I write stories about flawed female protagonists searching for belonging and love, and help writers translate their vision into manuscripts with emotional depth and meaning. I share personal reflections on writing, reading, and the inspiration behind my books in AT THE HEART OF THE STORY, and support writers working on meaninful fiction through THE EMOTIONAL DRAFT. After subscribing, you’ll receive a welcome email where you can choose the content you’d like to receive.
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Hello, 2026: A Look Back, A Look Ahead
Published 5 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2026.
As I looked back at 2025 and my 10 years of being a writer, I realized that 2026 will mark 10 years since I started my author platform.
While I wrote my first novel in 2015, it wasn't until 2016 that I went public with my new author persona. I launched my website and this newsletter, telling friends and family members to subscribe. I also joined my first social media platform as an author, Twitter, and learned more about marketing, promotion, and the publishing industry.
Ten years later, you'd think I'd have it all figured out, but I don't. I recently succumbed to the hype and asked ChatGPT to analyze my brand and help me strategize how to optimize it. Though I have mixed feelings about using AI (I'll never use it to write my content, don't worry!), it's here to stay, and I have to admit, it gave me a lot of great ideas on what I should focus on moving forward.
Part of the strategy is to finally give my newsletter a proper name. I've tried and failed all these years to come up with one, so I asked ChatGPT to help. Now, it's your turn! Please help me decide by choosing your favorite one on the survey below.
Thank you for continuing to be a part of my journey. In addition to the survey, this month's issue includes a 2025 year review of my favorite reads, shows, and movies.
I spent December brainstorming ideas for a new Christmas novella and already wrote 7K words!
Here's a rough description of the story, tentatively titled One Foreign Christmas:
Two online friends. Two countries. One Foreign Christmas.
When German Franzi and Puerto Rican Carmen swap homes for the holidays, they’ll discover what’s been missing from their lives.
For fans of the film The Holiday.
My plan is to finish the first draft this month, then revise it during the month of November. That way, I can immerse myself in the holidays and give the book the cozy, Christmas-y mood it deserves!
I bought a cheap notebook and decorated it with Christmas stickers to get into the mood!
Life Update
On this day, January 6, many people around the world celebrate Three King's Day. In Puerto Rico, this day is celebrated in a much larger way than Christmas. The night before, children put grass into a box and water in a bowl for the camels, and set these underneath the tree. In the morning, they discover the box and bowl empty, and lots of gifts from the Three Kings.
As a child, this day was when I received the most gifts, not only from my immediate family, but from cousins, friends, and sometimes even neighbors. I loved the festive quality of the day, with lots of visitors, music, and food.
After I moved to Germany, I've continued the tradition, and my daughter loves getting additional gifts, more than her friends. Though she already knows that the Three Kings and Santa are not real, she still enjoys keeping the magic alive and placing her box full of grass under the tree.
Today, it'll be just the three of us - my husband, daughter, and me. It snowed yesterday, so we couldn't collect grass, but we cut up a carrot for the camels. I'll prepare a small meal of tostones, porkchops, and rice; I usually prepare something more festive and invite friends, but I've been suffering from a cold on and off since December 14. But I'll play Puerto Rican Christmas music to keep the festive mood alive.
Tomorrow, my daughter starts school again, and life will go back to normal.
Euphoria by Lily King - historical literary fiction inspired by the life of anthropologist Margaret Mead - impeccably researched and thought-provoking.
Read more about my three favorite reads of 2025 on Shepherd and share your own! They're building a great community for readers and writers as an independent alternative to Goodreads.
Adolescence (Netflix) - a technical marvel (each episode is filmed in only one shot), incredibly acted, heartbreaking and alarming.
Baby Reindeer (Netflix) - also incredibly acted, featuring flawed characters dealing with trauma.
Andor Season 2 (Disney+) - a Star Wars prequel and a must-see for fans and non-fans alike, especially if you enjoy political thrillers.
The Zone of Interest - amazing use of sound, set at Auschwitz during World War II, with themes that are aplicable to today.
Wicked - a wonderful adaptation of the theater musical, with beautiful set designs and a great cast.
K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix) - a great story of friendship and belonging, with amazing music that my daughter and I already know by heart.
I Want to Hear from You!
Reply to this email and let me know any (or all) of the following:
Do you enjoy holiday books and/or films? If yes, what are your favorites? I recently enjoyed Home for Christmas Season 3, a cozy Norwegian show on Netflix, about a woman looking for love and her identity within her family.
What are your favorite holiday traditions?
What were some of your 2025 favorite books, shows, and/or movies? Do we share any favorites?
Or just reply to say hi!
One Tough Cookie
"A sweet, snarky, and swoon-worthy rom-com. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a strong, complex heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, and a romance that’s as sweet as it is spicy!"
If you've already read the book, please help me spread the word by leaving a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or on The Storygraph. Or simply recommend it to someone you know!
I write stories about flawed female protagonists searching for belonging and love, and help writers translate their vision into manuscripts with emotional depth and meaning. I share personal reflections on writing, reading, and the inspiration behind my books in AT THE HEART OF THE STORY, and support writers working on meaninful fiction through THE EMOTIONAL DRAFT. After subscribing, you’ll receive a welcome email where you can choose the content you’d like to receive.
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Hi Reader, Thank you so much for voting and helping me choose a name for my newsletter. At the Heart of the Story perfectly captures the content I share with you every month - where I come from, my writing journey, and the inspiration at the heart of my books. I want this newsletter to reflect who I am as a person and as a writer to give you a better insight into my stories. In the spirit of sharing more of myself, I plan to host a virtual book club meeting for One Tough Cookie, exclusive for...
