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“Cassette Tape Years” (A Reunion: Coda Poem)

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados. Cover designed for the Kindle edition by Juan Carlos Hernandez   “Cassette Tape Years” For Jim, for Marty, for Maddie—echoes in two keys In corridors of sunlit youth, where voices trembled into song, a boy with history in his eyes loved a note too fragile to belong. The Winter Concert, velvet sound— a Schubert prayer, Ave Maria— he watched the solo fall like snow while silence held what words could be. A letter passed with trembling hands, final bells and summer haze— what he could not speak aloud hid in tape reels and school hallways. Seventeen years and northern skies, chalk and paper, wounded grace— the past returns in piano chords, her eyes: familiar, Marty’s face. Columbia’s towers weigh him down with echoes of Miguel’s despair, but Maddie’s hands across the keys remind him love still lingers there. And in the fire of hurt and fight, the scholar bleeds, the teacher bends— yet healing comes in quiet tones when letters ri...

Author/Poet Denise Longrie Reviews 'Comings and Goings' on Amazon

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados   When a Reader Sees What You Meant to Say There are moments in a writer’s life that feel like exhaling after holding your breath for years. Reading Denise Longrie’s review of Comings and Goings was one of those moments. “The story is not a romance, but rather an enjoyable, insightful journey into empathy and the importance of human connection.” In that single sentence, Denise captured what I most hoped this story would communicate. Jim and Kelly’s conversation—quiet, non-performative, and deeply human—isn’t about flirtation or clever repartee. It’s about being seen. About recognition amid loneliness. And Denise saw that. She saw Jim’s discomfort, his tepid beer, his sense of invisibility. She noticed Kelly’s confidence—not as bravado, but as an invitation. She appreciated how music threads through their moment, not just as time-stamp nostalgia, but as emotional texture. Denise didn’t just read the story—she inhabited it. “Kelly listens and does...

💫 Fragments of Time, Glimpses of the Heart 💫

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 💫 Fragments of Time, Glimpses of the Heart 💫 Step into the world of Jim Garraty—a man whose quiet journey through memory, longing, and redemption has touched readers in ways both unexpected and familiar. Across three distinct stories, you'll find echoes of your own past, gently reshaped through fiction. 📖 Reunion: A Story takes you to a Florida high school in 1983, where Jim faces a silent moment of decision that will echo for decades. 📖 Reunion: Coda revisits him in 1998 as a professor confronting personal ghosts and revisiting old friendships. 📖 Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen explores fleeting connections in Boston during 1984, where simply being noticed can mean everything. These works aren’t just stories—they’re portraits of vulnerability, humanity, and the grace found in quiet reflection. Written with spare beauty and emotional depth, they speak to anyone who’s ever wondered about missed chances, forgiveness, and what remains after time has passed. Av...

A Writer Seen: Gratitude for Thomas Wikman’s Insightful Praise

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  © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados Writers yearn for resonance—that magical moment when a reader not only follows the story but genuinely feels it. Since Reunion: A Story made its debut in 2018, Thomas Wikman has been a thoughtful and discerning voice among those who've embraced Jim Garraty’s journey. His recent review of Reunion: Coda , titled “The Mystery of Life and Love,” is both a celebration and a deep dive into the emotional fabric of the Garratyverse. Thomas doesn't just compliment the narrative—he illuminates it. His reflections speak to the story’s careful navigation of time and emotion, drawing out the philosophical heart that lies beneath the prose. From the lingering sorrow of Martina to the gentler warmth of Maddie, he recognizes how love, memory, and resilience intertwine to shape the world Jim inhabits. His words resonate with truths that often remain unspoken: “Life is complicated and difficult, people will disappoint you… Life can be good but never perfect. We reco...

