WIP 2024 – April Results

| C.E. Flores

I’m pretty psyched with my accomplishments for April. I did some plant studies and have whittled it down to 3 more herbs to finish book 5 in the Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico series. I’m aiming for a June publishing date. That means in May I’ll need to do those last three chapters, write the introduction and conclusion, format the appendix, design a cover, write the blurb, proofread, edit, proofread some more, edit some more, check the formatting, pull it all together, and do some more proofreading. Yikes. Well, if I plan for the end of June, maybe I’ll get it all done.

I also managed a small section in the Women’s Traditional Remedies book in April, but I’m not expecting to get that done before the end of the year. AND I got a bit sidetracked on a juice book and want to work on a gardening book too. All of these will be part of The Mexican Apothecary series, which only has one book in it right now. Maybe if I could just settle down and work on ONE of them, I’d be further along. Maybe. 

I also worked a bit on the sequel to La Yacata Revolution: How NOT to Buy a Piece of Heaven in Mexico. That one won’t be completed this year, or most likely even next, because there’s still so much to be done in La Yacata and I’m writing the draft as I go. You can see the latest accomplishments at Surviving Mexico.  

My fabulous illustrator, Claudia Guzes, said her schedule has freed up to begin book two in the Abuelita ¿Qué Vamos A Hacer Hoy? series. I need to check over my draft about la tamalada Lupita and her grandmother are planning and hand it over to the artist to start working on the illustrations in May as well. 

Oh, aaaaaaand I did the Amazon Ads 5-Day Challenge with Bryan Cohen to whip up some ads for El boticario mexicano: Remedios herbales tradicionales para el resfriado y la gripe because I gotta get those sales up in the Spanish-speaking community!

Whew! So, how’s your writing going?

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

| C.E. Flores

I don’t believe I would have chosen this book on my own, but for over a year, I’ve been teaching the first two books of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” to Chinese middle schoolers. Recently, I decided it was time to finish the book myself.

Had I been Dickens’ editor, I might have chided him on the one-dimensional portrayal of the lovely Lucie Manette, the object of all men’s desires (or at least the ones in this novel). I would have also had him fix that chapter that changed from the omniscient narrator to a first-person point-of-view. But alas, Dickens’ works can’t be rewritten to suit my standards. So be it.  

Despite these criticisms, I found great enjoyment in reading this classic. Particularly captivating was the pervasive sense of impending doom that permeated the period leading up to the French Revolution. Even characters who initially seemed secure in England found themselves swept away by the chaos of war. Among the characters, my favorites were Madame Defarge, driven by a relentless, if morally ambiguous, purpose, and Sydney Carton, who discovers redemption through self-sacrifice.

In conclusion, “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens remains a timeless classic. The novel’s exploration of themes like sacrifice, redemption, and the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution ensures its enduring relevance and appeal. Through vivid storytelling and memorable characters, Dickens masterfully captures the essence of a pivotal moment in history, leaving a lasting impression on readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

WIP 2024 – March results

| C.E. Flores

Well, March was a better month for writing than February. I wrote a bit of this and that, but I didn’t finish any of the outstanding WIPs. That’s okay. I’m feeling optimistic about April. 

I’d like to take a minute to share ALL of the books that are currently available on Amazon in case you haven’t checked in a while. I’m proud of all my babies (books) and am eternally hopeful that each and every one will find the right readers.

For the Herbalists

For the Kids

For the Expats

For the Aspiring Writers

In Spanish

Fate’s Fables by T. Rae Mitchell

| C.E. Flores

I was hung up on reading a traditional Grimm’s Fairy Tale or a book about ehm ‘fairies’ with this reading challenge and thus didn’t do it the first go-’round. When I altered my thinking, I realized immediately after starting Fate’s Fables by T. Rae Mitchell I had found my ‘fairy tale’ book to review. 

Fate is an up-and-coming author who is sucked into a magical fairy tale book. Fate, and her love interest Finn, are charged with recovering a magical item, which can only be done by changing the endings of the eight fairy tales in the book. Thus, the adventure begins. 

With a pair of sidekicks, a feathered snake and a witchy child, Finn and Fate traipse through story after story, rewriting storylines in a more ‘happy-ever-ever’ framing. It was a fun read. 

There were a few things that required a stretch of the imagination. First, Fate was 17 years old and already an accomplished writer with a publicist. Ok, I get it was a ‘fairy tale,’ but come on. When would that actually happen in the real world? Huh? 😉 So, from the onset, a mindset of suspended disbelief was needed to thoroughly enjoy the plot. 

The second issue I had with the book was that the horrible events (because what fairy tale is complete without horrible events) were sort of brushed over. I think I wanted a little more wallowing during those sections. But perhaps because there were EIGHT fables to get through, the author felt there wasn’t enough time for the pit of despair or the swamps of sadness. 

Fate’s Fables is the first book of a series, so the romance between Finn and Fate is left unresolved at the end with the idea that Fate (and Finn) will need to go through more trials and tribulations before they can live together happily ever after, in true fairy tale tradition.

WIP 2024 – February Results

| C.E. Flores

I’d like to say that February was at least better than January, but that’s stretching the truth a bit. I did get a few chapters done before I came down with COVID and spent weeks recuperating. 

Fortunately, I’m feeling better, and March seems like it’s off to a better start. I’ve decided that I’m not going to berate myself over much for another flop month and just start again fresh this month. 

