It has been hot, hot, hot here in Texas. Every day the temperature hovers above 100. The grass is drying, the plants are withering, and it is just too darn hot to be outside.

I have been working on revisions for a middle-grade novel with my agent from Upstart Crow. The editorial suggestions she makes are making the story better. I wish I could work on revisions every day, but personal life gets in the way. I try and get some reading in there as well. Not enough time in the day, though.

This is all part of the writing process—the fun part for me. The story is there; it just needs to be refined to make it better. This is the editing process where you add, delete, or change the way it’s going.

I also have several picture book manuscripts that I need to resurrect. I just sent out a poetry manuscript of about 58 poems to a contest. The winner will not be announced until October. All submissions take time. A writer has to learn patience and always has to be working on something else while waiting.

Happy to report that the black and white sketches from the illustrator for my next picture book have been completed. The book will be out in the Fall of 2023. Can hardly wait.

I am honored to have been inducted to the 2022 Texas Institute of Letters along with fourteen other Texas writers. Congratulations to all the new inductees. It’s an honor to be in such stellar company.

The TIL’s membership consists of the state’s most respected writers – including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner Award, Academy Award, Americas Award, International Latino Book Award, Lambda Literary Award, MacArthur Fellowship, and Guggenheim Fellowship. Membership is based on ongoing and exceptional literary accomplishment.

Happy New Year! May this new year bring bountiful blessings to all. I have finished revisions on my picture book about a girl who makes an unusual gift for the president of the United States during the Great Depression. I have also selected an illustrator. The book comes out in 2023. I will keep you posted.

Also, I am happy to have acquired an agent from Upstart Crow Literary and have been working with her on revisions for my novel in verse. During the holidays, I have been reading quite a bit. Just finished a book of poetry.

The Christmas decorations have been stored again for another year. The Christmas-scented candles are used up. The cookies from the annual family Cookie Party have been distributed to friends and neighbors. The decorative poinsettia towels in the bathroom are back in the linen closet. The house looks kind of drab now. Back to normal. Back to writing. Back to creating.

I am thrilled to announce that on January 18, 2022, the book, Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America, will be published in Spanish. My short story, “My Name is Dolores,” is part of the anthology.

I am pleased to announce that I have obtained agent representation by Kayla Cichello of Upstart Crow Literary Agency. For publishing inquiries, please contact Kayla at kayla@upstartcrowliterary.com

Upstart Crow Literary is a New York City literary agency specializing in adult fiction and nonfiction, young adult, and children’s books.

I am very excited that I just signed a contract with Millbrook Press (Lerner) for a historical picture book coming out in 2023. Yay!

The Book

It’s here!!  Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America. Edited by Margarita Longoria, the book is published by Philomel Books. Twenty Latino/a authors have stories in this anthology. It has a starred review from School Library Connection. My story is titled “My Name is Dolores.” Order your copy now at: Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.   

I am thrilled to announce that my story, “My Name is Dolores,” in the anthology, Living Beyond Borders: Growing up Mexican in America, published by Philomel and edited by Margarita Longoria, will be out by August 2021. I am so honored to be included with several other amazing authors and am so looking forward to reading their stories in this book. Be on the lookout for it!

In English and Spanish, author Lupe Ruiz-Flores reads her poem, NO MORE HOLES FOR BROKEN SOLES, from the book, THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE, published by Lerner. The reading is #47 on the sidebar on YouTube. Check out the video. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1W0S4U2a3KfI38u-tvKAX9eomCzAe3fb

I hope all of you are staying well and safe. I have been revising a short story that is coming out in an anthology next spring. It will be published by Philomel. The editing goes back and forth between the editor and the author. The story gets better and better with these revisions. I must say revisions are where a writer really gets to flush out what’s not needed and add what is. I am enjoying the process.

The other morning, I was drinking my coffee outside on my deck and noticed this silky spider’s web glistening in the sun. I took a picture of it. Reminded me of Charlotte’s Web. It was windy that day and by noon, the spider web was gone. But guess what? By the following morning, there it was again! The wind blew it away once more. But the stubborn little spider spun another web on the third day. I was amazed at the dedication and effort this tiny insect put into this delicate task. We should all be that dedicated in what we do, don’t you think?

Just thought I’d lighten the day just a bit with photos from my presentation last January at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. Imagine my delight when I realized that one of the members in that community had made cardboard zoo animals reflecting the illustrations in my bilingual picture book, The Woodcutter’s Gift.

It was an awesome job that must have taken hours of work. My sincere thanks to the artist. I took photos of the lion, zebra, tiger, giraffe, and turtle as I stood next to the cardboard images. I was also given an educational tour of the zoo where I took numerous photos. The day was beautiful, and the grounds were packed with young and old alike.

My kudos to the staff of Gladys Porter Zoo who hosted this event for the community.  

Thought for the day: “Cherish your human connections – your relationship with friends and family.” — Barbara Bush