Essay: The Music of 'Comings and Goings'

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  © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados 🎧 The Soundtrack of Stillness — Music as Memory in Comings and Goings What if a mixtape could hold a heartbeat? In Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen , music is neither garnish nor nostalgia-bait—it’s emotional brushwork. Each track, from the thundering bravado of Twisted Sister to the trembling quiet of Beethoven’s Adagio cantabile , is chosen with surgical tenderness. Not to dazzle, but to reveal . Eric Carmen’s “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” , hiding Rachmaninoff like a bruise beneath silk, becomes a turning point—not for plot, but for perception. Kelly hears what others miss. And that’s how we know she sees Jim too. Billy Joel’s “This Night” doesn’t seduce the moment—it steadies it. It enters like a held breath and leaves like a trace of skin on cotton. There’s a stripped-down elegance to the aesthetic curation here: each piece of music echoes a kind of duality. Pop songs with classical skeletons. Ballads that hum with memory. The mus...

Where Did You Get the Idea for Your Most Recent Book?

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados It’s funny how inspiration works. With Reunion: Coda —the novel I published less than three months ago—the idea took years to bloom. In fact, it first sparked back in 2000, when April, someone I never actually met, read the early manuscript of what eventually became Reunion: A Story . Maybe because I subconsciously associated the idea of a sequel with her, I didn’t begin writing Coda until 2023. That’s a 23-year gestation period. The final product? A novel over 500 pages long. But my latest book? It arrived almost by accident. The first nudge came from my friend Juan Carlos Hernández, who asked me a deceptively simple question: “What are you writing next?” I didn’t have a good answer. I was still knee-deep in promoting Coda , still recovering from the two-year marathon of writing it and from the whiplash of two cross-country moves in under a year. The truth was: I wasn’t ready to know what the Next Story was. Because once you know, you have to write it. Sti...

“The Night That Didn’t Fade”

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 Image by Vika_Glitter via Pixabay  A Companion Reflection for Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen Some moments imprint not because they’re perfect, but because they were true. Not rehearsed, not adorned—simply lived, and remembered. For Jim Garraty, that moment comes beneath the hush of moonlight, in a quiet room striped with silver shadow, beside a woman whose presence steadies more than it startles. It isn’t a scene about conquest or climax. It’s about presence . About the shyness of a first-time lover, the cataloguing habits of a historian, and the aching relief of being held in truth rather than judged in silence. Kelly sees him. Not through the lens of expectation, but through care. When he whispers, “I wish I’d been better at this,” she doesn’t dismiss or deflect. She listens. She stays close. And her reply— “Then it was perfect. You were kind. You were here. That’s what matters.” —becomes the emotional thesis of their entire connection. This wasn’t a ...

For When the Battery Fades

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📚 For the ones who still turn pages... Here’s a clever little verse to echo the heartbeat of Comings and Goings —made just for those who know that sometimes, the best connections happen offline: For When the Battery Fades Or the Wi-Fi just won’t play nice... Boston, '84. A boy on the run From chatter and chaos, from everyone. A girl with eyes that didn’t flinch— A mixtape moment, inch by inch. Not swipes, not screens—just breath and beer, And Rachmaninoff floating near. He wasn’t looking, she wasn’t loud, But somehow, silence drew a crowd. A paperback tale for your favorite chair, For train rides, porch lights, anywhere. A story that listens, instead of insists— Of glances held and what love resists. Not first love. Not neat or clean. Just the grace of being truly seen. 🗓️ Out July 1 in paperback—because not every chapter needs a charger. Perfect for hands that miss the rustle of a page… or hearts that carry the weight of memory like a well-loved spine. =

Comings, Goings, and the Wait in Between

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  Comings, Goings, and the Wait in Between Friday afternoon in Miami. The clouds are hanging low, the air is heavy with summer’s humidity, and for once, there’s no thunder cracking in the distance. Mom would say St. Peter must be off his bowling game today. I’ve always taken her warnings to heart—no charging electronics when lightning’s involved. So, small blessings: just cloud cover, not chaos. In theory, I should feel pretty good. Earlier this week, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen went live on Amazon—another piece of the Garraty puzzle, written almost on impulse and finished before the ink had time to dry on Reunion: Coda . It's not sprawling. It doesn't try to do too much. And maybe that’s what makes it one of the most focused and emotionally honest things I’ve written. If you've followed Jim's arc across the Reunion stories, you’ll recognize this as something smaller and quieter—a moment in 1984 that sets the tone for everything that comes after. It's...

