tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18694004427348077452024-03-13T08:01:11.630-04:00A Life in the DayThings in the publishing industry that interest me.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-78497502719652622002022-01-04T20:45:00.002-05:002022-10-30T11:59:55.415-04:00Fun Facts About Me<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEupeIH6veh6nZtId04oQ_GMjHs952wDYjxmZ3DpyEYv2S0uB0nOy-ZTqqsu2XxeG-Bq9DQsa5HLCt6NPhb_ptfvzRszoLnYo924oCOPsT2o31gt3JnlDLHcl__LUuUKqFtu5co4s2vqA73uEhpBTZ8UTs66yAhON5yluiHMk4vpUfZNO2RwZl-VeDxA=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEupeIH6veh6nZtId04oQ_GMjHs952wDYjxmZ3DpyEYv2S0uB0nOy-ZTqqsu2XxeG-Bq9DQsa5HLCt6NPhb_ptfvzRszoLnYo924oCOPsT2o31gt3JnlDLHcl__LUuUKqFtu5co4s2vqA73uEhpBTZ8UTs66yAhON5yluiHMk4vpUfZNO2RwZl-VeDxA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I believe that one can never have too many writing utensils. I have dozens of pens, markers, and highlighters and am always buying more. I'm currently addicted to the <a href="https://amzn.to/3EQqco5" target="_blank">Preppy Fountain Pens</a>.</li><li>I’ve used a <a href="http://RWRD.IO/91DRW1T?C" target="_blank">Passion Planner</a> for my daily bullet journal and scheduling for the past four years. I would create my own bullet journals before that.</li><li>I have four kids, 2 boys, 2 girls, and my eldest son was my early birthday present when he was born.</li><li>I love coffee and have finally started drinking at least one cup “puya” (no sugar, no creamer).</li><li>I love Star Trek AND Star Wars, there’s never an OR to them.</li><li>My dog has been with us for 20 years, he has been a part of my kids’ lives for MOST of their lives.</li><li>Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons. I come ALIVE in the Fall!</li><li>My great-aunt pretended to be her brother to enlist during WWII and every day I think of ways to honor her boldness.</li><li>I am not athletic (nor do I want to be) so if you see me running, you better run too. Something or someone is chasing me and I’ll need someone to trip.</li><li>I can belt the songs to The Facts of Life and Golden Girls in the shower.</li><li>Christmas starts Nov. 1 and ends January 7th in our household. No exceptions!</li><li>I am OBSESSED with <a href="https://amzn.to/3JHYayU" target="_blank">Oscar Wilde</a>.</li><li>I’m terrible with names but I never forget a face.</li><li>I dream in technicolor and sometimes in 4k HD.</li><li>My grandmother and great-aunt nominated me for the Gerber baby ads back in the day.</li><li>White chocolate is not chocolate and therefore not welcome as a substitute.</li><li>I re-read <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3HAI5Jp" target="_blank">The Color Purple</a></i> every January.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-2487908612856230252021-12-29T17:41:00.002-05:002021-12-29T17:58:08.876-05:00My Favorite Reads of 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLkZxtiUHVGQK4VjWfVgFmTxRDoSzSiWuoVpkFtWa6N38Z62n7EE8_igtq7eDNaiTBdH7XC7ArH0BDZRQYyAuBXFPOwvJHDyCtbJSJVwMm9d-d1oKqx23T2omM8-1JaMcwsbUvL9v9z2yeJuF0L__WxaiZoOO_J9qIWl0Hm_II3CTVhZn-FuggutQRpQ=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLkZxtiUHVGQK4VjWfVgFmTxRDoSzSiWuoVpkFtWa6N38Z62n7EE8_igtq7eDNaiTBdH7XC7ArH0BDZRQYyAuBXFPOwvJHDyCtbJSJVwMm9d-d1oKqx23T2omM8-1JaMcwsbUvL9v9z2yeJuF0L__WxaiZoOO_J9qIWl0Hm_II3CTVhZn-FuggutQRpQ=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p>It's likely that 2021 was a better year for your TBR pile than 2020 and if like me, you started reading more via audiobook, it's likely that you met and/or exceeded your reading goal.</p><p>While I set a pretty high goal this year (136 books), 100 of them were picture books which really helped me to understand the category better though I'm still not as well-versed as I'd like to be. But that's a post for another time.</p><p>Of the 36 novel-length <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2021/2556735" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">books I read this year</a>, a few were major standouts!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmI2rMKKxn9GP6nMLsO7nSuIwrPTageMOkpUMyCfz6V77mYqc_6XYmqIfum8ksxiDiSK845IEVSLBRvv-b-g4BHMFVOdgv0oVxDQjO3lKICpUJvenuHK8ookdFl0-GiKfAzxrDYuxh1kPy-xRi9sK6nj_AbhCjqDeMAm2vDmyNt0jGmnp2mJirOLp90A=s318" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmI2rMKKxn9GP6nMLsO7nSuIwrPTageMOkpUMyCfz6V77mYqc_6XYmqIfum8ksxiDiSK845IEVSLBRvv-b-g4BHMFVOdgv0oVxDQjO3lKICpUJvenuHK8ookdFl0-GiKfAzxrDYuxh1kPy-xRi9sK6nj_AbhCjqDeMAm2vDmyNt0jGmnp2mJirOLp90A=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Alyssa Cole's <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ewVXIc" target="_blank">How To Catch a Queen</a> </i>was actually a great way to start the year. Alyssa Cole is an auto-buy for me so I knew I was going to like the book but I went into it with a bit of trepidation since I didn't like Sanyu in previous books. I knew there was more to him and Shanti than met the eye but I also liked that this book is about how an arranged marriage doesn't have to be a loveless one. How two people can grow to love one another and learn what love can mean for themselves and their family.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEholtdg2jxuMkmjmlmAQ2NFJb17LGvOl23ywv9Czd-RjmY9dQUp07R4w-2l4RTzoflejTgdOEOs4t1ZaOrrHmCPN4MneymkGFzm7t4rlMvjqxAFhXCYh-6qA3AckVo3_UCESWGrtAIXihWvE1wEEFIBptQ-80rqg2XEHEIpYVnISQrIwLM_4dUKdx-JmQ=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEholtdg2jxuMkmjmlmAQ2NFJb17LGvOl23ywv9Czd-RjmY9dQUp07R4w-2l4RTzoflejTgdOEOs4t1ZaOrrHmCPN4MneymkGFzm7t4rlMvjqxAFhXCYh-6qA3AckVo3_UCESWGrtAIXihWvE1wEEFIBptQ-80rqg2XEHEIpYVnISQrIwLM_4dUKdx-JmQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Emily Skrutskie's <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3mHdtxI" target="_blank">Bonds of Brass</a></i> and its follow-up <a href="https://amzn.to/3HnfdUO" target="_blank"><i>Oaths of Legacy</i></a> were the Poe/Finn story I needed. I'm a sucker for a great space opera romance and if you make it queer, EVEN BETTER! This series has it all, dogfights in space, shenanigans galore, a hidden prince, a galactic war, and two young men fighting their feelings for each other. Loved these books!<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVSOurTMOQlcatJLryDKLLZ8vvwyt4KNh-0QU-iDrdWRlC1_uDLC8I758eq9f2-vWCmRXTbM0AM0ksskXbhTygsWtQST0oKt_Nd6mNhjq0TFrbraeYWPeC-zV_QffRDP8adrTZIAmcRPK61ZPxZWkJj1o9NPROd3tuP2WvEpAk2-9wl5EsWH_Hnx7Ixg=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVSOurTMOQlcatJLryDKLLZ8vvwyt4KNh-0QU-iDrdWRlC1_uDLC8I758eq9f2-vWCmRXTbM0AM0ksskXbhTygsWtQST0oKt_Nd6mNhjq0TFrbraeYWPeC-zV_QffRDP8adrTZIAmcRPK61ZPxZWkJj1o9NPROd3tuP2WvEpAk2-9wl5EsWH_Hnx7Ixg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Lamar Giles' <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3z9Rx3l" target="_blank">Not So Pure and Simple</a></i> reminded me so much of my church youth group years. I love that this YA has messy relationships, a fantastic cast of characters, and a great conversation topic about sex, religion, and cultural expectations. I was expecting to tackle just toxic masculinity and instead, I found a book that has honest, open conversations about sex. <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiZRCn8qUQLp6TTjIN50VdCVBDuo5Vdzhzj7YVNjblhNCxtuigWmVN3vUkgeClvrSi2IZR6Sb1ki74ExZoXOdSXVZklHS9dt6RbJdFDuNDBc1jh4cnm462tQ33QtAUUUjbQ1-kR0pB_SbsqeVEF5RNxYk2wQDndoBgQqqJkvPAPvQJa525zRJymVeTNw=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiZRCn8qUQLp6TTjIN50VdCVBDuo5Vdzhzj7YVNjblhNCxtuigWmVN3vUkgeClvrSi2IZR6Sb1ki74ExZoXOdSXVZklHS9dt6RbJdFDuNDBc1jh4cnm462tQ33QtAUUUjbQ1-kR0pB_SbsqeVEF5RNxYk2wQDndoBgQqqJkvPAPvQJa525zRJymVeTNw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>N.K. Jemisin's <a href="https://amzn.to/3FHFX1X" target="_blank"><i>The City We Became</i></a>. I highly recommend the audio by the way but really this impeccable book is a feast no matter the format. In a love letter to the greatest city in the world, yes I’m biased, but I don’t care, Jemisin takes us on a ride through the City We Became as we watch this great City go through a rebirth. With a truly diverse cast of characters and a showdown like nothing you’ve seen before, this book has it all!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE7bNVtxiOBTvjgxsjxysAb1aXDCckgE6U5Ulu2-SxwP0__ekzA4HKlbH9gE4tRtSjXPsco_AjwFASj_eJsDZg9btM0ZyvI7PEgpcROr8S3sanHBU73i8xG7gtKEHM67WemufoFIOZl9IF013Xn1lPGvMrBoxoYmTG5sNGc_6q1y0dxkNRLJ68yca_rw=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE7bNVtxiOBTvjgxsjxysAb1aXDCckgE6U5Ulu2-SxwP0__ekzA4HKlbH9gE4tRtSjXPsco_AjwFASj_eJsDZg9btM0ZyvI7PEgpcROr8S3sanHBU73i8xG7gtKEHM67WemufoFIOZl9IF013Xn1lPGvMrBoxoYmTG5sNGc_6q1y0dxkNRLJ68yca_rw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Kwame Mbalia's Tristan Strong series is definitely one of my favorites and to say that I thoroughly enjoyed <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ezSsRf">Tristan Strong Destroys The World</a> </i>is an understatement! I <b>love</b> Tristan Strong! A boy of stories that’s a hero of the tales of legend! When we weave the stories of our ancestors into the tapestry of life, we create heroes. We create Tristan Strongs in all of us.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><!--more--></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgByM7KFub7flZ216VKFqX6zpNL_9Ayaib4c3Sf1GguEdfDxtKUzsBTMDWehGNHTNlsBISUL5iFJzwlYymGsx1e_CvNBy5Oh-B-iLzbx5jsvuH0LmVCNnLgKs0OBJmT-4nSKGrSivZK9ZZZgU5wC6t6iYVGPZXP6MoO3Nnzsr4BnYmfCzeOcf3z9N-bmA=s500" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgByM7KFub7flZ216VKFqX6zpNL_9Ayaib4c3Sf1GguEdfDxtKUzsBTMDWehGNHTNlsBISUL5iFJzwlYymGsx1e_CvNBy5Oh-B-iLzbx5jsvuH0LmVCNnLgKs0OBJmT-4nSKGrSivZK9ZZZgU5wC6t6iYVGPZXP6MoO3Nnzsr4BnYmfCzeOcf3z9N-bmA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div>TJ Klune's books should come with a warning: "May cause spontaneous tears of laughter AND sorrow. Read with a box of tissues handy." <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3qxjXAw" target="_blank">The House in the Cerulean Sea</a></i> was an utter delight! This book is joyful, heart-rending, and beautiful in its prose and message. One of my favorite reads of 2021 so far!</div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKvuVD8yErzhpORuf9uu6hje-T_X9wCJxDfUxzYwbbKnRVllg81_rR8XTQNvtBaOrLLKdZaKbqKdstBVX4LLH3AWeayqBvr3ivVsfo8cxPXbBkIWbe2P83xDa_1sxf6r_J8uoxT7aOfFdejbIeTIdjzBkCIwhBsjZeFJNS_JNSAC_pykGcISzFzGF4TQ=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKvuVD8yErzhpORuf9uu6hje-T_X9wCJxDfUxzYwbbKnRVllg81_rR8XTQNvtBaOrLLKdZaKbqKdstBVX4LLH3AWeayqBvr3ivVsfo8cxPXbBkIWbe2P83xDa_1sxf6r_J8uoxT7aOfFdejbIeTIdjzBkCIwhBsjZeFJNS_JNSAC_pykGcISzFzGF4TQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div>Okay, I'm calling it early but I can definitely and unequivocally call Vanessa Riley's <a href="https://amzn.to/3eyM7Wb" target="_blank"><i>Island Queen</i></a> my FAVORITE of the year! Getting to learn about Dorothy Kirwan Thomas' life through the beautifully evocative writing by Dr. Riley made this a valuable lesson in life, love, persistence, and legacy. Listening to this tale in audio made it that much better and immersive especially since it's narrated by the incomparable <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027957/" target="_blank">Adjoa Andoh</a>. Do NOT sleep on this book.</div><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG3PrMApPYDo-HfYWSBfzocMxFffUTphHYCaeXjPxOnZtsGeFQDcIL0MoZQuFGRiubhRS-ohlLjaosciznLiqh238-IvhUBmMU8G6wW8qb9Vt2qpr-8HA3Vmsu5BUg2k3qAFdZvqQ0b7TFW5SiFcOis_G2W_9lSqfsI4vAQ74O06EK-bnq0Wr2SvElkg=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG3PrMApPYDo-HfYWSBfzocMxFffUTphHYCaeXjPxOnZtsGeFQDcIL0MoZQuFGRiubhRS-ohlLjaosciznLiqh238-IvhUBmMU8G6wW8qb9Vt2qpr-8HA3Vmsu5BUg2k3qAFdZvqQ0b7TFW5SiFcOis_G2W_9lSqfsI4vAQ74O06EK-bnq0Wr2SvElkg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Holy shit was this a beautiful book! Then again, it's a Malinda Lo book, so of course, it's going to be fantastic! <a href="https://amzn.to/3HiTZHO" target="_blank"><i>Last Night at the Telegraph Club</i></a> is such a visual read that even in audio, the story comes to life and you'll find it difficult to get much done as you immerse yourself in 1950s San Francisco's Chinatown.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFkJ_r6bb9lCQhVlK9ynuQjfopdynL5tCf8oy0uARsDzUCFyIFodj-4L-kYBuH7-RwXjhfXdHDg-kpjJQD0gbq9Ll9l4R1ofzm_daNP-liRCfuNboPFD3ZfzX_EvUrJaI4NaIUkKiYSce83BK21Bg0_JvGQ4FZbYYV2GEHWGb5_AWemyrL0SQg_Sa6cg=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFkJ_r6bb9lCQhVlK9ynuQjfopdynL5tCf8oy0uARsDzUCFyIFodj-4L-kYBuH7-RwXjhfXdHDg-kpjJQD0gbq9Ll9l4R1ofzm_daNP-liRCfuNboPFD3ZfzX_EvUrJaI4NaIUkKiYSce83BK21Bg0_JvGQ4FZbYYV2GEHWGb5_AWemyrL0SQg_Sa6cg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Wow! This book wrecked me in the best way and I had to sit with my feelings for a bit before really providing a review but suffice it to say that I will be recommending this book to many for years to come. The complexity of the story coupled with the twists that Schrefer puts us through is made bearable by the knowledge that this is a romance. Just remember that when you pick up <a href="https://amzn.to/32KGC40" target="_blank"><i>The Darkness Outside Us</i></a> by Eliot Schrefer. You'll work for that HEA but it's there, I promise.<br /><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGOj8wtPSy7V1t-UFuaJ2HUmJLYuOuJzpJQK4GPWR5NzZIBeRE0yH74tskqptR3IW9ZedpvIgbBUbeusn1LtTf1R8LuZ_c7GzP9h4qw2Ipgfh0dvsmXQO5rm2VXhQIEReCQPdwePWFypy0VlIBms5_SE183wX57IQQAxhZxZ5YIpDs94YhQIuCnDigwg=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGOj8wtPSy7V1t-UFuaJ2HUmJLYuOuJzpJQK4GPWR5NzZIBeRE0yH74tskqptR3IW9ZedpvIgbBUbeusn1LtTf1R8LuZ_c7GzP9h4qw2Ipgfh0dvsmXQO5rm2VXhQIEReCQPdwePWFypy0VlIBms5_SE183wX57IQQAxhZxZ5YIpDs94YhQIuCnDigwg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3qzJkBN" target="_blank"><i>All of Us Villains</i></a> by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman is truly an immersive read and if, like me, you're an empathic reader, be mindful that you'll need to put the book down at times to catch your breath as your heart thunders in your chest. If you're a fan of <i>Hunger Games</i>, like rooting for the villains, and love the depth of character in a Leigh Bardugo young adult novel, you're going to LOVE this title! I think it's one of the best character-driven stories I've read in a long time.</div><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg1JLWFPr73a29OQtML7WsMiGOYUePYkQQGITAfEuNuu39KX_PMy6VY0D_CKKgC7ij6hZyJqrqky8-gPxkIVbDSBuPmj7ugTklLyvbLZiyGu5qmF854YET3LuKQ0pHaeipTc76IW3uHd0U9leJOPEDLhPt9XrTAZhyMBblNbvKObH5DHwv6ldf1AWeSA=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg1JLWFPr73a29OQtML7WsMiGOYUePYkQQGITAfEuNuu39KX_PMy6VY0D_CKKgC7ij6hZyJqrqky8-gPxkIVbDSBuPmj7ugTklLyvbLZiyGu5qmF854YET3LuKQ0pHaeipTc76IW3uHd0U9leJOPEDLhPt9XrTAZhyMBblNbvKObH5DHwv6ldf1AWeSA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Adriana Herrera is another auto-buy author for me. She never disappoints in giving me all the Latiné love stories my heart desires. <a href="https://amzn.to/3JsPrAr" target="_blank"><i>One Week to Claim It All</i></a> gave me all my telenovela feels and drama without the over-the-top soap opera “on-camera” looks. A great, quick, steamy read you’re not going to want to put down.