Sherrie Miranda's Blog, page 141
March 25, 2016
Amazing Optical Illusion Photography
So, so cool! I hope to get back to the Eiffel Tower one day! I know Angelo won’t be afraid to go to the top! ;-)
Peace, love & beautiful architecture,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch it on her Home page:
https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or go to YouTube & type in the title of her novel! ;-)
A Writer And His Thoughts, Meaning In Life
March 24, 2016
Please
Be a lover of ALL life! Not just the lives around you. All people have the right to exist! All people deserve a descent life that does not end too soon.
Peace, love & justice for all,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch it on her Home page:
https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or go to YouTube & type in the name of her novel! ;-)
Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess
More truth
David Bowie was a Renaissance man who understood the difference between “REAL” life and a public life or stage life.
Our world would be very different if not for him! ;-)
Peace, love & harmony,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch it on her Home page:
https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or go to YouTube & type in the title of her novel! ;-)
Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess
Incomplete Melody
Beautiful poem, music and image! What more could we ask for?
Thanks, again, Tosha! ;-)
Peace, love & music for all,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch it on her Home page: https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or go to YouTube & type in the title of her novel! ;-)
Sometimes I sing in incomplete rhymes.
I write in crayon and leave
my shoes beside the sandbox.
I sign my letters with x and o.
I ponder in doubt, the crisscross musings
speaking out loud.
Sometimes a woman needs
flowers out of season, homegrown vegetables,
sex, and easy to read instructions.
Instead she meditates on ice cream
and the Home Shopping Channel.
Attempts to become enlightened.
Prays to paper and pen.
Looking for an all encompassing view.
Hoping for an all embracing embrace.
She offers herself to drumbeat and sage.
The rhythm under the air, turns her heart
to some inferior door, finding something buried
in red.
-Tosha Michelle
My cover of “Never Saw Blue Like That”
Listen to Never Saw Blue Like That by Tosha Michelle 2020 #np on #SoundCloud
To Survive The Day
Studs Terkel is one of our nations great unsung heroes! ;-)
Peace, love & justice for all,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
A Writer And His Thoughts, Meaning In Life
March 23, 2016
Uh oh
I totally believe this! Canada & Amsterdam, Holland are stuck with a whole bunch of American druggies who mostly live in the streets.
We got pulled over at the border because my hubby had a piano in the case. The guy said “Why do you need a piano on your honeymoon?” Funny thing is: we went inside & nobody mentioned the piano case.
By the way, my husband doesn’t go anywhere where there ain’t no piano!
Peace, love & music for all,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess
Some more reviews for “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” plus perhaps the only bad review I’ve ever written
It would be great if you have read my novel, if you would please write a short review. Two sentences can be very telling! ;-)
5.0 out of 5 stars – and unparalleled love among the suffering 
By MA on March 13, 2016
“Secrets and Lies in El Salvador” authored by Sherrie Miranda, is a unique book which could be treated both as an adventurous fiction and a non-fiction travel book. When Shelly, the American girl, lands in El Salvador, she finds a country not only steeped in crippling poverty but in horrendous ravage from a civil war there. However,even within this fractured state of instability, she finds warmth among people, and unparalleled love among the suffering.
The cuisine, which is a part of this journey, serves as contrast to lighten up the dark theme of a convoluted plot of a deeply seated corruption in politics that the country cannot escape from, neither correct it. On the flip side though, there is always hope, lurking in the shadows of the mind.
5.0 out of 5 stars – Immersion
By Matt on December 1, 2015
From the first page of Sherrie Miranda’s book, Secrets and Lies in El Salvador, you are immersed in another culture, another time. Her knowledge of the history and people is obvious and makes you want to learn more. Add to that a love story and some intense dramatic scenes (not for the sensitive) and this book will hold your attention.
4.0 out of 5 stars – While not my usual genre I enjoyed this book
By Teresa T on September 4, 2015
“Secrets & Lies in El Salvador”
Set in a time and place of rebellion and war this story touched me. I had little knowledge of El Salvador’s political history and Sherrie Miranda’s story gave me insight. Told from Shelly’s pov the story reads like a memoir. We read of her discovery of a family history she had been unaware of, her reasons for traveling to El Salvador and the actions of others that affect her life. While not my usual genre I enjoyed this book more than I expected to.
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
San Diego Book Review gave “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” 5*s:
http://www.sandiegobookreview.com/secrets-and-lies-in-el-salvador/
An article about Sherrie Miranda and her debut novel:
http://www.thestarnews.com/entertainment/war-torn-el-salvador-is-setting-for-cv-novelist/
An article about the writer’s group Sherrie Miranda started:
The Scribes: South Bay Writers Have Their Own Group
An interview by Fiona McVie on her Authors Interviews WordPress blog:
Here is my interview with Sherrie Miranda
I don’t usually write bad reviews. I just try not to think about the time I wasted reading a book, but Mansfield is long dead. Maybe someone will write the story of HER life. That would be much more interesting. Peace, Sherrie Miranda
Bliss & Other Stories
by Katherine Mansfield
Sherrie Miranda’s review
1* – did not like it
1.0 out of 5 stars – Sadly Lacking in Substance, March 23, 2016
This review is for: Bliss and Other Stories
I have an older book from 1973 though I am sure there are others much older.
