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On Puerto Rico
Learn about my culture and heritage
Typical Drinks in Puerto Rico
Here are some typical drinks that you’ll find in Puerto Rico to keep you cool and refreshed! Piña Colada Did you know that piña colada
On Being a Puerto Rican Expat
An essay version of this post appears on The Caribbean Writer, Volume 34: Dignity, Power, and Place in the Caribbean Space. This week saw a
What’s it like to be Puerto Rican?
Living in Germany for the past four years has taught me a lot about what it’s like to be Puerto Rican. Even though I haven’t
My Books
One Tough Cookie
Recent Posts
Typical Food in Puerto Rico
May 8, 2023
Typical Drinks in Puerto Rico
April 28, 2023
ONE TOUGH COOKIE Character Aesthetics
February 22, 2023
What to Get Your Anti-Romantic Sweetheart for Valentine’s Day
February 10, 2023
My Top Writing Resources
February 8, 2023
For Readers
Short Stories
Single, not Alone: A Short Story
Below is a short story based on themes explored in my debut, ONE TOUGH COOKIE. It is included as a chapter in the novel, but here, it’s from the perspective of Marisa, one
The Jealousy Game: A Short Story
Below is a short story I entered to the 2018 Literary Taxidermy Short Story Competition. The challenge was to use the first and last lines from another story and make them your own.
On Writing
Tips on writing and traditional publishing
My Top Writing Resources
When I started writing, I was a pantser before knowing that word existed. I wrote what came to mind. But later I learned about structure
My Top Writing Advice For Aspiring Authors
I’ve written before about how I wrote my first novel and how I wrote my debut, ONE TOUGH COOKIE, which includes some writing advice, but
How I Got My First Book Deal
After two books and six years, I finally got a book deal! My debut novel, ONE TOUGH COOKIE, comes out on July 18. Here’s how
How I Got My Agent
I’ve read so many of these posts and now I finally get to write one! Here’s the story of how I got my agent, plus
Inspiration
Life Lessons and Musings
The Faith to Keep Going
Note: This essay originally appeared on the Writer Fairys website on September 24, 2019. Since that website has ceased to exist, I’m posting it here
The 2 Books That Inspired Me to Write
In my previous post, I discussed how I went from daydreamer to writer. In the beginning, writing was a hobby, but since I’m a perfectionist,
How I Went from Daydreamer to Writer
The inspiration for this post came from the series finale of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and the revelation that Rebecca Bunch was, like me, a daydreamer all
5 Ways I’m Manifesting My Author Career
This post was inspired by my recent read: She’s Faking It by Kristin Rockaway. This is a story about Bree, a woman who starts using
On Germany
Life in Germany
How to Survive in Germany Part 15: Easter
Easter in Germany is full of traditions. Did you know that the legend of the Easter Bunny originated here? Read on to learn more about
How to Survive in Germany Part 14: Holidays
Germany, like many countries, has holidays, but it has its own laws and traditions that make them unique. For starters, the German government doesn’t decide
How to Survive in Germany Part 13: Carnival
Just like other countries in the world, Germany celebrates Carnival (Karneval): that time of partying right before the beginning of Lent. Read on to find
How to Survive in Germany Part 12: Having Kids
This is part of my ongoing series on surviving in Germany based on my own experiences. Having kids in Germany is just like having kids
On Travel
Places I've
Visited
My Trip to the Island of Juist, Germany
Earlier this month, I went on vacation to Juist, an island in the North Sea of Germany. It was a great way to relax, unwind,
My Weekend Trip to Lake Constance, Germany
Last month, my horoscope suggested I go away on a short trip near water. Since I’m one of those people who listens to their horoscope,
8 Tips for a Relaxing Trip to Venice
Last month my husband and I visited Venice for the first time. Ever since I was a child, I’d always wanted to go to Venice,