Do You Like Free Shit? Get Yours! #barrioblues #IndieAuthor #Smashwords #FreeShit #FreeeBook #eBook #MagicalRealism #HispanicLiterature

Apparently, a number of people like free shit. My story "Mona's Return" was posted yesterday afternoon on Smashwords.com, and it has been downloaded 14 times.  However, fair warning, I am still going over it before I post it on Amazon (I am also going to see if I can make it free forever there).  I did go over the draft a number of times, but I always catch minor errors, and the fact that it's free, isn't a pass. Still, it is a great story, and a fine sequel to La Bruja in the Orchard.

My newsletter was also delayed a bit. All of this happened because my sister union, 1708 Clerical and Professionals Staff was on strike last week. Of course, I had to support. Then, my Union had a social on Friday (and I am on both the social and scholarship committees because I am a big nerda--that's a female nerd by the way).  Saturday, we had a phenomenal graduation which took up most of Saturday, and yesterday I "took a day off" which means I relaxed and proofread the freebie for the millionth time.  I am officially declaring Sunday my "day off", so I can recharge my batteries.

For my regular readers, the newsletter should be out later this evening. It promises to be short, sans all my book advertisements, and focus on supporting other authors.  I had this wild idea of having articles ready to put into newsletters, but that would take way too much planning.

Oh, I am planning on having a real event in Chicago. Either in late May or mid-June.  Stay tuned because there will be appetizers and tequila, maybe a cake.  More importantly, there will be Not Your Abuelita's Folktales.  That party will be for my first-ever book release. It will be a hybrid with part of it Live Streamed, of me reading from my favorite scenes.  Maybe a short Q and A, depending on the guests.  If I know my peeps, they will want to eat and drink and dance.  You can read and do all these three things, honest.

Well, I hope you get your writing goals done, even if you have a lot happening in your life. Take some time to rest and renew. #barrioblues 

---