After reading us his flash fiction story, "Para siempre" [Forever], Carlos offers some insight into the historical backdrop, events, and characters that inspired him.

After shedding some light on the flash fiction genre and providing us with some examples, Carlos finally reads us the piece with which he placed among the finalists at a prominent flash fiction contest in Barcelona. Can you understand any of the meaning behind it?

Let's listen to a couple of examples of flash fiction stories to better understand what this literary genre is all about. Entitled "Destino" [Fate] and "Soñando despierta" [Daydreaming], both pieces received awards at prestigious international flash fiction contests.

In the first part of this series, Carlos introduces us to the characteristics of flash fiction, a literary genre distinguished by its succinctness and ability to capture the reader from the first word to the last.

Many Latin American countries celebrate the Novena of Aguinaldos, a nine-day, Catholic-based holiday that includes music, food and prayer. Grace Pinzon, a Colombian woman living in Florida, shares with us how the novena is celebrated there.

“El Cerro de Monserrate” [Monserrate Hill] is a famous Hill in the center of Bogota, Colombia, which is a destination for pilgrimages and home to many tourist attractions, including a church, funicular and aerial cableway. Our host, Edwin Galve, who works bringing people to Monserrate’s several restaurants, tells us about these and more!

As Kevin learns more about his sister's boyfriend, Luis, his opinion about him is no longer so cut and dry.

Tension is in the air at dinner as Luis's questions to Kevin's mom grow increasingly personal- and offensive.

Kevin gets educated on free love by his sister's boyfriend.

Guillermo the shaman, an expert in Mayan cosmology, explains the origin of and symbolism behind the Mayan word "chamamán" as well as some other interesting aspects of their belief system.