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This is the second interview for Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships virtual Book Tour organized by Condor Book Tours. Las week, Las Comadres interviewed author Lorraine López about her story in this wonderful anthology. To read the interview visit http://www.labloga.blogspot.com/2012/12/guest-comadres-golden-age-of-bookstores.html
Today, Las Comadres interview author Reyna Grande.
Reyna Grande on Count on Me
LAS COMADRES: Have you had a chance to read any of the stories?
REYNA: I have. I think I have read most of the stories and I’m really impressed with them and I think that my favorite is Carolina DeRobertis’ piece- because it was very profound and I just love her writing .As I was reading it, a lot times I felt like getting up to grab a highlighter so I could highlight some of those sentences because they were just absolutely beautiful. The last essay which I just read last night was Luis Alberto Urrea’s piece. And again, they’re just really incredible and very touching and I love the topic – writing about a Comadre. The comadres that I am reading about are just really amazing people.
LAS COMADRES: Is there a character in the book you most identify with?
REYNA: I think I just really enjoy reading these stories because every writer who has written a story for the anthology, they all come from… it’s just interesting to me to see how the writing prompt which was to write about a comadre, how everybody just made that their own, you know? And how diverse each story is… and that is what I really like about this and also I love learning about who the people in their lives are because some of these writers and some of them I have met in person and some of them I haven’t met in person but I’ve read their work and these essays are so personal. But, it really gives me a chance to get to know them through these pieces they turned in for the anthology. For me that’s been one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading the anthology so much because it really gives me a chance to get to know these authors whose works I admire; to get to know them in a more personal level.
LAS COMADRES: Your story is about a mentor and about friend, about somebody that… really – truly is credited with where you are and how you moved forward as a student. What do you hope readers get out of your personal story?
REYNA: Well there’s two things, the first thing is that what I would like them to see is that when you are going through really difficult times its okay to ask for help. I think that sometimes we fail to do that; sometimes we are dealing with problems on our own and we’re afraid to seek help. And for me- that was the best thing I could ever do was to go look for Diana and to share with her what I was going through. Otherwise she wouldn’t have known about it and wouldn’t have been able to offer that help to me. The other thing that I would like my readers to learn from my story is how teachers and especially right now – with the situation that education is in – with so many teachers that are being criticized and being laid off and all these horrible things that are happening to teachers right now I would like people to see what a big difference a teacher makes in the life of a student. There’re so many people like Diana who go above and beyond what a teacher is. They don’t just limit their teaching to the classroom. (But) They also care about their students enough that they worry about their students’ personal lives and what’s going on outside the classroom with them. For me – this is my love letter to Diana and all teachers.
LAS COMADRES: So Diana, does she know about it?
REYNA: Yeah, she knows about it. I sent her a copy just before I submitted it. I wanted her to read it, (just) out of respect, because I wanted (her) to see what I had written about her, and I wanted her to tell me if she was okay with that. Just to get her approval. Yeah, she… I think the first time I ever thanked Diana for what she did for me was in 1999 when I graduated from UC Santa Cruz and the university actually flew her up there so that she could be at my graduation. So, Diana knows and I always make sure to tell Diana how grateful I am for everything she’s done for me. She was very happy when I told her about the anthology and when I told her I was writing about her.
LAS COMADRES: So, you’ve seen the theme of the book and the topic of everybody choosing to write about a comadre. Do you think there’s a distinction between saying you have a friend or saying you have a comadre?
REYNA: In a way – yes, because a comadre, (I think) its a little bit more than a friend. You know, I think the meaning of a comadre definitely goes beyond just a regular friendship. And, for me – that’s why I consider Diana my comadre, because she’s not just a friend that goes in and out of my life. She’s someone that’s really important and whom I’ve known for a long time and who knows everything about me and who is always there for me. And, she accepts me for who I am, and she has always been very encouraging, always pushing me to become a better person. So to me – that’s what a comadre is – and it’s someone you know and you want to have a relationship with for the rest of your life.
LAS COMADRES: So why do you think – give me three (if you can narrow it down to three) main reasons why a woman needs a comadre in her life.
REYNA: Well, I think a woman needs a comadre because… there’s always going to be moments in your life that you cannot face on your own and they can be great moments that you want to share with someone and they could be very difficult moments that you need someone to hold your hand, to tell you that things are going to be okay. And sometimes your family – you might not have that kind of relationship with the family member, and you might find it in a friend that might give you that support and who can be there for you when you need her.
LAS COMADRES: Now I'm going to shift over to questions about you. Where do you get your inspiration from – not just from writing – but just life in general? Are there sources that you get your inspiration from?
REYNA: I’ve always drawn my inspiration from my childhood experiences because I had a pretty difficult childhood and a lot of the things that happened were just very traumatic and they left a lot of scars. And what I've always done –(like) with my writing but also with anything, anything that I try to do; any goals that I have. I always look at my childhood and all the hardships that I went thru and the sacrifices that had to be made. I always tell myself that I have to honor those sacrifices and I have to honor all that pain and hardship and heartbreaks that I went through. The way to do that is by making good choices and by working hard to make my dreams a reality. (So), you know things sometimes get hard but I always tell myself that I have gone through worse. If I made it through that, I can make it thru anything.
LAS COMADRES: So you use your experiences in your childhood.
REYNA: Yeah, I think I definitely learned a lot when I was a kid about sacrifices and working hard and not letting anything bring me down. I learned to find my inner strength. And that’s what I …when things get hard or I have challenges that I’m dealing with, I always look at my childhood and try to find that strength that I know is there within me.
LAS COMADRES: Are there specific literary works that you might draw your inspiration from?
REYNA: I have a lot of favorite books, actually and sometimes when I have writers block and I can’t write, I go to those books and I read through them and I find my favorite sections and I get inspired again to write. Some of those books are The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, which is one of my favorites; The Prophet, by Kaliel Gibron; and I like The Fountainhead by Ann Rand; and I like Margaret Atwood’s works also. So that’s what I do –I just look thru my bookcase and pick out a book and I read – and then pretty soon I feel like writing again.
LAS COMADRES: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
REYNA: My greatest achievement is getting my MFA, because I come from a family that didn’t have a lot of opportunities when it came to education. I know - my grandmothers …probably only went to first or second grade and my own father only went up to the third grade. My mother only studied up to the sixth grade. So, you know going from that kind of background to having an MFA and being the first in my family to graduate from college – to me, that’s the greatest thing because I feel that because I have been able to accomplish that – now my own children are going to go to college and my nieces and nephews are going to go to college because I’ve done it already. I can push them to do it; I can give them advice; I can guide them through their college experience.
LAS COMADRES: Yes, you’ve definitely changed the future for your family, for the next generation…sometimes I think we take that for granted.
REYNA: Yeah, I think so too. But I always tell people –especially, you know I do a lot of speaking at high schools – I always tell those kids that it only takes one person to change the course of a family. And so I encourage them to be that one person that going to make a difference.
LAS COMADRES: Do you get a chance to spend much with family? …with family from Mexico?
