Subject: Every Time Argentina Plays, I Think of My Dad

Hi Friend,

Why does Argentina keep showing up in my novels?

Every time I watch Argentina play in the World Cup, I'm reminded of my dad.

When I was a little kid growing up in the San Fernando Valley, life was unpredictable, except for two things: On Saturday, we went to the Argentine Club, and when the World Cup came around, we cheered for the Argentine team.

Every four years, those two events were combined.

In the 1970s and 1980s, soccer wasn't easy to find on television, so if you wanted to watch the World Cup, you went to the Argentine Club. And, let me tell you, it was a party from start to finish.

The kids played in a small rec room, but it was difficult to focus on anything because the shouts and cheers coming from the main hall every time Argentina scored rattled the walls.

When we got older, my brother and I watched the games with our parents. We made Argentine flags. We ate empanadas. For a little while, we were Argentine.

Mostly, though, we saw our father as a happy man. Too often, he struggled to pay the bills, to fit into American society. Too often, he was stressed or unhappy. But when Maradona made a goal, suddenly, he was transported to the young boy he used to be, surrounded by his friends, and the country he missed.

So, it's not really surprising that I, as an adult, don't miss any of Argentina's games. It helps that our team has superstar Messi. Who doesn't enjoy watching him score?

But mostly, it's because, for ninety minutes, I remember my father at his happiest.

It's also the reason I chose to write two books featuring Argentine characters. The first was Evenings at the Argentine Club, about a family, each struggling to define their identity and roles within their changing family. What binds them all together is their connection to The Argentine Club.

"Evenings at the Argentine Club is a big, beautiful novel of love, family, and the close-knit community they inhabit. By turns touching, funny, tragic, and triumphant, it's the story of an endearing group of people in search of their own American dream. This book is a delightful feast for the reader."―New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

And more recently, I wrote Let Us Begin, a fictional story based on my father's life in America and his search for the American Dream.

"A moving and thought-provoking book . . . It explores themes of sacrifice, resiliency, and the unfulfilled promises of the American dream while capturing the essence of the immigrant experience. Readers are compelled to consider the complexities of individual ambition and the true cost of success through Salvador's journey." ~TheLatinoAuthor

Looking back, I don't think I realized those memories would eventually find their way into my novels, but it makes sense, doesn't it?

People often ask whether my novels are autobiographical. The answer is mostly no—with the exception of Let Us Begin. But I do think every novel contains pieces of its author. Sometimes they're obvious. Sometimes they're hidden so deeply that even the writer doesn't recognize them until years later.

Who We Used to Be isn't about Argentina. But it explores something else that has always fascinated me: how memory shapes identity. How the places we come from stay with us.

And how we carry pieces of people we've loved for a lifetime.

A few things happening behind the scenes:

• I'm beginning to organize author events for the fall. I will let you know when they are finalized in case you want to attend.

• I'll soon be looking for early readers for Who We Used to Be. If you are interested in reading this novel before it is released, keep an eye out next month.

• I recently refreshed my website, and there's more to come!

• If you're in South Dakota this winter, I'll be signing books at the Barnes & Noble in Rapid City this December.

For Writers:

If you're a writer looking for writing tips, you can read my blogs on Medium or watch my YouTube videos. Here is a recent video:

If you are just starting out as a writer or you've ever said, "I'd love to write a book" then visit my How to Write a Book group on Facebook where you can chat about your project and ideas with others.

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Subject: Every Time Argentina Plays, I Think of My Dad

Why does Argentina keep showing up in my novels?

A few things happening behind the scenes:

For Writers:

Below are my social media links if you'd like to connect regularly.