These stories are all about what’s going on in the narrator’s head. Nothing that actually happens is of any consequence. In fact, the narrators’ thoughts are of no consequence either.
Someone else reviewed the book, speaking of Mansfield’s tragic life and how she kept writing. I would have loved to read stories of that tragic life, rather than a bunch of rich people sitting around, eating, drinking or smoking.
Sorry, but this book of short stories did nothing for me. I even skipped through one section, just trying to get to the end. As they say “The truth is stranger than fiction.” Mansfield’s mistake was in not writing HER TRUTH.
Reviews of Three Books Written by Latino/a Writers
4.0 out of 5 stars A Muli-Layered Complex Piece of Fiction, March 23, 2016
By Sherrie Miranda
Verified Purchase from Amazom
This review is for: In Evil Hour 
I bought this book a while ago when I realized that there still was at least one book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I hadn’t read.
I understand that this may have been his first published novel, long before his infamous “100 Years of Solitude.” Garcia Marquez is never an easy read though his short stories are best if you are new to his writing.
“In Evil Hour” is a layered story of a town in turmoil. Someone is the town is making billboards with the townspeople’s secrets on them. It is a fascinating idea, but it is the kind of book that needs to be read in a class or a reader’s club in order to capture all the nuances of the story. One reviewer said it needs to be read more than once. Although I agree, I am not the kind of person to re-read anything.
I enjoyed all the interesting characters, but sometimes had trouble remembering who was who. If I find anymore of Garcia Marquez’s books that I haven’t read, I think I will look for someone to read along with me. Someone to help me get all there is to get from this author of complex, multi-layered fiction.
RIP Sir Gabriel Garcia Marquez. You deserve it!
Sherrie Miranda is the author of “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador”
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rich in Metaphor & Nuance, Probably best read in a class or readers’ group, March 23, 2016
By Sherrie Miranda
This review is for: Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real
This book was a real mixed bag. Although many of the Latina writers have published novels that are excellent, their short stories often left you wondering about their skills in this arena. Or maybe it is the reader who needs more skills or understanding of life in Latin America? I can’t discount them for my possible lack.
There were a few very well-written stories that I enjoyed immensely. Then there were the horror stories you wish you hadn’t read, like “Death And Transfiguration of A Teacher” in which the female students killed, cut up & ate their sensitive and poetic teacher! I get the allusion. As a teacher myself, I often referred to the fresh new teachers as being eaten alive by the students, but still, it was not the kind of story one wants to read before going to sleep.
Most of the stories were quite rewarding, though I would have preferred to have discussed each story in a classroom or group situation as I think I would have gotten more out of them.
Such seems to be the way of Latino authors, both male and female. They are so rich with metaphor and nuance that they are meant to be read in a group where they can be discussed.
4.0 out of 5 stars
The (Super) Reality of This Story Makes It Very Disturbing 
Reviewed By Sherrie Miranda
This review is for: Distant Star by Roberto Bolaño
This novel is so surreal (super real) that it makes it very disturbing to read. We, North Americans tend to want stories that have a clearly happy ending. We prefer not to know about evil people, and certainly don’t want to know that evil people can go on and have a great life where no one knows how evil they have been.
Such is the case with Alberto Ruiz-Tagle (AKA Carlos Weider) who the narrator follows around and slowly learns that Weider did Pinochet’s dirty work. He tortured many people who ended up in mass graves. The unnamed narrator becomes more and more obsessed with proving who this man is, even if only to himself. He, in fact, becomes so disturbed and paranoid with who Weider is and who he has become that he no longer trusts his best friend with the knowledge. Despite the fact that his poet friend, like he, are the opposite of Weider: they believe in justice and freedom and abhor the Right’s idea that those who have their own mind, should be killed.
The narrator seems to be unable to go back to being that innocent, loving poet, especially after he realizes that Weider killed the beautiful twins that had parties for the Leftist Poets.
Weider (going by Ruiz-Tagle) tricked the women because he was a poet and they innately trust the poet as a person of great depth and beauty.
Personally, once I knew this man could kill two such kind souls, I hated the guy so much, I wanted him to die. I hoped the narrator would kill him, but alas, he does not have a murderer’s heart so instead, he becomes more and more obsessed.
I almost wish I could undo what I read in this book. Sadly, many Latinos live with this knowledge everyday: Knowing a murderous torturer may be their neighbor, yet unable to do anything about it. This was a story that needed to be told.
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
March 22, 2016
Sing with me.
This is an amazing artist! A musician, a poet, an author. My husband plays that 2nd song. Maybe someday, you will have a chance to sing to his background piano!
Peace, love & blessings to Tosha Michelle!
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch the video on her Home page: https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or go to YouTube & type in the title of her novel! ;-)
The World Is Still A Pretty Awesome Place Photos…
Yup, we must keep this in mind when it seems like it’s all bad news. Good things happen everyday, but it’s not covered on the evening news. ;-)
Peace, love & a generous heart to all,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too. You can watch it on her Home page: https://sherriemiranda1.wordpress.com Or got to YouTube & type in the title of her novel! ;-)
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog
Don’t Let The Evening News Get You Down,
The World Is Still A Pretty Awesome Place
