About Debra Castaneda

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So far Debra Castaneda has created 36 blog entries.

The Monsters of Chavez Ravine: The Chinatown Connection

In my urban fantasy novella set in the hills above Los Angeles, a doctor from Chinatown makes several house calls to the injured residents living in Chavez Ravine.

Chinatown is a little over one mile away, and less than five minutes […]

The Women of The Monsters of Chavez Ravine

When I started writing this novella, I did not consciously set out to bust Latina stereotypes.

You know the ones I’m talking about because they’re popular in movies and TV shows: the maid, the fiery-tempered Latina, the Latina who wears tight clothes and shows lots of cleavage. […]

A Map for The Monsters of Chavez Ravine

My daughter asked if I planned to include a map for my urban fantasy novella, The Monsters of Chavez Ravine.

The answer was no. But as soon as she said it, I thought it would be a good idea. While the characters and […]

Learn about Chavez Ravine

While monstrous things happened to bring about the end of the neighborhoods of Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop, “The Monsters of Chavez Ravine,” is a work of fiction.

The characters and creatures are the products of my imagination and while the backstory of […]

Cover Reveal: The Monsters of Chavez Ravine

Here it is! The cover for “The Monsters of Chavez Ravine,” an urban fantasy novella.

Luckily, I have a graphic designer who talked me out of some pretty terrible ideas and with limited input, came up with a cover that captures what this book is about. A big […]

GUEST POST: How to Write Book Reviews by Nina Romano

As a new indie author, I’m acutely aware of the importance of book reviews. They help convince readers to read the story and, more generally, help promote the book.

But here’s the thing. There are lots of people like me who read and love lots of books, yet rarely leave a […]

GUEST POST: How to Garner Book Reviews by Nina Romano

If you are a writer wondering how to get reviews, author Nina Romano demystifies the process in this guest post. (Scroll down for her bio).

For published or unpublished authors it can really be a challenge to obtain book reviews—you know those darling little things with stars and someone’s […]

What Caused My Hypochondria & How I Conquered It

Years ago, I wrote and recorded a story for the weekly public radio program “This American Life,” chronicling my struggle with hypochondria and anxiety. The program is celebrating its 25th anniversary! I just discovered the episode, “Mapping,” is a recommended staff favorite.

Here’s […]

Why DNA Results Are A Big Deal For This Adoptee

Well, now I know I am not part Jewish. DNA tests for adoptees like me are a game-changer.

That’s the thing about being adopted. I was at the mercy of other people’s stories about me.

In my early thirties, my adoptive father told me I was Jewish, although he […]

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