There are people who enter your life and forever change its course. For me, one of those people is my dear friend and author Romina Garber.

We first connected years ago. It turns out she also worked at The Miami Herald, making us two young journalists that not only wanted to tell news stories, but also had a true passion for writing fictional tales. Later, when she released her debut novel "Zodiac" at a bookshop in Bal Harbour, I stood there in awe. Not only of her words, but of her light. That day wasn’t just about celebrating her book. It was about realizing how powerful it is to see and meet someone that you admire chase their dreams.

Since then, Garber has been a constant source of strength. Her writing is brilliant, yes, but it’s her laughter, her hugs, her encouragement that have truly lifted me up. Every time we talk about books and life, I feel braver. I see reflected at me the possibility of believing in myself through her kindness. No matter how much time passes, whether months between seeing each other or the distance life sometimes creates, Garber stays in my heart. My husband Sebastian and I cherish her not just as a friend but as family, and we were honored to be part of her wedding, and her joy, her courage, and her true spirit now stay with me always as she’s a part of my life now.

Another guiding light came into my life in 2022: Diana Rodriguez Wallach. Wallach became my mentor when I needed it most. I still remember her email when she had read my first chapters, those that I had submitted to hopefully find a mentor through the Las Musas program in 2022. I was going through a lot, dealing with the stress that comes with juggling many things but at times feeling like some are not necessary and make you feel empty, and she brought to light the fact that it was time for me to attempt to write my first ever full-length novel. And I did, even if it took a few years, times of stress, times of feeling frustrated while staring at a blank page. She reminded me that even a messy draft holds beauty, and she gave me the courage to finish the first version of my book this year. For a long time, my story lived only in my heart, shaped by my identity as a Puerto Rican woman and my journey as a journalist. Now, it finally has a home on the page. Wallach’s wisdom and generosity taught me that it isn’t about perfection, it’s about truth, persistence, and having faith in your voice.

My students also play a role in this journey. Every day in my classroom, I see young people who are finding their voices, some for the first time. When I stand in front of them, I carry with me the example of Garber and Wallach. I can tell them: “This is what real support looks like. This is what showing up for your dreams looks like.” Because of these women, I believe that maybe, just maybe, this journalist has finally found her author voice. And this is the energy that I bring into the classroom every day in my Creative Writing, Journalism and Newspaper courses at Boca Raton High School, and with the students that I take under my wing at Florida Atlantic University and University of Florida.

Garber’s and Wallach’s upcoming books are must‐reads.

They’ve inspired me not just to finish my manuscript but to share it, imperfect draft and all, because someone out there might need it.

Both Garber and Wallach remind me that our cultural roots are not just part of our stories, they are our stories. Romina, born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, showed me that an Argentine girl with a dream could become an international bestselling author. Diana, like me, carries Puerto Rico in her heart, proving that our island’s voices belong on the shelves and in the wider world. Though I haven’t met Diana in person yet, I look forward to the day I do, because she has already shaped me as a mentor and friend from afar. Together, they prove that writers of diverse backgrounds can uplift and inspire not only each other but an entire generation of storytellers. Their journeys encourage me, and I hope my students too, to take pride in where we come from and to believe that our voices matter.

Their stories feel like declarations: of identity, of strength, of what it means to be Latina, to write, to belong. And to share that pride with the world.

I admire them. I love them. And I am endlessly grateful.

To Learn More

Romina Garber, The Last Vampire Release date: December 2, 2025 · Website: rominagarber.com · Preorder: Barnes & Noble – The Last Vampire

Diana Rodriguez Wallach, The Silenced Release date: November 5, 2025 · Website: dianarodriguezwallach.com · Preorder: Barnes & Noble – The Silenced