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDEWWtEId6xZa3EYvh9_EoecVkBSLscbzBemCcUAH32o4bytGMZiNlxC9ClCiDdM2fmhL6CnEpK0yM3SmumNwxCM5EhreTCnuQvbdB73hzQHIe6RVbGRdtYyOSOw7hzSyKkEAULtqgLgt90mjLoksAb5iYRKMYShPzRddgGDhNDzbqRPNE7FZ9hS6AiQ=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDEWWtEId6xZa3EYvh9_EoecVkBSLscbzBemCcUAH32o4bytGMZiNlxC9ClCiDdM2fmhL6CnEpK0yM3SmumNwxCM5EhreTCnuQvbdB73hzQHIe6RVbGRdtYyOSOw7hzSyKkEAULtqgLgt90mjLoksAb5iYRKMYShPzRddgGDhNDzbqRPNE7FZ9hS6AiQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Ok, so this is clearly a trope I needed desperately this year: space opera queer romance, and while it may SEEM like it's similar to Krustskie and Schrefer, Everina Maxwell's <a href="https://amzn.to/347iQ34" target="_blank"><i>Winter's Orbit</i></a> is one that will appeal to the fanfic reader most. It's light on the hard science and heavy on the pining, angst, and sexy romance.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv1Ra_7aqjj0umOM8niAardAU_KeIa_8zF3kFMJN5LX7CD6cRNtlwD3LwbTg1SEf4yF5GVhKb8iGFV-VGGrehwaf60rRmjlAXVZWUYfJtqkHWuMWTdxTkDCm605GxRG7EFmYjDxTA4IXezkns1WnA8dzVWY1Bow9LlIyF5vdrubBZGzXS_etu1uLQj2g=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv1Ra_7aqjj0umOM8niAardAU_KeIa_8zF3kFMJN5LX7CD6cRNtlwD3LwbTg1SEf4yF5GVhKb8iGFV-VGGrehwaf60rRmjlAXVZWUYfJtqkHWuMWTdxTkDCm605GxRG7EFmYjDxTA4IXezkns1WnA8dzVWY1Bow9LlIyF5vdrubBZGzXS_etu1uLQj2g=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>This book had me cracking up! It's such a feel-good book that once you put it down, you'll immediately want to call up your SO or BFF and tell them all about how much you love, love, and quirky heroes in lab coats. <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3sETwM5" target="_blank">The Love Hypothesis</a></i> by Ali Hazelwood in audiobook is fantastic! Just be ready to spontaneously guffaw (or outright howl with laughter) at many of Olive's antics.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib5n2c4GaspIsdvsNiaO5PM9ySQcQJrjrNGc-_OmbGi_GHtUIIRL1VqIY38BaHUd3Qs2HwrvsTDRYkzO6F6KKnO4SU4cxvqg6sqa0yWVMr_SPT16UST_VCizgCW_btUWtLD_6T-PvgJgA15kiP1oqX5ro2oUAVtxoEhUHjtyu1hMwV-0r8ca_veDmFGQ=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib5n2c4GaspIsdvsNiaO5PM9ySQcQJrjrNGc-_OmbGi_GHtUIIRL1VqIY38BaHUd3Qs2HwrvsTDRYkzO6F6KKnO4SU4cxvqg6sqa0yWVMr_SPT16UST_VCizgCW_btUWtLD_6T-PvgJgA15kiP1oqX5ro2oUAVtxoEhUHjtyu1hMwV-0r8ca_veDmFGQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>What an incredible read to close out the year! The rich history that <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3mGLy1a" target="_blank">She Who Became the Sun</a></i> is steeped in coupled with Parker-Chan's gorgeous prose makes for an unforgettable read. I'm going to be thinking about this story and all of the little nuggets of profound emotion they invoked for years to come. <br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-64269150208464293462019-02-12T02:04:00.000-05:002019-02-12T02:04:10.415-05:00Autism and Loneliness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />While there are dozens of articles on how to help socialize your child with autism, there are only a handful speaking to parents looking to help socialize their autistic adults the same way. As a parent of an adult with autism, I grapple daily with letting go, letting him function without me, and as my husband says, “cut the umbilical” little by little. But while my son is able to coordinate his own transportation to and from work every day, do his own laundry and even check his bank account as he learns to manage his money, he’s not able to retain and maintain friendships that can blossom into love relationships. <br /><br />It’s not for lack of trying. My son is that friend that texts you out of nowhere to “check in.” He’s the friend that knows your interests so well, he’s got them memorized and will show up with the perfect birthday present when he’s invited. There’s the crux of the problem. He’s not always invited. Some of his friends’ parents are as involved in their kids’ lives as we are so they remember to call him up (or me) and invite him to events where they can socialize but it’s usually a once-per-year event like a birthday, or a Christmas party (rare). The parents will say things like, “we gotta get them together more often” but a year passes by before anything really happens again. <br /><br />There’s no real chance of dating. If there is, it’s not frequent and the chance to build a friendship that can blossom into more is rare among adults with autism. Especially those who live with their parents and have little social interaction opportunities outside of work, therapy, and doctor’s appointments. (Yes, you can meet and create friendships at doctor’s appointments, especially if you’re there all of the time.) <b>So how do you socialize your autistic adult?</b> It’s not just about the tips for socialization, most parents of autistic adults have that down pat. Many of us have even created a few tips of our own, thank you very much. How do we help them find peers if they’re not able to socialize at a bar (many can’t even drink with the medications they’re on) or connect at a library (some are non-verbal, cognitively or developmentally delayed) or meet at the playground (you may call it a park but let’s face it, it’s the playground that you really want to go to). <b>I’m honestly asking this question because I really don’t have that answer. </b><br /><br />A recent <a href="https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2018-04-25-hidden-crisis-autism-and-loneliness.aspx" target="_blank">study</a> by the National Autistic Society in the UK, suggests autistic people are among most lonely and isolated in UK and it's not any different for people with autism in the US. But where are the resources online to help find the information about dating opportunities for autistics? While there are many links to help people understand what it means to <a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/10-things-i-wish-people-knew-about-dating-someone-who-has-autism" target="_blank">date someone on the spectrum</a> or whether autistics can marry or <a href="https://autisticandunapologetic.com/2018/02/10/autism-love-and-marriage-can-a-person-with-autism-be-in-a-relationship/" target="_blank">even be in a relationship</a> (yes, yes they can), there's no info on how to help your developmentally delayed son score a date. <div>
<br />In one of my online support groups, where a member asked the very same question, every response was the same, “with you, monitoring thread for suggestions.” None of us who have parented these kids through a lifetime of challenges have no idea how or where to go to help our kids create romantic relationships. <br /><br /><b>Anyone have ideas?</b></div>
Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-63159592088085904142019-01-28T15:32:00.000-05:002019-01-28T15:32:03.374-05:00Laughter is the Best Medicine<br />
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“Laughter and orgasm are great bedfellows.” ~<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/laughter_and_orgasm_are_great/175355.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #007399; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">John Callahan</a></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Laugh every day</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> — They say laughter is the best medicine and I couldn't agree more. </span><a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-04/aps-jte033006.php" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #007399; font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Laughter releases endorphins</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">, the same ones we release when we exercise and the same ones we release when we orgasm. That euphoric feeling that makes your body thrum, your head clear and your spirits lift, comes from the same place your laughter comes from. So when was the last time you laughed? You may rob yourself of an orgasm (which I don't recommend) but you should never rob yourself of your sense of humor. Without it, life is not just dull, it can be downright unbearable. </span><br />
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“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” ~<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/a_day_without_laughter_is_a_day_wasted/153669.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #007399; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Charlie Chaplin</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BekyWywHNlA/XE9k4Ge9GgI/AAAAAAAAO-g/kGooZoprI9YgzfR5DG16hzLEQoFxsu66QCLcBGAs/s1600/14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BekyWywHNlA/XE9k4Ge9GgI/AAAAAAAAO-g/kGooZoprI9YgzfR5DG16hzLEQoFxsu66QCLcBGAs/s320/14.png" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Be the master of your own happiness </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">— I was talking to my daughter about how difficult it is to be a friend at times, especially when we see our friends unhappy and can't do anything to change it. Sure we can crack a joke, tell a funny anecdote, redirect their thoughts to something else for a little while but at the end of the day, we can't </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">be</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> the happiness that our friends need. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">I see so many people put their faith, their heart and their entire happiness on another human being then be completely heartbroken when that person walks out of their life. Human beings are fallible. There are none righteous, the Bible says and there are none that are perfect. It is our ability to be fallible that makes us so interesting, intricate and amazing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Never trust your heart, your wallet or your happiness to another human being. They'll break it, rob it or run off with it. Your entire reason for living cannot be another human being -- not even your children. People die every second of every day and if tomorrow everything and everyone you held dear is taken from you, you would still need to get on with life. Giving it up, to me at least, is not an option.</span><br />
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“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." ~<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_reason_people_find_it_so_hard_to_be_happy_is/172218.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #007399; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Marcel Pagnol</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DYjJFZajbhA/XE9k6ZGI1VI/AAAAAAAAO-k/toq6z2yhEo8eB6fcN2zNAvAJtlkDJHg2wCEwYBhgL/s1600/15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DYjJFZajbhA/XE9k6ZGI1VI/AAAAAAAAO-k/toq6z2yhEo8eB6fcN2zNAvAJtlkDJHg2wCEwYBhgL/s320/15.png" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Life and laughter are precious gifts, don't waste them</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> — Laughter, to me, is as important to life as oxygen is to your lungs. Yes, there will be times when even cracking a smile will be difficult or damn near impossible. If your past was unbearable and unhappy, guess what? You still have today... and tomorrow's on the horizon. You have the power to make tomorrow a happier day than yesterday was. Dwelling on your failures, those who hurt you in the past, things you no longer have control over are as futile as riding a bicycle on flat wheels.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Why do you think books like James M. Barrie's </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2TkfOy6" target="_blank">Peter Pan</a></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> were written? To help us remember that even in the middle of a war, we can escape to our own </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Neverland</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> with the help of a little pixie dust and a happy thought. Yes, it can be considered escapism but isn't that what Calgon's trying to sell you anyway? Make every second a Calgon moment and find a happy thought to help you fly.</span><br />
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“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” ~<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_want_to_live_a_happy_life-tie_it_to_a_goal/145945.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #007399; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Albert Einstein</a></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">What are your goals for this year? For this month? For this week? Have you written them down? How do you plan to accomplish these things?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.16px;">Set a daily goal to be happy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #242f33; font-family: "proximanova" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px;"> — Make this goal your top priority. Do something for yourself that will bring you happiness today and enjoy that moment so that you can recall that happy memory when you're in the depths of despair. Don't count on someone else to make you happy or wait for that special someone to bring a smile to your face. Be the happiness you want from others and you'll see how contagious it is. </span><br />
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“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.” ~<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/this_life_is_yours-take_the_power_to_choose_what/12081.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #007399; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self">Susan Polls Schutz</a></blockquote>
Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-51253337952177854502019-01-02T22:57:00.000-05:002019-01-02T22:57:04.366-05:00I Failed the Goodreads Challenge in 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm an avid reader but clearly, I need to read more. I need to read faster and I need to be able to count the manuscripts I read for work in my Goodreads challenge so I can complete my goal every year. According to my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2018/2556735" target="_blank">Year in Books on Goodreads</a> I've read over 13,000 pages across 47 booksin 2018. You'd think I would be happy with those numbers but knowing that I'd set my Goodreads challenge to 50 books and failing it by 3 titles (which are currently sitting in my “currently reading” list) stings.<br />
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I’m a habit tracker, a list maker, 🎶a task list taker...🎶 and find it completely satisfying to check off or fill in a tracker with a completed task. Days where that doesn’t happen are usually marked as “frustrating or stressed” in my mood tracker. I need to complete tasks! It’s almost an obsession really. But even while failing to complete the Goodreads challenge for 2018, I was able to achieve my goal of diversifying my reading list. I devoted 2018 to reading more POC authors, more LGBTQIA fiction, more audiobooks, more nonfiction, and more new-to-me authors who have been killing it in the indie market. I read more books via audio than in 2017 switching between the Kindle and Audible apps throughout the day to finish a book while folding laundry, walking the dog, or driving my son to and from work each day.<br />
