Hi Everyone, This month marks the THIRD ANNIVERSARY of Las Dos Brujas Newsletter! It seems astonishing to me that so much time has passed. Not to mention 118 writing prompts, 33 thinking prompts, our ‘Celebrating Poets’ series, a variety of online workshops, author visits, book recommendations, information on readings, residencies, literary contests, and more—over 400 posts in all!
I will truly miss your newsletter. It was one of my favorite emails to open. But I'm sure we will be in touch. And I wish you all the best in whatever activities you have planned. The travel sounds marvelous.
I have a little news as well. The Brazilian edition of A Woman of Endurance, called, “Memórias de água e sal” in Portuguese (trans. Memories of Water and Salt) by Primavera Editorial is now available. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1sSTAWsdsk/ I can't read a word of Portuguese but it's so gratifying knowing my narrative world will be open to a whole new group of readers.
My best to all my fellow writers who have connected through this newsletter. Hope to stay in touch as well.
Cristina, At first I felt so sad (for myself) to hear these news. I only recently discovered Las Dos Brujas. There's so little from Latinas or Latinos on Substack. I was touched by your generosity that everyone mentions and your sense of joy and I feel that joy in your description of all the things you want to have time for. (There's is life after Substack.) I am sharing here the link to my own newsletter to encourage anyone to contact me. I interview Latinos from all walks of life and also review books y meto mis dies centavos sobre dual identities, language, poetry. Here it is: https://breathinginspannish.substack.com I will miss you, Thank you for introducing me to several outstanding books.
Thank you so much for these last three years. It's been a blessing to have Las Dos Brujas missives waiting in my inbox each morning. I will miss it, but it's tempered by the knowledge that you, Cristina, will still be out there in the world, creating art and shepherding writers along their journeys. Mil gracias!
Cristina, I will miss your newsletter SO MUCH! Every single one had your personality. I felt like we were having coffee on a bitterly cold day, talking books and bochinchando PR/Cuban political bullshit. I'm going on the record here: I am the writer that I am today because you inspired me twenty-five years ago. (All the bad stuff is me, not you!) When I read Dreaming in Cuban, I thought, Maybe I can be a novelist, too. I'm going to try. And then I took your workshop in 2019 in San Francisco. You made us all go out and buy a book of poetry. (I bought Ariel by Sylvia Plath.) From that class on, I would read poetry before I would write. It helped my writing immensely. I could go on with this testimonial of what you mean to me as an artist. I could write another of you as a person. But so that this doesn't end up being a novel, I want to toss my name in the hat for any upcoming event honoring you. Much love, Cristina, siempre.
Such joyous news, so happy for you, and so appreciative of your generosity over these tough years - not only as a role model for literary excellence, but as a maven for connecting and nurturing writers and community across generations, genres, and geography. Tq muchisimo, reina. Gracias, y sigas bailando y gozando, ¡yo voy a ti! Muah!
Congratulations on this next step on your life journey, Cristina. It has been a pleasure reading your works and following all the amazing things you do - including the stage performances. Gracias, muchas gracias…
Dear Cristina -- it's been a wonderful experience to be part of Las Dos Brujas these past years. Thank you for your instruction and your support. I hope we get to meet IRL sometime soon. Good luck with this new chapter. I'm excited for you. Abrazos!
This is such bittersweet news! I’m so happy that you’ll have more time to enjoy but so sad for all of us who have come to your newsletter for inspiration and news. I will miss it dearly. Please find other ways to stay in touch . Best wishes in all your new endeavors.
Felicidades, Cristina! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity these past three to benefit from your wisdom and experience, and also to have access to this incredible community that you have built. I will especially miss our gatherings, which have been a rich source of learning and inspiration. Wishing you much happiness and many wonderful adventures ahead. Abrazos.
This is, as someone else noted in these comments, bittersweet news. It feels like the end of something important to me as a writer. But I take great comfort in that this decision is also the beginning of something for you which I'm sure will nurture your boundless curiosity, inspire you, bring you joy and broaden your life in ways that will surprise you. Congratulations in making that choice for you.
Your work is an important piece in that mosaic that makes up the experience of Cuban exiles. It feeds that part of our soul that we just don't want to forget. So, for that, gracias. I also thank you for bringing together this wonderful community of writers. I probably did not participate as much as I wanted to, but I remain hopeful that I'll meet some or all of them through our writing journey.
