Category: ThrowbackThursday

It’s #ThrowbackThursday and I’m taking you back to my daughter’s Quinceanera. In Latin customs, it’s not typical to do a Sweet Sixteen, but rather a Quinceanera – a “Sweet Fifteen.”

The Quinceanera is a big ritual which usually starts with a mass at church and then on to a venue for the rest of the celebration.

Since the celebration is about the passage of a female child into womanhood, there are many symbolic moments in the celebration.

For example, the young lady walks in with her father wearing a very fancy dress, children’s shoes, and a toy, but then changes into heels and hands her toy off to a young child to symbolize that she is leaving childhood. The young lady is usually accompanied by her father and a court consisting of 14 young people.

After a dance with her father and the court, the women of the family present various gifts to the young woman to signify her new role in life. It’s customary for the young woman to receive:

A tiara
A bracelet or ring
Earrings
A necklace, cross or medal
And since it is partly a religious ceremony, a bible or rosary

At our daughter’s Quinceanera, I gave her a ring from her my mom, who she unfortunately never got to meet. This is a picture of that moment.

After this, there is usually a meal. Later, there is a lighting of 15 candles, where the young woman offers a candle to 15 people (or groups of people) who have been special in her life.

After that, more food and dancing! Cubans love to party! The theme of our Quinceañera was Old Cuba since we can’t go to Cuba yet. Maybe one day.

We had a fabulous time at the Quinceañera and I know it will be a day we all will remember with joy and happiness.

There’s lots of exciting things that happen when you’re an author. “The Call” when an agent or editor lets you know they want to buy your book.

The first time someone asks you sign a book.

Meeting an online friend face-to-face (one of my favorite things to do!)

And for romance writers, it’s getting the call that you’re a RITA finalist. I got my call in 2012 for THE LOST, one of my paranormal romances.

It was so exciting for so many reasons. First of all, the RITAs are like the OSCARS for romance writers. Second, I took a really big risk writing THE LOST because it wasn’t your typical paranormal. No vampires, shifters, etc., but something different and unique – an ancient race of energy gatherers.

I loved that concept and plan on releasing the third book in the series later this year!

This is a picture of me and my editor, Selina McLemore, all dolled up for the very fancy and exciting awards ceremony!

This is a picture of the screen when they announced my nomination!

I didn’t win – 🙁 – but it was still a most exciting, rewarding and happy moment in my life.

That’s me in the middle, looking my nerdiest self. The Levittown Exchange Club honored the top three students from the four area high schools by having one student at every monthly meeting. I got a beautiful corsage, a certificate and my picture in the local paper. That’s my mom and dad with me, being all proud. The man to the top left was my high school principal and the other gentleman was a representative of the exchange.

I was and still am a nerd. Not a bad thing. I got good grades, played the bassoon, and was a jock. That got me a scholarship to Villanova and that was one of the best experiences of my life.

My one big desire as I finished high school was to write a book, but my immigrant parents had other ideas for me, namely, some kind of profession like a doctor or a lawyer.

Well, I did get my law degree and I’m thankful my mom pushed me to that because it’s made a big difference in my family’s life. But during all that time, the dream of being a writer never died.

After the birth of my daughter, I decided I had to do something to follow that dream. I had to do it for me and I had to do it for her because I wanted to show her that if you work hard enough, you can attain your dreams.

So I managed to do that and I think I did instill in my daughter that drive. I’m so proud of her taking a chance on buying the surf and skate shop and also, that like her mom, she wanted to write a book and she did! It was a great pleasure for me to edit and read FOLLOWING JANE and see such promise in her.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Throwback Thursday photo and thoughts.

So it’s Throwback Thursday and I’m sharing a photo from way way back. I think this was taken when I was about 4 or so. I had lots of blondish curls. Still have some waves and one little natural patch of blonde in the front, but my hair got darker as I got older.