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I discovered the immersive fantastical worlds of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38451297-bruja-born" target="_blank">Zoraida Cordova</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37933006-children-of-blood-and-bone" target="_blank">Tomi Adeyemi</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32968540-akata-witch" target="_blank">Nnedi Okorafor</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25591568-a-torch-against-the-night" target="_blank">Sabaa Tahir</a>. I lost myself in historical romances by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27504772-a-summer-for-scandal" target="_blank">Lydia San Andres</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34825124-a-hope-divided" target="_blank">Alyssa Cole</a> and the #SlayerofWords <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35097002-tempest" target="_blank">Beverly Jenkins</a>. I laughed out loud with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36474184-when-dimple-met-rishi" target="_blank">Sonali Dev</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35828223-a-princess-in-theory" target="_blank">Alyssa Cole</a>’s contemporary romances and fell in love with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18811246-claire-of-the-sea-light" target="_blank">Edwidge Danticat</a>’s brutally beautiful prose. I got to know <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31948742-born-a-crime" target="_blank">Trevor Noah</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37543716-the-last-black-unicorn" target="_blank">Tiffany Haddish</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36607170-the-mother-of-black-hollywood" target="_blank">Jenifer Lewis</a> through their memoirs and fell in love with the beauty of a Cuban sunset with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133919-next-year-in-havana" target="_blank">Chanel Cleeton</a>. I helped to rebuild Puerto Rico with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39345741-ricanstruction" target="_blank">La Borinquena</a> then ran with thieves and murderers uncovering secrets along the way with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31424708-city-of-saints-thieves" target="_blank">Natalie Anderson</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33406197-the-good-daughter" target="_blank">Karin Slaughter</a>. Some books were purchased in multiple formats, some were borrowed from the library, others were gifted but all were treasured.<br />
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Failing to complete the goal of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/10877540" target="_blank">50 books read in 2018</a> may keep me from checking off that list but it sure helped me discover so much more.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-12230497055677539602019-01-01T22:04:00.003-05:002019-01-01T22:06:10.497-05:00What's In Your Playlist?<style type="text/css">
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If you had to create a playlist that defines your expectation of the year, what would that be?</div>
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I have several playlists on my phone for different things: Christmas playlists both Spanish and English, Movie Soundtracks both instrumental and not, a writing playlist and two “mindset” playlists. These are the ones I turn to, to start my day or motivate me one way or another. </div>
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In 2018, I created the "Abundant Life" playlist; a mostly gospel music list that reminds me to stay centered and live my best life, abundantly. </div>
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For 2019, I've decided to stick with my “You Got This” playlist; a playlist I created on my 39th birthday and have been adding to every year through my 45th. It’s a playlist of empowerment and reflection all at once with lyrics that remind me to kick ass and remember who I am with songs like Undefeated by Jason Derulo, Rise Up by Andra Day, and He Lives In You by Lebo M from the Lion King Soundtrack. It’s a playlist I put on shuffle while driving, walking, doing laundry, working around the house. But it’s more than that. It’s a real snapshot of who I am and what I think of myself at this very moment.</div>
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Here’s the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/00SApzB8m7Y4WDfpklymDd" target="_blank">playlist</a>:</div>
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1. Undefeated - Jason Derulo</div>
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2. Live It Up (feat. Pitbull) - Jennifer Lopez</div>
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3. Best Day of My Life - American Authors</div>
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4. I Really Want It - A Great Big World</div>
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5. Am I Wrong - Nico & Vinz</div>
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6. Story of My Life - One Direction</div>
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7. Can’t Hold Us - Pentatonix</div>
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8. It’s Time - Imagine Dragons</div>
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9. Live Your Life - MIKA</div>
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10. Relax, Take It Easy - MIKA</div>
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11. Cheerleader - Pentatonix</div>
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12. Try Everything - Shakira<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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13. Rise Up - Andra Day</div>
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14. Sing - Pentatonix</div>
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15. Raise You Up / Just Be - Kinky Boots Full Company</div>
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16. He Lives In You - Lebo M</div>
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17. Almost There - Anika Noni Rose from The Princess and the Frog</div>
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18. Dig a Little Deeper - Jenifer Lewis from The Princess and the Frog</div>
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19. Misbehavin’ - Pentatonix</div>
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20. Great Spirits - Tina Turner from Brother Bear soundtrack</div>
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21. Welcome - Phil Collins from Brother Bear soundtrack<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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22. On My Way - Phil Collins from Brother Bear soundtrack</div>
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23. Rise - Katy Perry</div>
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24. If I Ever Fall In Love (feat. Jason Derulo)</div>
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25. I Knew You Were Waiting For Me - George Michael & Aretha Franklin</div>
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26. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me feat. Elton John - George Michael</div>
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27. This Is Me - Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble</div>
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28. Fight Song - Rachel Platten</div>
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29. Confident - Demi Lovato</div>
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30. God Bless This Mess - Bon Jovi</div>
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31. We Weren’t Born to Follow - Bon Jovi</div>
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32. Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi</div>
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33. What About Us - Pink</div>
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34. I Am Here - Pink</div>
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35. Praying - Pentatonix</div>
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36. Walls - Bon Jovi</div>
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37. Vivir Mi Vida - Marc Anthony</div>
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38. Girls Like You (feat. Cardi B) - Maroon 5</div>
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39. Granted - Josh Groban</div>
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40. You - A Great Big World</div>
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What are the songs or playlists that define you?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<br />Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-25445978605115519202018-11-08T18:10:00.000-05:002018-11-08T18:10:08.026-05:00What My Dog Has Taught Me About Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span data-key="jo8x48xs"><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:0">Dobby</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:1"> is a 15-year-old mouthy miniature </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:2">pinscher</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:3"> with cataracts in his eyes, a limp from being </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:4">run</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xs:5"> over by a car a decade ago and the heart of a lion... in the body of a puppy. </span></span></h2>
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<span data-key="jo8x54q7"><span data-offset-key="jo8x54q7:0">While he barks bloody murder to get anyone to help him down off the couch, he can still jump up to the couch when he thinks no one’s watching. He sleeps a lot now but his ears still perk up at the sound of any crumb hitting the ground and while he can’t </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x54q7:1">really</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x54q7:2"> run like he used to, he still canters like a mini stallion on his infrequent walls. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="jo8x48xu:0">He avoids the outdoors if it’s raining, refuses to eat soft foods despite not having most of his teeth and gets in your face to sniff you when he can’t see you, which is most of the time now as his eyes cloud with cataracts. But he still gets playful, crouching down, his butt and tail wagging when he’s offered a snack and prancing around my husband’s buddies while they play cards in hopes of a </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xu:1">few</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xu:2" data-slate-fragment="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"> table scraps.</span><br />
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<span data-key="jo8x48xw"><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xw:0">As I get older and the body aches and pains start, I look at my dog and think, “if he can still jump up on the couch, I can keep scrubbing this tub.” Okay, probably not the best analogy, but he’s an inspiration in </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xw:1">many</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xw:2"> ways. Here are some ways he's taught me to live life a bit better.</span></span></div>
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<span data-key="jo8xa7bq"><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:0"><b>Don't let life get you down. </b></span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:1">Dobby</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:2"> couldn't care less about your political leanings, who you sleep with, what church you attend, or how you </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:3">identify</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:4">, he </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:5">just</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:6"> wants you to sit down on the couch beside him, so he can get some of your warmth. It's not that he's ambivalent about the world his masters live in, he'd rather focus on the more important </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:7">things</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:8"> in life, like how much time his </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:9">Momma</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xa7bq:10"> is going to spend on her Netflix binge of the British Baking Show, so he can stay curled up, catching some much-needed sleep beside her.</span></span></div>
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<span data-key="jo8xg9ay"><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:0"><b>He works hard at not working hard.</b></span><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:1"> He spends his days looking for ways and areas around the house where he can sleep comfortably. </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:2">He</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:3"> knows sleep is a </span><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:4">very</span><span data-offset-key="jo8xg9ay:5"> important part of his health regimen, and he commits himself to it with laser focus.</span></span></div>
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<span data-key="jo96gfcp"><span data-offset-key="jo96gfcp:0"><b>He</b></span><span data-offset-key="jo96gfcp:1"><b> doesn't let obstacles get in his way.</b></span><span data-offset-key="jo96gfcp:2"> </span><span data-offset-key="jo96gfcp:3">Dobby</span><span data-offset-key="jo96gfcp:4"> will walk all over the laptop, remote control, books and papers strewn on the sofa to get to his sleeping corner. He refuses to eat soft food preferring to crunch on hard kibble with the remaining teeth he has left even if it takes him twice as long to eat. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="jo8x48xu:2" data-slate-fragment="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"><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xy:0" style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">He’s crotchety, ornery, ridiculously </span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xy:1" style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">divaesque</span><span data-offset-key="jo8x48xy:2" style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> in his ways, but he’s still playful, loving, and at times, even helpful. I mean, he can still hear, so he’s sure to let you know every time the neighbor has company, steps outside or the breeze blows any leaves across our lawn. This is still his castle, after all and his instincts are to defend it any way he can. If that means barking at 3 a.m. to let everyone know he heard a sound somewhere, then so be it.</span> </span></div>
