New Book Release in August 2026: CAMP AWKWARD

I’m so excited to announce that my new middle grade novel with Capstone Publishing/Stone Arch Books, CAMP AWKWARD, will release on August 1, 2026! CAMP AWKWARD, is a fun, summer camp adventure about Cassie and Francine and their unlikely friendship. I can't wait for young readers to meet these two new characters!

City girl Cassie Bonilla feels like a fish out of water at a wilderness camp until she opens herself up to a friendship with the fun and outgoing Francine.

CAMP AWKWARD is a perfect read for kids ages 8-11 (grades 3-6), this is a story all about making new friends and coming of age when you feel out of place in new surroundings.

The book is available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and can be requested at your local public library.

Every reader counts to me. I hope you’ll enjoy this fun book!

Find Me at Yale University this September 19!

This Fall 2026, I will be speaking on a panel of fellow Latina authors at Yale University! WHAT WE CARRY, WHAT WE CLAIM: Latina Writers on Voice, Memory, and Becoming will take place at Dwight Hall at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday, September 19 from 3-5pm. I’m so honored and thrilled to have been invited to read and speak on a panel with Peggy Robles-Alvarado, Dr. Melissa Coss-Aquino, Elisabet Velasquez, and Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán!

Get more info by clicking the event poster image.

I will be reading from my award-winning middle grade historical fiction novel, PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 and answering questions from the audience at this free literary event. Attendees will have the opportunity to win raffled copies of our books and get them signed at the event.

As an author of Puerto Rican descent, I’m proud to be a part of these events that celebrate Latinx cultures across the diaspora. Our stories matter! ¡WEPA!

You can RSVP FOR FREE HERE: WHAT WE CARRY, WHAT WE CLAIM: Latina Writers on Voice, Memory, and Becoming

I hope to see you there! Even more event announcements are still to come!

Meet Me at the 2026 Loisaida Festival in NYC!

Celebrate Puerto Rican and Latinx culture in NYC at the 39th Annual Loisaida Festival on Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you’re looking for a fun way to embrace and enjoy Puerto Rican and Latinx culture this Memorial Day weekend, this is the place to be. Held on Avenue C (Loisaida Avenue) from East 5th to East 12th Street in Manhattan, this free event celebrates Nuyorican culture, music, food, and community heritage in the Lower East Side/East Village.

I’m excited to announce that I will be there signing copies of PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO and LA CANCIÓN DE PALOMA PARA PUERTO RICO! I’d love to see some familiar faces at the festival.

Click Here for More Information About the Loisaida Festival

Northern California Writer's Retreat Recap

In March 2026, I went to Carmel Valley, California for the most incredible, creative escape. This select collective of writers from around the country helped reawaken my inspiration to write. We participated in writing groups, shared feedback on our work, made new friendships and connections, and explored the gorgeous landscape around us. Best-selling author, Cleyvis Natera (“Neruda on the Park” and “The Grand Paloma Resort”) was the author-in-residence for this session and it was such a gift to learn from her words of wisdom and honesty about the publishing industry.

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Northern California Writer’s Retreat. It was a wonderful experience I would highly recommend to writers seeking inspiration, support, and connection with a writing community. Thank you to one of my amazing writing mentors for encouraging me to apply. It was worth it.

California, Here I Come!

This week, I got the amazing news that I was accepted to participate in the Northern California Writers’ Retreat! That’s right, I will be in Carmel Valley, California in March 2026 working on my craft and connecting with other incredible authors of all genres.

The Northern California Writers’ Retreat is selective and only accepts 18 writers per session. I had to submit a personal statement and a writing sample to be considered to participate. It’s an honor to have been accepted and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with author-in-residence Cleyvis Natera at the retreat.

I can’t wait!

Paloma's Song Featured in El Diario!

On November 22, 2025, I participated in the 20th Anniversary Comité Noviembre National Puerto Rican Artisans and Authors Fair at Boricua College. I sold and signed so many copies of Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico and La Canción de Paloma para Puerto Rico, and made some new friends and connections at the community event.

Additionally, I was interviewed by a reporter from legendary Latino newspaper El Diario! We discussed the significance of my book in the greater conversation of Puerto Rico’s history and future. The article came out today and I made the final edit!

Muchas gracias to reporter Jenny Saavedra and El Diario for the lovely write up and photo!

Click here to read the full article.

Fiction Writing Workshop Coming in September

Do you have a story idea you’ve always dreamt of writing, but don’t know how to start? On Saturday, September 20 from 1-3 PM, I’ll be teaching an in-person fiction writing workshop at ArtsWestchester in White Plains, NY. Presented by the White Plains Puerto Rican Cultural Committee, this workshop will give you the tools you need to get started and finish that manuscript.