By the way, a cafecito remains in order at some point. You can share all about your adventures. And if your house starts to slide down the hill, well you know who to call :)
I will truly miss your newsletter. It was one of my favorite emails to open. But I'm sure we will be in touch. And I wish you all the best in whatever activities you have planned. The travel sounds marvelous.
I have a little news as well. The Brazilian edition of A Woman of Endurance, called, “Memórias de água e sal” in Portuguese (trans. Memories of Water and Salt) by Primavera Editorial is now available. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1sSTAWsdsk/ I can't read a word of Portuguese but it's so gratifying knowing my narrative world will be open to a whole new group of readers.
My best to all my fellow writers who have connected through this newsletter. Hope to stay in touch as well.
Cristina, At first I felt so sad (for myself) to hear these news. I only recently discovered Las Dos Brujas. There's so little from Latinas or Latinos on Substack. I was touched by your generosity that everyone mentions and your sense of joy and I feel that joy in your description of all the things you want to have time for. (There's is life after Substack.) I am sharing here the link to my own newsletter to encourage anyone to contact me. I interview Latinos from all walks of life and also review books y meto mis dies centavos sobre dual identities, language, poetry. Here it is: https://breathinginspannish.substack.com I will miss you, Thank you for introducing me to several outstanding books.
Happy Retirement, and thank you! 🤗
Thank you so much for these last three years. It's been a blessing to have Las Dos Brujas missives waiting in my inbox each morning. I will miss it, but it's tempered by the knowledge that you, Cristina, will still be out there in the world, creating art and shepherding writers along their journeys. Mil gracias!
Cristina, I will miss your newsletter SO MUCH! Every single one had your personality. I felt like we were having coffee on a bitterly cold day, talking books and bochinchando PR/Cuban political bullshit. I'm going on the record here: I am the writer that I am today because you inspired me twenty-five years ago. (All the bad stuff is me, not you!) When I read Dreaming in Cuban, I thought, Maybe I can be a novelist, too. I'm going to try. And then I took your workshop in 2019 in San Francisco. You made us all go out and buy a book of poetry. (I bought Ariel by Sylvia Plath.) From that class on, I would read poetry before I would write. It helped my writing immensely. I could go on with this testimonial of what you mean to me as an artist. I could write another of you as a person. But so that this doesn't end up being a novel, I want to toss my name in the hat for any upcoming event honoring you. Much love, Cristina, siempre.
Such joyous news, so happy for you, and so appreciative of your generosity over these tough years - not only as a role model for literary excellence, but as a maven for connecting and nurturing writers and community across generations, genres, and geography. Tq muchisimo, reina. Gracias, y sigas bailando y gozando, ¡yo voy a ti! Muah!
Congratulations on this next step on your life journey, Cristina. It has been a pleasure reading your works and following all the amazing things you do - including the stage performances. Gracias, muchas gracias…
Dear Cristina -- it's been a wonderful experience to be part of Las Dos Brujas these past years. Thank you for your instruction and your support. I hope we get to meet IRL sometime soon. Good luck with this new chapter. I'm excited for you. Abrazos!
This is such bittersweet news! I’m so happy that you’ll have more time to enjoy but so sad for all of us who have come to your newsletter for inspiration and news. I will miss it dearly. Please find other ways to stay in touch . Best wishes in all your new endeavors.
Thank you, Cristina! So many days I've been lifted by your generosity and insight💕
Felicidades, Cristina! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity these past three to benefit from your wisdom and experience, and also to have access to this incredible community that you have built. I will especially miss our gatherings, which have been a rich source of learning and inspiration. Wishing you much happiness and many wonderful adventures ahead. Abrazos.
Oh no! Tell me it isn't so!
This is, as someone else noted in these comments, bittersweet news. It feels like the end of something important to me as a writer. But I take great comfort in that this decision is also the beginning of something for you which I'm sure will nurture your boundless curiosity, inspire you, bring you joy and broaden your life in ways that will surprise you. Congratulations in making that choice for you.
Your work is an important piece in that mosaic that makes up the experience of Cuban exiles. It feeds that part of our soul that we just don't want to forget. So, for that, gracias. I also thank you for bringing together this wonderful community of writers. I probably did not participate as much as I wanted to, but I remain hopeful that I'll meet some or all of them through our writing journey.
By the way, a cafecito remains in order at some point. You can share all about your adventures. And if your house starts to slide down the hill, well you know who to call :)
Be well Cristina,