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Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-86811507773216692672018-11-06T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-06T10:30:06.425-05:00Why We Need More Male Friendship Books<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vR1wp2-ttVs/W9deT8oQk2I/AAAAAAAAOwc/ULj08QMTnac1K3F-KFmfhs-_orFIHnCLwCLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2BHeader.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vR1wp2-ttVs/W9deT8oQk2I/AAAAAAAAOwc/ULj08QMTnac1K3F-KFmfhs-_orFIHnCLwCLcBGAs/s640/Blog%2BHeader.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/tysecUm5HJA" target="_blank">Papaioannou Kostas</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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I'm a sucker for friendship stories. If a book has a strong, core friendship that lasts throughout the story, it's a good chance you've hooked me as a reader. Some of my favorite stories are adventure stories where <a href="https://amzn.to/2CQZorN" target="_blank">a group of friends help each other achieve an impossible feat</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/2JnCV6J" target="_blank">where the main character defeats their nemesis with the help of their friends</a>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Onz115ACf0Y/W9dfPfYMxtI/AAAAAAAAOwk/9Sc_ZLuBiXAYK01M13DpG5qhdfSqAN_AQCLcBGAs/s1600/aman-shrivastava-224529-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Onz115ACf0Y/W9dfPfYMxtI/AAAAAAAAOwk/9Sc_ZLuBiXAYK01M13DpG5qhdfSqAN_AQCLcBGAs/s320/aman-shrivastava-224529-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/w6caoaJzXIE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Aman Shrivastava</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/collections/3436792/my-first-collection/0d9983467f37569b9f9d589c9635d6f2?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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<span data-key="jnum9503"><span data-offset-key="jnum9503:0">But while good friendships make for good stories, we don't encourage male friendships to thrive beyond childhood, and we don't encourage physical affection between them to extend beyond puberty. We tend to </span><span data-offset-key="jnum9503:1">sexualize</span><span data-offset-key="jnum9503:2"> their bonds instead, creating rifts and establishing an environment of </span></span><a data-key="jnumgs86" href="https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/what-is-toxic-masculinity-dg/" target="_blank"><span data-key="jnumgs85">toxic masculinity</span></a><span data-key="jnumgs84" data-slate-fragment="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"><span data-offset-key="jnumgs84:0">. We tell our boys to be boys, to stop crying, to stop feeling or showing emotion after they reach a certain age (an age arbitrarily chosen by parents or the community they're raised in, by the way). </span><span data-offset-key="jnumgs84:1">We</span><span data-offset-key="jnumgs84:2"> teach our boys that if they still hug or kiss their male friends, they're acting like girls, or equate affection to a homosexual relationship.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
By rejecting anything stereotypically feminine, men and boys are taught to reject an essential part of themselves, something that is to be valued. - <i>Michael Carley, <a href="https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/what-is-toxic-masculinity-dg/">The Good Men Project</a></i></blockquote>
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The truth is, we learn more about ourselves through the media than in any other way. Movies like <a href="https://amzn.to/2AzgwQU">Stand By Me</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2QbuEVS">Goonies</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/2CPQv1B">The Sandlot</a> show us how boys can be friends, holding hands, hugging and even kissing on the cheek for comfort but soon as those boys grow up to be adults, their affection shifts. Their relationships are shown as distant while close. <br />
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So where are the books exploring adult male friendships that show men loving each other as they did when they were little? Why is it so difficult to show adult male friendships in genre fiction without adding a romantic component to their love? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for romance novels featuring same-sex pairings and don't ever want them to go away. I want more of them, in fact. Would love to see them on the shelves at Walmart and Target stores across America but that's a topic for another post. I want to find more of those stories and encourage storytellers to give us those great adventure stories where men have friendships that have lasted a lifetime; where they are affectionate with one another on page as adults. <br />
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We need more male friendship stories in adult genre fiction. What are some of your favorite books featuring adult male friendships?Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-9306695437264147262018-06-15T00:47:00.000-04:002018-10-07T22:00:14.669-04:005 Things To Know When Negotiating a Deal Sheet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WjAVk-F2N24/WyM9_R1irfI/AAAAAAAAOek/ffuPZw8-17YDIXxCzYVg-Zxjs5RHpIFFACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Author%2Bbrandn%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WjAVk-F2N24/WyM9_R1irfI/AAAAAAAAOek/ffuPZw8-17YDIXxCzYVg-Zxjs5RHpIFFACK4BGAYYCw/s640/Author%2Bbrandn%2B%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Continuing my birthday-month blog series, this week, we'll go over the negotiating a Deal Sheet.<br />
<br />
Also known as the Offer Letter, the Deal Sheet is the first step in your negotiation of a publishing contract. It is usually a one-page document attached to an email, or embedded into the email, detailing what the publisher is offering to publish the work. It is generally received after a phone conversation between the agent and the acquisitions editor (or the acquisition editor and the author) where the deal points are discussed.<br />
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Deal sheets are not a contract but they are generally a viable offer that a publisher has put on paper for the agent to take to the author and/or approve/reject on the author’s behalf. It details general points (deal points) that the publisher is willing to offer the author in exchange for the right to publish the work. It’s important to understand and review these points well before agreeing to them as these are generally the first opportunity you have to negotiate with the publisher.<br />
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If you don’t already have an agent who will negotiate the contract for you, or if you feel comfortable negotiating with a publisher on your own, here are a few things to remember before sitting down at the negotiation table:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b style="font-weight: bold;">Negotiation is a dance of give and take. </b>Set in your mind the rigid limits you’ll allow to be pushed before walking away from the table. What’s your deal-breaker? Keep that in the forefront of your mind.</li>
<li><b>Do your homework.</b> This is something you can do now. Subscribe to industry newsletters in your genre, consult with agents and other writers about the industry standard royalty rates. Ask other writers about their experience signing with their current publisher.</li>
<li><b>Assume everything is negotiable.</b> While one or two things can be non-negotiable in a contract, chances are 90% of what’s presented to you is negotiable. Doesn’t hurt to ask for everything and leave the room with more than you walked in with.</li>
<li><b>While on the phone, don’t argue the small stuff and on paper, keep your tone professional instead of combative.</b> Make a strong argument for what you want but since you’re likely not a bestselling author about to take your millions in earnings elsewhere, be aware of your lack of leverage at this point and arm yourself with knowledge about the industry (see #2 above). Propose counteroffers that are not insulting to the publisher or to your wallet.</li>
<li><b>Ask for it in writing.</b> Once the conversation is over, ask again for the revised deal sheet to be emailed to you. It should include everything you discussed in person or via phone.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Resources:<br />
- <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2MuPw99" target="_blank">How to Be Your Own Literary Agent</a></i> by Richard Curtis<br />
- "<a href="http://helensedwick.com/negotiating-with-a-book-publisher-7-deal-points-to-confirm-before-you-sign-on-the-dotted-line/" target="_blank">Negotiating With a Book Publisher: 7 Deal Points to Confirm Before You Sign On The Dotted Line</a>"Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-80180324478421406222018-06-06T23:57:00.000-04:002019-10-18T21:50:57.701-04:00Author Platform and Branding for Fiction Writers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s my birth-month and I think it only fitting that I dedicate it to launching a new blog series. This week we’ll discuss establishing an author platform and tying that your author brand. After all, readers are buying <b>you</b> when they look for your titles, not your publisher, or your editor, or even your <a href="https://www.saritzahernandez.com/" target="_blank">adorable, Puertorican literary agent</a> with a penchant for coffee and gifs in everything.<br />
<br />
<b>Aren’t platforms for nonfiction writers and 70s shoes?</b><br />
An author platform is as vital to the fiction author as it is to the nonfiction author and it encompasses everything from blogs to social media presence, speaking engagements and media contacts. But simply put, platform is the “ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach.” – <a href="https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-definition/" target="_blank">Jane Friedman</a><br />
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<b>So what’s a platform and why do you need one?</b><br />
"Platform is the ability to get people to follow and find you for information and guidance." - Chuck Sambuchino, <i>Create Your Writer Platform</i><br />
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It's what you do before you're published. Your platform is your visibility and your reach, or the amount of people who will amplify your message and lead sales back to you. It's about who you know and more important, who knows <b><i>you</i></b>? It’s not just about what you write, but the number of readers you’re able to secure for your upcoming title. Editors and agents like to see that authors are able to build (and retain) an audience, which starts with a solid platform.<br />
<i><br /></i>
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<b>What are you known for? What's your brand?</b><br />
In order to build an audience, you should <i><b>identify your author brand</b></i>. Start wide, then narrow it down to the niche or specialty that sets you apart from the others.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Are you a romance, mystery, horror, science fiction, fantasy writer?</li>
<ul>
<li>Identify this first as it will determine what your overall brand needs to be. </li>
</ul>
<li>What promise are you making to your readers?</li>
<ul>
<li>HEAs for all? Or are you more of a Happy For Now?</li>
<li>Death to all fan-favorite characters? Sweeping your ax like a crazed George R.R. Martin making your fans weep?</li>
</ul>
<li>Then identify you niche within the broader market. What will the reader come to expect in your books that you are known for delivering? High-stakes romantic thrillers? Light BDSM erotic romance works? Small town, sweet contemporary romance novels?</li>
<ul>
<li>If you are known for something specific or a distinct style of writing, include that in your brand. This is your niche and it’s what sets your brand apart.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<b>Now where is your audience for that brand?</b><br />
<div>
Find out where most of the "fans" for your brand hang out. Where the readers of your genre tend to shop for their books and when in doubt, ask other writers and published authors in your genre. It's a great way to network with other authors who could lead to expanding your reach.</div>
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<b>All roads lead back to you.</b><br />
Once you’ve identified your brand and potential audience, <b>make sure all roads lead back to you</b>. Your website, social media, promo should match your niche. I tell my clients to make sure that their website is updated and all social media links, as well as buy links are available on their website. <b>Have all links open in another tab or window</b> so guests can return to your website when they’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of links your titles are bound to lead them through. <i><b>You'll notice all links in this blog open in a separate tab or window.</b></i><br />
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<b>Social media is for socializing and networking!</b><br />
Use your social media to create long-term connections with readers and authors alike. Engage with followers in an organic way without constantly peddling your wares. Talk about what you’re writing, what your cat is doing, the number of rooms in your house you vacuumed before sitting down to write, etc. You want to publicize your book on social media, of course, but you don’t want to beat people over the head with it. <b>Sell you, not just your book.</b><br />
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But when listing your book on social media, don’t forget to include links to where readers can buy it. Include Amazon, iBooks and BN in the US, Kobo in Canada and Europe. <i><b>Make sure that your social media encourages action and INTERACTION with you.</b></i><br />
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Last but not least, <b>remember to use social media to network for long term connections</b>. Engage with other authors in your genre as well as editors, agents, book bloggers/reviewers, librarians, booksellers, teachers, college students and fans! Cultivate those connections because, as I said earlier, they will help expand your reach. They will help amplify your voice when it’s time but you need to create a connection with them first.<br />
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There is a lot of information on platform and branding online and in books by amazing leaders in the industry. Here are a few that I used to put this post together.<br />
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<i>Resources: </i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2sNPWym" target="_blank"><i>Create Your Writer Platform</i></a> by Chuck Sambuchino</li>
<li><a href="https://editorsays.com/2017/08/29/platform-for-fiction-writers/" target="_blank">Platform for Fiction Writers</a><i> </i>by Jillian Manning</li>
<li><a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/author-platform-definition/" target="_blank">A Definition of Author Platform</a> by Jane Friedman</li>
</ul>
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Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-63357868399481472792018-05-08T16:02:00.000-04:002018-10-07T22:11:42.290-04:005 Things Every Query Letter Should Have<div style="text-align: center;">
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You've likely spent a few months revising your manuscript, making sure to <a href="https://thewritelife.com/declutter-writing/" target="_blank">remove clutter words</a>, <a href="http://rockyourwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ROCK-YOUR-REVISIONS-WORKBOOK-1.pdf" target="_blank">tighten scenes</a>, strengthen plot-lines and create kick-ass characters you're sure readers are going to love (or hate). It is now ready to go out to agents and editors in hopes of publication. But agents receive thousands of queries per month, how do you make yours stand out?<br />
