Almost Done with "El Encantado" #barrioblues

I know, it's been a few weeks since I last updated anything.  That is because we, the Cook County College Teachers Union Faculty, Professionals, and Security, are busy organizing and preparing for a potential strike. Despite all of that, last Saturday, I managed to get trough 2/3 of "El Encantado" and hope to put in some writing time this weekend.  The main character of that story is on the JV baseball team, and I am excited because I have a content expert looking at my story.

My awesome beta reader also came through and had great feedback for "Rita vs the Duende."  My goal is to input his comments this weekend.  For my part, I look forward to reading his work too.

This young adult magical realism story collection is going to be amazing!  I hope my readers who have been requesting a YA book will enjoy reading it, as much as I am crafting it.

On the writing front, this morning, I am going to put in about 20 minutes into the story, but the majority of my writing will be focused on my speech, if my request to speak to the CCC board gets accepted.  That is the governing board of our educational system, and they need to be made aware of how awful the negotiations are going.  I want to show how this lack of bargaining is impacting students.  It is only a four-minute speech, but I want to do a great job on it.

That is all I've got!  (I know my Barrio Blues newsletter is delayed, and I hope to get that out this weekend.)

Stay true to your work.  #barrioblues

Spending Time with My Next Book's Main Characters #barrioblues

For some writers, especially those of us who word vomit, spending time with characters may not seem as important as the act of writing.  I beg to differ. 

Most of my stories stem from well-crafted characters, whether they are major or supporting characters.  Asi que, this morning, I am spending more time with the characters from "Encantado" from my next Young Adult collection.  I have the ending in mind, and the major conflicts, but I need to flesh out Ricky Andrades (in my ghost story.  ha!).  I am also writing about undocumented issues in "El Encantado" and am making Ricky a DREAMER because that is the direction the story took.  It makes sense as many young people in the Chicago and elsewhere are DREAMERS, and I hope they like this piece.

I also have an idea for the cover and will reach out to my friend for support to paint it.  This will be a solo design, this round.  Yikes!

That's all I've got.  Keep sending me those creative vibes because I still don't have a title for my next book, which is not usual for me.  In fact, that is driving me bat shit crazy.  Ugh.

Be awesome and write or spend time with your creations.  Or all three.  #barrioblues

Onto Story #3 of My Young Adult, Magical Realism Collection & Upcoming Giveaway, Black Friday #barrioblues

Yesterday, on the road trip down here, to my writing cave away from home, I started writing the third story of my next book "El Encantado." Encantado could mean someone who is delighted, cursed, or haunted.  This will be my first attempt at writing any ghost story, and I am adding a twist.  However, I may have to delay the launch of this book, if it is to reach 150 pages.  There are so many legends that are a treat to infuse with my fiction.  There is El Cucuy, which legend says is an old man that carries a burlap sack and steals naughty children.  There is La Llorona, the weeping woman, who kidnaps children near bodies of water.  There are angels and saints that would make great characters.

Anyway, the writing playground is vast.

I have also been formulating the next giveaway for Thanksgiving and Black Friday holiday.  I am going to reduce the cost of all my e-books to $.99 and $0 when folks buy printed books. Unfortunately, I can't drop the cost of La Bruja del Barrio Loco, but people will still be able to buy it for $0.  I am also going to use Ingram to publish my next collection, if bookstores will take it.  I just won't be able to put it on Kindle Unlimited.

The other thing I am going to do today is to grow a pair of balls and put the foundation for a reading of my books for next month.  I haven't sent the email yet.  I figure if I'm not done with the collection, though I hope to be soon, I can read from WIPs.  I am also going to try another venue to distribute my books.

My retired librarian friend offered to help me connect with the central CPS library.  The head librarian likes to sponsor local authors, so I am hoping she will take my next book.  Now, I need a snappy title for it, that is attractive to moms and kids, but I haven't been able to come up with one.

My husband and I were brainstorming in the car, but nothing sounded appealing.  Send me inspiration this way.  Or else the title will be something lame like Grandmother's Magical Bedtime Stories.  I have never been stuck on a title before. This inertia is wholly annoying, but the writing is flowing, and that is what matters!  Once I am done with this collection, I am going to move on to finishing The Awakening (Book #3 in La Bruja del Barrio Loco) series and start revising The Harvest in real earnest.

Overcome your creative struggles. Write on. #barrioblues

Book 5 Needs a Title and My Next Story Concept

This morning, I got up at 1a.m. to prepare my classes and write.  Not much writing got done because my daughter, who sensed I was being productive at an ungodly hour, woke up and demanded my immediate attention.  I didn't get back to sleep until 5a.m.  Still, this morning, I thought about my next book a lot, and I am sad to report that I don't have a snappy title for my new short collection.  Usually titles come easy, but I am not sure that Rita vs the Duende quite covers it.  I hope something, some line pops from one of the stories.

Also, after turning ideas in my head, I decided I am going to write an original ghost story from a boy's point of view for the third story.  To date, I have not written a ghost story.  This concept will balance out the gender and points of view of the other two stories.  "Rita vs the Duende" is told from a 12-year-old tween's point of view.  "Descarado" or shameless is being told from an elderly woman's point of view.  I am thinking of changing that title to "When the Devil Came for Him" or something more descriptive.

I am also excited to be going on another writing vacation.  We are not sure where, but we have enough points for a free hotel stay.  Let's hope the printer is not out of ink or paper. Ha ha ha.

Write like you're life depends on it.  Someone's might.  #barrioblues

Third Story Idea and October Reading #barrioblues

Yesterday, at a fantastic birthday party with glorious cheese and yummy wine, I was talking to a number of the guests about my next collection coming out in September.  Hey, they asked!  I was explaining to another Chicana about the premises of my stories.  Would you believe she has never heard folktales about duendes or The Devil?  I was like, "How is that possible?"  So, I told her a couple of the folk stories.  I also gave hear a summary of the first two stories, and then, got stumped on the third.  Why?  I haven't written it yet, but I have a hankering for writing a ghost story.  Perhaps.  Or an angel story.  In any case, it will be PG-13.

I also got a chance to talk to my friend Brett.  Sadly, he will be out of town on his honeymoon in a  few weeks (okay, that is not remotely sad because he is going to Europe on a fantastic adventure with his gorgeous wife, where Trump is not president), and won't get to work on the cover for that piece.  However, he did say he wanted to help design the interior of the book for future pubs. I was like, "What?  What's wrong with my books?"  He had definite opinions on the layout that I hadn't thought about, so when he was time, we are going to review the last book La Bruja del Barrio Loco.  Now, I am pretty proud of my interior book designs, but I'm not going to say no to making them prettier.  I would love for the chapter titles to pop.

I also told him that I am going to simplify the design of my e-books.  I want them to look good on the Kindle and computer viewers.  All the fancy graphics and caps at the beginning of chapters can be off-putting.  They do look great on Kindle Readers, but I want some consistency.

Finally, let me tell about the next phase of my marketing scheme.  I am going to put the foundation for an October reading.  I have been a little hesitant with this move.  Why?  I am not used to reading my fiction.  I read poetry just fine.  I am not afraid of public speaking, but reading fiction takes a different skill set.  Therefore, I am going to reach out to my good friends who are actors or speech teachers to give me some pointers.  I am also going to videotape 30-minute readings and review them.  You see, I am actually pretty nervous about this next step, but I don't want to be like those boring authors that can't captivate their audience.  You know what I'm talking about.

Whatever you do with your writing today, do it with love and some courage.

Push the envelope and go to the next level in your writing career. #barrioblues