The Story Behind the Story – From Saxophonist to Journalist to Bestselling Novelist (S1E1)

In this debut episode of Breaking the Silence, I take you back to where it all began. From my roots as a jazz saxophone student at Berklee College of Music, to my shift to journalist, working on staff at the Boston Globe and LA Times, to my rise as a bestselling novelist, this episode explores the experiences that shaped my worldview and my journey as a creative person attempting to break barriers in industries that often don't know what the hell to make of someone like me, who doesn't fit anyone's preconceived notions of what I'm supposed to be. I share my backstory—growing up as the daughter of a native New Mexican mother and a Cuban exile father, navigating life as one of the few female students at Berklee College of Music in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the whistleblowing article I wrote about the college that was publishing in The Boston Globe and changed my life, my time at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, my career as a staff writer for the Boston Globe and LA Times, and, finally, why I left journalism to write novels because fiction felt like the only place I could tell the truth without being punished. I talk about the inspiration behind my breakout hit, The Dirty Girls Social Club. The novel’s success was undeniable, becoming a cultural phenomenon and paving the way for my entry into the glamorous, yet treacherous, world of Hollywood. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as I recount landing my first major film development deal with Columbia Pictures, Jennifer Lopez, and the legendary Laura Ziskin. It was a moment filled with hope, ambition, and the promise of breaking new ground. But Hollywood had other plans. Tune in to uncover the untold story of what it took to get here and what was waiting just around the corner. Subscribe, like, and comment to join the conversation—this is just the beginning. 🎙️✨ #BreakingTheSilence #LatinaCreators #HollywoodExposed #DirtyGirlsSocialClub