfed in, or the fact that I was Hanseled to oblivion with foods, desserts, beer, wine, and all sorts of culinary delights from people happy to see me and happier to feed me. But that’s something to address in 2025 and give myself some grace. I was tired and mentally a bit burnt out, sure, but I didn’t go into a full burnout or land in a crisis. And though there’s always tomorrow, for yesterday and the whole of last year, I worked hard and made sure I was as OK as I could be. Anyways, next topic!

Books. You might have heard, but I did a thing. I finished a series. Part of the burnout I mentioned above was due to the effort I put into finishing Beyond Human which finishes the Human Cycle.

This not-so-little book was a not-so-little beast and it took much-more-than-not-so-little to get it edited, proofread, and finalized on time for the Puerto Rico Comic Con. Although I won’t know how well I did until I read the whole series from start to finish, what I can say is that in the reading department, I finished several series and I feel more comfortable with how I did than say, the City of Ember Series or His Dark Materials. “But JD, those are best-selling series!” I’m well aware of that fact. I’m not talking about relevance, reach, or sales. I’m talking about story and craft and although I can’t say I did better than either of those series in general or particularly in regard to their high points (which are VERY high), The Human Cycle was more consistent as a series than both of the ones I mentioned and I would put money on that claim. Book One isn’t the sole driver in a series. Main driver? Yes. Sole driver? No. Books 2 and 3 don’t feel like a major drop in quality. Actually, either quality remains consistent, or it improved. I also worked very hard to make sure most of a hearty list of characters got a proper send-off while also leaving a couple of doors open in case some of these characters want to come back for another adventure. But I didn’t leave any cliffhangers. I left open doors. I also didn’t half-ass explanations or skip BIG chunks of the narrative (Looking at you, City of Ember). I also didn’t put every single idea I had in my head (Looking at you, His Dark Materials). I’m sure once I read it, I will think of things I could have included, tweaked or, dare I say it, “improved”. But I’m at peace knowing I gave my absolute best and that this project is truly and deeply a solo project. No beta readers. No editor. Only me. For better or worse. More than wanted, I needed a project like that. It had to be as human as I could make it and it’s done and so far, reviews are positive, with a lot of people praising the series as a whole. Did I get the sales I wanted? Not really, but I did much better than I’d thought seeing combination of numbers in events, from book sales in Puerto Rico thanks to collaborating with Letras Distribution, and thanks to Amazon. As for awards, I got two honorable mentions in the International Latino Book Awards and though I would have preferred a win, it’s just an invitation to push myself more. Can I do better? We can ALWAYS do better. In sales and in my writing, but I’ll once again choose to focus on the fact that I gave my best and did my best. 

 Writing events and activities. In person, I participated in the Puerto Rico Comic Con to celebrate my tenth anniversary as an author (another reason why I NEEDED to finish the Human Cycle). I kept my end of the bargain and brought a new book for readers. I was very happy to see that readers also kept their part of the bargain and came to say hello, catch up, and I was very happy to see that my book was still a must buy for many people. Actually, this went for several of my books. In addition, it was beautiful to see the author community in PR continue to flourish and I’m so proud of all my writer friends. 

 

Other than that, the other events I attended were as a civilian to scope the land, evaluate the prospect of participating, saying hello to a ton of writer friends, and picking up quite a few new books. Online, I continued to participate in a wide variety of interviews on several channels and that’s always fun. I spoke with friends I hadn’t been in touch with for a while and it was great to chat and catch up. I also gave chats to classrooms in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, two writing classes, and I participated in the AuthorTube Writing Conference giving not one but two presentations: a panel on Healthy Writing Habits with Heidi Angell and Joe Compton and a webinar on Collaboratingfor the Perfect Cover. All in all, not bad at all…and I’m ready to do more, so if you are a teacher or would like to round up a group of friends for a class on creativity, then let’s make it happen.  

 

My First Writing Course

Students from Mr. Weimann's class

Me talking about writing to 4th/5th graders

Reading. 44 books was the goal and we got the 44 though I did rush in the last week as if I were in a competition. I was happy with the variety of books, from kids books, to poetry, to whole series, in both English and Spanish, and for the most part reading what I wanted to and enjoying. The main thing is to keep it steady and find a book or two where you really hook into it. I do plan on reading more this year, but I kept my base goal the same because life happens and 44 isn't bad at all.

 

Work. The usual roller coaster asked 2023 to hold its beer and 2024 at times felt like a bull hellbent on bucking me off or goring me. High points include presentations I gave to clients, projects we finished that had everyone involved happy, and participating on a panel for a company-wide event. I was also involved in a film production at the end of the year in Puerto Rico, got to know a program I wasn’t aware of called TechosPa’ Mi Gente (Roofs for my People) and it was a very special experience and I will be sharing more information about this cause soon. That’s the good, the bad was crazy work volume at times and life offering me plenty of lessons and more than one slice of humble pie in regard to situations and dynamics. I did my best to learn from the experiences and speak my truth. Did some things affect me more than I would have liked? Sure, but hey, I’m Only Human. ;) Still, we forged ahead and all I can say is that I gave my best and that’s enough for me because no matter what adversity I faced or unpleasantness I was offered, I kept giving my best regardless. 

 

Friends and Family. I did my best to be in touch, to be present, to make time, and to work around things as best as I could, but I learned that sometimes winging something works endlessly better than planning. This goes for friends, family, and even projects. Making time for something isn’t always easy and sometimes every will work against what you want to do. But on other occasions, a small silly little thing can lead to making true memories. So, here’s to more of that. To those I wasn't able to get to, I'll keep doing my best though feel free to give me a hand so we can make more awesome moments together ;)

Is there more to unpack?

 

Of course, but this gives you a pretty decent idea of the year I had. The grade is because things did affect me that I wish wouldn’t have. But the grade is also because I avoided a full crash and honestly, I got dealt a lot of rough hands and made due and forged ahead. Did I absolutely crush everything? No. I sold less than I wanted. I’m still eons away from author sustainability. Reviews are still not as often as I'd like them. I need to continue to focus on work-life balance. But I did pretty good and the note to see after class is to remind myself that for being indie, for having a high demand job, for being tossed a bunch of challenges and some dirty deeds, I did good and was stubborn for the good things. I didn’t push things. I stayed true to who and how I am. I was human. And that deserves praise, even if the extra credit doesn’t get me the full A.

 

Still, there’s always next year. Thanks for joining me for the recap and til next we meet in words.

 

Peace, love, and maki rolls.