<br />
First and foremost, remember that <b>your query is a letter and should be addressed as such</b>. You can address the agent with the standard Dear Saritza, or Ms. Saritza (though I prefer the informal Hi Saritza to Ms. or Mrs.) but DO NOT start your query with To Whom It May Concern, Dear Agent or Ladies and Gentlemen. Our names are everywhere, take the time to personalize your query and make the effort to show the agent you've done your research.<br />
<br />
I recommend reading <i><a href="https://rachellegardner.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter/" target="_blank">How To Write A Query Letter</a></i> by Rachelle Gardner as the first stop in your research. Her blog is a an invaluable resource to aspiring authors, so make sure to bookmark her site and spend some time learning about the transition from writer to author.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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Now, I can't speak for (nor do I dare to) any other agent but I can tell you what I look for and hope to see in the queries I receive. It starts with the voice! Hook me from the get-go and make sure to include information about your <b>character</b>, <b>plot</b>, <b>setting</b>, <b>conflict</b> and <b>resolution</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Character(s) </b>- who is your main character? What's important about them that I need to know right away? If it's a romance, introduce the main character, then their love interest.</li>
<li><b>Distinctive Plot</b> - give me a glimpse of your plot or the events in your work that set it apart from others in your genre and this is where you get to make your voice shine. It should read like what you'd like the back cover of your book to say.</li>
<li><b>Setting</b> - where are you taking me? Time and place are important to the genre and it can be achieved with one sentence: <i>The barrio is no place for secrets.</i></li>
<li><b>Conflict</b> - what are the stakes? Why should I care about this book? Make it compelling and make me want to devour the work in one sitting.</li>
<li><b>Resolution</b> - I represent romance authors. I need to see the Happily Ever After or Happy For Now in your query and clearly represented in your synopsis. But even outside of romance, I like to see that the book provides the reader with a clear resolution to the conflict.</li>
</ol>
</div>
These don't have to be in any specific order but I like to see all five in a standard query letter. Now, this is not true of every agent, so make sure to research.<br />
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You can find my submission guidelines on our agency website <a href="https://www.corvisieroagency.com/saritza-hernandez.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-37648285479736202702017-05-31T14:29:00.000-04:002017-05-31T14:29:15.783-04:00Women's Fiction in Romance #MSWL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I read a lot of Romance novels. It's my not-so-guilty pleasure and one I'm never ashamed to speak about or seen enjoying but it wasn't always the case.<br />
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While living at home (with my very religious mother), I had to sneak my romance novels (and any horror or suspense books) into my room or leave them in my band locker to read during lunch or between class periods and band practice so my mother wouldn't throw them away. But many of the Women's Fiction titles I'd bring home, my mother simply glanced at the cover and "paid me no mind." What's interesting is that some of the WF titles I'd read in the late eighties/early nineties while in school were steamier (and sometimes scarier) than some of the romance novels, horror books and suspense titles I'd be shamed for reading at home.<br />
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In Women's Fiction, as a young woman, I'd find more main characters that looked like me where romance was still very much about the love and pleasure of the Caucasian, heterosexual, cisgender female finding her happily ever after with the equally labeled man of her dreams, in titles like <a href="http://amzn.to/2rpeuij" target="_blank"><i>Waiting to Exhale</i></a> and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2rplHii" target="_blank">The Joy Luck Club</a></i>, I saw women of color dealing with heartache, abuse, oppression, and shame, then standing up for themselves to change the world around them. Sometimes there was a handsome man courting them, sometimes there were sex scenes, abusive scenes but like in the romance novels, there was hope and a future for the heroine.<br />
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In the 80s and 90s, there seemed to be a very distinct line between the two genres (at least on the shelves of the library sales I'd shop as a teen). Today, that line between Women's Fiction and Romance is blurring (if the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/genres/womens-fiction" target="_blank">Goodreads genre lists</a> are any indication) and allowing for a greater crossover for authors whose works fit both the romance formula as well as what the Romance Writers of America organization defines women's fiction to be: "a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship."<br />
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So, all of this is to say that I'd love to see more of that crossover in the queries I'm receiving. Do you have a <a href="http://amzn.to/2qBSPQJ" target="_blank">Sophie Kinsella</a> meets <a href="http://amzn.to/2rUWYTH" target="_blank">Debbie Macomber</a>? A <a href="http://amzn.to/2qB91G3" target="_blank">Terry McMillan</a> meets <a href="http://amzn.to/2qBvRcF" target="_blank">Beverly Jenkins</a>? An empowering tale of a woman getting her company AND her man? I'd love to see it! Follow my <a href="http://www.corvisieroagency.com/saritza-hernandez.html" target="_blank">submission guidelines</a> and send me your query today.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-57000232305039298702016-10-05T13:18:00.000-04:002016-10-05T13:18:33.817-04:00What does "High Concept" mean?We were discussing "High Concept" or "Commercial Appeal" at the office yesterday and realized this is something that trips up many authors and agents. So here are my very random thoughts on the subject.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Find_your_voice._express_yourself._creative_writing..jpg" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>What is High Concept?</b><br />
<br />
First, let me say what it's not:<br />
<ul>
<li>It's not your whole book.</li>
<li>Not inherently lowest common denominator plot (like a literary or think piece plot).</li>
<li>Not just a movie pitch (Stranger Things: ET meets Aliens and every other 80s movie).</li>
<li>Not another term for gimmicky.</li>
</ul>
<br />
High Concept has five elements:<br />
<ol>
<li>broad appeal, </li>
<li>ooh factor, </li>
<li>originality, </li>
<li>standout setting, and </li>
<li>illuminates a universal human truth.</li>
</ol>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: MemeMaker</span></td></tr>
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<ol>
<li><b>The premise has broad appeal</b> which I know is kind of vague since appeal is really subjective but the concept should be distinct, easily parsed with a clear premise that is immediately intriguing and taps into a wide range of readers' interest. <br />A great example today was <a href="http://amzn.to/2dSDIN2" target="_blank">Kami Garcia</a>'s upcoming YA pitched as <i>Fast and the Furious</i> meets <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. You know from that high concept pitch to expect a high octane adventure with suped-up cars and star-crossed lovers in rival gangs/groups.</li>
<li><b>It has an "Ooh Factor" built in. </b>Or as Corvisiero Literary Agency, Jr. Literary Agent <a href="http://www.corvisieroagency.com/cate-hart.html" target="_blank">Cate Hart</a> put it, "where originality meets familiarity." For example: <a href="http://amzn.to/2dsYdC3" target="_blank">Truthwitch</a> by <a href="http://amzn.to/2e2oGHD" target="_blank">Susan Dennard</a> – what’s original – a world of magic; what's familiar is the twisting of the Tristan and Isolde tale and the Arthurian Legend. <br />This IT factor can be delivered in the execution or the premise – a story we know retold with a unique structure, a twist on a trope, mash-up of two genres. Think about what catches your eye in a flap copy or new TV show (again Stranger Things – the familiar of Spielberg and King, yet a new take on the classic “pre-teen friendship plus horror sci-fi" trope.) But <b>the mash-up or trope needs to be one with wide appeal</b>. If your mash-up is too unique or your trope is too niched, it loses its commercial appeal because not many readers may know the trope or pieces you're mashing up to go, "oooh, I can't wait to read that!"</li>
<li><b>Originality and Familiarity</b> - What are the stakes? Why should we care about the protagonist's plight? The reader should engage with the main character immediately and feel like the stakes are as high for them as it is for the main character. In <a href="http://amzn.to/2dSC26o" target="_blank"><i>The Neverending Story</i></a>, Bastian is immediately immersed in this world where Atreyu's plight is tied to his own. <br />Look at your stories, what are the stakes for your main character? Are they high enough to make you breathless with anticipating their next move? Will readers feel like they want to stick with your character all the way through to the end of the story and come out of it feeling like Bilbo returning from his great adventure? A little crispy, a little heartbroken and still exhilarated by the experience.</li>
<li><b>A standout setting</b> that's still familiar enough for the reader to connect and engage (there's that word again) in. Think the<i> <a href="http://amzn.to/2dSFyNW" target="_blank">Red Queen</a></i> where it’s set in this distant future, but still a familiar world, or kind of like the <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2dsZuce" target="_blank">Shannara Chronicles</a> </i>– 4000 years in future and man has evolved into elves and ogres, trolls, etc. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2dKYMcn" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a> </i>where the muggle world is just one part of this greater wizarding world we get to explore.</li>
<li>A Story That <b>Illuminates Universal Human Truth</b>. Your concept needs to be more than the book. It should challenge expectations, provide insight by illuminating a universal truth. It has to be about something that's bigger than the book (<a href="http://amzn.to/2dSE0Um" target="_blank">Hunger Games</a>, a book about children killing children.)</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
I hope this post is helpful when you're working on your next projects or polishing up your current WIPs for mass market appeal. The examples listed are primarily for YA and MG but they really apply to all fiction genres and age-groups.</div>
</div>
Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-8512350063506362412015-08-24T10:39:00.001-04:002015-08-24T10:39:35.603-04:00When to offer representationWhile working with one of our agent apprentices, we discussed how and when it's appropriate to offer representation and how do we know if the author is going to be a good fit for both the agent and the agency. It's important to be mindful of our time and resources when we know the quality of the work is there from the author. So, I put together a quick list of questions I ask myself when I find that manuscript I love and want to offer representation.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GO20IY0Nso8/Vdsq72jnj4I/AAAAAAAAJf8/BlvJ1vdquUQ/s1600/6743306505_b0da094b57_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GO20IY0Nso8/Vdsq72jnj4I/AAAAAAAAJf8/BlvJ1vdquUQ/s200/6743306505_b0da094b57_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/benterrett/6743306505" target="_blank">Ben Terrett</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I read a manuscript for representation, I'm not just reading for fun. I'm looking at a lot of different factors and deciding on whether I'm the right fit for this project.<br />
<br />
So I ask myself:<br />
<ol>
<li>Is the work engaging?</li>
<li>Does the author have an established platform?</li>
<li>Does the work need a lot of editorial work or just a quick polish?</li>
<li>Do I have the time to devote to the editorial needs of this work?</li>
<li>Do I have the time to devote to the needs of this author?</li>
<li>Off the top of my head, how many editors can I pitch this to?</li>
<li>Is this too similar to something I already represent?</li>
<li>Is this a topic I'm passionate about?</li>
<li>Does the book have series potential? Does it need it?</li>
</ol>
<br />
I'm also mindful of the industry and where it's going. If the book is a stand-alone, will the author be able to crank out other books that will keep the pipeline full and establish a readership?<br />
<br />
So many questions but the most important have to do with time management. If I can't devote the time to the author that they need to be a success then I can't, in good judgment, offer representation.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-42387681109358578202015-06-05T14:39:00.000-04:002021-12-28T19:22:16.829-05:00In Publishing, patience is not just a virtue, it’s good business.<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HoKL8W7R_nY/VXHr90FupCI/AAAAAAAAJHI/Hn3VZ-tD1cU/s1600/2015-06-05%2B14.34.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HoKL8W7R_nY/VXHr90FupCI/AAAAAAAAJHI/Hn3VZ-tD1cU/s200/2015-06-05%2B14.34.28.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by Saritza Hernandez (c) 2015</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In publishing, the hurry-up-and-wait method of getting to publication can be frustrating and defeatist to a new author or to a new agent advocating for her clients who have little to no patience. As an author, you’re racing to the finish line of this manuscript decathlon you’ve poured your heart and soul into then rush your beta readers and critique partners to provide you with the feedback needed to make this book even better. You rush to make a list of editors and agents to query then… you wait. You sit on your hands itching to check in with those publishing individuals whose emails you reached out to just the day before wishing and hoping they’ll respond with that coveted offer of publication or representation you’ve been dying to receive since you began your authorial career six months prior.<br />
<br />
It doesn’t work that way.<br />
<br />
It can’t work that way.<br />
<br />
It shouldn’t work that way.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZAd8Pk5XWE/VXHrRK5c_MI/AAAAAAAAJHA/EXnMMPbxclA/s1600/2015-06-05%2B14.30.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZAd8Pk5XWE/VXHrRK5c_MI/AAAAAAAAJHA/EXnMMPbxclA/s200/2015-06-05%2B14.30.18.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by Saritza Hernandez (c) 2015</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My grandmother used to say that a job rushed is a half-assed job and she was not one to do anything by half measures. I found myself rescrubbing the kitchen sink as a child because I’d “half-assed” the work. <br />
<br />