REYNA: Oh, from my family from Mexico… I don’t get to see them a whole lot. I try to go to Mexico as often as I can – which is not as often as I would like. I would say maybe like every three to four years I’ll go to Mexico to visit my family. And I have some uncles and aunts and cousins down there and I like to go there because it keeps me humble. You know, I think sometimes I lose sight of things and sometime I forget that there are people that have less than I have and that I shouldn’t complain or that I shouldn’t want more than what I have. So when I go down there, it makes me appreciate what I do have and it snaps me back into reality. Like for example, a few years ago when I had my daughter we were living in a two-bedroom house and one bedroom was for me and my husband and the second bedroom was for my son and when we had my daughter she was sharing our bedroom. You know we had her crib in our bedroom. And then my husband and I decided to start looking for a bigger house. Now that we had two kids we said “well, lets look for a three bedroom house” and I went to Mexico around that time that we were looking for houses. I went to Mexico to see my family and my uncle said ‘oh, what’s new in your life” and I just started telling him that we were house hunting and we were looking into a bigger house because my daughter, who was nine months old, needed to have her own bedroom. And then, I just caught myself and I looked around and I realized who I was talking to; and I was talking to my uncle who lived in a one room shack with his seven children and his wife and I’m telling him that we need a bigger house because my nine-month old needs her own bedroom. Do you know what I’m saying?
LAS COMADRES: Yeah, yeah – it snaps you back to reality.
REYNA: I wanted to slap myself. It’s so inconsiderate and I wasn’t doing it to brag or to be inconsiderate. I just lost sight of where I was or whom I was talking to…. Then I realized that over here in the US, a lot of times we want a bigger house and we want a bigger car and we want more of this and more of that and a lot of times we’re not happy with what we have. When I go to Mexico – I remember that. I remember that! And that’s why I try to go -so that I don’t forget where I come from.
LAS COMADRES: Do you have a favorite motto or quote – something that stays with you every day? That guides you?
REYNA: Well, there’s one that kind of ties in to what I was just talking about, and it goes
“The less I want, the less I need”
LAS COMADRES: Do you know who said it?
REYNA: I don’t know who said it…but it just stayed with me. You know I try to say that to myself everyday. ‘The less I want, the less I need’ because sometimes I do start wanting things that I really don’t need. So, I say that to myself. And then, there is a quote by Ernest Hemmingway that I really love about writing. “There’s not much to writing, you just sit down at the typewriter and bleed”. I love that quote because I feel like a lot of times people don’t understand what – all the emotional exhaustion that comes when you write because you really are bleeding, you know. Especially like my writing – I write about pain and about loss and my writing is really depressing because it comes from this part of myself that has a lot of that pain that just needs to come out. A lot of times when I'm done writing for the day, I just feel so emotionally exhausted, and I do feel that I just bled all over the page.
Guest Columnist: Las Comadres Para Las Americas Interviews Lorraine López
Editor's Note: La Bloga receives this interview from Condor Book Tours, an entrepreneurial public relations firm specializing in virtual book tours and Latina Latino authors. Condor's currently representing Las Comadres Para Las Americas' book, Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships. Las Comadres Para Las Americas, a 501(c)(3) organization is an informal internet-based group that meets monthly in many US cities to build connections and community with other Latinas.
I'm happy to join Condor and Las Comadres' virtual book tour widening the readership for a book about nurturing.
--Michael Sedano
Las Comadres Interviews Count On Me Author Lorraine López
Las Comadres: How you were first introduced to Las Comadres?
Lorraine: Well – my book, The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters, came out about, I want to say 4 to 5 years ago I’m not sure. And at the time it was selected as a Las Comadres/Borders pick. That’s how I first became aware of Las Comadres. The same thing happened when my second novel came out – The Realm of Hungry Spirits – so I was interviewed on the air by Las Comadres. They publicized the book and it was just a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for me. Since then, I’ve learned about the organization and have been wholly impressed. I especially admire how after Borders® went under, the organization found a way to continue without that support.
Las Comadres: Do you have any favorites in Count on Me?
Lorraine: oh, I love Carolina de Roberti’s piece, which I read again this morning – very moving piece, just… very powerful. Also, Esmeralda Santiago’s piece I admire and Stephanie Elizondo-Greist, who is a contributor for one collection of ours, another anthology. I know her work and I’ve read her books and I loved her piece. I love the humor in it, the wit.
Las Comadres: Is there a character in the book that you most identify with?
Lorraine: That’s hard to say. I think there’re bits and pieces. I think because Carolina’s piece is so fresh in my mind – I would have to say that impetus to finish a book for someone. That resonates with me. I’ve never done that but I can see the feeling behind that, I can really empathize strongly with that; that desire, that motivation.
Las Comadres: Your story is the only story in the collection that addresses the bond, the Comadre connection between the mentor and the mentee. What do you hope readers get out of your expression?
Lorraine: I hope that they realize as the late Dr. Juan Bruce Novoa has said that this a great time to be a writer when we do have mentors, we do have people like Judith Ortiz Cofer, who are in a position to share their wisdom, share their resources, share pragmatic tips with this generation. This second generation and now even a third generation is emerging and so I hope that there is that recognition that yes, I need to avail myself of this resource of the wise women and men who have come before me and take advantage of this and to reach my potential through this help. There is nothing wrong or bad about it. It’s a great tradition, if fact. I hope that there’s that recognition that we are not alone. We are not alone as a Latina writer. You’re not alone. You have people who have found their way, established a path and you can rely on them. Whether it’s just by being in their physical presence- I was lucky enough to be in the physical presence of Judith Ortiz Cofer but you can also do this with books, by reading the works of pre-established writers who forged the way for us.
I hope that there is something that comes of this.
Las Comadres: Do you feel that there is a strong distinction and difference between saying that someone is a friend or saying someone is Comadre? And if so, how do you describe that distinction?
Lorraine: Comadre… The idea of Comadre, to me, suggests layers of mutual benefit; that symbiosis. Friendship is less layered. For me, friendship is… ‘yes, this is my friend. I enjoy this persons company’ but we are not beholden to one another in the way that comadrazgo does make one beholden to the other person. A friend might, for example- just a pragmatic example – a friend might send me an email. I am under no compunction to answer that for 24 hours. But, if my Comadre sends me an email, I need to answer it right away. If my Comadre calls, I always need to take that call. And it works the other way, too. We need to be…know that we can, as the book says, count on one another. There is that element of ‘yes, I depend on you and you depend on me’. We can be reliable to one another- we MUST be.
Las Comadres: What do you see as the reasons that a woman needs a Comadre in her life?
Lorraine: Wow! Well, first I would start with: Just for the purpose of having someone you trust and rely on. I think that is just the basic building block of human relationship that has depth and substance, knowing there is someone there you can trust and someone you can rely on.
