I’ve been so cold this winter that I turn my heat up to 74 degrees.

It’s been so frigid that I have become a hermit. Unless I’m dropping Evan off at school, picking him up, or going to appointments or the grocery store, I am not going anywhere.

I have felt the winter penetrate my bones so deeply that I refuse to take off my Snuggy.

So, basically, this has been me…

So I booked a flight to Orlando to sell some books and experience some heat beyond the warmth of my Snuggy and the steam of romance novels.

Speaking of, my baby girl, my Dominicanita, my doctora, Yoanna, sold out at the Spellbound Bookstore’s Romance Book Fair! I brought fewer copies since it’s the second book in the Heights of Love series, but when readers passed by my author table and read Yoanna’s blurb, they were intrigued.

I will always feel like a proud momma with Candi because she was my first. But, just like parents of multiple kids get better at parenting, by the second book, authors get a better grip on how to craft a story. We feel more confident about who we are as romance authors and just let shit flow.

Now I’m on my third book, Reina, and I’m letting loose—like when a parent didn’t let her eldest daughter date, but by the third daughter, the boyfriend is chilling in her bedroom (open door, of course).

As for the rest of my time in Orlando…

Other than meeting amazingly supportive readers and authors alike, I reconnected with my godmother, Nancy, whom I hadn’t seen since I was 9 years old after she moved to Orlando.

I’m still beaming from our time together. I felt so loved, seen, heard, and connected to her and her husband, who have known me since I was 4 months old. She even gave me the photo below of me at that age. The fact that she still has it melts my heart…

So, yes! The trip was a success. I saw palm trees. I sold books. I felt warm and fuzzy in more ways than one.

I can’t wait for my next trip to Orlando (soon, because I am manifesting moving there) and my next romance book signing in May in PA! Oh, and of course, my birthday is in April. Stay tuned for a special book sale and more details on my next three (yes, three!) book signings!

Love,

Sujeiry

I’m writing this update from a brand-new zip code, in a new home, and in my new office, which has a completely different view from my previous office.

I may not be staring at trees covered in snow, watching neighbors who are not very neighborly on their midday walks, or kids getting off the school bus with an innocence and openness that makes them kind to everyone, even if they don’t look like them.

I may not be in the zip code I imagined when I was a single girl in my 20s, dreaming of my dream home with my dream husband, because Long Island never once crossed my mind.

Yet here I am, starting over yet again due to circumstances that are too annoying to share, but that have everything to do with unneighborly neighbors.

Which brings me back to writing steamy romance novellas…

I am developing a grumpy neighbor romance series based on this experience. Real life is always fodder, even when real life sucks.

I’m also finishing up Reina, the third and final installment of my Heights of Love series, a bingeable, steamy romance novella series about a close group of friends from Washington Heights navigating love, ambition, and desire in New York City. (Check out the series here.)

Reina’s release day has changed…

I had initially planned to release this book on my birthday, April 16, but I’ve learned that it’s essential to give myself ample time to promote my books. So, I am publishing Reina on May 21, 2026, which is my mom’s birthday!

The writing process is coming along…

I’m at the halfway mark and enjoying writing Reina so much that I can’t help but laugh as I write. The proof is in the Instagram reel below.

I love that I’m writing a steamy romance romcom featuring an over-40, perimenopausal single mom who’s learning to love her body, all while getting caught up in a love triangle with a much younger man and a powerful Reality TV executive producer.

And no, this is not autobiographical, despite folks sliding into my DMs assuming otherwise. Although I wouldn’t mind attracting two hotties :-)

Speaking of hotties…

I’m participating in two promotions where you can read free romance stories featuring the hottest MMCs (male main characters).

Check out these post-Valentine’s Day freebies featuring billionaires, firefighters, and steamy romance novels and short stories.

This February Love Promo has a mixed bag of hot single dads, ranchers, bad boys, and more.

Stay tuned for more announcements about upcoming events (I have exciting news on that front!), ARC sign-ups, and so much more. I vowed to expand in 2026, and that I am, even if it’s from a different zip code in a different town with a different view than I imagined.

Love,

Sujeiry

I began developing Reina’s character while writing Yoanna, the second book in my Heights of Love series. And she is so different from my other leading ladies!

• Candi is a messy, creative, and impulsive hopeful romantic. She loves love and often gets carried away by her raging libido. At 29, she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places, stumbling from connection to connection until she finally falls for Joel, her bestie’s twin brother.

