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I recently had the privilege of being invited to an author talkback and podcast taping at the legendary Drama Book Shop in NYC. For those who may not know, this beloved bookstore was rescued from closure and is now owned by Lin-Manuel Miranda—the brilliant mind behind Hamilton and In the Heights and composer for films like Moana, Encanto, Vivo, and Disney’s Mufasa.
"The Drama Book Shop is a community space for everyone enthused by the Arts—students, fans, theatre professionals, and award-winning artists alike. Since 1917, the Drama Book Shop has been a mainstay of New York’s theatre scene, and with the support of the thousands of patrons that have passed through the shop’s doors, will continue to be for the next 100 years to come." (https://dramabookshop.com/pages/about)
This incredible opportunity came about thanks to a friend, Denise Santos, who visited the bookstore last year. While chatting with one of the managers, she mentioned my book, JJ’s Audition Adventure. To her surprise, the manager shared that just a week prior, a mother had been in the shop searching for a book exactly like it. At the time, he told her that nothing like it existed. Needless to say, he was thrilled to learn that he was mistaken! Almost immediately, we began corresponding to get the book—and me—into their store.
New York was chilly that week, but having grown up in Buffalo, I was no stranger to the cold. My family and I made our way to the bookstore to introduce ourselves and take in the surroundings. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we'd run into Lin-Manuel Miranda himself! He happened to be there meeting with legendary writer and composer Robert Lopez (The Book of Mormon). After their meeting, he graciously took the time to chat with us and even posed for several photos with my family. My son, who stands at 6’2”, was so starstruck he nearly passed out—thankfully, he stayed upright!
We shared a brief but unforgettable conversation about Bad Bunny (even sang a few bars!), and Lin-Manuel insisted that I stop by whenever I’m in town to sign copies of my book on the shelf. I’ve met many celebrities over the years, but this moment was truly special—perhaps because I got to share it with my family.
That evening, we were joined by our dear friend, Denise Santos, founder of Latinas in Media Atlanta, who initiated this fateful meeting and led our conversation. After reading from the book, we engaged in a lively Q&A session with the audience and signed copies for attendees. It was a night filled with meaningful conversation and hope.
I’m beyond thrilled to share that JJ’s Audition Adventure is now available at the front of The Drama Book Shop! Plus, our conversation will be featured this spring on The Drama Book Shop Podcast. If you ever find yourself in NYC, be sure to stop by, grab a coffee and a pastry, and pick up a signed copy of JJ’s Audition Adventure!
Drama Book Shop
Online Store: https://dramabookshop.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramabookshop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramabookshop
AFTER-CREDITS
A trip to NYC wouldn't be complete without visiting the Live with Kelly and Mark Show. You won't regret getting up early in the morning for this one. We got our tickets online and made sure we were some of first people in line. I met Mark Consuelos on set for an Amazon pilot we shot in Atlanta, and he was gracious enough to come by and say hello during the show taping. He and his wife are truly some of the most down-to-earth and warm celebrities you would ever get the privilege to meet.
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