Emma Rosa Ugarelli’s Author Blog

This week on EugarelliBooks, we celebrate Jorge Luis Borges, one of Argentina’s most influential writers, born on August 24, 1899.
Borges was a writer, poet, essayist, and librarian whose extraordinary imagination transformed ideas such as books, libraries, labyrinths, dreams, memory, time, and infinity into fascinating literary worlds. His best-known works include Ficciones, The Aleph, and Labyrinths.
But why does Borges remain important today? His stories challenged readers to look beyond the obvious and question the boundaries between reality and imagination, memory and identity, and time and existence. His influence can still be felt in literature and in the way contemporary writers explore complex ideas through storytelling.
One of his most memorable reflections is:
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
For someone who loved books so deeply, the library represented a world of knowledge and infinite possibilities.
Another quote takes us even deeper:
“Time is the substance I am made of.”
These simple words carry a profound idea. Time is not merely something that passes around us. It is what our lives are made of. We need time to live, to experience, to love, and to exist. Our past lives in our memories, our present is the moment we are living, and our future is made of moments that have not yet become part of our story.
And there is another remarkable chapter in Borges's life: he gradually lost his sight and eventually became blind. Yet he continued writing, dictating his work, lecturing, and creating through memory and imagination.
His life and work remind us that the imagination can create worlds beyond what our eyes can see.
 What would you create with your imagination if you could turn your thoughts into an entire world?
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A Journey Through My Books: From Lou to Polly Since the first edition of Lou and His Mane was published in 2021, my journey as a children's book author has continued to grow. Through the years, I have created stories filled with imagination, friendship, curiosity, adventure, kindness, and meaningful life lessons.
Today, I would love to introduce you to my collection of children's books—from my first little lion to my newest grumpy elf!
 Lou and His ManeLou and His Mane was the book that started my journey as a children's author.
Lou is a lovable lion whose worst nightmare comes true--he loses his magnificent mane! With the help of his friends, he sets out to find it.
Along the way, Lou discovers that friendship and the support of those who care about us can help us through difficult moments. The story also reminds children that who we are is much more important than how we look.
 Yuri and the Treasure BoxYuri is a curious little monkey who discovers something unusual in the jungle. After thinking about what he has found, he decides to call it his treasure box and begins collecting small creatures inside.
But something happens that makes Yuri stop and think about what a real treasure truly is.
A story about curiosity, discovery, nature, and learning to understand that living things are not possessions to collect.
 Kenny and His Great InventionKenny is a penguin with a wonderful idea: he wants to build a spaceship and travel into space! With the help of his friend, he begins building his incredible invention.
But when Kenny enters a competition, jealousy gets in the way. His friend secretly sabotages his spaceship, putting Kenny's dream and their friendship at risk.
Through this adventure, Kenny and his friend learn important lessons about honesty, jealousy, friendship, responsibility, and sportsmanship. Winning a competition is important, but being a good friend and a good sport is even more important.
 Yuri and the Jungle RibbonOne day, Yuri discovers something golden and shiny in the jungle. He uses it to buy a beautiful ribbon because he thinks it makes him look different and special.
Soon, however, Yuri stops playing with his friends because he is afraid of losing his precious ribbon.
But is the thing that makes him look special really what makes him happy?
A story about friendship, self-worth, appearances, and discovering what truly matters.
 Avi the Witch Saves ChristmasAvi is a charming little witch who has so much fun celebrating Halloween that she decides she wants to experience Christmas too!
But when she arrives at a family's home in disguise, she discovers that something is terribly wrong. There is no Santa and no presents!
Avi travels all the way to the North Pole to find out what happened—and perhaps save Christmas.
A magical adventure about helping others, kindness, courage, and discovering the joy of giving.
 Avi the Witch Saves EasterAvi is back, and this time she wants to discover the magic of Easter!
But a mean witch named Nata appears and makes the Easter Bunny—and all the Easter goodies—disappear.
Can Avi help the Easter Bunny save Easter?
Another magical adventure filled with friendship, courage, cooperation, and the importance of helping others.
 Freddy Lost His TeddyFreddy is a little lion cub who can't fall asleep because his beloved teddy bear is nowhere to be found.
Where could it be? And will Freddy be able to find his special friend before bedtime?
