ABUELITA’S GIFT SEPTEMBER

September has been a month to remember! Abuelita’s Gift and El regalo de abuelita released on Tuesday September 10th, and from that day on my days have been filled with magical moments that I will never forget. Since my blog is also the way in which I keep track of the memories of writing journeys, I invite you to read on.

For starters, Abuelita’s Gift released on my Abuelita Julieta’s birthday, so for my family, that was very significant and special. My first event was the virtual launching of my book, and I was lucky to have been invited to celebrate my special day with author and friend CK Malone, whose book Popi’s All Souls Song released on the very same day and with a similar theme to mine. The launch event was a big celebration for both of our books. CK and I got to talk about our books and journeys along both of our agents, my editor, CK’s illustrator and her agent, plus author Federico Erebia, who was our moderator. Several friends attended the event that day, as did my husband, mom, and sister. In addition to the discussion and Q&A, there was also a giveaway of 3 book bundles, and 4 happy winners. This event gave me the perfect opportunity to wear my beautiful Jarocha dress, from the Mexican state of Veracruz, which is the same dress that Julieta and Abuelita wear on the book’s cover! ❤️

Needless to say, this was the perfect way to celebrate the release of my book which was followed by cozy Zoom chats with my family in Mexico the next nights.

On Thursday September 12th, I was invited to participate in Storytime Sprint with Andi Chitty and Ryann Jones and I absolutely loved it. Through Zoom, I was able to read Abuelita’s Gift for the first time to the friends who signed up to attend the live session. There was also a Q&A at the end. Afterwards, attendees sprinted to write reviews to my book on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. I got 40 reviews as a result of this event! I’m so thankful! There was also a giveaway as part of the event and the winner of an Ask Me Anything cafecito was Maritere Rodríguez Bellas. I’m looking forward to our chat in the coming days. If you haven’t checked out Storytime Sprint, do it. It’s a wonderful way to support authors and books and to make new friends too!

Another source of happiness for me these past days has been noticing Abuelita’s Gift and El regalo de abuelita on the Top 10 New Releases in Children’s Mexico Books on Amazon. For several days, Abuelita’s Gift held the Top #1, which was so exciting. Even on September 19th, which is my birthday, the book was still holding that honorable place on the list. That was such an amazing birthday gift! Today, after almost three weeks, the books are still on the top 5 and what’s even most exciting is that today El regalo de abuelita now has the Top #1. I’m so proud and thankful for the love and support these books have received. ❤️

As for book signings, I was lucky to sign preordered copies at Fiction Addiction (in Greenville, SC – thankful for those who ordered) and later in my local indie McDowell’s Emporium, where I got to take some pictures with 2 lovely kitties, Noodle and Finn. So cute! 🐈

Other events I had during the month were a radio interview with International Children’s Art Network , which was my first time ever. I was nervous at first, but it turned out to be so much fun. Anika’s questions were really interesting. I also had a podcast recording with Reading with your Kids Podcast, which will air in October, so stay tuned on social media for news about that one. And finally an article in People Magazine in Español highlighting Abuelita’s Gift among other beautiful books for Hispanic Heritage Month. Yay!

I’ve loved having these opportunities to talk more about the books and to answer interesting questions regarding how they came to be and what I want children to take away from them.

Another special milestone on my journey happened on September 20th. I had my first in person school visit with this book at Concord Elementary. I’ve visited them before with Santiago’s Dinosaurios, so it was fun that the children remembered me. I had such a special time sharing Abuelita’s Gift with them but also telling them about the tradition of Día de Muertos in México. I felt so proud about being able to share about this beloved Mexican celebration, and I enjoyed all the questions they had for me. One of my favorite ones was from a little girl who asked if she could also celebrate her ancestors on Día de Muertos even if she’s not Mexican. That made my day! Letting her know that anybody can honor and celebrate the lives of loved ones who’ve passed away, was so important for me.

I hope that many children who get to read this book will get to the same conclusion. That they get curious about knowing more about their ancestors, that they ask about their stories so that they can share them and celebrate them. I’m so grateful to Ms. Bryan, Concord’s librarian, Mr. Bruhjell and Ms. Ashley (Principal and Vice Principal) for the opportunity. Plus, it was nice to share this moment with my husband and daughter.

Last but not least, I was honored to participate in Village Voices, as I virtually read El regalo de abuelita with students from 3 different schools in the area of Veracruz, México. The kids were very excited to participate with comments and questions, and they shared how they set up their ofrendas, as pretty much everyone celebrates Día de Muertos in the area. They were also excited that I was wearing the Jarocha dress, because it’s the typical dress of their state! I was so moved by the interactions with the kids and teachers. If you are an author please consider volunteering your time to this wonderful organization who seeks to connect children in rural communities with authors, to inspire a love for reading.

As you can see, September was a busy month filled with many special moments. With October just beginning I’m looking forward to more school visits, library events, and interviews. Please follow me on social media so you can stay connected with the latest news.

Thank you SO MUCH for supporting my books, and for reading my posts. It really means a lot!

M

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📸 Cover photo by Mikhail Nilov.