• Yoanna, Candi’s bestie, is her total opposite: professional, put-together, and practical. Turning 30 in the very first chapter of her debut novella, she has a strict checklist for the perfect partner. But when she meets Ben, she starts to wonder if losing control is exactly what she needs.

• Reina is a woman in midlife. At 45, she’s starting over after finally letting go of her on-again, off-again ex-fiancé and the father of her son, Peter. Struggling with aging and body image, she’s a curvy single mom on a journey to self-love who suddenly finds herself being pursued by two hotties, Abel and Jacob.

Why Reina Matters

I am enjoying writing Reina so much. Although her story isn’t autobiographical (despite what people think), some parts definitely ring true. As a 47-year-old single mom navigating a changing body and shifting hormones, I know the struggle of staying open to love and embracing change.

I’m so proud to create a Latina character who isn’t just “older,” but who is actively working through self-worth issues and perimenopause while navigating dating over 45. She is special because she’s real. Reina represents so many of us.

The Cover

Because Reina represents so much, I wanted her cover to be just as special and dripped in representation. I am still working on the perfect font, but I couldn’t wait any longer to share the primary image with all of you!

Chichos (back rolls), the Dominican flag, two dark chocolate men vying for her attention, and springtime in NYC—I am obsessed with this cover! I’m so proud of how it turned out and how Reina’s story is coming to life.

Hit the heart if you love the cover!

I am thrilled to finally share that I will be an attending author at the Spellbound Bookstores Romance Fair in Sanford, FL. I am hopping on a flight from frigid, snowy, icy Long Island, NY, and heading to the Sunshine State.

Come by if you’re in the area! Say hi, buy a signed copy of Candi, and meet me IRL.

Spellbound Bookstore Romance Fair

• Date & Time: February 28th, 2026

• Venue: West End Trading Co., 202 S Sanford Ave, Sanford, FL 32771

This is exactly what I intended as an indie romance author for 2026. There’s so much more to come, including the Reina cover reveal and blurb, a new steamy romance series, a romance short, and more free romance reads from me. I also have another exciting announcement that I’ll share once I get approval. Yay!

See some of you in Florida. Till next time!

xo,

Sujeiry

My word for 2025 was Trust.

I chose this word to root myself in self-trust, specifically because I had a habit of listening to others instead of myself. Before making decisions, or even when trying to cope with life, I often turned to family, friends, and even coworkers to vent, complain, and receive guidance instead of processing and tuning into my own intuition.

What I learned in 2025 is that no one can tell me what’s right for me.

No one can decide for me. My life is mine to live, so I needed to learn how to trust myself in order to align with my desires.

I created a 2025 vision board and placed the word TRUST at the center. The images surrounding it represented the area of my life where I needed to trust myself the most: romantic relationships.

That wasn’t the only way I practiced self-trust. I did breathwork to regulate my nervous system. I repeated affirmations daily to ground myself in being self-trusting, self-loving, chosen, enough, and worthy. Over time, I naturally began to trust myself, slowly breaking old habits of seeking outside validation and guidance.

I started asking myself simple but powerful questions: What do I want? And after answering, Does this align with my desires? I also asked, Would a self-trusting and self-loving Sujeiry do this, say this, take this action?

These questions were intentional. They helped me become more self-aware and taught me how to be naturally attuned to my intuition, my fears, and my thoughts.

And it worked.

I have never felt this self-trusting. I feel clear in who I am and what I want out of life.

Now, I’m ready to take on 2026, grounded in my new word: Expansion.

More on what’s to come next time, especially news and updates on my romance novels, my co-hosted podcast, and upcoming events. Thank you for reading. And if you’d like, let me know what word you’re choosing for 2026.

Love,
Sujeiry

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I admit it. I tricked you into reading this newsletter with a misleading, click-baity title. Who wouldn’t want to read a story about a love triangle? If you’re shaking your head, my inner voyeur is calling your bluff.

So, what gives? Am I or am I not in a love triangle? Although I’ve been putting myself out there and meeting men the good ol’ fashioned way (I need time to venture into online dating again…or maybe just liquid courage?) I haven’t found myself in such a compromising position.

The love triangle referenced occurs in my spicy romance novel, Candi. Candi is my alter ego; the version of me I wish I was because she’s hot in the panties. My libido is just fine, thankyouverymuch, but I am much more selective about who I bed than Candi is.

Let’s just say she makes romantic decisions with her lady parts.