Secondly – and I don’t want to say that men don’t need this as well but – I think relationships between men have been really firmly entrenched in professional systems and academic systems and we even have a name for it in the South, ‘The Good Ol’ Boys Club” and I think women have been locked out of that for a very long time. In fact, there is this big bru-ha-ha because the CEO of Yahoo! ® is now pregnant. The first pregnant woman to ever be a CEO of a major corporation and this is so exciting.Okay, this is 2012 but we’re talking it’s taken so long. So it’s evidence that we are not where we should be; we are not represented as we should be. So, I think, for women this kind of relationship is even more important. In my life it has been integral to my success and to my professional advancement, for sure. That is stated plainly in my essay. I think we need help and we need to help each other because we have been disenfranchised, and we have been marginalized so this is critical, ‘critical’ as such a relationship is.
And third, I would say… it’s just plain fun to have Judith in my life. She’s smart, she’s funny and that goes with the element of trust. You can’t relax and joke with someone you cannot trust.
She’s coming to visit in February to give a reading at Vanderbilt and that is getting me through the semester already, which hasn’t started. Just the idea that she will be here soon, and I can laugh and I can relax and I can be with someone that I trust and love and admire.
Those are three reasons. I’m sure I could continue but… It’s a source – almost like refueling. You meet this person who has become an integral part of your life and when you see her you feel invigorated, re-energized – so I guess that’s number four, (laugh).
Las Comadres: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Lorraine: Well, probably a negative thing. You know, I love my books. I always love my books and I love my writing. My ‘Homicide Survivors Picnic’ was a pen popular finalist and I got to go to D.C. That was a really wonderful day. I feel like that might be the zenith of my writing career and I'm glad to have had that and that’s great. It was also liberating, now I can feel ‘okay, I did that and now I can just write for me.’
So, that was pretty great but I think really, the best accomplishment, the thing I feel proudest about, apart from my children, I'm very proud of my children, is that when I was in a really bad situation, I didn’t do something terrible. I could have done something really, really terrible. I thought about doing something unspeakably terrible that would have changed me forever and I decided not to do it. I'm proud of that. I'm really, really proud at not doing the terrible thing.
Las Comadres: My last question is more like a fill in the blank… I am proud to be a Latina because: ______(fill in the blank).
Lorraine: Because this is the great time to be a Latina, and especially a great time to be a Latina writer. The world is just opening up for us in big and beautiful ways and I feel very lucky to be part of that.
About Lorraine LópezLorraine Lopez’ first book, Soy la Avon Lady, won the inaugural Miguel Marmól Prize. Her novel, Call Me Henri, was awarded the Paterson Prize, and her novel, The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters, was a 2008 Borders/Las Comadres Selection. Lorraine’s short story collection, Homicide Survivors Picnic, was reviewed in La Bloga and was a 2010 Finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Prize. She edited a collection of essays titled, An Angle of Vision. Her novel, The Realm of Hungry Spirits, was released in 2011. She has co-edited, with Blas Falconer, The Other Latin@. She teaches fiction writing at Vanderbilt University. Learn more about Lorraine at www.lorrainelopez.net
Arte Publico Announces Secret Discount
It’s a shame brick and mortar booksellers now fade into memory. In ten years, readers are going to recall warmly the golden age of books when most books came printed on paper people shopped for them off physical shelves and if the store didn't have a title you had to order off the internet anyhow. Long before implants, when readers schlepped around iPads.
Until my eyes give out, I'll be one of those tipos insisting on holding the books I read, although I admit to enjoying the swift enlargement of words with the pinch of a finger or a Command + keyboard shortcut, and the space-saving convenience of PDF review copies.
In his column last Friday, Manuel Ramos discerns the existence of a Golden Age for raza writing. Gente are producing increasing numbers of books and related media, there's a universe of literary ephemera like blogs and message board manifestoes. Spoken word art takes on a life of its own in cities across the continent. Writers expand the literary purview into personal essays, travel writing, mystery, speclit, YA, children's picture books.
Who knows what today’s gatekeeping system of east coast publishing houses will look like then, under the competitive onslaught of self-publication and academic and small press?
Gone are the days of driving or walking from bookstore to bookstore, of lingering through the shelves of a friendly bookseller, or leafing through Books in Print for the right edition.
With convenience comes access. Those local bookstores were another gatekeeper. Readers traded immediacy for the bookseller’s inventory policy. With mail-order buying via computer, buyers select from limitless catalogs of new and used books, and see their purchases arrive within a few days of ordering.
Better still, readers can order publisher-direct to gain access to the widest selection of related titles. A recent email from the industry’s premier publisher of latina latino writing, Arte Publico Press, sweetens the prospect. Use the code HOLIDAY12 when checking out and receive 35% discount on titles in Arte Publico’s catalogs.
December 2012 Floricanto to Begin TwelfthmonthArnoldo Garcia, Jabez W. Churchill, Tom Sheldon, Victor Avila, Elizabeth Cazessús
Launching the year's final month is December's first floricanto. This week, the moderators of the Facebook group Poets Responding to SB1070 Poetry of Resistance, nominate seven poems from five poets:"La comuna de la lengua / The commune of the tongue" by Arnoldo Garcia“Credo Particular / My Creed” by Jabez W. Churchill “Petroglyphs” by Tom Sheldon"Grail" by Victor Avila“Desierto en fuga” por Elizabeth Cazessús
La comuna de la lengua | The commune of our tongue [extracts]Arnoldo Garcia
a communionof commotiona commovementof movementswho will revolutionizethe skinof our languagesmakeour tonguesas invisibleas transparentas the most illegal of illegalsas the most undocumented of undocumentedas the most minority of minoritiesas the most queer of the queeras the most visible of the invisibleas the most remembered of the forgottenas the lowest of the lowliestas the most homeless among the homelandlessas the most human of humanitynessso when you put your words in the vibrating airanyone can step into themfeel at hometransliterating freedomsobliterating the mutenessmaking the worldinto jagged piecesthat fit together in their crags and ragged tendernesseseverythingdisperses in orderly chaosorganizes in spontaneous spring-times, whatever the seasonwho dares make the commotion togetherwho dares make the movement differentwho cares about tomorrow, the natural worldwho cares about the land, the communitywho cares about our bones, the windwho dares the sun to return for the sixth time, the continentswho dares to stop timeand return to the starting place?I am a human out of placeI am a human in a country no longer humanI am a human in every road, path, trail, a movementCongealing, coalescing, germinatingon the magnetic waves of tendernesson the gravitational fields of freedomon the bare arms of a campesinaa commotiona communitiona cosmomovement of neighbors.
*
I do not want a revolution of empleadosI want a revolution of emplumados.
*
No quiero una revolución de empleadosQuiero una revolución de emplumados.
Credo Particularpor Jabez W. Curchill
Creo en ambos dioses,el Padre y la Santa Madre,sin nombreen el traqueteo de los otrosy en sus hijos danzarinesengendrados como hojas,como luz,de la misma substanciadiscernible e inimaginablea que todo tiene que sacudir.
Creo que somos encarnadosdel mismo espiritu fotosinteticosin jucio,sin excepcion,destinados todos a la salvación.
Pero no creoque ninguna religióno propio evangeliose aproxime o se acerquesuficiente a la Creaciónpara que justifique criticarmenos condenaro aliviarnosde la responsibilidad particularde florecery en el viento deleitar.
