A sunset in a rose:
The sun came up
It traveled west
Found its home in a rose.
The rose bud opened
After a long repose
One by one the petals blossomed-
The the sun set in the rose
A dozen roses have I
All heavenly scented
Had a tear in my eye
Made my heart glad
Made me sing
A sunset in a rose
Such a beautiful thing!
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
Who wants to enter a contest? 
To win all you need to do is be the first person to answer the question and you win a free copy of Salsa! The Taste of Life. To be qualified to enter, like this page in the link below and write your answer on the comments.
Who said this?”Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.”
Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Once in a life time you meet 
someone who shows you a mirror reflection of yourself that you had not seen before: KEEP THAT FRIEND! He/ SHE is TRUE! -Eva Santiago
Friend- Someone to talk to.
I want to send a big shout out to my 1500+ blog followers. You are the best audience ever 🙂 So I have to share the latest developments on my new book, SALSA! The Taste of Life, with you. I just heard from my publisher, TATE PUBLISHING that the book is going into print SOON! That’s right , you heard it! I will give you more details as I get them. Again, thank you for reading my blog and stay tuned because when Salsa! comes out I will be having contests of all sorts and if you want a free autographed copy then, you’ll just have to play along!
Have a fantastic week-end friends!!
Once in your life or maybe more, things happen and you wonder what the hell was that. He made you smile just like you made him. Does it have to be complicated? And why aren’t things more simple? Why are we over thinking and over stressing and just why not go with the flow. Ahhhhhh, because your traditions condemn you and they yell at you in your head, telling you that you shan’t, you shan’t you SHAN’T! So, stop “shoulding” on yourself already! Life is too short and really, you only get one time here so make it the best possible ride.
When we were younger some of us were taught that life only consists of black and white. Now that you’ve lived some life and experienced up and downs you see that there is a lot more grey to life than they ever let on. Funny, in the Bible the 10 Commandments are the only “black and white” of life. Do this and this will happen. Don’t do this and this won’t happen. That’s it, end of story, simple as that. Read that ancient book and you will see that God is a good God and that He wants us to enjoy our lives.
My mama told me the other day , “ Let your hair down and have a good time because you’ll have a lot of time later on to think of heaven.” That’s advise that comes from a woman I love, admire and respect and she is close to 70 years old. So I shall take that and run with it because I figured she ought to know since she’s lived close to 30 years more than me.
Go on, take a chance on life, after all, what have you to lose? Try something new you never did before. If you don’t like it, move on. Live your life as a series of adventures awaiting your discovery and not a series of events you have to endure.
-Eva Santiago copyright 2012
The other day I was doing some school work with Esther and we discussed what prose is. She said she didn’t understand the word at all so we looked it up.
Prose- A prose work that has poetic characteristics such as vivid imagery and concentrated expression.
She still drew a blank . So I told her my definition; word pictures or observations. She smiled and said she preferred my definition because it made sense.
So I offer you a word picture today!
Random Acts of Kindness
Have you ever walked by a card shop and thought, ‘ Hmmm I’d like to get that card for my sister .’ You stop and think about it;mulling it over in your brain and then you dismiss that thought and move on? What if that card was what your sister needed to get her through her day? We all do it. We have an inkling of a thought to do a spontaneous act of kindness for someone and then poof, quick as a flash we dismiss it and we pass up on the chance to have made someone’s life better.
Next time that happens think about this: What if when God was considering sending us His Son to save us, He just dismissed it and went on about His business? After all, He is a busy God! But He followed through and did what He purposed in His heart to do from the very start!
When I finished my book, Salsa! The Taste of Life,
my new book soon to be released; I wondered just who I could dedicate it to. My first book, As Clear as Claire Gets, A Conversation with the Past,
I dedicated to one of my nephews. His graduation from high school was around the time of my book release so I thought, ‘ What a fine present for a young man who has everything!’ Now, I tried to talk myself out of it at first. I reasoned I didn’t really know him and I came up with other excuses and then I decided to go with my gut instinct and do what I had purposed in my heart from the start. I’m so glad I did because I’ll never forget the look on that young man’s face when I presented him with a copy of my book at his graduation. It was priceless!