Oh, how I wish I was that kind of woman instead of someone who feels lovey-dovey things when I see a man naked!

Sidenote: if you do catch me juggling men, blame Megan Thee Stallion’s “Cognac Queen.” I’ve had this song on repeat lately.

Back to Candi, my first spicy romance novel from “The Heights of Love” series. Here’s what it’s about!

Candi is as messy as messy can get. The hopeful romantic is crushing on her co-worker, Jay, all while trying to keep her best friend's twin brother, Joel, at bay.

She sets her sights on Jay at a company party but comes face-to-face with an unknown adversary. Defeated, she calls on her best friend, Yo, to slap her back to reality. A Sunday of BBMs (bagels, bacon, and mimosas) with her bestie is just what she needs. There is just one hitch: Yo brings along her hot twin brother, Joel.

Teasing Candi has been Joel's favorite pastime since middle school. A marketing guru and hit with the ladies, he can’t seem to win Candi over. She tries to resist their chemistry to preserve her friendship with Yo, but it's getting harder and harder.

Will Candi succumb to her urges and fall in love with Joel, or will she reignite her spark with Jay? Candi refuses to lose her best friend, but she may be unable to control herself around her bestie's twin brother.

Sounds fun, right? Because it is! Even more exciting is that Candi is currently ranking at #176 in the Love Triangle category on Amazon! I would love to get her to Top 100. You can help by purchasing a copy of Candi here.

Thank you for reading whatever I throw your way. Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter which includes a lovey-dovey poem…cause I just can’t help myself.

P.S. Please heart this post and/or comment. It helps me gain more visibility on Substack.

Till next time…

xoxo,

Sujeiry

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I realize now that as I evolved as a woman it was only natural to shift as a Latina writer and author. I’ve identified as a writer since the early age of 12. Much like I stopped writing Sweet Valley High copycat stories by 15 (oh the lawsuits that would have ensued!) I outgrew writing about penises, sex positions, and dating fails. Especially with a newborn stuck to my tit. 

It’s only natural as a grown-ass woman and momma that this former relationship writer and journalist turned to fiction and popped out a romance novel.  

I wasn’t sure how to start. I just knew I had to. I sat down at my computer, opened Google Docs, and let the words flow. After 30 minutes, I had created my main character, Candi (short for Candida). I also realized that I had basically written a fictional story that wasn’t so fictional: that first paragraph was straight out of a scene from a fight that I had had with my ex-fiancé.

I didn’t get it right the first time or the second. But I didn’t give up. I continued to play with words, characters, and storylines. I took inspiration from my life - my mistakes, my lessons learned when dating, and even more mistakes - and who I am as a woman, sister, partner, and friend, and created Candi. 

A Latinx Romance Novel Is Born

Candi is as messy, funny, talented, and as energetic as I was in my 20s. Only her cocktail of choice is Fireball and mine was a Bacardi and Coke.

They say life imitates art. And that’s exactly what happened when I wrote my first Latinx romance novel, Heights of Love: Candi. Although I didn’t get in as much trouble as Candi does in my debut novelette (you must read that sexy scene that goes down in a car!) I had as much fun as she did before I became a responsible adult and momma. 

So, no more penis stories from me. But you’ll definitely get some sexy stories from Candi. 

Grab your copy of Heights of Love: Candi on Amazon. Available in paperback and Kindle. 

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My first romance novel, “Candi,” from The Heights of Love series has leveled up. I learned a few design tricks and created a new cover for “Candi” that screams NYC, love triangle, and romance!

This is the old cover.

And here is the new one!

Also, my second book in The Height of Love series titled “Yo” will be available this summer! It’s full of twists and turns, and way more car sex than “Candi.”

Tell me. What do you think about the new Candi book cover?

And if you’ve already read “Candi” go over to Amazon and leave a review. It really helps!

Thank you for the ongoing support! Writing is my passion and my first love. I appreciate all the love.

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“All I want for Christmaaaaaaaaaaaaas is youuuuuuuuuuu!” I belt out Mariah Carey’s Christmas anthem in front of the bathroom mirror. Fire engine red lipstick on point, thanks to the makers of Wet & Wild, I blow a kiss at my reflection. 

“Ok, Candi.” I begin my pep talk. “Get out there and sing this song like you’re the Dominican Mariah. You got this!” 

