Herbert, the Christmas Worm

About the Book

"Herbert, The Christmas Worm” came about after my sister had her children, Matthew and Mykelle.   One Christmas Eve, her husband Michael presented my sister and the children with this especial gift. Thus, The Christmas Worm was born and the story became a Christmas Eve tradition in their household for all of us to enjoy when we came together at our traditional “Noche Buena” (Christmas Eve) dinner.   My sister has since pass, and so has our mother—who enjoyed the story as much. Now Matthew and Mykelle have families of their own; Peyton and Isabella and D’Angelo and Dominique. I hope this book brings many families together on such a magical time of the year.

About the Author

Maytia was born in Havana, Cuba. The author of several novels arrived in Miami, Florida, on April 18, 1962 one year and one day, after the Invasion of Bay of Pigs. That day, her mother waved good-bye to Maytia, (age 14) and her younger sister, Hilda Maria (age 7) at the Rancho Boyeros Airport in Havana, Cuba. Their father had not been strong enough for the journey. Heartfelt sorrow filled her mother’s heart as she was strong enough to take the picture of her daughters getting in the airplane that would taken them from their home to another city and country; Miami, Florida, USA. However, this good-bye was better than to have their daughters’ subjected to the communist regime of the island. The sisters lived in the Florida City camp for months, under the auspice of Organization Pedro Pan Group, Inc. Several months later, Maytia and Cuqui—her sister’s nickname—were able to reunite with their parents in Miami, continuing there-off to New York City, where they took residence. Maytia graduated from Humboldt Junior High School 115. She then continued to George Washington High School in Manhattan, in the part of town known as Washington Heights. After school, she ventured into dancing and music. Although Ms. Hernandez holds several licenses and titles—one being the Chair Person for Talent Artistic Juvenile, a non-profit organization, run by Ms. Onix Morera—and is now translating her novels to Spanish, Maytia considers her son, Luis Alejandro her proudest achievement. Ms. Hernandez is presently residing in Miami, Florida, where most of her family is living.