Meet Maria Morales-Prieto | Artists, Realtor, Yoga Instructor, Tour Guide and Murder Mystery Novelist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Morales-Prieto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, how do you think about risk?
I am a natural born risk taker. Life is short so I say “Yes” to everything. Conformity bores me so I always yearn for more and more challenges.

From moving to New York City at the age of 24 without a job to leaving it 30 years later as a well known and sought after business leader, whenever I feel my life becoming stale, I shake it up with new adventures.

When I was a stay at home mother living in downtown Manhattan, I found I had too much time on my hands so I decided to give script writing a try. I wrote a pilot for a sitcom I created called “Fountain’s Lounge”. Andy Garcia’s production company helped me peddle it throughout Hollywood, garnering me an offer by Fox Network for a commissioned pilot about a coming-of-age Latin girl and the culture clash with her old world parents. As much as Fox loved it, being I had zero sitcom writing experience, they weren’t able to produce it.

While playing racquetball, I was offered the opportunity to produce a documentary for PBS called “The Cuban Americans.” I jumped on it and had a great adventure working with a super talented crew and the Cuban stars and business leaders we interviewed.

When I was introduced to “Latin Long Island Magazine,” I contacted the publisher to offer my writing services and instead was given the position of editor. I grew the magazine seven times its size and put it on the business map as an important publication.

A few years later when I ran into the president of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at a business event, I was quickly hired to serve as its executive director. The chamber flourished like never before and the membership blew up, encompassing major corporations wanting to reach the Latin community.

By popular demand, I next opened my own public relations firm in NYC, specializing in marketing to Latinos. I also ran major multiday conventions for the city of NY and hosted my company’s own award ceremonies attended by dignitaries who brought Proclamation to bestow upon the honorees.

When my mother showed signs of Dementia, I gave up everything I had built in New York and came running back home to care for her. I slowly transitioned out of doing public relations in NY and studied to get my real estate license in Miami, a career that had always intrigued me. Soon I was a multi award winning realtor, earning six figure commissions.

Finding I had time on my hands and having attended Art Basel every year, I was inspired to try breaking into the art world. I bought myself acrylic paints, an easel and a few canvasses and started to paint.

From the moment I put my first paintings up on social media, people started inquiring how to purchase them. I slowly found my artistic voice when my hand took over, drawing a multitude of tiny characters who all wrap around each other. I have dubbed these incredibly colorful and entertaining pieces my “Puzzle Paintings.” I have since exhibited in museums and in art shows and have now sold almost every painting I created.

Finally going back to the gym after Covid restrictions were entirely lifted, I realized there was a shortage of yoga classes. I contacted the person in charge of hiring teachers and threw my hat in the ring. I now get paid ten times as much as I used to pay the gym and am in my best shape of my life.

With the real estate market slowing down, I needed another challenge so looked into becoming a tour guide. This way, I get paid to walk while having fun with tourists, and it only takes a couple of hours out of your day. I now freelance for several tour companies and run five tours of my own. I have such a great time with my guests that I always receive five star reviews.

And as if doing real estate, teaching yoga, painting artworks and hosting tours around Miami aren’t enough, I wrote a murder mystery thriller last year that’s now in the hands of a huge, reputable publisher. I call it “my million dollar lottery ticket.”

People call me a Renaissance Woman. I call myself a major risk taker who thrives being challenged.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have several writers in my family so it was only natural that I would gravitate towards becoming a wordsmith.

As a stay at home mom of two boys, I tried my hand at writing a sitcom. Why start small? I created one about a Cuban-American brother and sister who have several friends both Latin and American. It was meant to introduce affluent Latinos to the American audience while teaching them funny Spanglish and Spanish sayings that make no sense.

My sitcom caught the eye of a producer working with Fox Network. I met with them and was soon commissioned to write a pilot script for a show they had in mind about a coming-of-age girl and her old world, strict Hispanic parents. As much as they loved the pilot, they were taken aback when they realized I was a stay at home mother and not a seasoned sitcom writer.

Next I started my own newsletter for the Cuban exile community, which catapulted me into serving as editor for a much larger publication dedicated to Long Island’s Hispanics and companies wanting to do business with them. The magazine grew seven times its size but due to unfortunate circumstances, the publisher had to leave New York so the magazine was terminated over night.

