Audiobooks narrated by Luzma Ortiz

Sing the Truth: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection

"A powerful must-read collection of bold BIPOC voices. All proceeds support The Kweli Journal's mission to nurture emerging writers of color and foster a vibrant literary community. 'It gave me great pleasure to read this beautiful collection of important, diverse, sometimes heartbreaking, and always moving stories; it had the extra benefit of introducing me to several authors whom I'd never read before and whose work I've started to seek out. Highly recommended.' —Nancy Pearl, acclaimed librarian, bestselling author, and literary critic "With this new collection of short stories, we are once again the beneficiaries of brilliant prose that dances off the pages and into our hearts. I'm proud to be in the chorus praising SING THE TRUTH." —Monique Greenwood, co-founder of Go On Girl! Book Club and owner of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns "As the editor of the groundbreaking journal Kweli, Laura Pegram has introduced us to many of the finest writers of the contemporary literary landscape. In this new, monumental anthology, Pegram has gathered several of these writers, welcoming us to a luminous community in the word." —Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, author of The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois Hailed as "The Paris Review of BIPOC literature," The Kweli Journal has been a launching pad for many of today's most celebrated writers. Kweli—"truth" in Swahili—marks its fifteenth anniversary with this luminous collection edited by founder Laura Pegram. These vivid narratives explore the devastation of leaving home and the struggle to adapt to reimagined lives, lost loves, distant families, and buried pasts, deepening our understanding of the human experience. Featuring works from acclaimed authors Naima Coster, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Daphne Palasi Andreades, Susan Muaddi Darraj, and others, this anthology stands as a testament to voices too often overlooked in contemporary literature. 'The stories in this collection serve as windows into diverse communities while inviting readers of all backgrounds to engage with and appreciate the richness of our cultures.' —Edwidge Danticat, from the foreword of Sing the Truth"

TBD (Author), Almarie Guerra, Angel Pean, Bahni Turpin, Chante McCormick, Charlie Wood, Frankie Corzo, Jennifer Aquino, Karen Chilton, Luzma Ortiz, Natalie Naudus, Neil Shah, Rasha Zamamiri, Shayna Small, Timothy Andrés Pabon (Narrator)

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Merlin's Tour of the Universe: A Traveller's Guide to Blue Moons and Black Holes, Mars, Stars and Ev

"*Fully revised and updated for the 21st century* The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry takes readers on an odyssey into the deepest, darkest depth of the universe and back again with his extra-terrestrial tour guide, Merlin. Merlin is a timeless visitor to Earth from the planet Omniscia in the Andromeda galaxy, and he has observed first-hand many of the major scientific events of Earth's history - from the Big Bang to the extinction of the dinosaurs and beyond. In Merlin's Tour of the Universe, Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike about the universe and our place within it. All questions are answered with authentic science, infused with wit, wisdom, an occasional rhyme and accompanied by the odd illustration. Merlin's friends include the most important scientific figures and explorers of all time - including da Vinci, Magellan, Newton, Einstein and Hubble, and Merlin's Tour also features playful conversations with these historical luminaries. Based on the first book that Tyson ever published in the 1990s and now fully updated and extended for the twenty-first century, Merlin's Tour of the Universe is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about how the cosmos works."

Neil Degrasse Tyson (Author), André Santana, Bronson Pinchot, Em Grosland, Jaime Lincoln Smith, Jim Meskimen, Kevin R. Free, Lauren Fortgang, Luzma Ortiz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Pun Bandhu (Narrator)

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The Sunlit Ruins: An Old Gods Story

"Ada and Miry didn’t mean to start a city-wide catastrophe. Really, they didn’t.But when a family trip goes awry, the two Mexican-American cousins from opposite sides of the border accidentally unleash an evil spirit from centuries past. The incident unlocks latent magical powers within the girls, who now have to figure out what’s going on. Easier said than done. The only things Ada and Miry know are that the spirit is tied to the pyramids of Teotihuacán, an ancient and abandoned civilization, and that there is only one organization that can help them. The Archivists of Teotihuacán. With only a scant trail of clues to guide them, Ada and Miry must journey across Mexico City, uncover the origin of their powers, and try to reseal the spirit they’ve awoken. But the hardest challenge of all? Getting along with family. Follow Ada and Miry on their adventure through Mexico and a hidden, fantastical world of magic based on the philosophy of the city of Teotihuacán."

