Author: C.E. Flores

2023 Writing Recap

| C.E. Flores

Well, I didn’t get much writing done in November despite signing up for NaNoWriMo and even less done in December, so instead of a monthly recap, I’ll share what I accomplished during the year and what I hope to accomplish next year. 

I started out running straight from the gate and in January released Abuelita ¿Qué vamos a hacer hoy? ¡Hagamos rosca de reyes!: Versión en español and El boticario mexicano: Remedios herbales tradicionales para el resfriado y la gripe.

The English language equivalents were also out in January, but I did some revisions and re-released both The Mexican Apothecary: Traditional Cold and Flu Herbal Remedies and Abuelita ¿Qué Vamos A Hacer Hoy? Let’s Make Rosca de Reyes!: Bilingual Version later in the year. 

Then I released Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico Volume 4: Discovering the Healing Power of Native Blossoming Plants in May and  A Woman’s Survival Guide to Shopping in Rural Mexico: Where to Go to Get the Essentials in August.

So, 6 books isn’t my entire WIP list, but it wasn’t too shabby for a year’s work. I think I need a little more accountability pressure (although, as I mentioned, NaNoWriMo didn’t work for me this year). 

On that note, Stacy Jubba has a new offer, Vision Board Toolkit for Writers: Empower Your Future, that I’m looking into. In fact, it’s on sale this week with the code GOALS24. Access to the course opens on January 2, just in time for my New Year’s Writing Goals, and there’s an invitation to the Manifest and Mingle Vision Board Facebook Party for Writers. 

Check it out

Here’s to a RIGHTEOUS WRITING 2024! 

Flowers of Evil: Hani’s Daughter Mysteries by N.L. Holmes

| C.E. Flores

Flowers of Evil is set in the era of King Tut and follows the adventures of two well-educated noblewomen as they try to solve the mystery of a flower seller’s death. The storyline is intriguing, and the fact that it is based in a culture I know little about during a period I know even less about makes for good reading. 

I had a few reservations, however. First, the book starts with some historical tidbits that could have been explained to the reader during the course of the story, rendering this section unnecessary. Also, there’s a glaring typo in this section (circumscribed rather than circumcised), which immediately caused me to question the wisdom of continuing this book. 

Another drawback I found while reading is this book is a sequel to a series of books about the main character’s father, Lord Hani. At times, the story referenced events found in those books but weren’t fully explained in this one, leaving some gaps in the information given to the reader. As this is meant to be the first in the series about Hani’s daughter, it wouldn’t be remiss to review pertinent events more fully. 

The final item I found issue with was the character development of Lord Hani’s daughter, Neferet, the woman of her heart, Bener-ib, and the rabble of children the two had adopted. I found Neferet to be a spoiled and obstinate child, much younger in action than her purported age in the story. It’s hard to get into the story if the main character irritates the reader, although I’m sure this annoyingness is subjective, and other readers might disagree. Then, although Neferet and Bener-ib were lovers, there was no depth to their relationship described in the story. And finally, the passel of orphaned children was given no more than a vague mention here and there. I couldn’t tell you any of their names or describe them in any detail. 

The previous issue aside, I found the cozy mystery element delightful, making it a wonderfully light and enjoyable read. So, if you’re looking for an ancient history cozy mystery, Flowers of Evil fits the bill!

I received an ARC from Reedsy Discovery for this review. You can read my review HERE.

Author Feature — Laura LaBrie

| C.E. Flores

Author Laura LaBrie is from the US from Vermont and resides in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, MX. She came to Mexico on vacation 15 years ago and fell in love with the place. Initially, she and her husband had planned to retire there, but sadly, he passed away. Consequently, she made the move on her own. The small fishing village and its welcoming community played a crucial role in helping her heal. She developed a deep appreciation for the beach, the tranquility, and the nearby jungles.

Back in the US, Laura worked as a music teacher while raising her children. After her children graduated, she decided to reinvent herself and focused more on her passion for writing. She even published her first two books before moving to Mexico. Once in Mexico, her life took a significant turn. With her newfound independence, she delved into researching the culture and traditions of the Maya people. Her interactions with local individuals, particularly a shaman and healer named Don Francisco, led her to discover the rich heritage of the modern Maya, including their ancestral wisdom and magic. She began documenting these extraordinary experiences and stories, leading her to start a blog called “Maya Harmony: Ancient Path to Wellness.” 

