Somewhere Over the Sun

Possibly the most significant numbers in my life are 19°26′N, 99°8′W. Where these two imaginary lines intersect on our globe, approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, 23-years ago, at 10:40 on a Tuesday morning, I was born.  Unless you are one of (I’m guessing) six people on the planet who have memorized latitudinal and longitudinal lines and their intersections, you have no idea where I was born.

Let me share with you a few numbers that are slightly less significant. The number of years I spent getting a college degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas: four. The number of years I held a steady job during my college days: four. The number of words in the novel that I wrote in the six months since graduating with a BA in Marketing: 82,597. Time spent volunteering for Americorps in Salinas, CA: Twenty hours per week for four months. Number of Facebook friends, most of whom live in this country: 474. Cumulative miles driven in road trips around the United States: approximately 9,000. Hours spent trying to figure out how to file my taxes: 1,000,000(ish). Incalculable are the sums of money that my parents and I contributed to the economy in the form of tuition payments, rent payments, food (and maybe some beer) consumption, etc.

 All the numbers mentioned in the above paragraph are rather moot because of the numbers I first mentioned.  I was born in Mexico City, well outside the imaginary lines that determine the borders of the United States of America. And that brings me to another number- the date I must leave the country: 12/31/10.

Today, after talking with the immigration lawyer, we reached the conclusion that, as it stands, the best thing for me to do is to leave. It’ll be harder to promote the book from Mexico, but it will be pointless to apply for any kind of visa extension. Immigration officers want me to prove myself, prove that I can be a valuable addition to the country, and a 23-year-old first-time writer with a self-publishing contract is not enough for them.

That’s okay, though. I’m good at rolling with punches, at finding happiness regardless of my situation. It doesn’t really change the fact that I’ve written a great book. With a lot of effort and an iota or two of luck, this book is going to be a success regardless of the numbers 19°26′N, 99°8′W.

Snapped this picture last September when I made it my mission to observe all four sunrises and all four sunsets of the long weekend. I’m happy to report that I succeeded.

Dog Ear’s design team is working on my cover and the editor is going through my words. Meanwhile, I’m trying to get a hold of immigration lawyers for information about what exactly I can do to remain in the country in order to promote by book. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is only available when you have a visa. I am also mass-adding people on Twitter and Tumblr to try to direct as much traffic as possible to this blog.

Hope your weekend is going splendidly, dear readers.

Hello, my two followers and countless fans!

I am writing this from a coffee shop in New York City, where I had to struggle against several demons and homeless people to finally find a WiFi signal. Here’s an update on the status of Somewhere Over the Sun.

Dog Ear publishing has sent me instructions and the contract to sign and mail back. Which means you are that much closer to being able to read the novel! By no means should you be containing your excitement. I am sending in all the files, and as soon as they receive payment for the services they’ll be rendering, they’ll move the book into production!

It is a long process and will take about 12-16 weeks until it is all said and done. Meanwhile, I am trying to get a hold of an immigration lawyer to confirm my theory that a signed contract and registered authorship are useful enough in securing an O-1 visa as opposed to having a finished product. In an earlier post I mentioned time constraints pushing me towards self-publishing. Those time constraints are imposed by the U.S government, which is giving me until the end of 2010 to try to secure some kind of work visa or get out of the country.

Tonight, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes play at Webster Hall. They put on a notoriously awesome show, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing them. I’ve tried to include a video of them performing their song ‘40 Day Dream.’ If you don’t see it, my inexperience with the blogosphere is definitely not to blame and you should call your internet service provider immediately. Enjoy the video.

Quick survey! How many of you can flare your nostrils?