A sweet story about childhood emotions, comfort, attachment, and the special importance that a favorite toy can have in a child's world.
 Polly the Grumpy ElfAnd finally, my newest book, Polly the Grumpy Elf!
Polly is a charming little elf who is feeling very grumpy. One winter day, she wants nothing more than to sleep, but someone keeps knocking on her door.
Her friends keep coming back, and Polly becomes more and more upset. But after she sends them away for the last time, she can't stop thinking about their faces.
Something doesn't feel right. But what?
Polly's story invites children to think about emotions, friendship, empathy, and how our actions can affect the people who care about us.
 And this is only the beginning!Looking back at these books, I realize that each character has brought something different to my journey as an author.
From Lou's search for his mane, to Yuri's curiosity, Kenny's dream of reaching space, Avi's magical adventures, Freddy's search for his teddy, and Polly's grumpy winter day, each story has a little something to discover.
I don't write only to entertain children. I hope my stories also encourage them to think, wonder, ask questions, understand their feelings, care about others, appreciate friendship, and learn from their experiences.
 My books are available in English, and I also have a collection of my stories in Spanish.
And now, I would love to share these stories with you one by one.
 Every week, I will introduce you to one of these books in more detail—the characters, the values and life lessons behind the story, and some of the ideas that inspired me to write it.
And there will be freebies along the way, too! 
I hope you will join me on this journey through my stories and meet all these wonderful characters one by one.
Thank you for being part of my journey as a children's book author. 
 Which character would you like to meet first?
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Lisbon: A City of Hills, History, and MagicAfter leaving Paris, I boarded my flight to Lisbon and arrived at Hotel Nacional around noon. Fortunately, my room was on the sixth floor, and the hotel had an elevator. After climbing so many stairs during my trip, I was relieved that I didn't have to carry my heavy backpack up another flight of stairs.
One disappointment was discovering that I had lost my cute little monkey that I always carried attached to my backpack. I believe it happened because I had to check my backpack as luggage on the flight. I never found it, and although it was only a small souvenir, I was sad to lose it. Still, the hotel room was clean and comfortable, and that was what mattered most.
After settling in, I immediately got ready to explore the city.
One thing I noticed right away was that Lisbon is built on many hills. Its charming streets are covered with beautiful stone pavements, but they can be challenging to walk on, especially when your sneakers are already worn out. Mine were reaching the end of their life, but that worked out well because I had brought a brand-new pair with me. I decided I would throw the old ones away before continuing my journey, making my luggage a little lighter.
Unlike London and Paris, I decided not to use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus in Lisbon. Instead, I explored mostly on foot and occasionally by taxi.
My first afternoon began with a walk through Avenida da Liberdade, where I came across a lively street fair. From there, I continued to Santa Maria Maior, Restauradores Square, Rossio Square, Rua Augusta, and finally Praça do Comércio, where I enjoyed my first view of the Tagus River. The waterfront was beautiful, peaceful, and picturesque.
Later, I boarded one of Lisbon's tourist trains, which took me through parts of the city, including Chiado and the beautiful Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, where I admired spectacular views over Lisbon's colorful rooftops.
That evening I enjoyed dinner in a traditional restaurant near Santo António. The Portuguese food was delicious, and it was the perfect ending to my first day.
A Magical Day in SintraThe following morning, I visited Sintra, a place that deserves a special mention.
Instead of taking public transportation, I hired a local taxi driver. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made. During the drive, he showed me several attractions outside the city, including the beautiful Queluz National Palace. Since it was pouring rain, I was grateful not to be driving myself. We spent the journey talking about life in Lisbon, Portuguese culture, and his experiences living there. Those conversations often become some of my favorite travel memories.
Sintra itself is simply breathtaking. Nestled among green mountains, it is home to magnificent palaces and castles that seem to come straight from a fairy tale.
I had booked an early entrance to Pena Palace, and it exceeded all my expectations. The colorful palace, the magnificent architecture, and the beautiful gardens made every step worthwhile. I walked through elegant rooms, impressive halls, and the splendid dining room, imagining what life must have been like there centuries ago.
As if by magic, the heavy rain stopped just as I began exploring the palace grounds.
After visiting Pena Palace, I learned how to use Sintra's local buses and made my way to my next destination: Quinta da Regaleira.