Laura was a devout Christian for many years but found her beliefs undergoing a profound transformation after connecting with the Maya people. She started to witness remarkable phenomena that many in first-world countries often overlook. A significant part of her current work involves documenting the “supernatural” occurrences she encounters and the stories she hears from local indigenous people, such as remote viewing, intuitive knowing, working with shamanic stones, and encountering jungle spirits and guardians. This journey has opened her mind to the subtle world and how it operates, and she relishes the exploration.

Among her proudest achievements, she cites raising three wonderful children, publishing 12 books, adapting to life in a foreign country, and learning Spanish. She also misses certain aspects of life in the US, particularly good cheddar cheese. Nonetheless, she has embraced a simpler and more fulfilling life, prioritizing experiences, relationships, and self-love.

The passing of her husband was a pivotal moment in her life, propelling her on a path of self-discovery and transformation. She is now living a life that aligns with her true purpose and passions.

In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time at the beach, being on or in the water, practicing yoga and qigong, and exploring nature. She has a passion for collecting crystals and handmade jewelry, working with tarot cards and oracle cards, and burning incense. She also offers spiritual retreats, excursions, books, e-courses, and Maya birth chart readings.

Laura has authored several books and e-courses, and she is currently working on a new project, an e-course focused on leading Cacao ceremonies. Her creative process involves meticulous planning and intense focus, and she aims to complete this project within a month.

The books she has written which are currently available are: 

Connect with Laura LaBrie:

FREE Ebooks for the holidays

| C.E. Flores

Hey there! Times have been a bit tight lately, and I bet many of you can relate. With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holidays around the corner, the pressure to splurge is real, but my wallet says otherwise this year.

But here’s some good news—I’m offering several of my books for FREE this weekend! Consider it your “virtual shopping experience” without spending a single penny.

Grab them at no cost from November 23-27, and if you feel like spreading the love, I’d be thrilled if you could drop a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Every review means the world to me!

Happy reading!

Get it now
Revised edition
Get it now
Get it now

Infostack’s Black Friday Bonanza 2023: Unbelievable Deals for Writers

| C.E. Flores

Get ready for the biggest learning extravaganza of the year! Infostack’s Black Friday Bonanza runs from November 21st to 28th, 2023. This is your chance to access a treasure trove of knowledge and resources in our 2023 edition that you won’t want to miss.

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Don’t let this once-in-a-year opportunity slip through your fingers. To be the first to know when our deals go live, enter your information above. Rest assured, there’s no spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

This Black Friday, invest in yourself and your future. Infostack’s Black Friday Bonanza Extravaganza is your ticket to success. Mark your calendar and get ready to make the most of this epic event.

Check out the Black Friday Bonanza

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the fantastic deals for writers:

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Don’t miss out on these incredible deals and more during Infostack’s Black Friday Bonanza. Get ready to supercharge your author journey and achieve your writing goals.

Xodus Solutions: An Expert’s Guide to Thoughtful Prepping and Survival By G. Matthew Johnson

| C.E. Flores

Xodus Solutions, the book, is designed to complement the resources available at XodusSolutions.com and vice versa. The book’s first section focuses on the bug-out scenario, providing a host of possible solutions that most prepper books don’t cover when it’s time to get out of Dodge (or whatever urban location you happen to be in). As an example, the book considers evacuation methods involving caravans or aircraft leased or collectively owned by a group of individuals who share the common objective of leaving the area. The amount of organization and money these options entail makes them less feasible for the individual prepper or small family. 

Xodus Solutions outlines a strategy for executing these solutions, including the establishment of restricted-access fueling stations exclusively available to members and the commitment to coordinate flights from specific urban regions, also reserved for members. Readers are urged to participate in a website survey for additional details. While considerable research has gone into formulating these secure and orderly bug-out solutions, they do not address the unpredictability of human behavior, which frequently leads to frenzied scrambles and chaos when confronting life-or-death situations, even when there is a “plan.”

The following sections run through the estimates of how much food you might need, what tools and supplies would be helpful to have on hand, and some energy options. Again, I found the information to be on the upper scale of “survival options,” with more of a focus on hoarding rather than developing skills for survival after a catastrophic event. For instance, you certainly can rent fallow farmland and build a shelter to store your goods, but if the world order changes, that farmer will need that farmland to produce (as will you), and your tin shack will just be in the way.

