October & November 2026 Events Recap

October was a busy month! I’m finally able to reflect on the events of last month.

In conversation with NBC’s Arianna Davis Santana on October 6, 2026.

I had the amazing privilege of being invited to be the featured author for NBC Universal’s UNIDOS ERG Hispanic Heritage Month Fireside Chat in conversation with the Today Show’s Arianna Davis Santana on October 6. This event at 30 Rockefeller Center for the UNIDOS Employee Resource Group was attended by many NBCU employees in person and streamed online. The conversation was wonderful and I answered questions from attendees submitted both online and in the room. What a fun day!

Keynote presentation at SUNY Westchester Community College on October 15, 2026.

When I was asked to be the keynote speaker for SUNY Westchester Community College’s Latin American Heritage Celebration, I was more than honored. It was my first time giving a keynote address and I took the responsibility very seriously. I spoke about my publishing journey as a Latina author and three important steps that got me where I am today: Preparation, Discipline, and Measuring Success. The event organizers and faculty loved the message to their community college students.

Presenting to students at Washington Rose Elementary School in Roosevelt, NY on November 5, 2026.

My presentation at Washington Rose Elementary School on Long Island, New York was a true success! I spoke in front of more than 200 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who were so bright and enthusiastic about me and my book, PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898. When I walked into the school, there were pictures all over the hallways of me and Paloma that the students had colored in, showcasing their creative talents and excitement about my event. It was such a fun and thoughtful surprise! The staff, teachers, and school administration were so welcoming and wonderful. I loved every second of it and I know the kids did too. What a joy!

If you’re interested in having me speak at your school, library, special event, or podcast, please contact me! I’m currently booking events for spring and summer 2027!

September 2026 Events Recap

This month has been a rush! September’s events have been incredible, especially as a perfect way to celebrate the first half of Hispanic Heritage Month.

September 16: The Latino Lecture Series event at Newark Public Library in Newark, NJ brought a great conversation about the Puerto Rican diaspora in New Jersey and beyond. Moderator Dean Huertas kicked off the discussion with an ice breaker about what we will not eat as Puerto Ricans (my answer: arroz con salchichas). We talked about the differences of growing up as first generation and second generation Puerto Ricans in the US. A line of attendees with burning questions closed out the event. I’m grateful to have participated.

September 19: The opportunity to speak at Yale University for the What We Carry, What We Claim panel discussion with Latina authors was a thrilling experience! Dwight Hall was a beautiful venue. I loved getting to meet Peggy Robles and Melissa Coss-Aquino and read from my book, “Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico: A Diary from 1898.” Many thanks to Vilma Luz Cabán for inviting me to be a part of this event. I’m still taking it all in!

September 26: Rainy days make for successful book signings at Barnes & Noble! I loved meeting book lovers of all ages at Palisades Center Mall in Nyack, NY. Despite the nor’easter, plenty of readers were shopping for a book to curl up with. It’s always a joy to introduce “Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico” to new people and get them excited about the story. Thanks to the Barnes & Noble staff and to everyone who bought a personalized, signed copy of my book.

October is going to be another busy month! I can’t wait for the upcoming events!

September & October Events List

My list of Fall 2026 events is stacked! I’m thrilled to announce that I will be speaking and participating in the following events:

Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6pm - Latino Lecture Series - Generations: The Puerto Rican Diaspora in New Jersey and Beyond @ Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ

Saturday, Sept. 19 from 3pm - 5pm - What We Carry, What We Claim: Latina Writers on Voice, Memory, and Becoming @ Yale University’s Dwight Hall, New Haven, CT

Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1pm - 3pm - Book Signing @ Palisades Mall Barnes & Noble, Nyack, NY

Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 1pm - 2pm - NBCUniversal Unidos ERG Presents: Award-winning Author Adriana Erin Rivera @ 30 Rockefeller Center, NYC (Private Event)

Thursday, Oct. 15 from 9:30am - 12:30pm - Latin American Heritage Month Celebration @ SUNY Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY

Saturday, Oct. 24 from 12pm - 4pm - Latino Literature and Heritage Event @ Jersey City Public Library, Jersey City, NJ

Premiere Date TBD, The Historican Podcast @ YouTube

If your organization, school, library, or podcast would like me to speak at your event, please contact me!

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.

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!

Listen on Spotify

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

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.