Authenticity is too big a subject to just toss in with the question about the photographs!

Danzon is my favorite Cuban music, played by a traditional string orchestra with flute and piano. It's very formally structured but romantic music, which derives from the French-Haitian contradance.

I begin a book with imagery, more than I do with an idea or a character. Some kind of poetic image.

My mother told me many stories about her childhood in Cuba. Living there had a profound impact on her and how she regards herself.

In writing novels, you have to believe in yourself or there would be no way to sustain it. But you also have to give good evidence regularly for having that faith in self-either with quality goods or with, at least, "good efforts." Working hard will do when inspiration is not forthcoming.

Authenticity is too big a subject to just toss in with the question about the photographs!

The desire for love is universal but that has never meant it’s worthy of respect. It’s not admirable to want love, it just is.