Because You Were Kind. Because You Were Here.

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  Because You Were Kind. Because You Were Here. Sometimes it’s not the grand gestures or the well-timed speeches that leave the deepest impressions. Sometimes it’s just being there —quietly, imperfectly, but fully present. There’s an illustrated quote making the rounds from Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen that reads: “Because you were kind. Because you were here. That’s what matters.” It’s simple. Unadorned. But it echoes—for good reason. In stories and in life, we often believe impact comes from fixing something. That if we say the perfect thing or perform the perfect act, we’ll finally make a difference. But presence—genuine, patient presence—is its own kind of grace. It doesn’t demand a spotlight. It doesn’t require resolution. It just offers a kind of quiet hope: that showing up for someone, even in their silence, can still mean everything. That’s the kind of love and kindness I’ve tried to explore in my work—not as a climax, but as a current. Not shouted, but...

The Night That Stayed With Me: The Genesis of 'Comings and Goings'

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  © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen wasn’t something I planned to write. It began, as many things do, with a memory—or the ghost of one. A fleeting moment tucked into Reunion: Coda , when Jim Garraty, now older and maybe wiser, walks across Columbia’s campus and thinks he sees her. Not a name, just a resemblance. Not certainty, just recognition. And for a second, 1984 floods back—along with a girl who poured him a Heineken and didn’t ask him to be anyone but who he was. “She has the same blonde hair and bright, inquisitive blue eyes as Kelly Moore, a girl I met at a freshman party at Harvard... The faint taste of the beer lingers in my memory, crisp and slightly bitter.” That was all it took. Kelly Moore—originally just a footnote in Jim’s emotional ledger—began to insist on more space. Her voice, her presence, the shape of that night refused to fade. Until finally, I stopped trying to treat it like a tangent. And wrote it as a story. ...

'Comings and Goings' Makes Its Kindle Debut!

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados   Sometimes, our best-laid plans find themselves quietly rewritten by the world around us. I originally intended to hold onto Comings and Goings until the fall of 2025, letting anticipation build in step with the turning seasons. But with so much uncertainty close to home and across the globe, I decided the story’s quiet light might be needed now, not later. So, as of yesterday, Comings and Goings is available in Kindle format for $2.99, and the paperback ($9.99) will arrive on July 1.   Boston, 1984. A party Jim Garraty never wanted to attend. A girl who didn’t look away. A night stitched together by mixtapes, quiet courage, and the ache of choosing to stay. Jim isn’t chasing romance—he’s just trying to outrun the noise. But when Kelly Moore enters the room with her drink, her Rachmaninoff references, and her uncanny ability to see without pressing, everything shifts. Over cassette tapes and Heineken beer, conversations deepen, touch beco...

Memory, Perspective, and Shared Experience: 'Some Loves Don't Ask' (A Poem Inspired by 'Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen'

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The author in 2020   “Some Loves Don’t Ask”: A Poem in Three Movements Some moments don’t belong to the past so much as they echo quietly in the present—fragments of kindness, memory, and presence that resist the erosion of time. As I prepare to share Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen , I’ve been thinking about the spaces between stories—the ones that never become chapters, but shape the emotional weight of everything that follows. The poem below isn’t part of the short story, but it shares its emotional DNA. It’s a reflection on encounters that didn’t last, but mattered. I hope it finds you in a quiet moment.   The Boy She Loved for One Night She’s older now— not by much, but enough that the past feels more like a country she left than one she was exiled from. At a shelf she wasn’t seeking, his name appears— spine out, serifed, tucked between authors she almost recognizes. Garraty. A flicker. A room. A song dressed in Beethoven’s longing. ...