I went on to write pieces for all types of publications as a freelancer while serving as the executive director of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Then by popular demand, I opened my own public relations firm in New York City and wrote many pieces about my clients that were published in several magazines and newspapers.

Many years later after visiting my mother in Miami, I realized she needed my help so I left everything I created in New York and came back home to care for her. My artistic nature was to be put on hold but not for long.

Art Basel is an international art show that only exhibits in Basel, Switzerland, where it started, Hong Kong and Miami Beach. My friend and I would attend it every year, and when we would walk through the pop and modern art sections, I would jokingly ask her if she wanted me to create a similar piece for her home.

After four years of attending the world renowned art show and joking around about being able to paint as well as those exhibiting, a little voice told me to stop talking and start doing. So, I bought a set of paints, brushes, canvasses and an easel and got to work.

Next thing I know, I’m selling every painting and being invited to exhibit in museums and art shows. People ask me about what inspires me and I say I take no credit for the paintings. My muse does it all. I start with one idea and the next thing I know, my pencil has a mind of its own, drawing tiny characters all wrapped around each other.

Every time I finish drawing my paintings, I’m stunned at how much work I just created for my self. A big vase with flowers would be so much easier but my muse has a sense of humor and has dedicated my talent to art pieces painted by tiny brushes and innumerable colors and hues.

Many say my paintings look like Brito, who paints colorful cartoon characters, but mine differ in that his are only on character painted in my different patterns and colors. My art is similarly colorful but is much more complicated and imaginative. There are so many characters in one painting that it’s like a hidden drawings puzzle. Owners of my paintings tell me they keep finding new characters every time they look at it hanging in their house.

After four years of churning out paintings and selling them as fast as I finish them, my muse decided it was time to write a book. A passion and a goal I’ve been mulling over for many years.

I wanted to write the great American novel or some existential book on the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness but oh no. My muse has decided on a murder mystery thriller. Granted, it is my favorite genre of movies, but it’s not what I was hoping to write.

Nonetheless, the story poured out of my imagination faster than I could type. It’s the perfect murder set in sultry, seductive, multicultural South Beach. It’s a tale of two sisters who get into trouble by their penchant for being attracted to “bad boys,” The thriller will take one on an emotional roller coaster on steroids. It’s a Pandora’s Box of mixed emotions and heart pounding moments. And, it’s in the hands of a huge, well known publisher! It’s crazy to think that the first publisher I approach offers me a deal but I feel confident that anyone who loves murder mystery thrillers will love “Shadow of a Doubt.”

Now back to painting.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, as a tour guide of Miami, I know a lot of where to go and what to do. There are eight neighborhoods in Miami that are “Must Visit” if even just to drive through and see the natural beauty and gorgeous, historic communities along the coastline.

South Beach has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world with over 800 landmarked. Interestingly enough, Mumbai, India comes in second. Ocean Drive is definitely at the top of the list of places to walk around. Fabulous restaurants, fun shops and outstanding bars line the strip although it’s the people that make the street so interesting. The “People Watching” will not let you down. You will see the most interesting and colorful characters ever. A 24 karat golden Margarita in the Onyx Bar at Villa Casa Casuarina, a/k/a Versace’s mansion is special. The lobby of the hotel and Gianni’s in the Villa restaurant are absolutely stunning to visit.

From the beach, people should cross the Venetian Bridges to go to Wynwood, the most graffiti tagged neighborhood in the world. The artwork on the sides of the former warehouses turned art studios are thought provoking to say the least. Wynwood Walls is very special and the giant renderings of three boys overlooking it, painted in tiny swirls and dots, is mind blowing. Drive down NW 2nd Avenue from 20th Street to 29th Street up and back to make sure you see both sides of the buildings.

Downtown is just on the other side of the Dolphin Expressway. Once a depressed part of Miami with only homeless in the area after 5pm and on the weekends, now it rivals Manhattan. Its amazing, artistic skyscrapers leave one in awe. It’s as if there was an architects competition over who can design the most incredibly unique and eye pleasing structure,

The Port of Miami is the largest port in the world and the best place to see it is walking through the Dogs and Cats Walkway in Maurice Ferrer Park up to Biscayne Bay. The colorful oversized statues of dogs and cats painted by different artists is breathtaking and at the end there’s a magical giant statue the overlooks the famous port. The Frost Science Museum with its shark tank and planetarium and the Perez Art Museum with Verde restaurant on the bay is next to this park so if you have time, visit the museums. They’re both outstanding.

