I received the news today that my nonfiction piece “Becoming a Man,” about a somewhat traumatic yet formative childhood experience I had in Cuba, has been accepted for publication by The Caribbean Writer!

I began working on this particular piece in Lynne Barret‘s wonderful undergraduate nonfiction class at Florida International University. An earlier draft won first place in F.I.U.’s Student Literary Awards, which inspired me to keep working on it. Lynne, as well as many of my classmates, were instrumental in helping me improve the piece, which after several revisions and many years later has now found a home in print. I’m extremely grateful for everyone’s help and encouragement, and I’m honored to now have “Becoming a Man” be part of such a great journal.