How’s writing going for you?

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Permaculture Gardening for the Absolute Beginner: Follow Nature’s Map to Grow Your Own Organic Food with Confidence and Transform Any Backyard Into a Thriving Ecosystem by Josie Beckham 

| C.E. Flores

Who would have guessed that a gardening book could be such an enjoyable read? Permaculture Gardening for the Absolute Beginner is not only inviting and informative but also genuinely inspiring. 

The book is impressively well-organized. Our gardening journey begins with demystifying permaculture as more of a mindset than an exact science. It takes you through the essential steps, from soil preparation to seed planting and expansion. The author manages to instill a sense of empowerment, making you feel like you can conquer the world, one raised bed at a time—and that’s a wonderful feeling!

Infused with humor and practical knowledge, the author shares her gardening passion through the written word, making permaculture principles accessible to every level of gardener. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the significance of native plants. Often, gardeners focus solely on crops, overlooking the essential role native plants play in the ecosystem.

This ecological perspective extends further in the chapter on integrating animal life. Pollinators, wildlife, and small livestock are integral components of permaculture, and the provided tips simplify the process of encouraging their presence.

But the helpful tips don’t stop there! The resource section is a goldmine, offering information on collecting rainwater, windbreaks, considerations for sun exposure when planting, companion gardening, and even a breakdown of composting into easily understandable bits of information everyone can follow with cute and informative graphics. 

If you are already a permaculture enthusiast, you may find this book a little too simplistic. The writing is quirky and fun, which might not appeal to every reader. This simplicity of the content and the whimsical tone may be perceived as a departure from the in-depth and serious exploration often associated with permaculture literature. So, while some readers may appreciate the lighthearted approach, those seeking a more scholarly examination of permaculture principles may find this book less satisfying. 

That being said, Permaculture Gardening for the Absolute Beginner is the best permaculture/gardening how-to book I’ve ever read!

I received an ARC from Reedsy Discovery. You can see my review HERE.

WIP 2024 – January Results

| C.E. Flores

Deplorable; that’s what the January results were. I have a temporary gig that’s been eating away at my time, in addition to the mammoth task of trying to get La Yacata documents organized before the next community meeting in February, so I didn’t get nearly as much writing done as I had planned even with making space on my calendar for writing three times a week. 

I managed two chapters for herb book #5 and two in La Yacata Insurrection book, which is not at all as many as I’d have liked. 

Unfortunately, this month, it will also be tough to meet my goals as this temporary gig goes through March 2, and the next community meeting is on February 11. However, I figure progress is progress, right? 

How’s your writing going?

Third Eye Cookbook: A Maya Inspired Guide & Cookbook to Heal Your Spiritual Sight by Laura La Brie & Max Martinez

| C.E. Flores

More than a cookbook, this book by Laura LaBrie is a spiritual guide with a focus on food! The book begins with defining the Sixth Sense and a few cleanings and activating practices you can incorporate into your daily life. The next section lists food the authors recommend for optimal third-eye functionality. Then come the recipes. 

Although these include some traditional Mexican dishes, with Maya cuisine marked with a pyramid, the cookbook is designed for the non-Mexican palette in general. You won’t find goat stew (consomé), pozole (hominy soup), and menudo (tripe soup), or the more exotic chapulines (grasshoppers), chinicuiles (maguey worms) and huitlacoche (corn smut). Instead, you’ll find beet and pecan hummus, cabbage cleansing soup, and spiced apples with cream. 

The photographs are mouth-watering, and the recipes are easy to follow. I have been enjoying working my way through the traditional Maya recipes that are quite a bit different from the central Mexican Purépecha-influenced diet common where I live in Mexico. 

So, if you have a hankering for some third-eye nourishing foods, don’t waste any more time in picking up this delightful Maya-inspired cookbook.

Get your copy today!

Reasonable by K.T. Carlise

| C.E. Flores

This gripping drama hooked me right from the start when the narrator finds herself arrested for her former best friend Elaine’s murder. Initially centered around two couples, the unfolding events reveal a rich tapestry of layers and characters much more extensive than first supposed.

While completely captivated by the narrative, I was put out upon discovering that this is just the first installment in the “What Happened to Mia Davis?” series. While I understand the author’s reasoning for turning a standalone into a series, I couldn’t shake the disappointment of not learning about Mia’s fate nor seeing Elaine’s murderer brought to justice at the end of the book. I guess I’ll have to wait for the sequel to come out.

Setting that aside, the story is told through the eyes of Catheryn, the woman accused of Elaine’s murder, and Rachel, a police officer and Mia’s best friend. The initial shift from Catheryn’s perspective to Rachel’s caught me off guard, but once I adjusted, I found Rachel’s side of the story equally compelling.

The characters were not only relatable but also well-crafted, and the mystery’s twists and turns were subtle, with misdirection playing a crucial role. Overall, despite my reservations about the series format, the book held my attention throughout, and I stayed up way past my bedtime to read just a little more. 

I especially enjoyed the meticulous attention to detail, ranging from the portrayal of the interrogating police officer to the occasionally irrational yet entirely comprehensible reasoning processes of both Rachel and Catheryn.

Pinpointing my favorite part of the book without giving away spoilers is a challenge, but let me just say that the dual narrative perspectives masterfully guide readers through the mystery, unraveling the clues one by one. If you’re a fan of compelling crime dramas, this book is an absolute must-read! Get Reasonable from Amazon today!

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