Author Cecilia A. Garcia

When I first set out to write the Always Forward series, I wrote it for myself. I didn’t anticipate that, when I published it, I would have to talk about the series, which would mean sharing my own experiences in war. And more than that, I never considered how many people would be willing to open up to me. Over the last five years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many amazing and interesting readers at events. And I’m always honored when someone decides to share a person

Fun fact about me: Cecilia is my pen name. When I decided to use a pen name, I immediately knew which name to choose. Although I’m not a practicing Catholic any longer (in fact, I refer to myself as a recovering Catholic!), I did select a confirmation name in high school. I remember that when we were picking our names, we were encouraged to choose a saint we had something in common with or were drawn to.

Change is not always easy. In fact, more often than not, change is extremely difficult and can be uncomfortable. Everyone at some point in their lives has to go through change. Whether it be changing schools as a child, going off to college, changing careers as an adult, or changes in family dynamics.

Disclaimer: The following content is solely my point of view. I do not speak for any other Veteran or Veterans Organizations. I have a love/hate relationship with the Fourth of July. I know as an American I should be proud to celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day; however, as a Veteran who has found her moral compass, it’s a very complex day to celebrate. Most Americans honor this day with fireworks. Setting off big, colorful ones and loud, booming cannon-like ones. But fir

Memorial Day is always a solemn day for me, but this year, it has an even deeper meaning, as it’s the 22nd anniversary of my Alive Day. As I pay my respects to all my fallen brothers and sisters, I also take a moment to reflect on what I have learned about my own journey of surviving war and a roadside bomb attack. If I could go back to the afternoon of May 25, 2004, and face my blood-soaked self, these are the 22 things I would tell her: 1. The person you were before today i

I saw a blue jay today and thought of you. Stella and I were walking one of your favorite routes to the cemetery. We were at the last house before the entrance, you know the one. In the front yard, there is an old oak tree stump that now serves as a bird feeder for squirrels and a few birds. Stella saw you first. A bright blue flame between two well-fed black squirrels. I smiled and thought of you. You finally made it. All those years of chasing squirrels, and now you get to

When I published Always Forward in September of 2021 with a cliff hanger, I knew readers would want, no, demand Chasing Ghosts as soon as possible! Fortunately, I was one step ahead and had Chasing Ghosts ready to publish by February 2022. Having written a total of five novellas, sometimes Chasing Ghosts gets lost in the mix when I talk about the series. In some ways, Chasing Ghosts is the middle child of the Always Forward family. Sandwiched between the intensity and rawness

I had an appointment this morning. Nothing serious. It wasn’t even on my calendar, but it’s a recurring meeting invite I keep mentally locked in, ingrained in my routine. I always arrive ten minutes early, just in case you decide to show up ahead of schedule, too. I’ve done this for so long, you would think I know you’re always punctual. Always right on time. This week, I’m in a new location for our meeting. I find a seat on the beach, coffee in hand. I get comfortable and si

As I reflect on the last twelve months, I can’t help but think that if there was ever a year for my mantra to be "Always Forward," it was this year, 2025. This year was the year of the colossal rollercoaster ride. And just like one does when riding such a ride, all you can do is buckle up and hold on for the highs and the lows. My year began full of excitement and energy as I accepted a new role in my day-to-day profession and prepared for the release of The Burdens We Carry,

Over the last few years, I have been fighting with my inner demons when it comes to being a Veteran. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never stopped being proud of my service and who I served with during my eight years. But I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about our mission and if all the death and destruction was worth it. The best way to explain it, and the way I explained it to my therapist, is that it feels like my moral compass has been recalibrated. I’ve officially been out of

Recently, a reader asked me what or who inspired me as a child to write. This question made me pause and reflect on my childhood, and specifically on one person, my Dad, who was most known in our community as Nick the Welder. My dad was a welder my entire life. He was well known in Youngstown as the guy who could weld anything. -You needed your car worked on? My dad was your guy. - You needed some random piece of metal welded? My dad was your guy. -Couldn't afford to pay for

In a few short weeks, I will be heading to one of my favorite book events of the year. This year marks the fourth year I will be attending the Louisville Book Festival. You may be wondering- Cecilia, why is a book festival over five hours away so near and dear to your heart? To understand why this festival holds a special place in my heart, we must first go back to the summer of 2021. I was deep in the throes of releasing my debut novella, Always Forward. As an indie author,

Earlier this year, my family had to say goodbye to two of our three beloved dogs in 30 days. If you follow my social media, then you may recall our 23-year-old min-pin poodle mix, Nappy. Nappy was my CFO for my book business, but if I'm being honest, she was the CEO of our home. She lived an outstanding life, and although it was challenging to decide to say goodbye, as a family, we knew it was the right choice to make for her. It gets to a point with senior dogs where one has

Happy Indie Author Month! Yes, that’s right, April is the month of indie authors. Indie authors may have a variety of reasons for why they decide not to take the road more traveled, but no matter what the reason, I can say without a doubt it takes a lot of grit and determination. When I chose not to seek an agent and skipped the traditional publishing route, I was terrified. If it wasn’t for my dear friend and author mentor, Author A.A. Lewis, I’m not sure I would have ever t

I published Always Forward on September 25, 2021. Seventeen years after the concept for "Always Forward" came to me while deployed in Iraq, I finally released the first novella in the series. What started as a three-part series quickly evolved into a five-part series. The journey Always Forward has taken me on has been complicated but beautiful.

Every year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we see countless social media posts and news sources citing famous quotes from the late Dr. King Jr. I know posting these quotes comes from a place of good intentions; however, I always wonder how many people have taken the time to read the entire speech from which the quote is posted.

Resilience is a word I have heard quite a bit over the past six weeks. From family, friends, and former colleagues to even my therapist, I keep being told- “You are so resilient. No matter what happens to you, you always bounce back.”

I love doors. I have been obsessed with them since I was a young girl. Whenever I travel, I love to take photos of interesting ones. It’s funny because as I look through my collection of pictures of doors, they are always closed.

For days leading up to May 25, I have been trying to think of something meaningful to write. With the impending 20th anniversary of the explosion, I felt I should have a well-written, thoughtful statement to share with the world.

May 25, 2004, is a date that has permanent residence in my brain. Throughout the years, I have tried hiding from the events of this day, I have tried out running the traumas, I have spoken out about them, and finally, I have faced those memories.