My Creedby Jabez W. Curchill
I believe in both Gods,the Father and the Holy Mother,namelessin the rattle of the rest,and in their sonsand twirling daughtersbegotten as leaves,as light,being of the same substance,seen and unimagined,to which all things must flutter.
I believe we are incarnatewith the same Spirit,photosynthetic,without judgement,without exception.All, destined for salvation.
But I don’t believethat any church,any religious doctrine,approximates Creation,comes close enough to justify opinion, less condemnation,or relieve usfrom our individual responsibilityto fully blossom,revel in the wind.
Petroglyphs ©Tom Sheldon
Clues to the iconic ambiguity
appear like old vines
resting upon eroded hills
dug along the skirt of mesa
the poetic lore.....
tall tales and handed down songs
planted inside children
a shared realm
that live in stone still
faintly etched pictograms
so transparent one can look through
and see the world
Natural luminous things
like tracks in the snow
homecoming myths migrations
of stars ancient origins
of ragged mountains
in deer whose limbs
lie in latent flight
and the suns light
cast and reflected back
Grail for Palestine Victor Avila
A great weight rests on all our tonguesand the barbs around our heartsmakes us barricades of silence.
Tell me then, how can I speak to you if it's not by shouting?
I shout at the hard sky,I shout into the ear of a low hanging star.
I shout when my heart is withering like black fruit-Or when other hearts become brutal hammersof hate and venom.
A bitter knife carves obscenties into my tender stomachand I want to shout to stones,"Please, I am bleeding and my wound is great"-but the stones are pitiless tonight.
So I scream until my voice is filled with hoarse sobs.
And I wait for the wound to heal-I wait for the lost blood to become a great treewhich is heavy with fruit.I wait for lost emeralds to be resetin my God's sick crown.
I become a romantic with ten handsbut am not allowed to use one.
Ultimately, the barricades are not dismantledand the barbs are not pulled free,the weight is not suspended.
Tell me then, how can I speak to you if it's not by shouting?How can my Grail of Hope once again be filled?
DESIERTO EN FUGAElizabeth Cazessús
Salir al camino sin saber a donde ir-porque el saber no está en el mapasi no más adentro de la aventura-descubrir lo semejante,la naturaleza salvaje, lo sagrado desatender la ciudad que vas dejando atrás,sorprenderte como un niñover los campos sembrados, palizadas, osamentas de ballenas, anuncios extemporáneos, largos terrenos de chamizos, palo verde y serpientes extensiones que las nubes bañan de más alládunas en contraste con el mar y ese sentimiento al fondode arenas ensimismadas bajo la luz de sol.hasta que la mirada abarca sabes que son tuyos.Un solitario cactus a contraluz es todo lo que tienesdespués de que has pasado por las ruinas de otro cementerio de piedras y edificios escarpados por el fracaso.Tú, sigues ahí, con tu brazada extendida en el valle de los cirioscon su montaje improvisado y caminos espinosos Todo lo que no verán más tus ojos porque en este instante ya no estamos, ni somos lo que dijimos ser.Seremos otros a contra canto de este aroma del desierto en fuga.
BIOS
"La comuna de la lengua | The commune of the tongue" by Arnoldo Garcia
“Credo Particular / My Creed” by Jabez W. Churchill
“Petroglyphs” by Tom Sheldon
"Grail" by Victor Avila
“Desierto en fuga” por Elizabeth Cazessús
Arnoldo García lives and writes in Oakland, CA. "La comuna de nuestra lengua" is part of a collection of poems and writings called La revolución emplumada (forthcoming). Arnoldo posts poetics, commentary, news & analysis on http://lacarpadelfeo.blogspot.com andhttp://www.twitter.com/arnoldogarcia C/S
Jabez W. Churchill. Born in Northern California, educated in Argentina and California. Single dad, currently teaching Spanish at Santa Rosa Junior College and Mendocino College. (S.R.J.C., since 1986), and California Poet in the Public Schools since 1998. Civilly disobedient since 1969. Submitting poetry for publication since 1979.
Publications:SONG OF SEASONS, Small Poetry Press, 1996CONTROLLED BURN, Small Poetry Press, 1996SLEEPING WITH GHOSTS, Kulupi Press, 1999THE VEIL, Kulupi Press, 2000SANTA CLARA REVIEW, Spring/Summer 2002americas review, 2003languageandculture.net, chapbook series, 2005FIRST LEAVES, Literary and Art Journal, 2009Most currently, in laBloga, Poets Responding to SB1070 and THE ARTS UNITED SAN ANTONIO, May and August, 2012Featured at the Summer Dream Poetry Festival in Vancouver, B.C. 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Cuba, 2000. Spain, Summer 1999.
My name is Tom Sheldon and I come from a large Hispanic family with roots in Spain, Mexico and New Mexico. I enjoy writing poetry which allows me connection and a voice and I write daily. I've had a few small successes in having my poems published. Thank you for reading my work.
Victor Avila is an award-winning poet. Two of his poems were recently included in the anthology Occupy SF-Poems from the Movement. Victor is also a graphic artist whose work has been featured in Ghoula Comix.
Elizabeth Cazessús, Tijuana B. C. México, 1960.BLOG: El palpitar de las letras, letronomo.blogspot.com
Es maestra de nivel primaria, egresada de Esc. Normal Benito Juárez.1978/1982.Realizó Periodismo Cultural, 1983 a 1992 en Tijuana. Dirigió el sumplemento cultural Arrecife, de Sol de Tijuana.
Poeta performancera. Es autora de ocho libros de poesía: Ritual y canto,1994, Veinte “Apuntes antes de Dormir, 1995; Mujer de Sal, 2000; Huella en el agua, IMAC 2001; Casa del sueño, Gíglico ediciones, 2006; Razones de la dama infiel, Gíglico ediciones 2008; No es mentira este paraíso, Colección ed,.Cecut/Conaculta.2009.Enediana, Ed. Giglico, 2010.
Ha participado en varios encuentros internacionales de poesía:Los Angeles California, 1991; Phoenix, Arizona, 2003; Mujeres poetas en el país dela Nubes, Oaxaca, Oax.; 2000 y 2001; La Habana, Cuba, 2003, Chile Poesía Santiago de Chile, 2005; Poetas del Mundo Latino Morelia, Mich, México 2010; Puerto Rico, Ferias del Libros 2004 y 2007; Festival de Poesia, Puerto Rico,. 2011, Festival Latinoamericano de Poesía Cd. de Nueva York, Oct. 2012.
Ha participado presentando su obra. FIL de Guadalajara, No es mentira este paraíso y Feria del Libro del Zócalo,Cd. de México D.F. 2010.
Obtuvo la beca del FONCA, 1998.Ha obtenido los premios: Municipal de Poesía, en los Juegos Florales de Tijuana, 1992;Premio de Poesía, Anita Pompa de Trujillo en Hermosillo, Sonora, 1995;
Su obra ha sido traducida a los idiomas inglés y al polaco.