It takes months (sometimes years) to have quality work published and even longer to establish yourself in the industry (either as an author, agent, editor, marketer, publisher). If you rush to get that book out, you may be sending out half-assed work and the impression you make will be of someone who’s quick at cranking out half of her potential.<br />
<br />
I’d rather work with those who put in their full potential and allow me to do the same in our publishing partnership. <br />
<br />
When a publisher tells me they can produce the book in six months but would rather have twelve to eighteen months so they can produce the print, audio, digital versions and get it out to reviewers with enough time to build a buzz, I’m ecstatic. <br />
<br />
When a publisher says they can do all of that in nine months because they have a proven system (and prove that system to me) I’m thrilled beyond measure. <br />
<br />
When a publisher says they can crank a book out in three months from contract date because they’re “just a digital-only press,” I cringe and add them to my “Do Not Submit To” list. Oh yes, I have one of those lists.<br />
<br />
I don’t half-ass things for my clients, so why would I allow others (or them) to do the same?Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-24689936758591345702015-05-27T15:16:00.001-04:002015-08-24T10:41:20.883-04:00Does your work stand out?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hX6x_Hz1CI/VWYMVPQ5moI/AAAAAAAAJC8/K6X66CJmYrA/s1600/2015-05-27%2B14.22.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hX6x_Hz1CI/VWYMVPQ5moI/AAAAAAAAJC8/K6X66CJmYrA/s200/2015-05-27%2B14.22.23.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by Saritza Hernandez</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2848292/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" target="_blank"><i>Pitch Perfect 2</i></a>? We ended up seeing it twice this past weekend and while I love the songs and found myself singing along (especially in that scene with Rebel Wilson and Adam DeVine) the scenes that struck a chord with me the most were with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1221047/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t26" target="_blank">Keegan-Michael Key</a> who plays Becca's b<br />
oss, an award-winning music producer. <br />
<br />
The first time we see his character on screen he's calling a staff meeting and asks everyone to give ideas. To just shout out anything that comes to mind and no one says or thinks of anything productive to say. As he walks away, he tells them they have one minute to wow him.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"My time is like a toddler in a tiara, people: short and precious." – <i>Keegan Michael Key</i></blockquote>
<span id="goog_1159153065"></span><br />
<br />
I thought about how many times I think the same thing when going through pitch appointments or going through the query inbox. Your query needs to grab my attention quickly and hook me.<br />
<br />
In one of my workshops: "It's All in the Hook" I talk about how important it is to perfect your elevator pitch. When you're at a conference or workshop, you have a few minutes to grab an agent's attention. Before your butt hits the seat, you need to be pitching your book to me.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vizM-vroXbk/VWYSw7lv6zI/AAAAAAAAJDM/qLSdvu2beAA/s1600/ID-100219515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vizM-vroXbk/VWYSw7lv6zI/AAAAAAAAJDM/qLSdvu2beAA/s200/ID-100219515.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from <a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/" target="_blank">FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But your book has to stand out too. What sets your work apart? Why should I pick your book over the hundreds of other books that come through our virtual doors daily?<br />
<br />
If you've followed <a href="http://www.mswishlist.com/queries" target="_blank">#tenqueries</a> you'll see many of the queries passed on are those whose premise is similar or identical to the countless others received by the agent. What sets your post-apocalyptic young adult thriller apart from the many we'll receive thanks to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392190/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank"><i>Mad Max: Fury Road</i></a>?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You're an intern. They're all interns. You're talented. They're all talented. So what makes you special, you know?" – <i>Keegan Michael Key</i></blockquote>
How does your work stand out?Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-92122057278394037522015-03-23T14:22:00.000-04:002015-08-24T10:41:20.893-04:00Hungry, hungry authors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/BroadStreetCharleston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/BroadStreetCharleston.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina" target="_blank">WikiCommons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm in historic Charleston, South Carolina attending the <a href="http://www.pubsensesummit.com/" target="_blank">PubSense Summit</a> and, as always, I spent a good part of my afternoon yesterday, sitting quietly taking it all in. People-watching. You can learn so much about where people are, where they're going, what they hope to accomplish just from sitting quietly and absorbing your surrounds. The hotel has a Starbucks in the lobby so after picking up my grande soy Oprah Chai Tea latte and an egg and cheese sandwich, I went upstairs to the mezzanine and sat down to enjoy my vittles. It was my only moment of anonymity and I cherished it as much as I cherished my Starbucks semi-healthy meal. I watched people move from one panel to another, talking about their projects, what they were working on next and talking to the panelists who had just finished their session. It was a great way to get to know the people in attendance and sort of prepare myself for the panel I would be on shortly.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Pie_eating_contest_1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Pie_eating_contest_1923.jpg" height="162" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_eating" target="_blank">WikiCommons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Authors come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life but what they all share is a love and passion for their writing. I noticed that the ones who were most successful in carrying conversations, were the ones who directed the passion they have on their work to the industry as a whole. The ones whose eyes light up at the mention of something new or changing in the industry. <b>The hungry ones.</b> They didn't just look for other authors to talk to, they approached panelists from the industry and sought out information about the landscape and waters they were currently navigating. They approached the panelists with questions about the industry rather than about how they were going to succeed in said industry. These are the hungry authors. The ones who don't wait for someone to come feed them but who go out and forage for their best eats. They are the voracious readers of books about everything from the genre they're writing in to industry newsletters.<br />
<br />
Sitting there for just a few minutes, eating my semi-edible egg and cheese sandwich, I saw them all and was excited to see them in the audience during my panel. They were hopefully fed by some of the information we provided but I wasn't worried about them, I knew they'd eat their fill while in attendance.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-57723297468161212272015-02-23T18:45:00.000-05:002015-08-24T10:41:20.888-04:00A typical day or why agents drinkI know that I have to get better about my time management (evidenced by the fact that I’m writing this blog post instead of continuing to check off items in my daily to-do list) but I think it's important to note that a day in the life of a literary agent is long and sometimes difficult to manage. I've made posts about "my day in the life" <a href="http://saritzahernandez.blogspot.com/search/label/gen%3A%20time%20management" target="_blank">before</a> but it doesn't hurt to reiterate, right?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/27ce9092244730127ac65e0bbd344ea8/tumblr_inline_nfib7sRrHj1sdds9j.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/27ce9092244730127ac65e0bbd344ea8/tumblr_inline_nfib7sRrHj1sdds9j.gif" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
On a typical day, my work hours are 14-16 hours long and consist of so much “brain work” that I often need a nap around 4 PM. (Much like a toddler or a Golden Girl.) So, what do these 14-6 hours consist of, you ask?<br />
<br />
<b>Email:</b><br />
3-4 hours are usually spent replying to, composing and forwarding emails<br />
<ul>
<li>emails from clients (sounding a lot like “are we there yet”)<br />
</li>
<li>emails to clients (royalty summaries, editorial letters, marketing/promo ideas, what are you working on next)<br />
</li>
<li>emails about clients (buzz-building)<br />
</li>
<li>emails to editors (proposals, negotiations, general “how-do-you-do” stuff)<br />
</li>
<li>emails from editors (replies to proposals, negotiations, editorial letters, invitation to local bars to drown our sorrows)<br />
</li>
<li>emails about editors (who’s looking for what, moving to another line, out on maternity/paternity leave, where the editors are meeting for a drink to our drown our sorrows)<br />
</li>
<li>emails to staff (pub crawl?)<br />
</li>
<li>emails from staff (raising glasses)<br />
</li>
<li>emails about puppies, cats (we generally tweet about our staff cause they’re awesome and we like to talk about ourselves)</li>
</ul>
<b>Word/Excel/PowerPoint Documents:</b><br />
3-4 hours are usually spent drafting, editing and formatting office documents<br />
<ul>
<li>documents from clients (proposals must be read, and re-read, and made to bleed)<br />
</li>
<li>documents to clients (said proposals covered in notes and the blood of a thousand dashed hopes)<br />
</li>
<li>documents about clients (press releases don’t write themselves and royalty statements don’t correct themselves either)<br />
</li>
<li>documents from editors (cover proposals for books on spec are a particular joy)<br />
</li>
<li>documents to editors (proposals don’t write themselves)<br />
</li>
<li>documents about editors (updating lists daily sometimes)<br />
</li>
<li>documents to staff (begging for document writers)<br />
</li>
<li>documents from staff (reminding us that interns should be allowed bathroom breaks)<br />
</li>
<li>documents about staff (gotta let the whole world know we’re awesome and we like to talk about ourselves)</li>
</ul>
<b>Contract/Negotiations:</b><br />
2-3 hours can be spent on one contract and negotiations per day
<br />
<ul>
<li>read contract<br />
</li>
<li>make contract bleed<br />
</li>
<li>write email outlining negotiation points (see email section above)<br />
</li>
<li>compare contract offers<br />
</li>
<li>prepare offers for a client<br />
</li>
<li>research market to make sure contract terms are not outdated<br />
</li>
<li>review previous contracts when trying to determine out-of-print dates<br />
</li>
<li>go over the contract(s) with the client<br />
</li>
<li>curse, bang head on desk, play videos of cute cats or dogs on youtube when a negotiation gets difficult</li>
</ul>
<b>Social Media/Website Interaction</b><br />
2-3 hours can be spent updating agency website and social media sites per day
<br />
<ul>
<li>come across a cover reveal your client forgot to tell you about while reading newsfeed looking for insightful information to post on FB page<br />
</li>
<li>upload said cover to agency FB page, website and agent blog<br />
</li>
<li>reply to tweets, FB comments and tumblr notes<br />
</li>
<li>schedule posts for social media to appear while you’re sleeping for two hours<br />
</li>
<li>like, comment and friend client social media sites<br />
</li>
<li>add reviews and books to “my-clients” bookshelf on goodreads<br />
</li>
<li>pin links to client books on agent’s pinterest page<br />
</li>
<li>post a funny moment on tumblr to keep your sanity after reading inane comments on social media<br />
</li>
<li>watch a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc">baby giggling youtube video</a> to remind yourself that you’re still human</li>
</ul>
<b>Telephone/Skype/IM:</b><br />
2-3 hours per day can be spent talking with people
<br />
<ul>
<li>IM chats with clients<br />
</li>
<li>phone calls with clients, editors, staff<br />
</li>
<li>skype/google hangout/gotomeeting conferences with staff, editors, clients, sub rights editors, translators, marketing teams</li>
</ul>
<b>Reading (and drinking):</b><br />
3-4 hours are spent staring at a screen or book
<br />
<ul>
<li>reading manuscripts, proposals, synopses<br />
</li>
<li>reading proposals by junior agents, interns, etc.<br />
</li>
<li>reading digital ARC (hopefully before release day to catch any typos)<br />
</li>
<li>reading queries (while drinking heavily)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bill-Murray-Chugging-a-Pot-Of-Coffee.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bill-Murray-Chugging-a-Pot-Of-Coffee.gif" height="95" width="200" /></a>And at some point, we spend time with our family so they can remember what we look like, shower, eat and step outside to get some Vitamin D if we’re not popping multi-vitamins with No-Doze and gallons of coffee. So when your agent takes a few days longer to reply than you expected approach emailing them with caution and offer up a pot of coffee in reverence.<br />
<br />Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-70862855310239595912015-01-21T16:59:00.001-05:002015-01-21T16:59:41.850-05:00Twins Come Out to Dad<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/L3K0CJ8usPU" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
I watched this video the day they uploaded it and was surprised to see that, at the time, it only had a few hits (at my viewing of it, it had less than 1k hits). It was picked up by <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/they-came-out-to-their-dad-to-keep-things-normal-his-response-is-extraordinary?c=tpstream" target="_blank">Upworthy</a> and a few other LGBTQIA websites and it has over 14 million hits today. I love this video for many reasons but the moment that I think resonates with so many is when both twins break down and hide their tears and voice from their father. They're so vulnerable at that moment that you can see them as the children they were and not the young men they are. It's a moment that's very real for all of us when we have to confront the fear of rejection by a parent. <br />
<br />
The father's reaction is beautiful and honest without being overly emotional. It's a great video and I know I've already shared it on social media but I had to post about it on my blog too.<br />
<br />
Have you ever had a moment that resonated so much with you that you just had to share it with everyone? Tell me in the comments.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-48404408529003965832015-01-12T12:28:00.000-05:002015-01-12T12:28:27.932-05:00My ObsessionsIf you know me at all, you know I get obsessed with things quickly and completely immerse myself in these obsessions in a way that may seem unhealthy to my psyche to non-fandom, non-geeky individuals: aka, the straights but is perfectly normal to the rest of us.<br />
