“The Thirteen: Origins” Launches October 2023 from Chispa Comics! Chispa — the Latino imprint established by Scout Comics and Mucho Más Media — has announced the publication schedule for “The Thirteen: Origins.” The groundbreaking new miniseries will print consecutively for thirteen months, with each story focusing on a new character. …

It’s become popular to deny that the Dual God Ometeotl was ever a thing. Many folks argue that scholar Miguel León-Portilla invented the deity to support what he wanted to believe about Aztec religion. And I agree that Dr. León-Portilla was absolutely wrong to affirm that there was a seldom-mentioned…

[previous chapter] 12 May, 1893. The castle feels strangely empty now that Ștefan has left. I’ve occupied myself as best I could with reading and other work, but my mind keeps drifting back to last night, and my body still retains the touch of his, as though it were wax…

Because of two works-in-progress, I’ve been thinking about the different iterations of the “Mesoamerican Ballgame” (a relatively unhelpful and broad category that throws together several millennia of differently played sports that share a similar field and ball). Here are some linguistic facts about the variety played in Anahuac during the…

Many historical figures who were in and around the Isle of Mexico during the siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521 appear in my latest book, Secret of the Moon Conch, co-written by Guadalupe García McCall Among these people was the last queen of Tenochtitlan, last empress of the Aztecs, known by…

You may have noticed that in Spanish, when you don’t know someone’s name, you can call them “Fulano” or “Fulana.” I mean, not to their face, but to refer to them. Like saying “Joe Blow” or “Jane Doe” or “John Q. Public,” it’s just a stop-gap word taking the place…

[previous chapter] 9 May, 1893. When I found that I was a prisoner, I sat down quietly — as quietly as I have ever done anything in my life — and began to think over what was best to be done. I am thinking still, and as yet have come…

One of the things I loved about writing Secret of the Moon Conch was including historical figures who were in and around the Isle of Mexico during the siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Among these people was the last true tlahtoani or king of Tenochtitlan and therefor Aztec emperor: Cuauhtemoc. …

[previous chapter] Letter from Miss Mina Murray to Miss Lucy Westenra. 6 May 1893. My dearest Lucy, — Forgive my long delay in writing, but I have been simply overwhelmed with work. The life of an assistant matron and tutor is sometimes trying. I am longing to be with you…