My Story

I think my journey as a writer began way back, years ago, when I was a kid, which may be the case for many of us who have chosen to write stories for others to read. A teacher read a story I had written to the class and stated that I was a very good writer. I was embarrassed. Yet, over the years I continued to write, writings that resided in reams of journals. Ten years ago, I decided that writing was what I was meant to do. It took me a while to create my first manuscript. Finally, in 2019, Puerto Rican Love Stories was released to the world. I hope you will be curious about what I have produced. I am curious about where this journey will take me next. I'll keep you posted.

All authors are not poets, but I believe all poets are authors, authors of the heart. Nenadich Street, Poems and Passages debuts many of the poems I have written over the years. Why the title? There was an old street in my mom's home town named Nenadich. Nena means girls in Spanish, and is often used as a term of endearment in our culture. And lastly, my experiences growing up in an urban environment informed my choice of the word "Street". The process of writing poetry is very personal. Individual histories emerge in one form or another. Girls have a lot to say.

Want to know who the "nena" in the photograph is? It's me! I was about six years old when I graduated from first grade in Puerto Rico. I completed home school kindergarten and first grade in public school before my family returned to Brooklyn, N.Y.,where I was born. I cherish this photograph because I am wearing lipstick, my mother's pearl earrings—and holding my very first diploma!

The path less well traveled may be the most difficult one. This beach path though, looks easy, relaxing, welcoming, just what we may need right now. Working on my debut novel was exhausting at times. Many of life's journeys are challenging, some impossible to complete. You know that phrase "writer's block"? It is not just a tired cliche, it exists. When I hit that wall, before giving up, I stop writing for a day, for a week. Sometimes, there is a month or two of no inspiration at all, but I do not give up. It takes time, but it gets done. Before I begin writing my next book, I will lay down a blanket on the sand, and catch up on my reading. Have a great summer!

Lots of stuff has happened since last summer. I've been busy promoting my debut novel, The Daughter Bond, and along the way, I've met some really great folks—readers and fellow authors. Check out my slide show below.

I did manage to catch up on my reading some, but alas, most was research for my next project, including delving onto Grimm's Fairy Tales for tropes. Once the writing bug bites, the sting is everlasting, painful and pleasurable. I'm sure fellow authors would agree. A year ago, I thought the middle grade fantasy I was writing would be titled Blood Siblings. But as I revised the manuscript I realized I needed a fuller title, something truer to the narrative and the heroine of the story.

Pre-Order Copies of my new book, Wychella, Blood Siblings & The Becoming, are available now. Click on Wychella and follow the link.

Moments . . . Sharing this capsule of my journey as a new author.	Los Angeles Happy readers purchasing Puerto Rican Love Stories.	N.Y.C. A fan at El Festival del Libro in East Harlem.
Fort Lauderdale Introducing Blood Siblings	Miami At the Miami Book Fair met many friends and fellow authors.
		Miami Fans These guys bought all three of my books. Wepa!!
Love you guys.	Poetry Reading
Launching . . . A supporter bought The Daughter Bond and Puerto Rican Love Stories.	Philadelphia	Philly Latin American Book Fair. Proud to participate!
Thanks for your support.
Brooklyn Book Festival First public appearance as an author.	A Fan Grateful to all who have supported my work. Loved our conversations; it's been a joy.	@BKBF Thanks for your support!
	Charlotte, N.C. Felt like a queen at the Queen City Book Fair
Your Happy Author Wychella is coming soon!
At Southern Festival of Books	At Puerto Rican Book Fair