Esta incluida en las siguientes antologías: “Across the Line”, Junction Press, San Diego Ca. 2003; “Trilogía de Poetas de Hispanoamérica: Pícaras, Místicas y Rebeldes”, México D.F. 2004; Memoria del Encuentro Chile- Poesía, 2005; Antología de Poesía Hispanoamericana, “El Rastro de las Mariposas”, Lima, Perú, 2006; Antología de “Voces Sin Fronteras”, Montreal, Canadá, 2006; “Mujeres Poetas de México” (1945-1965), Atemporia, 2008; Revista, La Nueva Región de los poetas (Nowa Okolica Poetow), Varsovia, Polonia, 2008; San Diego Poetry Annual, Ca. E.U.A. 2008; Nectáfora, Antología del Beso en la Poesía Mexicana, México, D.F. 2009, Antologia del Festival Latinoamericano de Poesía, CD. de Nueva York, 2012.
Ha realizado recitales poético/musicales haciendo montajes con su propia obra y de autores hispanoamericanos, titulados:Ritual y Canto, 1995, “Veinte apuntes antes de dormir”, 1998, “Rosario Castellanos, mujer de muchas palabras”; “Voces Irreverentes, ” (Homenaje a Susana Chávez, poeta asesinada en CD. Juárez, 2010). “ Diosas de la Poesía Hispanoamericana”, Centro Cultural y Feria del Libro ,de Tijuana, 2011.
Acompañó alternadamente a Carlos Monsivaís, interpretando voces de la poesía de la popularidad, en la conferencia: Mamá Soy Paquito, Universidad de San Diego, 2009.
Honesville PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2010.
ISBN: 1-59078-385-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-385-6
Michael Sedano
Two recent Los Angeles Times columns by the paper’s book blogger Carolyn Kellogg talk about the fast-disappearing publisher-sponsored author book tour, and new ways authors are solving the marketing challenge of helping a book find its audience.
The Times article observes how “name” authors have little difficulty getting tours, hotel stays, and large audiences. But for every big time author there are dozens of non marquee gente, quality writers who, once discovered, get onto the radar of a loyal cadre of followers, but never seem to catch the big bucks, splashy market, break. And it’s getting all the more difficult.
As the business of publishing changes, book tours increasingly look like bad risks. "In 99.9% of cases," says Peter Miller, director of publicity at Bloomsbury USA, "you can't justify the costs through regular book sales."
Kellogg illustrates one self-funded tour that drained $2500 from the pockets of a married pair of authors who hit the road with no assurance of finding an audience when they set up shop.
That expensive itinerary is not the exception, nor exceptional. Prospects generally appear dismal. Print media are closing down book sections, indeed, bookstores are shuttering with alarming frequency. I see faint hope in states taxing internet sales like Amazon, perhaps awarding a meagre competitive advantage to local brick and mortar booksellers. On a more concretely positive note, technology fills some of the need via webposted video that brings eye and ear into play via the interposed medium, or "virtual book tours".
Bloguero René Colato Laínez, author of several bilingual children’s picture books is one of those niche market writers with a strong following but not necessarily a big bucks market. René’s recently published, “My Shoes and I” addresses that book tour conundrum. He’s adopted the “Virtual Book Tour,” strategy, coordinating cyber appearances on a variety of book and reader-devoted blogs.
A Virtual Book Tour is an inspired idea, albeit with a major drawback—text-heavy blogs mean an absence of face-to-face contact between reader and writers. It’s a keen disadvantage.
As Kellogg illustrates, a name like T. C. Boyle puts on a performance that is its own reward for author and audience. Kellogg quotes Boyle sayi
The first Virtual Book Tour for
Condor Book Tours (a service from my start-up
nilki benitez communications) is well under way!
Bernardo and the Virgin by Silvio Sirias is the story of a simple man, a
campesino, to whom in 1980, the Virgin Mary appeared. This is one of the few Marian apparitions that the Catholic church has approved.
The novel, although based on facts, including extensive interviews with Bernardo Martínez (August 20, 1931-October 30, 2000) by the author, is also an exploration of the Nicaraguan people during a tumultuous time in Nicaragua's political history.
From the Posdata of
Bernardo and the Virgin:
On May 8, 1980, the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernardo Martínez-a poorly educated, forty-eight-year-old tailor--in a cow pasture on the outskirts fo the town of Cuapa, in Nicaragua. This "true" incident took place less than ten months after the Sandinistas overthrew the half-century-old Somoza dynasty and two years before the full onset of the Contra War, the bloodiest military conflict in that nation's history.
My interest in Bernardo's story arose when I returned to Nicaragua--after nearly a twenty-year absence--and met the seer, in March of 1999. By that time the country had been at peace for a decade. Upon hearing Bernardo's life story, I immediately knew that the best way to capture its many dramtaic and magical dimensions was through fiction. As Joseph Campbell posits in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, to try to render miraculous events in a straightforward manner, narrating them as the truth, will always lead a writer into bathos. In other words, in striving to accurately describe the sublime nature of Bernardo's experience, I would have inevitably overreached and toppled into the absurd. His tale, and the tales of his compatriots, deserve better....
What you find in these pages, then, is Bernardo Martínez as I have recreaed him, and as seen through the eyes of the other characters--every one of them, beyond argument, fictional. Nevertheless, most of the events related within, even the miracles, have their basis in occurrences that have taken place, or are believed to have taken place...
Regardless, one of my objectives was to immerse the reader in the lives of Nicaraguans during the latter part of the twentieth century...My hope is that this novel will give readers some insight into what it has meant to be a Nicaraguan during such tumultuous times.
Bernardo de Cuapa died on October 30, 2000. His remains are buried in the town's old church, just a few steps away from where the image of la Virgen first illuminated for him. The Nicaraguan Catholic Church has declared his former cow pasture, the place of the apparitions, a holy site.
El Pueblo de San Francisco de Cuapa is most welcoming to all pilgrims and visitors.
So far during the book tour Bernardo and the Virgin and author Silvio Sirias have visited the following blogs:
0 Comments on Virtual Book Tour: Bernardo and the Virgin by Silvio Sirias as of 6/11/2010 2:31:00 PM
Nancy Lepri's VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR for her novel, Tiny Angel, started yesterday! It will run through December 17. There will be reviews and giveways too! Access the link below and leave your comments.
http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2010/11/12/the-tiny-angel-virtual-book-tour-december-10/
Monday, December 6
Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, December 7
Guest blogging and giveaway at Acting Balanced
Book reviewed at Lynn’s Corner
Wednesday, December 8
Book reviewed at Acting Balanced
Thursday, December 9
Book reviewed and giveaway at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Friday, December 10
Book spotlighted at Book Tours and More
Monday, December 13
Author interviewed at Pump Up Your Book!
Tuesday, December 14
Book reviewed and giveaway at Ellis
Book reviewed at Giving Reading a Chance
Wednesday, December 15
Book reviewed and giveaway at Chrissy’s World of Books
Thursday, December 16
Book reviewed at 4 the Love of Books
Friday, December 17
Guest blogging at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection
CONDOR BOOK TOURSPRESENTSMi Barrio by Robert Renteria (SmarterComics/Writers of the Round Table, 2011) As Told To Corey Michael BlakeIllustrated by Shane Clester ISBN-10:...