Before entering, I enjoyed wandering through the charming streets of Sintra. Then I arrived at Quinta da Regaleira, another truly magical place. Its gardens, mysterious towers, underground tunnels, caves, and hidden passages create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else I have ever visited. Every path seemed to reveal another surprise.
After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, I took the train back to Lisbon. I returned to my hotel tired but incredibly happy after such an unforgettable day.
Discovering Belém and AlfamaOn my final full day in Lisbon, I took a taxi to Belém.
I visited the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, admired the historic Belém Tower, and stopped at the famous Pastéis de Belém, where I enjoyed one of Portugal's delicious traditional custard tarts.
I also visited the impressive Monument to the Discoveries, a reminder of Portugal's remarkable Age of Exploration.
Later, I explored Lisbon Cathedral, wandered through the charming streets of Alfama, and climbed to Miradouro de São Vicente, where I enjoyed yet another spectacular panoramic view of the city.
That evening, I had dinner near my hotel, once again enjoying traditional Portuguese cuisine.
By now, my faithful sneakers had completely fallen apart. They had carried me through London, Paris, and Lisbon, but their journey had come to an end. I finally threw them away and switched to my new pair.
Back at the hotel, I packed my suitcase and prepared for my next adventure.
The following morning, I headed to the airport.
My next destination would be Madrid, my first stop in Spain.
As my plane lifted off, I quietly said goodbye to this incredible city. Lisbon had captured my heart with its history, colorful streets, breathtaking viewpoints, welcoming people, and magical atmosphere.
So far, my first solo journey through Europe was becoming an unforgettable adventure—one that was giving me memories and confidence that would stay with me for the rest of my life.

​The Magic We Carry Within Ourselves"We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already."
-- J.K. Rowling

Sometimes we believe that change requires something extraordinary, a miracle, or someone else to come and save the day. We look outside ourselves, waiting for the right person, the right moment, or a magical solution to transform our lives.
But the greatest power we have is already within us.
We do not need magic to change our world. We need our willpower, our motivation, our love, our energy, our compassion, and our conviction. These are the forces that allow us to overcome challenges, pursue our dreams, and create meaningful change.
Every transformation begins with ourselves. When we work to become better people, kinder human beings, and more responsible members of society, we create a ripple effect that reaches others. A single act of kindness, a courageous decision, or a positive change in our own lives can inspire change beyond what we imagine.
Sometimes we forget the incredible power of our own minds, our determination, and our ability to learn, grow, and adapt. We underestimate ourselves because we are searching for answers outside instead of discovering the strength that already exists inside.
There is no one better than you to begin changing your world.
The world does not change only from the outside. True transformation begins from within. It starts in our thoughts, our choices, our actions, and the way we treat others.
When we change ourselves for the better, we become part of the change we hope to see in the world.
The greatest magic is the power we already carry inside.

Fascinating Facts About Writers: The Unique Minds Behind Great StoriesEvery writer has a story beyond the stories they create. Their habits, passions, interests, and ways of seeing the world often reveal the incredible imagination behind their words.
Throughout history, writers have developed unique creative processes. Some created entire worlds, others observed nature closely, and many found inspiration in unexpected places.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Creating Worlds Through LanguageBefore writing about Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fascination with languages led him to create his own fictional languages. His deep understanding of words and their origins helped him build one of the most detailed fantasy worlds in literature.
Mark Twain: A Writer Surrounded by CuriosityMark Twain was known for his humor, observations, and love of storytelling. He also had a great affection for cats and often kept them as companions while writing. His curiosity about everyday life helped him create memorable characters and stories.
Charles Dickens: The Importance of Routine and ImaginationCharles Dickens understood the importance of a creative environment. His writing routines, careful organization, and attention to detail helped him produce some of the most influential novels in literature.
Beatrix Potter: A Storyteller Who Loved Science and NatureMany people know Beatrix Potter as the creator of Peter Rabbit, but she was also a talented naturalist and scientific illustrator. Her love for plants, animals, and the natural world deeply influenced her stories and illustrations.
Emily Dickinson: A Quiet Life Full of Powerful WordsEmily Dickinson lived a relatively private life, but her imagination was extraordinary. She wrote hundreds of poems that explored nature, emotions, life, and human experiences. Although few poems were published during her lifetime, her work later became celebrated around the world.
