Johnny Diaz, Boston-based Cuban-American author and journalist

Reader InBox, part II

2012-01-24T16:15:00.006-05:00

Every now and then, I like to post some letters that I receive from readers of my novels. Here's a recent letter from a reader in Connecticut after he finished my first novel, Boston Boys Club (I can't believe that my baby, err, book, turns five years old this April)Gracias Danny!Good afternoon Johnny While I LOVE to read gay literature (or reading in general) I have discovered many talented

Morning shift

2012-01-21T15:45:00.004-05:00

My Globe article on the morning TV news wars

2012-01-18T11:27:00.001-05:00

My Globe article on the fees dispute between DirecTV and Boston-Miami's Channel 7 stations

Better Living

2012-01-11T12:52:00.006-05:00

Here's an interview I did with one of Boston's most famous news anchors, Liz Walker, who left the TV news business to produce programming that focuses on better health and living.Walker was the first black anchor to helm an evening newscast in Boston 30 years ago.Here is a previous profile I wrote for The Globe on Walker when she transitioned from TV anchor to ordained minister(photo from

Reader InBox 2012

2012-01-04T10:23:00.008-05:00

This was a nice email I received for the start of the New Year about my novel, Miami Manhunt. I love hearing from my book readers because more often than not, my books can be like messages in a bottle bobbing somewhere out there in this great big world. It's not everyday that people take the time to write authors after they read their work and it's nice to know how far away the books are being

Making Change Happen in 2012

2012-01-03T16:23:00.002-05:00

Here's a Globe feature I wrote (three years ago for New Year's) on why it's so hard for us to make change happen. The story still applies today and I am putting it to test myself by quitting iced coffees for 2012. I've gone down from two a day to one to ... none! (It's only been four days. Baby steps as one life coach in the article suggests)

How He Proposed

2012-01-02T10:26:00.008-05:00

I'm love hearing those how-we-met-stories or how-he-proposed tales. (It doesn't help that I've watched 27 Dresses about 27 times). They inspire my fiction writing (and give me hope that one day, the latter will happen to me outside my world of fiction.)With that being said, here is a how-he-proposed story by Elizabeth Perez, a Dartmouth professor of Afro-Carribean religion and LGBT spirituality.)

Filene's last day

2011-12-30T15:17:00.002-05:00

My Globe story on Filene's Basement's last day in Boston

Memorable Boston ads from 2011

2011-12-21T10:58:00.002-05:00

My Globe story on the more memorable ads from 2011 from Boston ad agencies(to the left: photos of ads for the Barnes and Noble Nook, Zappos.com, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz for Major League Baseball and New Balance Minimus sneaker.)

2011-12-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

My Globe story on why some advertisers pull out from certain TV shows(photo of TLC's "All-American Muslim"

Celtics look to recharge fans

2011-12-14T18:01:00.001-05:00

My Globe story on the Boston Celtics new ad campaign

WBZ-TV Centro

2011-12-09T11:40:00.003-05:00

I'll be appearing on "Centro'' on Boston's WBZ-TV Channel 4 at 7:50 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 10) to talk about my new book, Take the Lead, and Parkinson's disease.Click here for more details

Checking yourself out

2011-12-09T11:20:00.001-05:00

My Globe article on the increase of self-service registers at CVS stores

A voice for gay teens

2011-12-03T13:15:00.007-05:00

Here's a profile I wrote on Boston author Robin Reardon, who deftly captures the voice of gay male teens in her novels. The article appears in this month's issue of Boston Spirit, New England's largest gay magazine, which has free subscriptions.Click on the images to expand

Nomadic Cinephiles

2011-12-02T21:09:00.004-05:00

My Blockbuster store in Quincy, Mass. is closing. This is why: My Globe article on how brick-and-mortar video stores are disappearing and leaving a wake of nomadic cinephiles

Ellen in Boston

2011-12-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Updated Ellen article on how she's winning in BostonMy Globe article on Ellen DeGeneres' ratings in Boston after taking over Oprah's timeslotMy previous story (and interview) when Ellen came to Boston in August(photo above of Ellen visiting Boston for her show)

Love for Darlene Love

2011-11-29T16:06:00.029-05:00

People often ask me what music do I listen to whether it's for inspiration for my fiction writing or while I'm working out at the gym. They're surprised when I take off my headphones and let them listen."He's A Rebel?" my sister asked me the other day in her Mini while we drove to her gym in South Beach for a workout."Yeah, I'm a big Darlene Love fan," I replied, grooving in my seat to the

2011-11-26T23:02:00.001-05:00

My Globe article on shoppers remembering their best Filene's Basement deals

Black Friday sites

2011-11-22T23:59:00.002-05:00

My Globe article on websites and apps that help find Black Friday deals

Fewer lights, camera, action in Bay State

2011-11-17T18:44:00.003-05:00

My Globe article on how fewer movies were made in Massachusetts last year(photo of Ryan Reynolds filming R.I.P.D in Boston recently)

2011-11-14T12:26:00.004-05:00

My Globe article on how the canceled Boston Celtics NBA/games are creating programming holes for local stations

AM stations migrate to FM

2011-11-09T09:19:00.013-05:00

My Globe article on how AM stations are migrating to FM

2011-11-03T12:39:00.001-04:00

My Globe article on Boston newspaper circulation declines (and gains nationally)

Dirty Girls Review

2011-10-31T11:22:00.009-04:00

This is my review of Lauren's Saints of Dirty Faith by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, the NYTIMES bestselling author of the first installment of this series, The Dirty Girls Social Club. Alisa's first novel, about six Latina friends in Boston, inspired me to write my debut novel, Boston Boys Club. She's been a long-distance inspiration/mentor to me over the years.Here's my Amazon review of her third

NBA lockout hurts Boston employees

2011-10-28T10:58:00.001-04:00

My Globe article on how the NBA lockout is impacting Boston workers

My (Star Trek) coming out story

2011-10-20T11:46:00.081-04:00

The other night, my longtime amigo Alex and I were in my Jeep, about to head out to celebrate his birthday in Providence when he shot me a quizzical look. Blaring from my speakers: the anthemic instrumental theme music to the former Star Trek: The Next Generation TV show."Johnny, I didn't know you were a Star Trek fan?" Alex said."Oh! I am. I just never talked about it. Doesn't this sound cool?"

Interview with Gabriel Galan from my novel Take the Lead

2011-10-17T17:02:00.021-04:00

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with some of the main characters of each of my books. (Yes, I'm one of those quirky authors who conducts interviews with his characters. Call me creative...or un poco loco en el coco!) I've already done one-on-one interviews with Tommy Perez of Boston Boys Club at a local Boston Market; one with Ray Martinez the movie critic from Miami Manhunt and Ted

2011-10-16T23:56:00.000-04:00

My Globe article on Whole Foods adding Braille food labels

Boston Footloose

2011-10-13T12:09:00.003-04:00

Before Kenny Wormald got all Footloose in the new movie, he was a Boston dancer trying to make it big. Here is a Globe profile I wrote on Kenny when he was on an MTV Jennifer-Lopez produced reality show about up and coming dancers.

The real Pan Am ladies

2011-10-08T02:39:00.003-04:00

My Globe article on the real Pan Am stewardesses (photo above from Boston.com of former Pan Am flight attendants attending their reunion in Boston this week)

2011-10-06T22:17:00.001-04:00