I’ve never heard of Curaçao until I met Guilie Castillo-Oriard, a Mexican writer who lives on the island. Now I know it’s in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast.
Maybe it’s this Caribbean paradise, maybe it’s the Latin side of Guilie, or plain ol’ talent, but one thing is clear. Guilie can write emotion.
She makes her fiction touch you. And not only a simple nudge. She prods and pulls and pushes. She offers laughter and sorrow and breathlessness. She gives the reader emotions that her characters experience. Takes the reader to this island. To a paradise at once beautiful and enigmatically foreign.
We’ve all read books that are technically perfect but emotionally barren, right? But not here. Not for one second.
I think you’ll see what I mean if you click on the book (the first in a year-long series) for a sample read. It will take you to this island, but I can’t promise it will let go.
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Photos courtesy: dxing.at-communication; amazon
Silvia Writes 
The book image didn’t take me to the book, but I found it on Amazon, and enjoyed the sample! Interesting idea to have stories for each day of the year.
Linda, thank you so much for taking the time to read the sample; I’m glad you liked it. It’s a very interesting project, challenging in all the right ways, and there’s some seriously talented writers participating. If you’re curious there’s some more info at the publisher’s site: http://pureslush.webs.com/2014.htm
Thanks again, and have a wonderful weekend!
Silvia, WOW! Thanks for this shout-out, and for the praise bestowed–if I deserve it in any way, it’s because of you and others like you at IWW who’ve helped to polish my writing. Can’t do it without you. And now this–wow. I’m, uh, well, beyond words, actually. I’m going to stop gushing like a thirteen-year-old who just got her first kiss and go assimilate this. I’ll come back when the adrenaline rush has passed and I’m able to thank you properly.
But–Wow.
Oh I could feel how happy you felt, what a lovely honest comment.
I’ll give your book a go. ;)
Thank you! And from a fellow expat, too :) I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you enjoy becoming a part of this year-long project.
Thanks for the recommendation, Silvia. You confirmed the impression I already had about Guilie, based on her FB posts.
Thank you, Bob. I’m honored, and if you do get around to reading the Amazon sample, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Glad you found it on Amazon, Linda. Intriguing idea, isn’t it? Bob, definitely a read worth the time investment. My pleasure, Guilie. Looking forward to reading on.
To think, Curacao meant a pretty blue drink and nothing else to me. Now I see this island is far more. Thanks.
A blue drink, you say. I’ll have to look into that. :)
Take a look at this, Silvia. The #1 drink (according to this website) is priceless :D
http://www.drinksmixer.com/desc240.html
Ah, a Blue Curaçao lover! Like Silvia, I didn’t even know about the drink when I came to live here ten years ago, but since then I’ve learned a lot more people go to bars than study atlases with a magnifying glass :D I hope you make it down for a visit sometime–look me up if you do!