While talking to a friend, one day the idea occurred to me: Why not create a Bolivian sitcom? South America is great at creating telenovelas and news programs, but Latinos in general have generally steered away from comedy. With few exceptions, the entire continent is devoid of sitcoms.

It was a crazy idea, but in the months that followed, I couldn't quite let go of it. I wrote the pilot script, found a producer, hired a director of photography, held three-day casting sessions that resulted in an all-star cast.

Last week, we finished shooting. Editing begins this week. Hopefully, the final product will be finished in January. Here are a few pics from last week's shoot.

A couple of months back, a Bolivian screenwriter friend asked me to audition for a role in his upcoming feature film. The result: a scene playing a wealthy American housewife in "Norte Estrecho."

It was a fun experience, a nice break from the solitary work of writing books. I think my favorite part of the day was my physical transformation. This is what I look like in real life.

It took three makeup artists an hour to make me over.

I shared my scene with noted Mexican film actress Carmen Salinas.

Coming next year to a Bolivian theater near you.

I've been living in Bolivia for a total of five years now, and the place never stops astounding me. On this page, I've included some images of good luck charms that are burned the first Friday of every month in a traditional ceremony (called a koa), a tribute to Pachamama, the Andean Mother Earth goddess.

Each small charm contains different images — you chose the one with the picture of the thing you most desire. There are houses and computers and voyages. My personal favorite? The one that contains the bottles of alcohol. No kidding.

So if life isn't giving you what you want, maybe you need to do like the Bolivians: redirect your prayers to Pachamama.

Awww, here´s the love charm. I suppose it´s cheaper than getting your potential mate liquored up.

This is for those hoping for upcoming travel. I am told that taking the llama along is optional.

This is for those hoping for a good harvest this fall. Why the explicit pic of the farmer´s butt is beyond me. Pachamama moves in mysterious ways.

Need a new 18-wheeler? This is the charm for you!

I´m told that Pachamama doesn´t discriminate when it comes to Mac users.

My personal favorite! This is for those who believe that witchcraft should be used wisely and fairly in the pursuit of greater and everreaching quantities of alcohol.

It´s a butterfly. A very pretty Bolivian butterfly.