I step out of Tortilla Restaurant’s bathroom and scan the room to find Robert, the host of tonight’s holiday party. My eyes stop at the bar. “There you are!” I say to myself. I smooth out my red velvet Mrs. Claus outfit, a requirement to get the singing gig, and confidently strut toward him. He looks over his shoulder and waves me over. I wave back, smile wide, and suddenly, feel myself wobble. Robert’s eyes widen as I slip on a lemon wedge and land on my back. 

“Are you okay?” A man in a black suit and bow tie rushes to my side and lifts me off the floor while still holding a serving tray of hors d'oeuvres. 

I shake my head and peer into his large, baby-blue eyes. “You’re my hero,” I gush. 

What happens next? Candi gets messy. How? Read the rest to find out! And don’t forget to subscribe and share!

Read the rest!

After a decade of writing about my relationships, I ventured into romance writing. I was excited and a little intimidated. As confident as I am, I doubted if I was a good enough writer to foray into this new terrain. I was used to pouring my heart onto a page and, while many of you have enjoyed following along with my dating wins and woes, rehashing my heartbreak didn’t help my healing. It now feels unhealthy to replay old stories and memorialize my pain.

Because I have changed since then.

I am a stronger and much more confident woman. I am more compassionate. I show myself grace and others as well. I love and accept myself. I know what I deserve.

I don’t recognize the me from my old stories. Because that old version of me is long gone.

I don’t regret my writing journey. And I definitely don’t regret the men from my past and the mistakes that I made. It has all led to my becoming the woman that I am today. A woman who recognizes her worth and refuses to settle for less than unconditional, unshakable love.

No matter what I’ve been through, I will never give up on love. I am a hopeless romantic after all.

And although I ain’t booed up (yet!), I do have a long-time friend, Krista, who is now my partner in crime in writing and business. I would love for you to support our newsletter, Give Them Romance, by subscribing for free. That’s where we’re sharing our fictional stories featuring BIPOC leading ladies and sassy relationship blogs. Here’s what’s published now:

• I Left a Thanksgiving Fiesta for a Booty Call

• 6 Ways to Stay Sane During the Holidays When Single

As always, thank you for reading and all of the support! Subscribe to Give Them Romance for more fun reads and a lot more romance from yours truly.

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The protagonist, Candi, has bits of me. (But only the good parts!) She’s a hopeless romantic, like me, who refuses to give up on love, even when it keeps punching her in the face. (It’s like a boxing match!) She’s all bruised up but there she goes, falling in love all over again and hoping for the best!

Also, I’m still considering if I should write the second volume of Love Trips. I decided to go for it and then I asked myself, do I want to relive past relationships? Do I want to spend my writing days and nights like this…

I’ll keep you all posted once I’m sure that writing about my personal romantic relationships won’t kill me. (I am much more sensitive than I lead on!)

Without further ado, here is a snippet of Candi for your enjoyment. Show me some support by buying your copy on Amazon.

Wet Ride

Despite the humidity sticking to my caramel skin, I decide to take a walk down Haven Avenue. Other than Yo and Joel I don’t have anyone else to paint the town fuchsia with. Yo has her hands full with Pedro, and I don’t know how I’ll face Joel ever again. I can’t stop thinking about how my tummy fluttered when he caressed my hand. And the look of satisfaction on his smug face, silently acknowledging that he hooked me after all of these years.

“No,” I say to myself, making my way down Cabrini Avenue. “Joel is Yo’s brother. Her twin. I cannot cross that line.”

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I gaze up at the sky, the stars twinkling brightly despite the thick, polluted city air. They shine in spite of it. I shake my head and chuckle. What am I, a philosopher now? And where am I going anyway? I look ahead and notice a new bar. Born and raised in Washington Heights, I know my ‘hood like the back of my hand. A new bar may pop up every minute, but I stay in the know of every opening and every bartender's name. What can I say? I like winding down with a glass of something. And I do have a weakness for bartenders.

“Did have a weakness for bartenders,” I remind myself as I swing the door open and enter The Hive. Maybe the owner is a fan of bees - or Queen Bey.

I zoom toward the bar only to realize that there is no one inside.

“How new is this place?” I mumble.

I whip out my phone to search for reviews on my DominiHeights Facebook group when I hear someone call out.

“Come on in!” The bartender appears from the back and waves me over.

“Um, I think I’m going to go.” I begin walking backward, keeping my eyes on him in case he’s a serial killer when I trip and fall - again.

