It’s been a while since I wrote a straight-up “Here’s what I’m up to” post. I often get replies to my weekly emails asking for just this kind of update, so here you go!

I Celebrated One Year in Lisbon

Eva and I headed to Lisbon the other weekend to celebrate our one year anniversary of moving to Portugal. We live at the beach, just outside of the city, so we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice stay in town. We rented the Panorama Suite at the boutique design hotel, Santiago de Alfama. The hotel is located in a 15th century palace (don’t get too excited… “palace” is just a word the Portuguese use for a really big, fancy house, kind of like a “manor”), and it’s absolutely stunning. As the name suggests, the hotel is in the old neighborhood of Alfama, where most streets are so tiny that they are accessible to pedestrians only. We had a delicious dinner at JNCQuoi Asia, my favorite restaurant in Lisbon. I’ve eaten at the best restaurants all over the world, and I can say with certainty that this is the most beautiful restaurant I have ever seen. It’s filled with hand-carved, red-lacquered panels, incredible antiques, and even at 50-foot-long skeleton of a dragon.

I’m Nearly Finished with Book Three: Mermaid of New York

Despite what the wiggly gif says below (it’s a few weeks old), I am only two weeks away from my Book Three deadline! My editor has already started preliminary edits on the book, but it will move into the second phase on November 1st. It’s so interesting to write these books, because they are all so different! The first book was moody and dark, and the second was very twisty. This one is shaping up to be just as much of a wild ride, but it’s also somehow even more glitzy than the other two. Perhaps because it’s Mermaid of New York, and I know the city so well.

Also, below, catch a sneak peek at the work-in-progress cover!

I’ll Be Heading Back to NYC for Thanksgiving

I’m very excited to visit the U.S. next month for Thanksgiving. I’ll be popping by Atlanta to see my brother, niece and nephew. We’re also going to watch The Fugees at their 25th anniversary concert for The Score. Insane… I can’t believe that it’s been twenty-five years since my brother and I listened to that tape over and over, while driving to Sonic for cherry limeade. Sweet memories! Haha.

I’ll also be dining with my Cuban family for Thanksgiving. I absolutely love them all, but I’m especially looking forward to spending time with Tia Alicia, Eva’s aunt, and our little cousin Arianna (she’s the one wearing my kimono below). Our cousin is only six, but she’s so insanely smart and also veryyyy into TikTok. I want her to teach me a few tricks.

Lastly, I will be moving onto writing Book Four, Mermaid of Paris, starting in November, as well as new chapters in my episodic horror thriller, Little House by the Bridge. That story is being delivered via email for free. If you’d like to be added to that list and receive free episodes to your email, click here.