Also in the same area is Bayside Market with it’s 17 story Sky View Ferris Wheel and live bands performing daily. This is the best place to hop on a multitude of different types of boating adventures. I suggest the Fiesta Sunset cruise. No better way to see Miami than from the water and especially as the sun goes down, and later returning when the city lights sparkle against the Biscayne Bay. The open bar and great music make the night one of the best you’ll ever have in your life.

Next to Downtown over the Miami River Bridge is Brickell where the tallest building in Florida, The Panorama, overlooks the beautiful Biscayne Bay and South Beach in the distance. The Epic, The Icon, The One Thousand Museum, The Austin Martin, The Paramount, The Echo, The Miami Tower are all extremely special works of architecture.

Heading south on Brickell Avenue you will run into the Rickenbacker Causeway, which takes you over the spectacular William M. Powell Bridge to Key Biscayne, another beautiful island neighborhood in Miami. The views of Brickell and Downtown from the parking lot of the Rusty Pelican restaurant are breathtaking. The restaurant itself is awesome and a major main staple among Miamians.

Back over the bridge, you can head even further south to the quaint, hippy seaside town of Coconut Grove. Eat seaside at iconic Monty’s where it’s still mostly locals, and drive by Miami City Hall, a beautiful Art Deco building on the water that served as the Pan American Airlines seaplane terminal from 1934 to 1954. On the way out of the parking lot, in front of you will be four sets of sister buildings. The “twisted sisters” are called The Grove at Grand Bay. They are magnificent all glass condominiums that seem to be twisted in a circles. The village part of town is around the corner on Main Highway and Commodore Plaza where Green Street restaurant has been around since the 1970s!

From Coconut Grove, it’s a quick drive to Coral Gables over Dixie Highway, which is the end of I-95 that stretches all the way to the state of Maine. Coral Gables is Miami’s most sought after neighborhood to live. The lush foliage and tree arched streets make this community extremely pleasurable and unique. Each house has a different lot size and structure. There’s no cookie cutter community here. Every home is beautiful and well maintained. It’s as if there’s a contest over who has the most beautiful landscaping. Downtown Coral Gables is very quaint and fun to visit and shop. Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue offer an abundance of choices of cuisines. It’s almost as if every country in the world has a restaurant on one of these two streets.

And by far the most fun place in Miami to visit is Little Havana. This vibrant, colorful, friendly and musical neighborhood takes you to the Caribbean as you’re engulfed in Cuban cuisine and culture. Take a tour to be sure you don’t walk by all of the important stories such as how the exile community turned Calle Ocho into their home away from home.

The live Latin music will make your hips sway as you walk down the street. Domino Park is the most iconic place on the street. A private club where Cubans gather to play dominoes or chess welcome visitors to watch as they work to outsmart their competitors. The Mojitos are the specialty of every restaurant and the Cuban sandwich is an absolute MUST at El Pub. Cigar rollers and the sugar cane juice fruit stand at Los Pinarenos are fun to visit, as is monument park with its Eternal Flame monument to the Bay of Pigs 2506 Brigade and the men who died for their country trying to save it from communism.

There’s no doubt the Magic City lives up to its nickname.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My gumption for life and lack of fear for new challenges definitely comes from my parents.

Their own risk taking, such as moving here from Cuba during a revolution with five small children and four cousins to boot,, and starting their business from scratch in a new country takes major self confidence and courage. They brought us all up with expectations that we will be the best we can be not only within the family unit but as a productive member of society as a whole. Because we are Cuban, we MUST succeed and make our people proud. I grew up believing in the adage, “Nothing is worth doing unless it’s worth doing well.”

Website: www.MariaPrieto.Keyes.com

Instagram: mariamoralesprieto

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Image Credits
Jonathan Brooks took photo of me sitting in front of my painting at my exhibition at The Warner House Museum.