Check out the full post at Musings http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com
It's my pleasure to have Mark Bradley (a member of Virtual Book Tours) as my guest today and April 3rd. We'll start with a little about Mark and his book, Writing Poems in the Rain. I have to say, as a young author, Mark has wonderful insight into many things.
Mark Christopher Bradley is an aspiring writer from Baltimore, Maryland, where he is currently studying as an English major in pursuit of a career as a writing teacher. Ever since he was young, Mark has had a vivid imagination, as well as a creative mind. Though he had no thoughts of becoming a writer at this time, it was in the cards for him already, as he was reading and writing at a grade level three years ahead of those his age. His introduction to literature were books such as The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
It wasn't until high school, though, that Mark had delved in writing poetry. Having taken a Creative Writing class in his junior year, Mark's imagination was fueled with inspiration as began launching a barrage of poems from heart and soul, taken from the experiences of his life, as he how had an outlet to express himself that he was comfortable with. The next year of school, however, would prove to be more successful. He submitted several poems to the high school literary magazine, Impressions, and all of which (a total of 8) were unanimously accepted into the publication. That was the most that any student in one year had ever been featured in the magazine in its history. Mark was given an outstanding introduction before his performance at a poetry reading the magazine staff had put on as well.
In the beginning of 2002, Mark found his dream website, where we could post his writing online and receive reviews and comments about it while interacting with fellow authors. The site, known as Writing.com, further jump-started Mark's interest and enthusiasm.
Mark has published two books of poetry to date, his first being "A Parody of Myself" in January 2003 and "Writing Poems in the Rain" in May 2007. He is currently working on two novels as well and seeking publication of several of his short stories.
Now about Mark's book:
Writing Poems in the Rain
"Words fall from the sky like raindrops . . . " That is the first line in one of the poems in this book. Rain can be looked at in different ways, taken in different moods, and bring about different changes. While it has given life to the world since its beginning, the rain also has given life and inspiration to many writers through the ages. It can be happy or sad, beautiful yet depressing, and sometimes you can see the wide spectrum behind it, if you look close enough. Poetry, like the rain, has refreshing qualities and brings life to those who absorb it. Writing Poems in the Rain is a collection of poems that contain a spectrum of emotions and experiences from life, broken down while writing poems in the rain.
To learn more about Mark Bradley or to contact him go to:
Mark Bradley
A Parody of Myself Blog
To order Mark Bradley's Writing Poems in the Rain go to:
Barnes and Noble
Please come back on April 3rd for more with Mark Bradley. We'll have an interview as well as two of Mark's poems.
See you in blog world,
Karen
We’re back with Virtual Book Tours Member, Mark Bradley. This gifted young poet will answer a few questions for us:
1. What was your self-publishing experience?
I feel a little ambiguous about self-publishing after my experience. I was pleased with the production, but because I'm not a good self-promoter, I haven't gotten the results I was hoping to get. For example, I've really only sold books to my friends and acquaintances, and their friends.
2. What steps have you taken to promote your books?
Other than the website and passing word through my creative writing groups I belong to, I personally haven't done much in promoting. If I could do it over again, I would have gotten an agent to help me with that.
3. I really like your poem, "I Lost My Appetite." It seems like it would come from someone who has been in a very long relationship. What prompted you to write it?
The inspiration is a funny one. In a writing class I took, we had to write a poem in which two people communicate without even speaking. I wanted to put a humorous spin on it and have the man just not get it.
4. I also like the poem, "The Last Chivalrist." What prompted you to write about chivalry?
I've always been a fan of chivalry, having grown up reading tales about chivalrous knights and such. At some point I thought about how it's not common today to see behavior like that, so that inspired the poem.
And, now for the two wonderful poems mentioned above:
I Lost My Appetite
copyright 2008 Mark C. Bradley
No words have been spoken,
since the waiter left our table,
but among the din of
forks and knives clattering against plates
and the silence between,
an entire conversation ensues.
Her foot whispers to my ankle,
asking it to pass along a message to my hand
so it would sneak under the table to return the favor.
She must be drowsy;
her eyelashes keep fluttering, and
she leans into her hand, gazing at me,
dream-like, as when I first met her years ago.
The sauce from her pasta must be sticking to her lips,
for she licks them every so often,
so I hand her a napkin,
not looking her back in the eye.
She tugs her neckline downward, her face aflush.
The candles are giving off too much heat,
so I douse them with my spoon.
The air reeks of burnt wax.
I need some fresh air,
so I drop my napkin onto my plate and
leave my wife alone.
The Last Chivalrist
copyright 2006 Mark C. Bradley
Nobody ever throws their coat
over a puddle anymore,
nor do moonlit serenades reach a woman's ear.
Who champions a lady and defends her honor now?
The armor, kept long locked away
in closets hidden from sight,
doesn't shine like it used to.
Besides, maidens don't like to see tarnish anyway,
so I go off to rescue my damsel
in plain clothes, unlike the suitors that woo her
with their fancy vestments and shiny adornments.
I know the real valor lies in the heart underneath
where true chivalry is not dead after all.
You can learn more about this talented author and his books at:
Mark Bradley
A Parody of Myself Blogsite Blog:
Barnes and Noble
Thank you, Mark. It's been a pleasure hosting you this tour. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
Please leave a comment and let us know how you like Mark's poems.
See you in blog world,
Karen
Great and exciting news! VBT - Virtual Book Tours is now:
VBT - Writers on the Move!
The new url is: http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com
We're moving the group onward and upward so needed a better fitting name. Stop on by the VBT site tomorrow to find out about a couple of the new features we will be putting in place.
See you in blog world,
Karen
I've packed my BOOKS!
I've fed the cat!
I've locked the door!
I am off on a . . .
PLUS . . .
The Tour includes an interviewed of me
by Joan Baretta.If you like BOOKS printed on PAPER, or you prefer
thrifty GREEN e-Books that SAVE TREES, now's your
chance for a TEST SAMPLE, beginning tomorrow,
Wed 22nd April, for a whole week!
Every 10th person to make a comment, or asks a
question regarding my books, or Joan's interview of
me, WINS a link to me reading one of my reluctant
reader friendly children's books +illustrations.
So, bring on your comments, ask questions, and WIN a TEST DRIVE of one of my books.
You can't get fairer that that - RIGHT?
VBT - Writers on the Move has a NEW monthly Mystery Site Give-Away!
Each month a group member's site will be the Mystery Site for the virtual book tour. If you visit that site and leave a comment on one of the posts for that tour, you may be the one to win the prize!
The owner of the site will determine which commenter wins. The prize may be an ebook, book, or other great item the site owner decides upon. Each month we will let you know what type of prize will be given away, but we will not reveal any details such as a book title.
Make sure you stop by our members' sites on the first or for their second post of the tour. Just leave a comment and you can be a winner!