“Ow!” I wince as a shooting pain hits my ankle. I blink quickly, trying to gather my bearings. Did the bartender throw some black magic my way so he could lock me in the basement?!

“Candi!” a voice calls.

Ok, I think I'm going insane because that voice sounds just like...

“Jay.” I gasp.

"Who in the hell is Jay?! Why is this chapter called “Wet Ride”?! What happens next?! Grab your copy on Amazon to find out.

Chapter 1: How Did I Get Here?

“Love in an elevator! Lovin’ it up ‘till I hit the ground!” 

I poke my twin brother, Joel, in the ribs as he begins to whistle the rest of the Aerosmith classic. Only I can’t stand this song and its overly sexualized romanticism. Who wants to make love in an elevator while plummeting to their death? And who says “make love” anyway? Not me. I, Yoanna De Santos, better known as “Yo,” and soon to be known as Yoanna Rodriguez, am a realist. Joel? He’s a former closeted romantic that sprung right out of the closet thanks to his relationship with my best friend, Candi.

“Ugh, you know how much I hate that song, bro!” I cover my ears with my hands and stick my tongue out at Joel. 

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“You just need some real love, sis, to know what it feels like to love when shit goes down,” Joel throws his head back and laughs, slapping his lap as if he were at a comedy club. Only he’s the opening act. 

“I do have real love,” I affirm. “As a matter of fact,” I grab my phone from my white Dolce clutch, “let me text Pedro now. He should be here soon.” 

And when he arrives, I’ll show Joel that my relationship with Pedro is just as exciting as his relationship with Candi. We might not suck each other’s lips off in public, but our relationship, ahum, engagement, is solid. Pedro and I have a stable, committed partnership and soon, marriage. We have our issues and, yes, we get in our relationship ruts, especially when Pedro is in a funk, which lately has felt like an ongoing episode of Days of Our Lives, but we’re a team.

“Come on, sis! Let’s party.” Joel interrupts my train of thought and I’m grateful for it. I don’t want to think anymore. 

The elevator doors open and I step out and into my OBGYN office, which has been decked out in black and gold to celebrate the upcoming New Year. I scan the crowd that has gathered for the annual event, which I now host at my practice instead of Mami’s living room in Washington Heights. It feels good to invite my family, friends, and loved ones to countdown the new year inside the walls of the business I’ve built from the ground up at only 30 years old. Well, 31 in 2 hours. Yup. I am a New Year's baby. A tough day to be born since everyone is focused on who they’ll kiss at midnight, what color panties to wear to attract great sex, and gulping grapes for good fortune in the new year. It all goes down at midnight, which happens to be my time of birth. That’s right. I was born on January 1st at 12 am. I am nothing if not a punctual overachiever. 

Buy Yoanna here.

Have you read Candi?

Candi is as messy as messy can get. The hopeful romantic is crushing on her co-worker, Jay, all while trying to keep her best friend's twin brother, Joel, at bay.

She sets her sights on Jay at a company party but comes face-to-face with an unknown adversary. Defeated, she calls on her best friend, Yo, to slap her back to reality. A Sunday of BBMs (bagels, bacon, and mimosas) with her bestie is just what she needs. There is just one hitch: Yo brings along her hot twin brother, Joel.

Teasing Candi has been Joel's favorite pastime since middle school. A marketing guru and hit with the ladies, he can’t seem to win Candi over. She tries to resist their chemistry to preserve her friendship with Yo, but it's getting harder and harder.

Will Candi succumb to her urges and fall in love with Joel, or will she reignite her spark with Jay? Candi refuses to lose her best friend, but she may be unable to control herself around her bestie's twin brother.

Purchase Candi in paperback here.

Sorry for the double email! But I just got word from the Amazon Kindle gatekeepers that Candi was approved for Amazon Kindle. That means you can pre-order Candi NOW on Amazon Kindle.

If you order Candi NOW, it will drop in your Amazon Kindle library on November 25th.

Candi is a perfect post-Thanksgiving palette cleanser! Order it today. Read it while nursing your hangover.

PRE ORDER CANDI

Hey all! I am so excited to share that my first romance novelette, Candi, will be available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle (e-book) on 11/25/22 (Black Friday). Candi has been two years in the making. I began writing her story during Lockdown 2020. I put the book on pause once I realized the plot lines and characters were a little too familiar. Let’s just say that version of Candi felt like a regurgitation of my life with my ex-fiancé.

