I’m very excited to share my first newsletter with you with all the latest news about this writing journey adventure of mine. My plan is to email a newsletter each quarter of the year, with the most important news for that period, and also send “special” ones with big milestones such as book announcements, cover reveals, pre-order campaigns, or book birthdays. I’ll also be posting them to my blog. 

I can’t believe how fast this 2023 has gone by. It seems like just yesterday it was summer time. It’s finally looking and feeling like fall here in South Carolina. The summer was so hot here, but now the cooler weather is finally awakening, though some days we still get the sense of summer days. It’s crazy! I can’t wait for the time that leaves will change colors. Here in Anderson we get to see a bit of coloring, but luckily by the end of the month, I’ll be able to experience their beauty 100% with a trip to Tennessee. I’ll make sure to share some pics. 

I got to spend my summer in Mexico, visiting family and friends, which I needed and enjoyed a lot. I was able to tour around downtown Toluca and Metepec with my dad and daughter and it felt like discovering something new about those places which I’ve seen before, but experienced in a very different way. I guess when you are away in another country for so long, you just look at things with a new vision and perspective. As always, I loved the food, the warmth of the Mexican people and just the every day pace of life with my family.  Have you ever been to Mexico?  

Abuelita’s Gift News

During my weeks in Mexico, Gianna Lakenauth, my editor at Knopf, shared with me the amazing news that Abuelita’s Gift, my second picture book coming out next Fall 2024, is going to have a Spanish edition. And she asked me to translate it myself!  You have no idea how much joy that brought me. Having my book being published in my own language means a lot to me, especially because this story is about the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos. I’m very excited about this book and can hardly wait for next year.

I can also share that just last week, my editor showed me the interior colored art and cover proposal for the book. It’s not 100% ready yet, but “oh wow!” those illustrations are amazing! Sara Palacios and the whole team are doing such a great job! I feel so lucky that Sara’s bringing my story to life and I hope that readers around the world will  love it as much as we do. I’m looking forward to start sharing more about this wonderful book on my website and social media soon. Stay tuned, because we are currently working on those updates.

Unexpected Surprise!

Santiago’s Dinosaurios was selected as a 2023 Best Books for Kids & Teens starred selection, The Canadian Children’s Book Centre!

Now you can find that recognition in the information of the book in the bookstore websites and also in Albert Whitman’s page. Isn’t this cool? I’m so grateful and happy about these news. 

Visit to AU

I was recently invited to Anderson University for a 2nd time on September 22nd to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a presentation about Santiago’s Dinosaurios and Diversity in Publishing. I had such a good time spending that morning with the students but also getting ready for that big day. I wrote about this experience in my blog, so if you’re interested in knowing more, I invite you to read it. 

Author Events

I’ll be participating in a Book Fair organized by Anderson County Library, so I’ll be selling and signing Santiago’s Dinosaurios books on November 4th. I love these events! Getting to talk to people about my book and signing them for children is a wonderful experience. I’ll be sure to share about it on my blog too.

On the Blog

I recently started posting about other authors/illustrators journeys on my blog. I’ve joined a launch group of authors having books published during 2023 and 2024, Kid Books Crew, so in the coming months you’ll be able to read about other creators’ experiences and books in my blog every now and then, in addition to my own experiences. I hope you’ll enjoy these interviews, because I’ve been having fun and learning so much from others. To read more click here.

Thanks again for sharing this author’s life with me. I hope you’ll have wonderful months ahead full of fun, love, and family. For now, I hope you’ll enjoy a Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading,

Cover photo by Pixabay.