Members of VBT - Writers on the Move are not eligible to win the prizes.
This month's give-away is a book!
Tomorrow we'll post the VBT - Writers on the Move Schedule.
See you in blog world,
Karen
Lucha Corpi’s Virtual Book Tour
Lucha Corpi’s new book, fourth in a series, has captured fans on both coast. Join us on the book tour that will reveal secrets about her writing process and learn how her mysterious PI came to be. This lady is amazing. From reading Greek tragedies to writing mysteries, Lucha Corpi’s life is as intriguing as her PI’s tangled adventures. Haven’t read Corpi? Then start with her first book in the series all the way through to this book for a ride of thrills.
Nov 30 Unloaded
Dec 1 examiner.com
Dec 2 right2write.blogspot.com
Dec 3 juliaamante.blogspot.com
Dec 4 thesolwithinanna.blogspot.com
Dec 7 chasingheroes.com
Dec 8 readingwithmonie.com
Dec 9 bookluver-carol.blogspot.com
Dec 10 heidenkind.blogspot.com
Dec 11 Nilkibenitez.blogspot.com
Review of Death at Solstice
A great mini-review in LIBRARY JOURNAL just came in: Corpi, Lucha. Death at Solstice: A Gloria Damasco Mystery. Arte Publico. 2009. c.240p. ISBN 978-1-55885-547-2
In her fourth outing (after Black Widow’s Wardrobe), Chicana sleuth Gloria Damasco has no idea that the road to finding stolen jewelry in the wine country of California’s Shenandoah Valley will lead to murder, kidnapping, and great danger. Verdict Corpi has constructed a twisting story line that confounds her intelligent detective and the reader at every turn. This will please readers looking for a fast-paced tale with a Hispanic cultural background.
Series of Book by Lucha Corpi
#1 Corpi, Lucha, Cactus blood : a mystery novel Houston, Tex.: Arte Público Press, c1995.
#2 Corpi, Lucha, Black widow’s wardrobe Houston, TX : Arte Público Press, 1999.
#3 Corpi, Lucha, Crimson moon : a Brown Angel mystery Houston, Tex. : Arte Público Press, c2004 Civil rights movements
#4
A dramatic novel for young adults about a teenage girl
forced to live with foster families
Jewel is shuttled from one foster home to another. But Jewel wasn’t always a "State Kid." Her mother Angela’s constant search for happiness through a steady stream of unsavory boyfriends leads to the state’s intervention in Jewel’s life.
Listening to her new foster mother’s list of "nos"no drugs, no lying, no stealing, no skipping school, no boys in or out of the house, no being late—Jewel realizes that her mother said "yes" a lot. Probably too much. She remembers saving Angela's life when one of many boyfriends beat her, trying to hide another boyfriend's attempts to rape her when she was fourteen, and being sent to a foster home to please the latest boyfriend. But still, Jewel worries about her mother and knows that she will once again pick up the pieces when the latest jerk leaves.
Bit by bit Jewel’s life begins to change for the better after her latest move to a new foster home and school. Although most people can’t see past her tough "State Kid" façade—spray-painted hair, heavy make-up, ripped clothing and unlaced shoes—her English teacher realizes there’s more to Jewel than meets the eye. He convinces her to tutor a fellow student who needs help with math, and gradually she learns how to make friends. In the process, she touches the lives of many people around her, including her social worker, teachers who believe in her, her new-found, tentative friends, and even their parents.
But when she’s forced to choose between her life-long job—taking care of her mother—and doing what’s right for herself, old habits and loyalties are hard to break. Jewel is sure that this time, she can save her mom. But will she be able to save herself?
The picturesque city of San Antonio, Texas with its rich Mexican-American culture provides the ideal backdrop for the award-winning linked stories in this intriguing novel for young people. Luz, a young Latina, will represent her city in the upcoming spelling bee. Her participation in the contest signifies a substantial milestone for her community's sense of pride and achievement.
But her success also triggers a variety of other emotions: Luz's younger sister, Justina, struggles to understand her mixed feelings toward her older sister's accomplishment; Luz's grandmother fears her granddaughter's ambition while another generation of Latinas pins its hope on her; and the Anglo students and parents must come to terms with the increasing visibility of the Latino community.
Woven together with the vivid metaphor of making tortillas, stories such as "Kneading Attitude" and "Mixing Ingredients" explore deep and consequential themes in this charming and hopeful collection. "White Bread Competition" won 2nd place in the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize at the University of California, Irvine.
JO ANN HERNÁNDEZ is the author of White Bread Compet
It's my pleasure to be hosting the talented and versatile writer/author, Dianne Sagan. A business woman, mother of six children and grandmother to three, Dianne is a busy woman.
Dianne Sagan was raised in Texas and is now a full-time ghostwriter and author. Her credits include 35+ editorials for the Amarillo Globe News, a regional newspaper, in addition to short stories and articles published on the internet. Dianne’s works in progress include a flash fiction book with five other women writers, Women’s Bible studies, a series of suspense novels, and Christian fiction. Dianne is working on a line of ebooks. She is active in her church. Her activities there include teaching Women’s Bible studies, teaching Adult Sunday School, and choir. She served as a volunteer for five years with the Sharing Hope Ministry, a prison ministry to incarcerated women. She has also been a Small Group leader. Besides being a full-time writer, Dianne and her husband Greg own a business consulting firm, Sagan & Associates. She is a partner and seminar facilitator. She loves speaking to writer’s groups and women’s groups. Her background includes working in the private sector, small business, academia, non-profits, adult and youth training, and speaking. A member of Panhandle Professional Writers, she can be contacted through her website – Dianne Sagan, Writer – http://dgsagan.tripod.com.
Dianne is currently working on stories for several anthologies and has a story published in the Tainted Mirror anthology (October 2007). The story, Second Chances, is about her son’s head injury and the aftermath.
Purchasing information for "The Tainted Mirror An Anthology:"
ISBN 13:978-0-9786066-1-9
It can be found on amazon.com and barnes&nobel.com
You can reach Dianne at:
My blog: www.diannesagan.wordpress.com
http://www.authorsden.com/diannesagan
Please, don't forget to come back January 4th, for more with Dianne Sagan.
See you in blog world, Karen
We're back with Dianne Sagan for a few questions and answers.
Your story, Second Chances, is part of "The Tainted
Mirror An Anthology". I've been told that anthologies are difficult to sell. Do you find that to be true?
Anthologies like the Chicken Soup series, Cup of Comfort series, and others that are well known, have a ready made audience when they release new volumes because they already have a high profile. The anthology my story is in has had pretty good sales, but the key to selling anthologies is to have at least one well known writer who has a name that is familiar to people. Of course the promotion of all the writers who participate in an anthology makes a difference in sales.
What is the word count or page count on your typical short stories for anthologies?
It can vary, but the average word count in about 1200 words. You have to write tight for it to work well.
What advice can you offer writers interested in ghost
writing and/or contributing to anthologies?
