Perks of the Trade

One of the most rewarding parts of being a novelist is to have others comment on your work, especially when they take the time to do so in writing.

Today, a review of Bernardo and the Virgin appeared in The Boquete Guide. (To read the review, click here.) I enjoyed the positive review, particularly because this reader of Bernardo and the Virgin spotted many of the paradoxes within the narrative caused by the political tensions surrounding the apparitions.

The author, Lee Zeltzer, is also the publisher of The Boquete Guide. The town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriquí, here in Panama, has become a retirement haven for ex-pats from all over the world, particularly the United States. Located in the mountains, near Volcán Barú, the weather of Boquete is marvelous year-round. What’s more, the scenery of the region is breathtaking.

That’s why I’m excited to have been invited to give a few talks there on July 19. It will be good to escape the sweltering heat of the lowlands. Such trips are among the occasional perks that pop up in a writer’s life.

In the meantime, however, I hope you enjoy Lee’s take on Bernardo and the Virgin—and if you get a chance, leave a comment on Lee's blog.