My year in review

The year is almost over, and it feels like it’s flown by in the blink of an eye. They say that as we get older (let’s avoid saying we “age”), it feels like time moves faster. Which must be true.

In any case, 2024 has been full of wonderful things.

Books

In February, Soho Crime published my novel Last Seen in Havana, the fifth in the Havana Mystery series. It even got a small review in The New York Times and was selected as an Editor’s Pick on Amazon. The sixth book in the series is already on its way…

A month later, in March, Editorial El Ateje released my short story collection, En la Feria del Libro de Miami y otros viajes astrales. I’m so grateful for Ena Columbié’s review in El Nuevo Herald!

The collection brings together several short stories that had been published in different places, but it was quite satisfying to compile them all. As for the astral travel at the Miami Book Fair—while not quite as exaggerated as the story suggests (that’s what fiction is for, to embellish and spin the tale)—it happened. Same with the drama at La Manzana, which inspired another novel. More on that in 2025.

Promotion

The old Spanish proverb “el buen paño en el arca se vende” (a good product sells itself) no longer applies in a world flooded with ads, endorsements and digital noise. Part of the writer’s job now is promoting their books.

In October, I traveled to Salt Lake City for the Utah Book Festival. There, I shared a reading with Juan Morales and Kase Johnstun at Casot, and visited the charming bookstore The King’s English. It was a fun and relaxed event that ended with dinner and a finger-licking paella.

In November, I went to the Miami Book Fair. A friend reminded me that twenty years ago, in November 2004, I had attended the fair for the first time with my debut novel A Girl Like Che Guevara (Sobo Press, 2004). It doesn’t have much to do with Che Guevara, but oh well… Twenty years and sixteen books later, I’m still at it.

At the fair, I participated in the panel Secrets, Lost & Found alongside Tita Ramirez, author of the stunning novel Tell It to Me Singing (which I hope to see in Spanish soon), and Dara Levan with It Could Be Worse, now on my Christmas reading list.

I also joined the Spanish-language panel Tinta e imaginación with Pedro Medina León and Luis Alejandro Ordóñez, moderated by Alejandra Ferrazza, editor of Nagari.

It was such a pleasure learning more about Medina León’s detective, El Comanche, and the ghost of Weeping Sally, who shows up at weddings and other events in Chicago. More books to devour!

All the World’s a Stage

This fall semester, I took an acting class at NMJC, the college where I teach, a delightful experience that immersed me in the worlds of Nora from A Doll’s House, Izzy from Rabbit Hole, and Sarah from Time Stands Still. Short monologues, of course, but it’s left me with immense respect for anyone brave enough to stand on stage before an audience.

I’m not ready to do that myself just yet, but since the acting bug has bitten me, I wrote a short play, Mom’s Christmas, for my ESL class. My students performed it on December 10, with my friend Nancy Rodríguez (also a student at the college) reciting one of her poems in English and Spanish.

There was music and a choreography created by the actresses. The evening ended with tamales that the girls made themselves, roast pork, cakes, and other dishes featured in the play, at the Western Heritage Museum.

Christmas Plans

This Christmas, Gary and I plan to stay home, taking it easy after all the hustle and bustle. It’s been a beautiful year, and we’re celebrating with family as I get ready for next year, which, I can hint, will involve more theater.

Big hugs to all, and Feliz Navidad!