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After some therapy (actually, not really. At least not this time!) and reading a handful of romance novels to get my juices flowing, I redirected. I worked on embracing the romance genre and its tropes and twists and turns, and I started Candi from scratch. It wasn’t easy at first. I was so accustomed to writing about myself and my relationships that it felt like I had gotten a hip replacement. I was still walking (writing), but I felt a little stiff. And not the good kind of stiff!

(Please forgive my dirty mind. Actually, embrace it. Candi is a romance novel after all.)

So, right before my 44th birthday (the great April 16th, or as I like to call it, the Best Day in the Whole Wide World!) I finished Candi. I celebrated by dancing alone in my kitchen, recording said dance, and posting it on Instagram after a few (okay, a bottle) of red wine. I am very proud of myself. I pushed myself outside of my creative comfort zone. I did what I intended to do (as I always do). I didn’t (and never) let fear stop me from doing the damn thing. And now, here I am: unveiling Candi and the book cover.

Thank you all for the continued love and support. It makes my already tender heart melt like goo.

About Candi

A free spirited, creative and playful Dominicana from Washington Heights, NYC, Candi doesn’t take life too seriously. Her innocence charms men and women alike despite her many insecurities. Mostly due to her unstable career as a singer and her gig as a part-time administrative assistant. Despite her financial struggles, Candi has a blast bar hopping around Washington Heights and Inwood with her best friends, Yo (Yoanna) and Yo’s twin brother, Joel, who is Candi’s best friend by proxy. After one too many drinks, Candi tends to get extra messy. She is naturally driven by emotions and her feelings are all over the place!

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Candi is in love (or lust?) with her co-worker, Jay - a slick and cocky, Italian/Puerto Rican real estate mogul. Then there’s Joel, her BFF’s twin brother, who she’s had a flirtatious friendship with since middle school. Who is the right man for Candi? What will she risk for love? And will she keep her emotions (and friskiness) in check? All will be revealed.

The Cover

Without further ado, here is the making of the cover and the big reveal!

Stay tuned for the Candi ebook drop on Amazon Kindle on 11/25/22!

Who do you think you are? asked the little voice in my head.

She can’t believe that I’ve decided to write and traditionally publish romantic fiction after 16 years as a digital journalist. But I’ve made up my mind. I recently announced it on my podcast after weeks of feeling restless, unfulfilled, and confused. I finally realized that I’ve been running away from the very thing I’ve desired since adolescence because my inner voice might be right.

Who do I think I am?

“I know who I am,” I affirm. “I’m Sujeiry, a 43-year-old single mom and writer with a full-time job who fears rejection.”

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Only this time, it’s not a man that I’m longing and peacocking for in hopes that he’ll pick me. I’m afraid to get denied and rejected and to be unaccepted by white folks. Afraid to be dismissed by white book agents, writers, and readers alike as just another Latinx author with (sometimes) bad grammar and a knack for using the passive voice.

Who do I think I am?

I’m still that 12-year-old girl that lost herself in books, the characters and plot lines serving as an escape from my traumatic upbringing. That teenager that typed her first book on a word processor on brown construction paper. That 33-year-old that self-published Love Trips: A Collection of Relationship Stumbles to little fan fair. That 43-year-old that fears it will happen all over again.

And I wonder, what’s stopped me from self-publishing again? I committed and succeeded in becoming the go-to chica for all things love as a writer and on radio, yet I haven’t churned out another book in a decade? I’m a writer, dammit! Books is what writers do.

Who do you think you are? my internal voices asks again, louder now.

My shoulders drop as I stare at a blank page, wondering if she’s right. Can I produce multiple romance novels? Will I get a book agent or should I just self-publish? Will self-publishing ruin my chances at traditionally publishing with a Simon and Schuster and a Penguin Random House and a Harper Collins? Why do I care anyway? Why do I need them and their validation?

Because, as an author, being chosen by white book agents and white publishing houses means that you’ve made it. That I am chosen. That I am seen and heard.

Because feeling invisible and writing into an abyss of nothingness and no oneness is an author’s nightmare.

News! News! News!

ILove Trips is still available for purchase. You can grab a kindle or paperback copy on Amazon.

Thank you!

And now I say, farewell! Thanks again for all the love, especially if you opened your email and actually read this newsletter :-)

God’s cocotasos are much more subtle, like when you lightly whack your boyfriend on the arm when his eyes wander over to the television screen during dinner. Or when your momma gives you a side eye as a warning that shits about to go down if you don’t stop messing around. And I’ve been messing around. I ran in and out of rooms, jumped on beds, and knocked over the glass elephant that faces the door to bring in good fortune.