<br />
In realizing this about myself, I've found that part of our self-identity and, in turn, our self-awareness lies greatly in the things we enjoy. The things we obsess over. I have a very addictive personality so I know to steer clear of things that will suck me in and keep me from accomplishing my goals but once in a while, I throw my addictive personality a bone. These are a few of my current obsessions:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Cooking Shows</b><ul>
<li><b><i>Chopped</i></b> I currently have over 80 episodes recorded and just love watching what people can make with the crazy basket ingredients. I don't know what it is about this show but I've got everyone in my family now watching the recorded episodes late at night when we're not playing tabletop games or doing Harry Potter movie marathons.<br /></li>
<li><b><i>Cutthroat Kitchen</i></b> Alton Brown being deliciously evil with sabotages worthy of any Slytherin like a Hashtag frying pan or a bunk bed prep station! Beautiful! Anthony and I love the trash talking too.<br /></li>
<li><i><b>Worst Cooks in America</b></i> Love Anne Burrelle and while she yells at everyone a lot, she's also the type of encouraging chef that you want teaching you how to be a better chef and a better person in your own life. Plus, I love seeing that there are people out there who are so bad at cooking that my cooking failures pale in comparison.<br /></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>TV Shows</b><ul>
<li><i><b>Agent Carter</b></i> If the writing stays as strong as the series premiere throughout the rest of the season, I'm going to be one happy camper. I love the chemistry between Peggy and Jarvis and the millions of ways the gender stereotypes are addressed and just obliterated by Peggy's bad-ass ways. Beautiful writing and great plot so far. I hope it's better than Agents of Shield whose series I've grown tired of. I didn't like Skye from the beginning and writing the whole series around her, just annoys me.<br /></li>
<li><i><b>Downton Abbey</b></i> Talk about great writing! I never thought I'd be such a huge fan of period pieces like this one and now that we're on our 5th season, I've grown to love this series more.<br /></li>
<li><b><i>Galavant</i></b> Campy musical in the style of Mel Brooks and Monty Python on network television at a time where we need more music and sarcastic humor on TV? Yes, please.<br /></li>
<li><i><b>The View</b></i> I spend my lunch hour watching a recorded episode of The View mainly because I like Whoopi Goldberg and the show's at a time I can squeeze in my day and it's actually kind of mindless watching. I like Nicole Wallace on the panel but her laugh annoys me and I hate it when they all start talking over each other. Nicole likes to just cut into conversations a lot and that irks me most of all but I do like her insight. I think they need to get better at learning to co-host a talk show.<br /></li>
<li><b><i>Forever</i></b> This show has sucked me from the first episode and while I'm not keen on the villain storyline yet, I love that <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/12/09/forever-spoilers-caller/">Burn Gorman</a> is his nemesis, I hope the villain trope is stronger than they've let on so far. My favorite moments are actually when they show the relationship he has with Abe, his adopted so played by <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/judd-hirsch-forever-taxi-falling-out-window-and-pl-209282" target="_blank">Judd Hirsch</a>. The intricately woven storylines have been beautiful to experience and I really hope they continue for several seasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Books</b><ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFGKSDS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AFGKSDS&linkCode=as2&tag=aliinthda-20&linkId=7RB7KCTRFTK7QKZP"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00AFGKSDS&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aliinthda-20" height="110" style="float: left; margin: 6px;" width="71" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aliinthda-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00AFGKSDS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><b><i>Parasite</i> by Mira Grant</b> My niece and I have decided to do the <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2015-36071458?crlt.pid=camp.RTlcdYOWNcmE" target="_blank">PopSugar Reading Challenge</a> this year and I chose PARASITE as my "Book over 500 pages long" challenge. I'm a huge Mira Grant/Seanan Maguire fan so she's an auto-buy for me and at 510 pages, the book serves the challenge nicely. Her books are also the treats I give myself when I've accomplished a goal. I've had this book in my Kindle for a year and it wasn't until I saw that the second in the series was released recently that I decided, I needed to read this book. See, I know that she has an ability to suck me into her worlds and make me wish her worlds never ended so I could keep revising them with a new installment but, as it is with all good things, they must come to an end. Now, I know the book is pricey both in Kindle and print versions but I assure you, every one of her books is worth the money you spend. If you're a fan of her <i>Feed</i> series, I think you're going to like this one. I'm only 1/4 of the way into it (I'm only able to read about an hour a day so it's going slowly) but I'm sucked into this near-future world where a SymboGen parasite is creating what will likely be the coming apocalypse.<br /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NW6FYLY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NW6FYLY&linkCode=as2&tag=aliinthda-20&linkId=5KCNF5YRQ26ABOYZ"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00NW6FYLY&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aliinthda-20" height="110" style="float: left; margin: 6px;" width="73" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aliinthda-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00NW6FYLY" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><b><i>Carry the Ocean</i> by Heidi Cullinan</b> I've been talking about this upcoming release by one of my clients for months now with anyone who will listen because I think it's one of the most important books of 2015. Not just because it's about Autism but because it's about a adults dealing with disabilities that have been stigmatized for centuries and portrayed by media as people to pity or just not give a second thought to. As the parent of an autistic adult who will soon need to deal with falling in love, same-sex attraction, living on his own and dealing with adult decisions, one of my biggest fears is thinking he'll be alone late in life because he won't have found his SO. In CTO, Cullinan addresses so many of the issues ASD adults and those diagnosed with severe clinical depression deal with on a daily basis while still managing to give these two men a happily ever after in their romance. She's unapologetic about the portrayal of love among two men who find each other sexually attractive in a world that doesn't always allow them to be self-sufficient adults who can make decisions about their love lives on their own. Yeah, this book's a real obsession of mine as I continue to work to get people to be accepting and understanding of all walks of life, including my gay autistic son.<br /></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b>Music</b><ul>
<li><b><i>Meghan Trainor's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/title-deluxe/id929825574" target="_blank">TITLE</a> album</i></b> Love, love, love this album and the complete album isn't even out until tomorrow but I've already played the five songs released about 50 times each. <i>Dear Future Husband</i> and <i>Title</i> are two of my favorites.</li>
<li><b><i>American Author's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oh-what-a-life/id806472660" target="_blank">Oh, What A Life</a> album</i></b> This is my editing/working/walking/reading soundtrack. It's OneRepublic meets Fun. meets Bastille. Love, love, love this album!</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
And those are my obsessions this week. No seriously, that's just one week's worth of obsessions and it doesn't include my daily obsession with <a href="http://epubagent.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/epubagent/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and Coffee, of course.Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-8328552423794078252014-11-10T15:54:00.001-05:002014-11-10T15:54:31.963-05:00Simple Marketing IdeasI think authors get hung up on their marketing because they don't devote as much time to learn about the industry and their genre as they do on the craft of writing. For some reason, marketing is relegated to the back burner in such a way that when the book is done, there's a "sitting idle" time. <br />
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When I speak at conferences, I often remind authors that when they transition from being writers to authors, they transition from artists to business people. A writer, writes. An author sells her writing and a successful author does both well. <br />
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The book is paramount to the success, so make sure it's edited, polished, set aside for a week, then edited again after several beta readers, and critique partners have made it bleed. But once the book is in submission, your marketing platform needs to be strong in order to help your agent, editor sell the book to the publishers they are courting with your manuscript. <br />
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The old adage, "It's not <b>what</b> you know but <b>who</b> you know" applies greatly to publishing when authors are looking to market their books (regardless of the publishing route explored). When you're not writing, you need to be cultivating relationships with readers, reviewers, book industry people online and in person. This is where conferences and blog tours come in handy.<br />
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Research blog tour companies and talk with published authors in your genre who have recently used a blog tour company to get an idea of their experience and learn what works and what doesn't. If you're represented, reach out to your agent's other clients who write in your genre and introduce yourself. Pick up their books and familiarize yourself with their writing style. Is it similar to yours? Do you think their readers could be part of your target audience? If so, reach out and ask for information. Most authors like to talk about their experiences in the publishing industry (some a little more than others) and many like to help new authors or mentor them in some way. But be authentic in your desire for mentorship and/or help. If they are unwilling or unable to offer more than a recommendation for a blog tour company, for example, say thank you and engage with them via social media about anything BUT your book.<br />
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Expect review sites to take MONTHS to get to your book, so make sure to send out ARCs early and to a large number of sites. Cast a wide net. Join Goodreads groups that allow you to connect with readers. Talk to your publisher about reducing the price of your first book so the second gets a chance to pick up new readers. KNOW your genre and the heavy hitters in the genre and get to know what works for them and doesn't. When you're not writing, you need to be promoting. Set time aside each day to do something to promote yourself. Readers want more of you, they buy your books to get that so give them YOU!<br />
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Then start thinking outside the box for your marketing. Look for opportunities to talk about your book on social media without panhandling it. Talk about your writing process, your cat, your cat's inevitable desire to thwart your writing process at every turn. Anything that's not just blasting social media with your book every five seconds. <br />
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Then sign up to speak at conferences and partner up with other authors in your genre to help expand your reach. Be active in promoting yourself as an expert in your craft because you are! You have expertly written a book, sold it to a publisher and expected to sell it to thousands of readers. What works and doesn't work become part of your expertise. Talk about that at conferences and take these opportunities to also engage your readers one-on-one. Sign up for books signings at conventions. Schedule speaking engagements at our local writing group meetings. Get out there and make your name known!Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-45799888085531287002014-09-29T18:15:00.000-04:002014-09-29T18:15:00.818-04:00Diabetic<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7zfPNnxnGo/VCme3pNJmmI/AAAAAAAAISg/tyj57_O4K7U/s1600/2014-09-29%2B12.32.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7zfPNnxnGo/VCme3pNJmmI/AAAAAAAAISg/tyj57_O4K7U/s1600/2014-09-29%2B12.32.20.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It's just a little prick</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You know it’s coming. You know the diagnosis before you hear the words and you know it’s not going to be easy to hear but you know. How could you not? You’ve seen the signs for years now, you just didn’t want to have those fears acknowledged.<br />
<br />
You knew it the moment you finally went in for your physical (at the end of the calendar year, as if postponing it to the latter part of the year would make the diagnosis easier to hear). You knew it the moment the blood tests were ordered and you knew it as you watched your sugary blood fill the vials.<br />
<br />
Sure, it’s easy to say to yourself that it’s not going to be difficult and it’s probably going to be easier to finally shed some of the weight you’ve added on since starting one of the many “lifestyle” food changes you’ve started and stopped in the past 2 years. You’ve watched countless of celebrities, friends and family members shed the weight after their diagnoses so this is a good thing, right?<br />
<br />
You know the answer to the rhetorical question even as you ask it. You know that it matters little how much you “hope” and “wish” and “try” to stop eating the foods that will inevitable cause your demise but you ask it anyway. You ask it because you cling to the hope that one day you’ll actually find the trick that will show on the scale, the clothes you wear, the mirror.<br />
<br />
You know that your fight with food is not just of your own doing. It has been a battle since your first pregnancy where you craved hot fudge sundaes and sweet tea. Since you were in college and binged on late-night drive-thru tacos and burgers. Since high school where salads weighed 3 lbs and were laden with everything on the salad bar drenched in thousand island dressing. Since junior high school where greasy pizzas were the lunchroom norm with a large Dr. Pepper and homemade peanut butter bars.<br />
<br />