Andrea Septién (Author), Luzma Ortiz, Martin Martinez (Narrator)

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Own Your Money: Practical Strategies to Get Your Financial Life Together and Reach Your 6-Figure Sav

"Join TikTok star Michela Allocca (@BreakYourBudget) for a crash course in everything personal finance. With real-life examples, this book unlocks the fun of money fundamentals. Michela Allocca had an epiphany when she was working at her first job: even those working in finance can have no idea how to budget, invest, and spend on a personal level! By the time she reached her mid-20s, she had a new mission: helping any young person who wanted advice with the "scary," aka often misunderstood, world of personal finance. In Own Your Money, Michela shares all the tools she used to manage, save, invest, and set a routine that enabled her to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in less than a decade of professional-and freelance-work. You'll find chapters that address: - Budgeting: Don't make it a dreaded B-word! Learn about various strategies including 50/30/20, zero-based, and 3-bucket budgets. - How to save: It's all about SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). - How to spend money: That's right, a plan for spending is important too! With a quick analysis of values and priorities, you can spend without feeling guilt-yes, even on those fancy coffees. - Investing: Learn the difference between 401ks and IRAs, investment types from index funds to target date funds, and relate it all back to core concepts in investing (like diversification). - Jobs and careers: If your dream job doesn't exist, join the club! Learn how to find satisfaction through the tasks you want to do, networking, and career pivots. - Increase your earning potential: Set yourself up for a raise/promotion, negotiate a job offer, and figure out if a side hustle is right for you. This is a book that's meant to partner with you on your own journey and financial goals!"

Michela Allocca (Author), Luzma Ortiz (Narrator)

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Too Soon for Adiós

"From author Annette Chavez Macias comes a heartfelt novel about a woman who embarks on an emotional journey when she meets her biological father on the day of her mother’s funeral. No one expects to meet their father at their mother’s funeral. But for Gabby Medina, that’s exactly what happens. Her dad abandoned her when she was a baby, and now he’s back. And he wants to give her a house. Gabby doesn’t want the house—or him. But she could use the money. So Gabby agrees to take it under two conditions: First, she can sell the house whenever she wants. Second, accepting it doesn’t mean she accepts him. After they strike a deal, Gabby hires a contractor in preparation for a quick sale. But as she gets to know the town and these two new men in her life, she learns more about herself than she ever dared to think possible. But is she ready to open herself up to the truth of what happened—and the promise of what could be?"

Annette Chavez Macias (Author), Luzma Ortiz (Narrator)

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StarTalk: Everything You Ever Need to Know About Space Travel, Sci-Fi, the Human Race, the Universe,

"For decades, beloved astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has interpreted science with a combination of brainpower and charm that resonates with fans everywhere. This pioneering, provocative audiobook brings together the best of StarTalk, his beloved podcast and television show devoted to solving the most confounding mysteries of Earth, space, and what it means to be human. Filled with brilliant sidebars and unforgettable quotes from Tyson and his brilliant cohort of science and entertainment luminaries, StarTalk will help answer all of your most pressing questions about our world—from how the brain works to the physics of comic book superheroes. Fun, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny, this audiobook is the perfect guide to everything you ever wanted to know about the universe—and beyond."

