Hi everyone! Today I'm very happy to share with you a special guest post written by Leslie DJ to promote her new novel, titled Luz. As a Latina girl, I was curious about this author so I asked her to talk about how was her creative process while writing her novel: what inspired her, and why was so important to relate her characters with a latin american country.
First I'll talk you a little bit about the book, and then Leslie will explain about her writing.
Title: Luz
Author: Leslie DJ
Release Date: March 23rd, 2017
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Tour Dates: March 23rd - 30th, 2017
Book Blurb:
Luz Vargas is a promising young Latina writer from Washington Heights, a predominantly Dominican neighborhood in New York City. Who upon receiving top honors for her short story, “Here and There” from the prestigious Quisqueya Writers of Tomorrow Association, Luz’s boyfriend, Luke, suggests a couple’s getaway to the Dominican Republic where he plans to propose. But when the trip to the Island brings her face to face with a past love, Luz is torn between honoring her commitment to Luke and revisiting an island romance.
The story is told through a series of vignettes that chronicle Luz’s struggle to reconcile her American identity with her Dominican side.
Buy the Book:
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About Leslie's writing process in "Luz"
I felt an immense amount of pressure in writing “Luz” because the protagonist is named after my grandmother whom I’ve never met. The matter in which she died is still a bit of a mystery and not often talked about; although this story has nothing to do with her life, I named the protagonist Luz as a tribute to her, if this book were my child then she’d be named Luz.
This project began as fictionalized retellings of the time I spent while visiting relatives in the Dominican Republic, the country where my parents are from. It came to me in chunks and it never felt like a linear story. I think it works well with the type of story I wanted to tell. It was a first for me and I think I succeeded in what I wanted this project to be; a story that focuses on Luz’s journey and unraveling.
This story is not an autobiography! I cannot stress that enough. Although Luz and I may have a lot in common it is not my life story. Yes, aspects of Luz’s story are loosely based on my love affair with the island and the boy I would eventually marry and later divorce but I took great creative liberty with the piece.
In the book there’s a story authored by Luz titled, “Here and There” since my characters tend to be writers themselves I enjoy creating and showcasing the character’s work. It gives me a chance to experiment with different writing styles within the book.
I hope that readers enjoy the story and if it inspires them to travel to the Dominican Republic that would be a plus. I hope they seek out the culture, try the delicious food, swim in the clear watered beaches and dance to merengue on the sand. There’s more to the Dominican Republic than baseball.
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About the Author:
Say Hello to author Leslie DJ!
Author Bio:
Leslie DJ is a Dominican-American writer and radio personality who resides in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. She is the writer and founder of SinisterGirlz.com, an online publication that features written and audio music related content. She hosts Sinister Girlz Live on WBMB Baruch College Radio 94.3 FM New York on Fridays at 4pm EST.
Her debut novel, “That Girl” was released in September of 2016 and is available on Amazon.com
She graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Playwriting from Marymount Manhattan College and received her MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Fiction from The New School of General Studies.
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It’s a Book Tour:
Make sure you check out all the stops on this fabulous tour!
March 23rd
Kristin's Novel Cafe - Book Excerpt
Blog on the Run - Author Guest Post
March 24th
For the Love of Chick Lit - Book Review
March 25th
Judging More Than Just The Cover - Author Q&A
March 26th
Wonderfully Bookish - Book Excerpt
March 27th
He Said Books or Me - Author Guest Post
March 28th
ItaPixie's Book Corner - Book Review/Excerpt
March 29th
Tea Party Princess - Author Guest Post
March 30th
Book Lover in Florida - Book Excerpt/Author Q&A
Tour arranged by - For the Love of Book Tours
Now booking tours for April-May-June
Grab your spot today!