In this 2-hour in-person workshop, you’ll:

• Define your main character(s) and story premise

• Develop a plot outline for your novel

• Write through guided exercises

• Gain insight into the publishing industry

The workshop is open to beginners through advanced writers from age 17-adult.

GET MORE INFO & SIGN UP

Upcoming Special Event at Atelier Mone Art Gallery

I will be celebrating the release of the Spanish-language edition of PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 with a special event at Atelier Mone Art Gallery in Mount Vernon, NY on Saturday, July 19 from 4pm-7pm. This event comes just in time to commemorate the 127th anniversary of Puerto Rico becoming a part of the United States. The book tells the story of how Puerto Rico became a US colony in 1898 during the Spanish American War through a 12-year-old girl's fictional diary.

PALOMA'S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 won the Gold Medal Award for Best Educational Chapter Book at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards. The Spanish edition, LA CANCIÓN DE PALOMA PARA PUERTO RICO: UN DIARIO DE 1898, will release on August 1, 2025 and is currently available for pre-order everywhere books are sold.

Saturday, July 19 at 4pm

Atelier Mone Art Gallery

47 South 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor

Mount Vernon, NY 10550

Coming Soon: La Canción de Paloma para Puerto Rico

I am over the moon excited to share that my award-winning middle grade historical fiction novel PALOMA'S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO is getting a SPANISH EDITION!!!!

The translated version, LA CANCIÓN DE PALOMA PARA PUERTO RICO, releases on August 1, 2025 and is available for pre-order now! You can pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.org today.

Pre-orders matter in publishing. By pre-ordering new books, you indicate to bookstores that there is interest in this new release, which drives more bookstores to carry the book on their shelves. Even letting your local library know about the upcoming book release and requesting that they order a copy is helpful. Every sale and every reader is important.

Thank you all so much for your support! ¡Muchas gracias!

For Your Listening Pleasure: Encuentras Your Voice Podcast

A few weeks ago, I recorded a podcast episode as a special guest on the Encuentras Your Voice Podcast with host Consuelo Crosby. The episode is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Listen to our conversation about my writing journey, the stories behind PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO, and so much more!

I'm Officially an Award-Winning Author!

WOW! I'm so thrilled to announce that my book PALOMA'S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO won the Gold Medal/First Place award in the Best Educational Chapter Book category at the International Latino Book Awards 2024!! This win came as such a surprise! I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles yesterday, but I'm incredibly honored that PALOMA'S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO was considered among the thousands of books that were submitted this year.

I can’t believe it! I'm still in shock! I’m officially an award-winning author. PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO really is the little book that could and I’m so proud of the work I did researching and writing it.

The International Latino Book Awards press release included an insight about Rivera’s book from the ILBA judges: “'This is a story that needs to be told and heard. Excellent! I loved the fact that it had questions for discussion at the end and other notes.’”

This award means so much to me and I can’t wait until the medal arrives in the mail!

Fall 2024 Book Tour Dates

I’m still on the book tour! This fall 2024, you can see me and PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO at the following events:

September

Saturday, September 28 at 1pm, Montclair Public Library

Montclair, New Jersey

October

Monday, October 7 at 11:30am, Pennsylvania Library Association Conference

Hilton Harrisburg, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Saturday, October 12 from 11am-5pm, Latin American Book Fair

Julia de Burgos Bookstore/Taller Puertorriqueño

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Monday, October 28 at 4:30pm, Bernards Township Public Library

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

November

Saturday, November 2, Hoboken Public Library

Hoboken, New Jersey

Tuesday, November 19 at 4pm, Jersey City Library/Biblioteca Criolla

Priscilla Gardner Main Library, Jersey City, New Jersey

I’m still planning speaking events and book presentations for Hispanic Heritage Month, Puerto Rican Heritage Month, and beyond. If you would like to book me for your event, please fill out the form on this page to Contact Me.

It's Book Tour Time!

This fall is going to be a busy season! Below you’ll find a full schedule of upcoming public events celebrating PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO for this September, October, and November. I hope to see you there!

September

Saturday, September 30 - Newark Public Library from 2pm-4pm

Newark, NJ

Latino Celebration event, Imagery in Children’s Literature: A Conversation with Children’s Book Author Adriana Erin Rivera

October

Saturday, October 7 - Morristown Festival of Books from 11am-4pm

Morristown, NJ

Morristown Festival of Books: Kids Fest, book selling and signing

Thursday, October 12 - Mercy University from 5:30pm-7pm

Dobbs Ferry, NY

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration event, presenting PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO including book reading, selling, and signing

November

Saturday, November 4 - Martin Public Library

York, PA

Special Event in Conversation with Author Adriana Erin Rivera and Ms. Pennsylvania Senior Delma Rivera-Lytle with a reading, book selling, and signing of PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO

Thursday, November 16 - White Plains Public Library from 5pm-6pm

White Plains, NY

Puerto Rican Heritage Month event: Readers in Conversation with PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO author Adriana Erin Rivera

Special Podcast Episode of Latino Book Chat

My conversation with Christianne Meneses Jacobs, host of the Latino Book Chat podcast was so fun! In this episode dedicated to PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898, we discussed the writing process for this exciting new book, my travels to Puerto Rico, and so much more. I also read an excerpt from the book - a first listen! You can listen to the podcast here.

