A Certain Point of View: Writing, Film and Stuff

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...

  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...

  © 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...

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   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. ...

  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 ...

© 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...