Last night something wonderful happened. My daughter Raxy’s bestfriend came over for a sleep over. I had dedicated Salsa! 
to her and when I told her, last month, on her birthday, that the dedication was my present, that little girl was ecstatic about having her name in my book. Yesterday,when her mom dropped her off, she stopped in for a bit and I showed her my proof copy of Salsa! . When she saw her daughter’s name in the dedication section of the book, she was overcome with emotion and we hugged. I tell you, I live for moments like these.
Don’t wait for a special moment. Do a random act of kindness for someone and see how it lights up their world. The old adage is true: It is better to give than to receive. When you have an inkling to do something for someone, do so. Those in the unseen realm see what you do here in this life and they are pleased.
-EVA SANTIAGO copyright 2012
Today I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed dear readers. I’ve been doing my home work and brain storming on how to get my new book out when it’s released. Salsa! The Taste of Life, is going live shortly and I have a big job ahead of me. They say the “easy” part is writing the book and the toughest job is getting it out there. I invite you to help me brain storm and see what other ideas you could come up with because I believe that when it comes to a lot of things in life, 2 or more heads are better than one 🙂 yes, I do have a publicist who will help me; however I have to get it out HERE where I live so I welcome your thoughts on this! If I use your idea, I’ll send you a free, autographed copy of Salsa! The Taste of Life. I look forward to your responses 🙂
So it’s Tuesday and I’ve been busy; who hasn’t right? After a long week-end it always seems rough getting things going. But alas we get over it and do what we must. Last night I went to the Henderson Writer’s Group ,the local writer’s group I belong to. I read one of my stories from my new book, Salsa! The Taste of Life which is going live very soon and I was very pleased with the group’s reaction to my story after I read it. There is something wonderful about receiving the approval of your peers.
Since last night, I’ve been in a great mood so I wanted to pass the cheer along with these funny pictures. Remember this week is a short one so hang in there because Friday will be here before we know it! 🙂
I’ve been pouring over my proof copy of SALSA! The Taste of Life, my new book coming out soon to your local bookstores. It occurred to me that I am in a great place in my life right now ! Then this song popped in my head and so I had to share it with you, my amazing audience. So now I’ll get back to some more weeding out of last minute typos! HAPPY LABOR DAY 🙂
How is your Sunday so far? Mine is consisting of a little house work, a bit of Olympic games viewing and now giving you yet another preview of my new book coming out SOON!. When I was writing Salsa! The Taste of Life, I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough material. Now, after editing it turns out I had a surplus! I’m so glad too because I get to use this edited material to promote Salsa! before it goes live.
My editor suggested that I save this material I had to cut out for another book. I thought of it and then I realized I don’t have to. Do you know why? because this writer knows that her creative fountain will never run dry. You see, the creative process is a marvelous thing. I write when I have something to say. There are times when I only journal my personal thoughts. So I keep writing. Then after seeping in my own creative juices after a little while, VOILA! The flow starts back up. That’s why I can share my edited work with the world on my blog right now; because I know there’s more coming!
Children No More
always being taught
to ignore the Golden Rule,
What they learn is for naught.
The children in school all day,
told what to do every hour,
even told how they can play;
their disposition is quite sour.
The children in school all week;
they never learn about God.
Taught to be selfish instead of meek,
at home the parents spare the rod.
The children in school all year;
taught to be good for nothing,
filling them up with knowledge, facts, and fear,
out after twelve years, knowing nothing at all.
From the crib to the daycare,
from the daycare to the classroom,
all they learn is to defy God and swear.
The children are in school…
Today, to be a child is quite rare.
-Eva Santiago Copyright 2012
DISCLAIMER! This poem is in no way meant to offend any teacher who works in the public school system. I have many friends who teach in public schools and I respect them all for the tremendous job they do in a failed system.
Eva Santiago 