I just realized that I have not made an update in over a year. After the world began to open again after the pandemic, my family and I began to travel and work on other projects that had been put on hold. Here are a few that I am happy to share with you.
In the last year, I designed and produced a cookbook titled Recipes for Entertaining Panamanian Style for my mother, Sonia Ortiz, who authored the book. Along with a personal introduction I wrote, the book contains beautiful photography by James Peshek and a thorough section of ingredients typical of the Panamanian kitchen, in addition to the menu staples and many international dishes favored by my family. The book was released last fall and has received a very positive reception. This past August, the book even won the President’s Book Award gold medal for best cookbook by the Florida Association of Publishers and Authors. The book is also available in Spanish and is on sale everywhere books are sold online.
When I released Sun Night, I never thought that it would be so well received, including being recognized with various awards. Since its launch back in January 2018, I have been wanting to update the book. This summer, I began the process of writing supplementary prose to provide a more thorough picture of how my family dealt with grief. From the feedback of many readers, Sun Night will be re-released in November and will include an extended ending as well as a more in-depth closing chapter that digs deeper into my soul.
I am excited about the update to this book for many reasons. Not only is the interior getting a major overhaul of its layout and size, but the book will also come with a brand-new cover introducing the best moments that my brother and I ever experienced together at the beach in Santa Clara. The back cover will introduce readers to real photos of us growing up in Panama along with praise for the book. I will be making a cover reveal announcement soon followed by details of the book on sale date. If you haven’t read Sun Night yet, wait until this new version comes out, you will not be disappointed.
Be sure to check out my website for the latest news on the Sun Night re-release. Until next time!