Virginia Woolf: Finding New Ways to CreateVirginia Woolf challenged traditional ideas about writing and explored new ways of expressing thoughts and emotions. Her innovative style changed modern literature and inspired generations of writers.
What Can We Learn From These Writers?These writers remind us that creativity looks different for everyone. Some people create through imagination, some through observation, some through discipline, and others through curiosity.
A writer’s greatest tool is not only a pen or a keyboard—it is the ability to notice the world, ask questions, and transform ideas into stories.
At EugarelliBooks, we celebrate the magic of books, the power of imagination, and the writers who inspire generations of readers.

A moral compass is the inner guide that helps us recognize right from wrong. It is not based on popularity, money, ideology, or personal benefit, but on values such as honesty, justice, empathy, and integrity. Today, many people seem to be struggling between what is right and what is convenient.
Looking around today, I sometimes wonder whether many people have silenced that inner compass.
It seems that more and more people are willing to set aside their values in exchange for superficial rewards: fame, money, power, instant recognition, or influence. Success is often admired without asking how it was achieved. Wealth earned through dishonest or unethical means is sometimes celebrated rather than questioned. Lies spread quickly, manipulation becomes a strategy, and shortcuts are praised as signs of intelligence.
There was a time when society was more likely to condemn these behaviors. Today, in many cases, they are rewarded.
When dishonesty brings fame, when corruption brings power, and when unethical behavior opens doors instead of closing them, people begin to imitate what they see. The message becomes clear: if success is rewarded regardless of integrity, many will be tempted to silence their moral compass.
This problem is not limited to individuals. Institutions can also contribute to it. When organizations, businesses, or financial systems knowingly ignore unethical behavior because it is profitable, they reinforce the idea that success matters more than integrity. Over time, this attitude spreads from the highest levels of society into everyday life.
I once asked a friend why she intended to vote for a political candidate whom she believed was corrupt.
She answered, "I know she is corrupt, but I'll hold my nose and vote for her anyway. She's the lesser evil."
That response stayed with me.
Whether or not someone agrees with her political choice is not my point. What concerned me was her willingness to excuse behavior that she herself recognized as wrong. Once we become comfortable justifying what we know is unethical, our moral compass begins to lose its direction.
So how do we help society recover?
The first step is to recognize that there is a problem. We cannot solve what we refuse to acknowledge. If dishonesty, abuse, corruption, and deception are becoming normalized, we must be willing to speak about them openly.
The second step is more difficult: we must look inward and allow our values—not convenience—to guide our decisions.
But we must also understand what a moral compass truly is.
A moral compass is not about judging people because of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, wealth, gender, or political identity.
It is not defending one injustice while condemning another.
It is not speaking about freedom while spreading insults, hatred, or deliberate falsehoods.
It is not protecting only the causes that fit our personal preferences while ignoring the suffering of others.
A true moral compass is not selective.
It opposes corruption regardless of who commits it.
It rejects lies even when they benefit our own side.
It stands against abuse no matter who the victim is.
It values truth over convenience, justice over tribal loyalty, and human dignity over personal advantage.
A society cannot remain healthy if its principles depend on who is involved. Integrity that applies only to our friends, our political party, our religion, or our own group is not integrity at all.
The health of a society depends not on how loudly we defend our beliefs, but on how consistently we live by them.
Perhaps rebuilding our society does not begin with changing governments, institutions, or laws.
Perhaps it begins with each of us asking a simple question:
Is my moral compass guiding my decisions—or have I allowed convenience, fear, loyalty, or personal interest to replace it?
Only when enough people choose integrity over convenience can a society begin to recover its moral direction.

​A society does not lose its moral direction overnight. It happens gradually, through the small decisions we make every day: when we excuse dishonesty because it benefits us, when we ignore injustice because it affects others, or when we value success more than the principles behind it.
Restoring our moral compass begins with personal responsibility. It requires looking within ourselves and asking whether our choices are guided by truth, compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity.
A true moral compass is not selective. It does not change depending on who is involved, what group someone belongs to, or whether we agree with them. It asks us to apply the same standards to ourselves and to others.
The future of our society depends not only on the leaders we choose or the institutions we create, but also on the values we practice in our own lives.
The question we must each ask ourselves is:
Am I following my moral compass, even when doing so is difficult?