ZORAIDA IS AMAZON-ED!!!!!!!!!!
Meet Zoraida.
*****
I first met Zoraida Córdova at the National Book Foundation writing workshop in the summer of 2004.
I remember being VERY nervous about attending the workshop. That year the National Book Foundation only accepted 50 people in the United States into the program and I was one of them.
To make matters worse I was 19.
***
It’s always uncomfortable being the youngest writer at a workshop.
You get scornful looks from your older brethren. And rightfully so. You’re young and stupid and already have your Pulitzer Prize speech memorized. Basically you’re an egomaniac. Without any reason to be. And within the first round of writing exercises you realize that you are—without a doubt—the weakest writer in the group.
Its actually very refreshing to be a member of a community that values wisdom over youth.
But at 19…I wasn’t refreshed by that notion.
I was scared shitless.
***
And then I met Zoraida. Who was…
wait for it…
wait for it…
16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***
Zoraida totally shattered all of my notions of what a young writer could be.
She was more seasoned, and more serious about her writing than anyone else in the group. And she didn’t allow anyone to intimidate her or tell her that she was too young or too inexperienced to be a dynamite writer.
Unlike the rest of us, who had no real work-in-progress to speak of, Zoraida was already very serious about crafting her novels. She was always around the campus with her journal in her hand, frantically reworking a sentence here…a chapter there.
***
On the last day of the program we had an impromptu reading.
I have absolutely no memory of what I read.
But I have a clear memory of what Zoraida read.
I have an even clearer memory of everyone’s reaction to what Zoraida read.
Everyone in the room—every single person—had their jaw on the ground.
***
So it is with great pleasure that I now announce that Zoraida is a published author!!!!!
When I read the good news I immediately asked her if I could feature her on my blog and post a link to her book.
You can get the book through the link in her Good Reads account. Follow the link below:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12246929-the-vicious-deep
***
Please support this amazing young writer! I guarantee you that this is just the beginning of a long successful career!
***
ZORAIDA YOU’RE ON AMAZON!!!! YOU’RE AMAZON-ED!
My only request is that you write a character named after me. And girl…she best be good looking and she best have curly hair.
***
So proud like,
Me
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