PALOMA'S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO Press Tour has Begun!

PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 will be released on August 1, 2023 and the press tour has begun!

I’ve recorded an episode of the Latino Book Chat podcast that will be released later in July. We discussed all things PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO and I can’t wait to share the episode with everyone.

A segment on the PBS television show ¿Qué Pasa NJ? will be dedicated to an interview with me talking about the book with host Carlos Medina. The episode will air on PBS in early August.

On Saturday, September 30, I’ll be participating in a Latino Celebration at the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey for a Hispanic Heritage Month event.

I’ll be at the Morristown Festival of Books KidsFest on Saturday, October 7. Find my table on the Downtown Morristown Green in Morristown, NJ.

I’m also prepping for an event with the 100 Hispanic Women of Westchester for this fall.

More news and updates on the press tour are to come!

"Paloma's Song for Puerto Rico: A Diary from 1898" to be Released in August 2023

I am thrilled to share that my latest book “Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico: A Diary from 1898” will be released on August 1, 2023! In collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum for the American Latino, this historical fiction middle grade book for readers ages 8-12 is already available for pre-order from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop.org and other major booksellers. You can also save the book to your Goodreads reading list!

About the book: It is 1898, and twelve-year-old Paloma lives in Puerto Rico with her Papi, Mama, and little brother, Jorge. They are coffee farmers, and Paloma loves the goats, chickens, and fruit trees that she helps to care for. She also loves music—the song of the coqui frogs who sing her to sleep, and the melodies from Papi’s tiple guitar. But Paloma’s world begins to change when United States soldiers invade Puerto Rico, long controlled by Spain. What will happen to their farm, their culture, the island? As Paloma and her family navigate changes they can’t control, they hold tightly to each other and hope for a better future.

Excerpt of REMEMBER TO FLY Gets Published

This is a very exciting day!

I’ve been working on my latest novel, currently titled, REMEMBER TO FLY for over a year and a half. It’s been a passion project that I poured my heart and soul into. The premise is a coming of age story of a teenage girl from Puerto Rico during post-Hurricane Maria. It’s sounds simple, but so much went into writing this book.

As of today, a version of the first chapter is available to read online. Barzakh Literary Magazine published the first chapter in the Fiction category of their Winter 2023 issue. I am more than thrilled and excited about it! I’ve been shouting it from the rooftops all day! I’m thankful that the Magazine chose my work, were impressed by it, and celebrated it in their publication. It means the world to me.

The first chapter of REMEMBER TO FLY is available to read via this link: https://www.barzakhmag.net/winter-2023-fiction-content/2023/2/13/adriana-erin-rivera

I hope you read it and enjoy the story. This is just the beginning for REMEMBER TO FLY.

#BookTok on TikTok

I recently got on the TikTok band wagon. I’m expanding my social media audience as an author and am working on joining the #BookTok conversation. Follow me! My handle is @therealadrianaerin

Here is my first post:

Why I Rewrote My Work-In-Progress from Scratch

I started writing my current work-in-progress in October 2020. I had written 34,352 words or 134 pages. That’s about 1/3 of the way through the novel I’ve been working on. It’s a story I’m passionate about telling, but I had written myself into a proverbial brick wall. I had lost the voice of my protagonist and the plot had begun to unravel. There were already some significant changes made as I was working on the manuscript and several chapters would need to be rewritten from scratch anyway.

Earlier in October 2021, I decided to hit the reset button. I've been writing like a fiend trying to get back on track. I'm proud to report that I am now at 14,433 words in my new draft and still writing. Now with the start of National Novel Writing Month, I’m keeping up the progress and aiming to finish this draft as a full Young Adult-genre novel telling a Latinx story that deserves to be told. Keep a look out for my updates on this work in progress.

Thanks for all the support!

VIDEO: IG Live Conversation about SWING SETS!

I was so honored to be included in the Latina Author Roundtable last year! Host and fellow Latina author, Christina Montoya, was wonderful! It was a thrill to have the opportunity to discuss SWING SETS with her and share the story with her and others who watched and participated on Instagram Live!

I found a clip of the conversation, which you can watch below! Enjoy!

Remember, you can purchase your copy or e-book of SWING SETS here: https://www.amazon.com/Swing-Sets-Adriana-Erin-Rivera/dp/150072727X/