Welcome to the World New Book Baby Girl and Happy Thanksgiving!

So much to be grateful for this year...This book was my thesis in completion of my MFA in Creative Writing. While it's been said that writing is a solitary endeavor, editing and publishing a book, in my case, had been the result of a collaborative effort involving the assistance of many wonderful people.

Many thanks to my Thesis Advisers and professors in the MFA Fiction program at Mills College: authors Cristina Garcia, Yiyun Li and YA author Kathryn Reiss who took time to read and critique the entire manuscript in its early stages. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my writing peers in the YA Fiction workshops who critiqued my work.

I am grateful to the book's "Godmother," cover designer and publisher, my dear friend, Ana Galvan, for her meticulous work and attention to detail. Immense gratitude goes to Julie Abitbol, a true artist who listened carefully to my ideas, took time to absorb the story and then used her vivid imagination to create the artwork that graces the book's front cover.

Much appreciation goes to my editing team: Susan Medina and Judy Swager for copyediting and proofreading; and to Nemia Carpio, my longtime friend since my two-year high school stint in the Philippines, for editing the Tagalog sentences and phrases.

And of course my love and gratitude to my family and friends for their love and support and to my students for their continued commitment to the written word. Much love and thanks to my furry nephew and nieces, especially to Lilly, the Feline Editor, for continually inspiring me.

Happy 1st Birthday Book Baby!

Today, my first book of short stories, Soulstice: Living and Loving On and Off the Yoga Mat, and I share the same birthday! A year ago today, I had the honor of sharing this collection of stories that had been a labor of love for over 4 years!

I'm also happy to announce that I'm putting the "finishing touches" on my YA novel and as soon as that's done, my Christmas novella will be right on its heels as I'll be on the home stretch of editing that and hopefully (crossing my fingers!) will have it ready in time for the holidays this year!

Thank you all for your love and encouragement throughout this amazing and inspiring literary journey: to my family, my friends, my students and all the beautiful animals who continue to inspire me everyday! My gratitude for your unconditional love and support all these years! Here's to welcoming more literary blessings in the months and years to come!

Celebrating Indie Author's Birthday

Happy Birthday to author and good friend, Ana Galvan (Check her out on Instagram  @anagalvan_writes) who’s holding her newest book baby— The Other Side of the Sky, a very compelling sci-fi read with strong female characters!  

To celebrate her special day, Ana shares her passion for reading and writing with us!

*What books are on your nightstand?

The books have spilled onto the floor but on the nightstand per se I have Portnoy’s Complaint by Phillip Roth because everybody said how nasty it was, The Mysteries of Udolpho, because it's the beginning of the Gothic novel, La Isla Bajo el Mar, because I always have a book in Spanish and I found it at the San Pablo Library bookstore and finally The Ensemble, because it was on my Amazon list and I found it for free at the Contra Costa County library.

*What’s your favorite book of all time?

Anna Karenina or The Goldfinch

*Which books got you hooked on reading? On Writing?

On reading I would have to say the Spanish classics: The Poem of the Cid, Life and Adventures of Lazarillo de Tormes, and whatever was assigned in school. In the summer I would read more classics but also titles I heard my classmates talking about that were more age oriented. On writing it wasn’t really a book, it was more a need to cleanse myself from a bad marriage, that’s what inspired The Contents of Desire, then I was hooked on writing.

*Who’s your favorite fictional character?

Rebecca in the book of the same name. I find this character intriguing, unconventional and daring.

*In your opinion, what qualities make a great novel?

Characters you love or hate. Characters

make you care what happens next.

*What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?

If you knew me, you wouldn’t be surprised by any of the books on my shelves.

*If you were to write a memoir, what aspect of your life would you focus on?

The adventure of migrating to the US

*Who’s your favorite historical character?

Marie Curie, could be Cleopatra or Queen Isabel of Spain (although she was too religious for my taste)

*Who’s your favorite childhood literary character or hero?

Heidi, but I have to confess I didn’t read the books. I watched the cartoons.

*What book have you read again and again and why?

The Time in Between in Spanish and English. I love the Spanish version and I wondered about the translation into Spanish. As it turns out I loved it as well. Translation is an art.

*What’s the best book you ever received as a gift?

Don Quijote de la Mancha

*What’s the best book you have ever given as a gift?

The Story of O. It was fun to give.

*Which is a book you’ve read that you wished you had written?

Call Me by Your Name

*If you could meet any writer, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Hemingway, because I am convinced he met my grandfather in Spain while he was reporting on the (Spanish) Civil War and my grandfather worked at the famous bar Chicote. I usually don’t want to meet authors. It kills the magic.