Soft Light, Quiet Courage

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Soft Light, Quiet Courage Kelly’s Perspective He stepped inside like he wasn’t quite sure he belonged. His eyes moved over everything—the piano, the books stacked sideways, the lavender sprig in the jelly jar next to the stereo. He didn’t make a single joke about the crooked lampshade or the milk crate bookshelf. Didn’t pretend not to notice the faint scent of lemon cleaner and reheated rice. He just looked around like it was a story he hadn’t heard yet. A man had never looked at my apartment that way. Not like he was casing it or judging it—more like he was absorbing it. And that’s when I saw it. Not in anything he said. Just... how still he stood. Hands at his sides. Shoulders slightly hunched. Like he’d crossed a threshold and didn’t want to track in something he wasn’t supposed to. He’d never been in a girl’s bedroom before. Not like this. Not as himself. Not without bravado or teasing or expectation. That realization settled gently in my chest—not as power, but as tenderness . “I...

Why Readers Keep Returning to the Garratyverse

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  Ten Reasons This Quiet Universe Leaves a Lasting Impression There’s a certain kind of story that doesn’t shout—it hums. It lingers in memory like a melody you forgot you loved. In the Reunion Duology , author and blogger  Alex Diaz-Granados invites readers into a world shaped by memory, music, and the choices we carry long after the moment has passed. Across two deeply personal works— Reunion: A Story and Reunion: Coda —we follow the inner life of Jim Garraty, a man who’s never stopped wondering about what might have been. And coming soon: Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen —a poignant companion story that traces the roots of one quiet turning point and the emotional bravery it awakened. So, what makes the Garratyverse different? Here are ten reasons readers find themselves gently, unexpectedly moved. 1. It begins with a moment missed—and never lets go. Jim Garraty’s world changes in 1983 when he hesitates to speak his truth. What follows is a li...

This Isn’t a Romance. It’s Something Far More Lasting.

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  © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados Why Reunion: Coda Isn’t a Romance Novel—And Why That’s the Point For readers who don’t do “romance,” this one’s for you. Love is in the story—but it’s not the story. Reunion: Coda isn’t a romance novel. It doesn’t follow genre formulas, offer tidy resolutions, or hinge on whether “he gets the girl.” Instead, it’s about what endures when love becomes memory , and how we move forward with all we didn’t say. Jim Garraty, now a respected history professor, is living in the present—but haunted by the emotional undertow of his past. What begins as introspection slowly widens into something deeper: a reckoning with lost moments, fractured friendships, and a silence that has lasted almost two decades. Reunion: Coda is about the power of reflection—not to rewrite the past, but to understand it. If you’ve ever stood in front of a school you haven’t seen in years… If you’ve ever wondered what your younger self would think of the person you became… I...

The Fiction That Feels Like Memory

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Marty Several years ago, a former classmate read one of my blog posts and—without hesitation—declared that Marty, the central female character in the   Reunion Duology , had to be based on a real girl. She was so certain, in fact, that no amount of authorly denial could sway her. Why? Because, in her words, “Jim’s feelings for Marty were just so strong.” I’ve been turning that over in my head ever since. To be clear: Marty is fictional. She’s not a thinly veiled version of anyone I knew well—though her physical appearance was inspired by a classmate I barely spoke to, someone whose yearbook photo struck a quiet chord fifteen years later. That image became a door I stepped through in 1998 to imagine a character who was vivid, smart, guarded, hopeful—and, yes, magnetic enough to pull someone like Jim Garraty into her orbit. If Marty feels real , it’s because I poured a good deal of emotional truth into her, even if the details are invented. She’s stitched together from memor...