Advice for writers interested in ghost writing would be that you need to decide for yourself if it matters to you that you will not get recognition for the books you write. In some cases, you have to sign a nondisclosure agreement. You're usually paid a flat fee for your work. If it bothers you that your name isn't anywhere on the book or article, then ghostwriting probably isn't for you. If that is okay with you, then you can make a good living at it. Bookpackagers use ghostwriters. I have information about ghostwriting on my website, http://dgsagan.tripod.com and have an article on ghostwriting in the article bank at Writing for Dollars. I also speak to groups about ghostwriting.
Advice for anthology writing is to stay informed about calls for writers. Go to the Cup of Comfort, Chicken Soup, and other anthology sites. See what they are looking for and follow their guidelines. You can also google "anthologies" or "calls for writers". anthologiesonline.com is a really good source and has a new list every month. As in all things, you want to check things out before you send to something you're not sure of. Reading other stories that have been published in anthologies can help you know what they usually publish.
Did your novel, Escape, find a home yet?
It doesn't have a contract yet, but with revisions the publisher says she will send me a contract. I'm not sure if I will get to keep the title, but I trust my publisher on title choices.
And finally, do you find that emails and groups you belong to steal precious time away from your writing?
I find that I have to discipline myself to spend some time with my groups and networking, but it can really take up all your time if you're not careful. Mondays are my day to do all the "cats and dogs" stuff - miscellaneous paperwork, the business part of writing, blogs, catch up on things and correspondence including email. Other days I try to limit myself to an hour and no more than an hour and a half for emails and business concerns. I try to do group emails and blog visits at least twice a week. I write at least 20 hours per week minimum.
Don't forget to get your copy of "The Tainted Mirror An Anthology:"
ISBN 13:978-0-9786066-1-9
It can be found on amazon.com and barnes&nobel.com
You can reach Dianne at:
www.diannesagan.wordpress.com
http://www.authorsden.com/diannesagan
Thanks so much, Dianne, for being my guest this week, and thank you for all the useful information you provided. It was certainly a pleasure having you here this week.
Virtual Book Tours next tour is scheduled for January 15th - stay tuned!
Karen
It’s my pleasure to start the NEW monthly Virtual Book Tours rotation with Pamela Devor.
Welcome, Pamela. It's always so interesting to learn about authors. Would you tell us a little about yourself?
Hello! I am an author of children’s novels. My first book is available at my website: www.PamelaDevor.com. I have a lively imagination and include a lot of fun and magic, as well as good family values in my books. Many of the experiences in my first book originated from visits to my cousins’ farm as a child. I am currently finishing my second novel, which is a sequel to The Troll Door, The Trunk & The Compass.
I am a wife, mother, and grandmother to ten beautiful talented grandchildren.
I live in Southern Illinois with my family.
I love the cover of your book. Please tell us a little about the story.
“The Troll Door, The Trunk, and the Compass” is about five siblings who spend the summer with their Aunt on the farm. There are lots of fun farm experiences for the kids who are thrilled to be there. Their aunt has had a hard time for about six months because her fiancé disappeared (literally). She needs the children to distract her from her problem.
Alexander explores in the attic & finds an old trunk. Inside the trunk is a diary from a scientist who lived in the house over 20 years before. In addition to the diary is a compass that the scientist invented. The compass has dials for different years and different worlds. Alexander tries it, travels back in time and meets the scientist. Then together they set off to try to rescue his Aunt’s fiancé from another world, if it is not too late.
Wow, life on a farm and time travel. This sounds like a wonderful fantasy story.
Please let us know where we can find out more about you and your book.
The Troll Door, The Trunk & The Compass can be purchased on my website: www.PamelaDevor.com.
It is also available online at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.
You can also visit me at my blog:
http://pamdevor.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for visiting today, Pamela!
And, to our readers, please stop by again on March 4th – we’ll have questions and answers with Pamela.
See you in blog world,
Karen
I am posting this again as a reminder: I have exciting news: On March 18th and 19th at 4pm PST (7pm EST) Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., will be giving two marketing teleclasses for Virtual Book Tours, but everyone is welcome to join in.
If you don't know who Penny is, she is a marketing guru. Her articles, blogs, teleclasses and lectures are jammed packed with timely, pertinent and valuable marketing and promotional advice and tips. I have attended a number of Penny's teleclasses and read a number of her articles. The best way to describe the information Penny provides is it's useful, practical and doable.
The first teleclass on Wednesday, March 18th is:
Red Hot Internet Basics: Touring Yourself Online
If you’re ready to market your book online but don’t know where to start you’ll love this class. We’ll look at creating and launching your very own Virtual Author Tour. During this class we’ll look at:
• How to find sites to pitch yourself to
• How to set up a social networking page
• How to find bloggers and contact them
• Crafting your pitch
• Networking online, how to do it and why you *must* network with bloggers
• What is social book marketing and how to use it
Come with ALL of your Internet questions, this class will get them answered!
The second teleclass on, Thursday, March 19th is:
Red Hot Internet Publicity 2.0
If you think you have your Internet marketing covered with just a web site, you might be missing out on a bucket of Internet gold. This class is packed with information with everything from understanding social media to monetizing sites like Facebook, Squidoo, and Twitter. We’ll also talk about what you should never do on your web site and why a blog is a must-have part of any Internet campaign. We’ll also look at some of the hottest online trends too!
• The secret to getting thousands of hits on your web site and then converting them into sales!
• Top internet promotion techniques that won’t cost you a dime!
• The Virtual Author Tour™, how you can “tour” yourself on the net
• How to use site like Facebook and Squidoo to build your customer base
• What is Twitter? We’ll talk about Twitter and how to use it to drive more sales to your web site
• How to create a web site that sells your book
• Simple steps to blogging effectively!
Bonus: We’ll even include some time-saving hints to maximize your online efforts without spending HOURS online!
Sign up now by simply sending an email to Redhotpub@gmail.com with ‘sign up’ as the subject. An email will be sent to all those who sign up - it will include the dial in information, and any other information needed to participate in these great teleclasses.
See you in blog world,
Karen
It's refreshing to read about Reyna's experiences about a teacher as friend. Growing up, I remember my peers seeing teachers as the authority, and sometimes the enemy. Sometimes, we're taught that it's not right to have adults as friends, and we should stick to friends our own age.
My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez, was a friend and mentor, helping me get through a rough year. She challenged me in my studies, knowing I was bored with the standard curriculum. Once a week, I went to her house and had dinner with her family, and I received extra tutoring - not because I wasn't doing well in school, but because I was ready to learn more.
Growing up and into adulthood, some of my closest friends are 20+ years older than me, sometimes old enough to my parents, and some grandparents. I enjoy my friendships with them because there is so much I learn from them. Teachers don't necessarily have to be in the classroom.
Reyna brings back those memories of my teachers from elementary school. They were supportive and caring, something that isn't the norm these days.
I've read her first two books and they were so well written, it was hard to put them down. 'Dancing with Butterflies' was a book of the month for Las Comadres Latino Book Club and I am so glad I found this author.
Reyna's story in this anthology is moving. Thank you for highlighting her works and the anthology for all to share.