With The Chin Kiss King, her critically lauded debut novel, Ana Veciana-Suarez joined the ranks of Julia Alvarez and Cristina Garca, authors who have defined the Latina experience in contemporary fiction. In Birthday Parties in Heaven, Veciana-Suarez's first collection of essays, the acclaimed writer and mother of five offers seventeen wise and generous-hearted takes on subjects as diverse as: living in exile; the untimely death of her first husband; being a single mother; interfaith marriage; and the bond between sisters. She also offers reflections, by turns humorous and meaningful, on beisbol; motorcycles; the special terrors of swimsuit season; and the sweetness of love the second time around. In these eloquent and moving essays, Veciana-Suarez proves why she is one of America's most popular columnists.

"Wise and touching . . . Written with a spirited sense of inner worlds and human foibles."--The New York Times (on The Chin Kiss King)