When a Cassette Says Everything

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When a Cassette Says Everything   There’s a moment near the middle of Reunion: Coda —quiet and unassuming—when Maddie glances at a framed photograph on Jim’s mantel and says softly, “She would have loved being with you.” The she , of course, is Marty Reynaud—Jim Garraty’s high school friend, frustrated love, and, in many ways, the still point in his emotional compass. Marty doesn’t dominate the present-day storyline of Coda , but her absence is felt in every heartbeat. What she couldn’t say aloud, she expressed in other ways—like the gift she gave Jim on graduation day. Not a mixtape. Not something dubbed. But a store-bought cassette —the Columbia recording of the 1957 West Side Story Original Broadway Cast album. Bought with her own allowance. Chosen with care. Given with intent. It wasn’t just music. It was a gesture of emotional bravery, a quiet offering that said: I see you. I get who you are. And in the years after Marty’s death, that understanding doesn’t vanish—it evolves. ...

A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Renewal: Reunion: Coda

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  Lisa Dolan, director of student affairs at the International College of Seville, with her copy of Reunion; Coda. A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Renewal: Reunion: Coda The past has a way of lingering—sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a storm. In Reunion: Coda , the second book in The Reunion Duology , Jim Garraty finds himself navigating the echoes of old regrets and the possibilities of new beginnings. Recently featured on Smorgasbord Book Promotions , Reunion: Coda continues Jim’s story as he reflects on the relationships that shaped him, the choices that haunt him, and the hope that still flickers in the distance. Now a successful history professor, Jim’s life is woven with memories—some tender, some bittersweet—but all leading him toward a deeper understanding of himself and those he once loved. This novel is more than a sequel; it’s an exploration of timing, courage, and the enduring power of connection. Through heartfelt letters, introspective moments, and the weight ...

Two Months Later, the Story Goes On—And the Reviews Arrive

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados Afternoon, Thursday, June 12, 2025—Miami, Florida Every author hopes their work will resonate with readers. We spend months—sometimes years—crafting stories, refining themes, layering emotional depth, and ensuring the characters feel like real people. Then, when the book finally makes its way into the world, we wait. We hope readers connect with it. We wonder if the themes we wove into the narrative will come across as intended. And above all, we hope someone out there will get it —not just enjoy the book, but truly understand what it was trying to say. That’s why reviews matter. This week, I received one of those deeply gratifying moments when Pooja’s review of Reunion: Coda went live on Amazon. Though she lives in Nairobi, she posted the review on Amazon.ca due to regional account restrictions. Still, no matter where it appears, it’s a review that means something . Among her observations: "I appreciate that his writing is incredibly intelligent...

Discover the Journey of ‘Reunion: Coda’

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 A story that resonates deeply For readers who fell in love with Alex Diaz-Granados’ novella Reunion: A Story and have been yearning for a full-length novel, your wait is finally over. Reunion: Coda delivers the expansive, immersive storytelling you’ve been asking for, bringing to life a narrative rich with the complexities of love, loss, and memory. Jim Garraty's journey continues as he navigates the intricate dance between past regrets and present hopes. Now a successful history professor, Jim's life is a tapestry of unspoken love, haunting memories, and the pursuit of emotional closure. Through introspective moments and heartfelt letters, he finds the strength to confront his deepest fears and embrace new beginnings. Each page invites readers into his world, where the significance of friendship and the unpredictable nature of life take center stage. Available in three convenient formats—hardcover, paperback, and Kindle e-book—this is your chance to experience a poign...

A Moment of Reflection: A Review That Captures Reunion: Coda

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© 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados  One of the most rewarding experiences as an author is seeing readers connect with a story in ways you never expected. Denise Longrie’s recent review of Reunion: Coda perfectly captures the heart of the novel—the balance between love found and love lost, the journey of self-forgiveness, and the music that ties everything together. In Reunion: Coda , Jim Garraty has achieved his dream of teaching history, and his books enjoy modest success. Yet, beneath that success, he’s still nursing the wounds of a painful divorce. One evening, while unwinding at a bar, a woman approaches with a book bag in hand and asks, “Is this seat taken?” Though she’s a stranger, there’s something hauntingly familiar about her—a presence that unlocks long-buried memories. Denise’s review speaks to the novel’s richly textured storytelling. Through music, cityscapes, and moments of quiet reflection, Reunion: Coda explores themes of regret, missed chances, and ultimately, acceptanc...

