Weird things are happening. Coincidences of a rather strange kind between me, my writing, specifically, Spanish Soap Operas, and 30 Rock, the TV show. What’s going on, can someone tell me?

 My title refers to telenovelas; last night’s episode of 30 Rock deals with Jack’s Puerto Rican girlfriends’ grandmother’s obsession with a certain telenovela and her hatred of one of the characters in it, Generalissimo – who looks just like Jack.  OK, that’s fine.  Jack has to buy Telemundo, the TV station, in order to change the storyline, to gain the favor of Abuelita — a small, powerful matriarch, just like my Abuela, who cures my heroine with her knowledge of Santeria.  Jack learns that the requirements of telenovelas, which Anglos see as ridiculous, are different and more serious than for American soap operas. Ok. 

Then there’s Liz Lemon, who is attempting to seduce a pediatrician who lives in her building, by saying her dog has gone missing. They put up flyers, just as in my book, when Paige thinks her dogs have been dognapped!  And, in order to show she’s a generous supporter of charities, as are my female protagonists, she reveals a tee shirt with a Keith Haring design –  the “famous celebrity street artist” Kent Martin in my book.

And Tracy Jordan – he’s in trouble trying to keep up with the hard-partying ex-Wall Street, yuppies, just like the bad guy in my story, Scott Hubbard. 

 So, what’s up with all this crazy coincidence?  Great minds thinking alike, but only the TV producers get fame and money?  Or, am I ahead of the curve, on the curve, or behind the curve in my consideration of intercultural relations in this country – just too damn slow to get my own work out there?  Or, something more sinister:  the editors and agents that I’ve sent queries and synopses to have recognized something of value, and passed on the idea to someone else? 

 Or, gasp, is there a spy in my writers groups, secretly feeding my great ideas to someone somewhere that they know in “the business”, making big bucks for themselves and the show?  On the other hand, I never really thought I was that funny…

Maybe, most likely, if it’s anything, it’s a kind of psychological kick in the pants that says, “Get going, girl. You got something to say, say it now before it gets said by someone else.”