Your fight with food has been a long one. Perhaps not as arduous as others’ but nonetheless tiring. You’ve watched yourself slow down. Sit longer. Eat more. Sleep more. Battle with depression, anger and self-loathing more. You’ve battled it without expectation of success because really, who has truly succeeded at winning a battle against sugar? Yes, there are the success stories and many are friends or friends of friends or those people who friend you on Facebook because they knew you in high school and they’ve succeeded. They’ve lost a kajillion pounds and they’re healthy and running marathons and winning at life while you’re sitting at your desk miserably avoiding the mocha creamer because it has 9g of Carbs and you hate yourself for knowing that so well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lchdhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Diabetes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lchdhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Diabetes.jpg" height="95" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy: <a href="http://www.lchdhealthcare.org/information/diabetes-information/" target="_blank">Lynn County Hospital District</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You’re not surprised at the outpouring of support from family and friends who say things like, “You can do it” and “We’re in it with you” when you know that while well-meaning, it’s not any more helpful than the doctor telling you, “you’re a diabetic but I know you can win this fight.” You know they mean well and truly care for your well-being. You know they want the best for you but you don’t see that right now. You see the pantry full of Chef Boyardee cans, pasta and cake boxes, potato chips, soda, chocolate candies and the nutella spread you would gladly eat straight out of the jar in giant soup-spoon portions because it’s chocolate and peanut butter and you have no self-control. You see the sweet brisk tea cans in the fridge next to the water you’re supposed to drink.<br />
<br />
Then you remember the way your sister looked after a sugar spike. How scared her children were despite knowing that mom’s sugar spikes from time to time and she’s battled worse but the fight with sugar is harder than the fight with the cancerous cells in her body. You realize that if you have to drink more water, stop eating the white stuff: bread, potatoes, rice and check your blood sugar at dinner with a Metformin chaser, you’re going to avoid scaring your children as well. You may even fit into the clothes you refuse to buy yourself now because really, what’s the point of having clothes that shrink every month.<br />
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You start to think about what the physical changes in your body will mean to your love life. What they’ll mean to your marriage. What a healthier body will mean to your children who fight their own sugar battles a lot younger than you. You realize that being a diabetic could affect change in their bodies by eating healthy along with you.<br />
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It’s a fight and it’s one you have to face alone despite the support from friends and family because in the end, it’s you, your mouth and that chocolate cake in the fridge you have the face.<br />
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You hate that you’re now “that” person who has to decline sweets at a birthday party while acknowledging that you don’t really like cake all that much. You accept that you have to do the things you ask your spouse to do because if you don’t do them, the one that gets hurt is you. You gird your flabby loins in preparation for this sugar battle and you don’t hope you’ll succeed. You go in glucose guns blazing and shoot down all of those poor choices knowing you’ll likely take some hits in the process. Eventually, you’ll get smaller and make for a smaller target.<br />
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You do what you have to to survive and if that means pricking your finger once a day, eating less and getting your ass out of your office chair, then you do it. Not because failure’s not an option. Not because you’re going to fight to live another day. You do it because no one can do this for you and if you don’t, next year’s diagnoses will include high blood pressure, enlarged heart, arteriosclerosis or worse.<br />
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You’re a diabetic. Suck it up, suck it in and fight!Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-12597348509173850942014-09-23T18:51:00.000-04:002015-08-24T10:41:20.873-04:0011 Things I’ve learned about being an agent in 2014So, I was looking through my old blog posts for ideas to repurpose or update on my blog for this month and found my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/saritzahernandez.blogspot.com/2012/12/blog-challenge-15-10-things-ive-learned.html">10 Things I’ve learned about being the ePub Agent in 2012</a>. It’s interesting but those 10 things are still important now and I will likely include them when I train our junior staff but I’m learning new things every year and I fall in love with my profession more with each new tidbit I learn.<br />
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If I were to write a letter to my 2014 ePub Agent self here’s what I would add (with gifs of course because it's 2014 and gifs just make everything better):<br />
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<ol>
<li> Your instincts are sharper with time and experience. You trust your gut now more than you did in 2012 especially when it comes to market trends and the commerciality of projects.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DdCcbbkDI76jeHqBqmKb1DsWVL1jCr_rTyBrrcpPp8c=w433-h182-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Authors will continue to need support and uplifting pep talks but understand that insecurities may paralyze some of them. It’s more important to help them out of that fear than it is to get another book from them. The book will eventually come about but not without the author feeling safe in their creative space.<br />
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<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ClYjO37H4Jqkim5fnKDswY3_zHdI5tQVC1uqXlbjaL0=w530-h222-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">
The author’s SOs will thank you for mastering #2. <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IwVipGZuWkI/VCHx795xI5I/AAAAAAAAIPY/Xe2WkoyZKjI/w302-h200-no/Screenshot%2B2014-09-23%2B18.02.51.png" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/M9pbaRbZ-m8wWjHeDccdoOQkw9hzKKA-I3rhYsXX8oI=w256-h189-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Contract negotiations continue to be your favorite thing to do because it’s protecting your author’s livelihood as well as your own.<br />
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<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GkbWPkLBjSk8PU99cVTVcmPGjPOZdpvQVzPXMpp2W2Y=w382-h207-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Respect the business but remember that it IS a business and if you’re not working it, you’re not earning money.<br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CjNgmTfbnhemGV8wgk0pZc1zfNrcK6Zm2_m8DW4CQ1M=w304-h182-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Marketing will consume much of your time regardless of author’s platform or distribution because your first marketing step is the pitch and it can’t be weak!<br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZreGINOjc8rvF3XlV3-4Bx0uj2ljjooiHU9P8IKSuGE=w276-h207-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> You don’t have time to do everything and it’s ok to delegate work to underlings who you train to one day be as good or better than you. They are your legacy after all.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bAm9Agp3fqJlJ4fkUIW4YbJHwfeyY2BNNPU4qr9W9i4=w320-h171-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Don’t walk into a room with a bat unless you’re prepared to deal with the swing. Don’t let your authors walk into a room with a bat either. There’s no bashing in publishing.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jD01zmHcjkhYlHOJRH-OcOVIcb5jNwftg2AIPAWAU8k=w259-h207-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Cry in private and smile in public. No one likes a whiner.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0TdpfF1ZTxlu7Ha2z9O3jHnduWd7DMF4eeJ2rH5N-qE=w396-h222-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> Digital unit sales are important but a mass market print run should be the goal for all of your clients so keep track of those units sold and don’t just take the author’s word for it. Read the royalty statements and ask for those units to be included or ask the publisher to provide those.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MhqxHRR9eAcYhcj7ZEop65zIpRZwfFxo6mkTlcVduqE=s207-p-no" /></div>
</li>
<li> It’s not an “us vs them” mentality around here. You’re the advocate for the author but you’re not against publishers (small, indie, traditional, digital or otherwise).<br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/DkjXK2w40AdSBvJDznQIjY6qde1urgFQVil_thpMMtk=w294-h217-p-no" /></div>
</li>
</ol>
Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-81444273574324934522014-09-02T14:53:00.000-04:002014-09-02T14:53:30.662-04:00Shihanisms with my Dad<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10569024_583446805097399_2360748411781261877_n.jpg?oh=4855af9ff5739b3fd76bc1ce3a77b264&oe=546136D0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10569024_583446805097399_2360748411781261877_n.jpg?oh=4855af9ff5739b3fd76bc1ce3a77b264&oe=546136D0" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I make this kick look pretty</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My father's upcoming 64th birthday will include a surprise reunion for his martial arts students. We're expecting 60-75 people in attendance with 10-15 joining us via Skype from their various military locations. Many of my dad's students went on to join the military in the 90s during Desert Storm and were (some still are) part of the Navy Seals, Green Berets or Special Forces.<br />
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My dad, as the senior instruction and 10th degree Black Belt, has always been referred to as <a href="http://karatecoaching.com/what-a-heck-are-shihan-kyoshi-hanshi-renshi-etc/" target="_blank">Shihan</a> in the dojo. He's also a Shuseki Shihan but I won't go into that now. Anyway, we have put together a Facebook Page for his dojo, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/americanopenkarate" target="_blank">American Open Karate</a> and asked his students to post their favorite Shihanisms: the phrases he would use to motivate them in his drill sergeant ways and remembering them has been a great blast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The student becomes the master</span></td></tr>
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So here are a few:<br />
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"Don't look at me! I know I'm good-looking!" - usually said while waiting for you to do the kata he's spent the last hour going over.<br />
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"Don't cry! Girls don't cry in Karate. They get even!" - self-explanatory.<br />
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"You're not having an asthma attack. You're just not breathing hard enough!" - as he's tossing you the inhaler and watching for any signs of oxygen deprivation out of the corner of his eye.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Orange Blossom Classic 1991</span></td></tr>
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And the one all of them remember because it's how he'd calm the little ones before going to their board-breaking ceremonies:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Shihan: What's behind the door?<br />Student: A dinosaur<br />Shihan: What color is he?<br />Student: Pink and purple polka dot.<br />Shihan: What's he playing?<br />Student: A piano<br />Shihan: What's he playing on the piano?<br />Student: I feel good by James Brown<br />Shihan: Now, go break that board.</blockquote>
Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1869400442734807745.post-61355527213187080722014-08-12T13:14:00.000-04:002014-08-12T13:14:16.706-04:00In Memoriam: Robin Williams (1951 - 2014)I'm staring at the blinking cursor willing the words the come. Willing the thoughts to stop swirling in my head so I can properly explain what Robin Williams has meant to me. But I just keep staring at the cursor and my eyes continue to water with every second that goes by. I need to put my thoughts down, you see. I don't know why it's such a fervent need but it is. I can't concentrate on work. Can't redirect my focus to the tasks on my to-do list. Can't even look at social media without gravitating to the thousands of memorial posts, pictures, videos of a man who was a part of so many lives, he was family and MADE us family through our shared love for him.<br />
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For me, his death is a reminder that even the greats suffer but most of all, he's a link my father and I share. He's a year younger than my dad and when he first appeared on the scene, he was one of my father's favorite comedians. I grew up listening to my dad retell the jokes Robin told on stage with a few of my father's one-liners thrown in for good measure.<br />
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In the 80s, when we moved to Florida from Puerto Rico, my dad and I would watch the Comic Relief specials on HBO and practically pee our pants with laughter over the golden trio: Billy, Whoopi and Robin!<br />
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When the news first broke about his death, I was at my parents' home singing happy birthday to my 15-year-old niece. I read the news in a text alert from my local news channel. I was instantly shocked and despite not really wanting to, found myself clicking on the link to read the full news report then mentioned his passing to my family who instantly stopped what they were doing and stared at me with the same shock I'm sure I was showing as I continued to read the news reports as thousands of people flooded social media with memorial posts. I couldn't look at my dad. He looks too much like Robin did in his final days and I couldn't see what it would mean to him to know another of his favorites is gone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/sep/20/robin-williams-worlds-greatest-dad-alcohol-drugs" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, 2010 (Getty Images)</span></td></tr>
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I don't know why we have such a fascination with death in the US and I guess Robin was right when he said that we mythologize people when they die but I can understand why we memorialize those who affected our lives one way or another. We do it to keep their memory alive. To share in the pain and to keep a part of the person we've lost close. I suppose we do it because we don't like to lose. <br />
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I'm going to spend most of my day playing Robin Williams videos in the background while I work today. Not just to memorialize him today but to keep his voice and spirit alive for one more day.<br />
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Saritza Hernandezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871342164421649216noreply@blogger.com0