For a Limited Time, You Can Get 'Reunion: Coda' for 99 Cents in the Kindle Countdown Deal!

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Cover design for the Kindle edition by Juan Carlos Hernandez.  Attention, Constant Readers! From 8 AM PDT on May 6th to 8 AM PDT on May 13th , Reunion: Coda will be available at a special discounted price as part of a Kindle Countdown Deal . If you haven't yet embarked on Jim Garraty's journey—a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory—now is the perfect time. In Reunion: Coda , Jim, now a successful history professor, finds himself reflecting on the past, confronting regrets, and embracing the possibility of new beginnings. Through heartfelt letters and introspective moments, he navigates the intricate dance between past mistakes and present hopes, making for an emotionally rich and deeply resonant read. This limited-time offer is your opportunity to dive into a novel that celebrates friendship, second chances, and the choices that shape our lives. Don't miss out—grab your Kindle copy before the deal ends! 📖 Get your copy here: Amazon ...

Breaking News: 'Reunion: Coda' Receives First Review on Amazon UK

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Reunion: Coda Receives its First Review on Amazon UK Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you all. Just 23 days after its release on Amazon, my debut novel, Reunion: Coda , has received its very first review on Amazon UK. The review was thoughtfully written by British blogger and writer, Meg Learner. In her review of Reunion: A Story (2018), Meg expressed a heartfelt desire for a sequel told from the perspective of the novella’s female lead, Marty Reynaud. While I couldn't provide Meg with that specific continuation, I poured my heart into creating a novel that delves deeply into the high school experiences of Jim and Marty, offering readers a richer understanding of their characters and their journey. Another lyrical book from Mr [Diaz-] Granados. A very satisfying sequel to his first novella about high school love and the problems with that. Without giving away too much of the plot, our hero, Jim Garraty, is now a history professor and seems about to find l...

Reunion: Coda Promo Video is Live

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'Reunion: Coda' is now available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions

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The front cover of Reunion: Coda - print edition. © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados  🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 I'm overjoyed to share that the Kindle, hardcover, and paperback editions of Reunion: Coda  are now officially available on Amazon! Completing the Reunion Duology has been an extraordinary journey—two years of dedication, passion, and countless emotions poured into these pages. © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados With both the hardcover and paperback editions now out in the world, Jim Garraty’s story is ready to find its way into your hands and hearts. Whether you’re reconnecting with his journey or starting fresh, I truly hope these books leave a lasting impact. Thank you for all the support and encouragement along the way—it means everything. Let me know your thoughts when you dive in!

Battling the Kindle Create Beast: A Writer’s Journey with Reunion: ‘Coda’

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The cover of the hardcover edition. © 2025 Alex Diaz-Granados  For many authors, Kindle Direct Publishing is a godsend—offering an accessible way to bring stories to life for readers around the world. However, as convenient as it may be, the road to publication often feels like a rollercoaster ride of triumphs and challenges. As I prepared Reunion: Coda for its print and e-book editions, I discovered that even the most user-friendly publishing platforms come with their quirks. One of the biggest hurdles? Kindle Create. While it’s a fantastic tool in theory, the reality is often enervating. Subheading formatting seems to have a mind of its own—refusing to preserve capitalization and undoing corrections even after files have been saved. For instance, when I typed "Fayerweather Hall 301M," Kindle Create repeatedly rendered it as "Fayerweather Hall 301m." Fixing these glitches took multiple attempts, testing my patience and resilience in equal measure. Then there’s...