The last section focused on nuclear bombs. While fascinating reading, it’s not something that you can effectively prepare for. Any supplies you have stored in a nuclear blast zone will be contaminated by radiation and unsafe to use. 

Overall, I found Xodus Solutions to be interesting reading. However, in my opinion, the book is primarily tailored to preppers who seek to minimize inconvenience rather than individuals like myself who are already living off-grid or for those who recognize that in TEOTWAWKI scenarios, a more fundamental survival skill set is required beyond what this book encompasses. 

I received an ARC from Reedsy Discovery to review this book. You can read my review HERE.

October 2023 Writing Challenge Update

| C.E. Flores

Screaming into the void! That’s how the writing challenge went for me in October. I devoted so many hours to working my day jobs that NO writing got done. 

Then, despite all the publicity (See YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR (ME) ARTICLE & PODCAST FEATURES), October was a dismal month for sales. I’m going to blame it on Amazon Prime days, but who knows? It could have been just a fluke. 

On the last day of the month, I finally got the editing done for the revised version of The Mexican Apothecary. The internet hasn’t been very cooperative lately, so we’ll see when I can get the new edition uploaded. 

In November, I signed up for Nanowrimo mostly for accountability purposes. I am DETERMINED to get some writing done this month. And just because I can, I’m choosing herbs as my focus once again. I’ve already started my research on wild roses in traditional Mexican remedies. 

Yippee kay-ya-eh. Move along, little bookies!!!

Your Favorite Author (me) Article & Podcast Features

| C.E. Flores

Would you believe that articles I’ve written are featured in not one but TWO digital zines this month, a print magazine, and a podcast? Whoop!

Take a gander at A Cup of Chocolate in A Tale of Two Cities in BookWorm Nook Magazine

Read it now

Explore the mystical world of Mexican Herbalism: Traditional Knowledge and Modern Applications in ReAwakened Online Magazine.

Read it now

Discover the mystical journey of Monarch butterflies as they dance between realms, serving as ethereal messengers bridging this world and the afterlife in this enchanting exploration of their symbolism and significance in the October/November issue of the Edge Magazine. 

Monarch Butterflies: Messengers of the Afterlife

But wait, there’s more! I’m also on Rediscovering Your Passion and Purpose with Patti! 

Season 2 – Episode 4 

“Surviving Mexico with Camille Flores. Camille talks about how she overcame starting from scratch in rural Mexico. This included building a house, getting electricity, and figuring things out. One of the unexpected things to happen to Camille was discovering a passion for Mexico herbalism. She now writes books about her adventures in Mexico and about the health benefits of the many herbs she is discovering and the historical importance of each of them.”

Listen now on: 

Whew! Gotta say, all this attention is a bit overwhelming! Fortunately (or not) I don’t expect a repeat next month.

Writing Challenge Update October 2023

| C.E. Flores

I’d hang my head in shame since I didn’t complete ANY of my proposed writing projects for the month, but I did get a roof put on and stopped an insurrection in La Yacata, so I’m going to be forgiving of myself this month. AND I get the added bonus of having had some juicy adventures, which I will undoubtedly feature in a future book (or two). 

I have a lot of book marketing planned for this month. Or rather, marketing that I had planned previously has dogpiled during the month of October. I’ll be airing on a podcast, appearing in a print magazine, and in TWO online magazines. Thus, I’ll be tooting my own horn a lot in the next few weeks. Hope you can bear the trumpets!

I also signed up to do an October Reading challenge from bookstore.org and will be appearing every Sunday between teaching classes to Chinese students at the impromptu community meetings that are taking place in front of my house, which often devolve into angry mobs. To say I’ve got a lot going on at the moment is an understatement. 

However, I’m going to see this writing challenge through. My goal for this month is to get that Mexican Apothecary book edited and republished. I also plan on working on books in the La Yacata series, although which book I focus on might vary from day to day. I’m desperate to get back to my herb studies, and I might be able to sneak in a plant or two, but I don’t think I’ll have anything publishable in that genre by the end of the month. 

I guess I’ll just take it one word at a time and see how it goes. What are you writing this month?