Neil Degrasse Tyson (Author), Kevin R. Free, Lauren Fortgang, Luzma Ortiz (Narrator)

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Building Soil: A Down-to-Earth Approach: Natural Solutions for Better Gardens & Yards

"This is your down-to-earth, complete manual for achieving great gardening results with your own rich, organic soil. How do you recognize healthy soil? How much can your existing soil be improved? What are the best amendments to use for your soil? Let Building Soil answer your questions and be your guide on gardening from the ground up. Fertilizing, tilling, weed management, and irrigation all affect the quality of your soil. Using author Elizabeth Murphy's detailed instructions, anyone can become a successful soil-based gardener, whether you want to start a garden from scratch or improve an existing garden. If you want methods that won't break your back, are good for the environment, and create high-yielding and beautiful gardens of all shapes and sizes, this is the book for you! Create classic landscape gardens, grow a high-yielding orchard, nurture naturally beautiful lawns, raise your household veggies, or run a profitable farm. A soil-based approach allows you to see not just the plants, but the living system that grows them. Soil-building practices promote more ecologically friendly gardening by: - Reducing fertilizer and pesticide use - Sequestering greenhouse gases - Increasing overall garden productivity With a detailed discussion on a range of organic fertilizer choices, Building Soil is a simple book full of practical, up-to-date information about building healthy soils. Simple methods perfect for the home gardener's use put healthy, organic soil within everyone's reach. You don't need a degree in soil management to understand this book; you only need a yard or garden and the desire to improve it at the most basic level."

Elizabeth Murphy (Author), Luzma Ortiz (Narrator)

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Half Outlaw

"Looking for the missing half of herself, a woman goes on one last ride with the motorcycle club that raised her, and gets more than she bargained for. After the tragic death of her parents when she was just four years old, Raqi is sent to live with her uncle Dodge in Escondido, California. Taking after her Mexican father, Raqi immediately faces hostility from the members of Dodge’s all-white, 1 percenter motorcycle club, the Lawless, and from her uncle himself. Being raised by a drug addict is no picnic, and Raqi must quickly learn how to survive. She manages to form a few friendships. Still, as soon as she can, she leaves the violence and bigotry behind and doesn’t look back. Years later, Raqi is a successful partner at a law firm in Los Angeles. She gets a call from Billy, the leader of the Lawless. Dodge is dead, and Billy wants her to go on the Grieving Ride, a special ride taken for all deceased members, and one that strictly follows the deceased’s wishes. There is no way Raqi would ever attend, except for one thing: Billy promises to give her the address of her grandfather if she goes on the ride. It’s the address of her father’s father, her Mexican grandfather. Learning for the first time that she has other family and desperate to connect, she agrees. But this will be no ordinary Grieving Ride. Raqi is reacquainted with her old bike and with the various club members. During the cross-country trek, she will learn more about her uncle, and about herself, than she ever imagined possible. Alternating between Raqi’s childhood and a present 90s setting, and accented by moments of magical realism, Half Outlaw is the story of one woman’s quest to find a better future while still wrestling with a tumultuous past. In her first adult novel, Alex Temblador gives readers an immersive look into a dangerous subculture at the end of an era, and a powerful and heartfelt story that explores self-knowledge, acceptance, and the meaning of family."

Alex Temblador (Author), Luzma Ortiz (Narrator)

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We Weren't Looking to Be Found

"Two young girls. Two disparate stories. One unlikely friendship.... Dani comes from the richest, most famous Black family in Texas and seems to have everything a girl could want. So why does she keep using and engaging in other self-destructive behavior? Camila's Colombian-American family doesn't have much, but she knows exactly what she wants out of life and works her ass off to get it. So why does she keep failing, and why does she self-harm every time she does? When Dani and Camila find themselves rooming together at Peach Tree Hills, a treatment facility in beautiful rural Georgia, they initially think they'll never get along—and they'll never get better. But then they find a mysterious music box filled with letters from a former resident of PTH, and together they set out to solve the mystery of who this girl was . . . and who she's become. The investigation will bring them together, and what they find at the end might just bring them hope. From award-winning author Stephanie Kuehn comes a breathtaking tale of friendship and healing. Both poignant and timely, We Weren't Looking to Be Found is complex, hopeful, and heartbreaking all at once."

Stephanie Kuehn (Author), Luzma Ortiz, Sarah Hollis (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Luzma Ortiz