I’ve rattled my very core as a Latina Writer and Creative because I forgot who the fuck I am. But God knows. That’s why He delivered this message to me via email from a fellow Dominicana and long-time reader and supporter of my work

“I want to say you are an amazing writer. Your words are witty and heartfelt. But more importantly, your honesty and transparency is so courageous. I love love love these emails and your podcast. You are talented, creative and amazing entertainer and writer that has a wisdom of an 80 year old vieja.”

This email was a wakeup call for me. God uses people to deliver messages just when we need it. At the time, I was at the precipice of creating a new business with a business partner and launching my own project for creative entrepreneurs. Intuitively, something felt off. I wavered about the work, questioned my direction, and, if you listen to my podcast, you know I was going through a mid-life crisis of sorts. After writing and creating for over a decade, I abandoned my dreams to please my ex-fiancé who hated my career. Plus, after suffering a brain hemorrhage a month after child birth, I didn’t have the energy or fight to relaunch my career. I didn’t know who I was, how to succeed anymore as a writer and creative, or who I was supposed to be. A perfect recipe for jumping from one thing to another due to fear and lack of clarity.

Today feels different. And I’ve felt different since I received that email on 10/21/22 at 6:36pm. Because at 10/21/21 at 9:00am I wrote this in my journal in full-on Kanye caps:

I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS. I AM A FUCKING STORYTELLER AND CONTENT CREATION MACHINE. I AM CREATIVE AF AND I WILL AND NEED TO MONETIZE THESE GIFTS.

Mic drop. And God’s cocotaso dropped just 6 hours after I penned this little pep talk.

Since then, I have returned to my roots. I am home again. Only this time I am building a stronger and much more authentic foundation. I have a clear sense of purpose and direction. I have set goals. I have the strength and experience that I didn’t have before to do what I’ve always intended and desired to do: to write and create for a living.

And I intend to do so with the wisdom of an 80-year-old vieja.

I WROTE A BOOK PROPOSAL!

A book proposal is a pitch to sell your book idea and who you are as a writer and potential author. That includes your book synopsis and hook, your target audience and competition, your social media stats and writing credits (if you have any), and even press clips. If you have famous and/or influential friends that can help you promote your book (ie. endorsements), throw them in there STAT!

Because getting a literary agent’s attention ain’t just about the story. Agents receive thousands of proposals in their inboxes daily so, as a writer, you have to stand out. With a quick read of your query letter (the intro email that often includes pages of your book) and a glance at your book proposal (if your query impressed them enough that they respond and ask to read your proposal), plus, your platform as an author (do you have fans?!), they decide if you and your work are worthy of representation. Then they get publishers on board. 

It’s a lot, and a major step for me as professional writer. If you follow my journey on social media or we connected in the comments section of MiGente, the Latinx dating site turned digital platform where I published my first online column, you know how much writing means to me. What you may not know is that I am terrified to write and publish fiction.

My first book, Love Trips, is a collection of personal essays. I self-published the book for many reasons, one being that I didn’t want to conform to traditional publishing rules. I didn’t believe I could stray from the writing that I knew and that made me feel safe. Personal essay helped built my career. What if I wasn’t any good at writing anything else? What if my writing was shredded and critiqued to death? A year after self-publishing, I did hire a publicist to get me press and connect me with agents. After 3 months of working together, I was left with a large bill (PR is expensive) and a stack of books sitting in a box in my bedroom.

So, this time, I have nothing to lose. As proud as I am to have self-published Love Trips, I’ve dreamt of publishing books with a mega publishing house since 12 years old. I close my eyes and visualize my life as an author who’s books sit in the romance section of Barnes and Nobles. I, Sujeiry Gonzalez, lover of writing about her failed relationships and shamefully putting her business on blast, am ready to be a romance author.

The stories are flowing. I am creating dynamic Latinx characters and writing about their business.

Regardless of the outcome, today I celebrate finishing my book proposal. And as I wait for a response, I close my eyes and envision my name on a book cover. I feel the plastic ridges of a black-point pen as I sign my name inside the pages. I walk over to the romance section in Barnes and Nobles and count my books one by one. There are many. Because I’ve worked hard for this. Because I didn’t give up. Because I was scared and did a big thing anyway.