Sandra's Book Club

Review: The Brenda Diaries

2012-01-10T11:12:00.001-08:00

See my review on The Brenda Diaries by Margo Candela on Livin' la vida Latina.

http://livinlavidalatina.blogspot.com/2012/01/review-brenda-diaries.html

2011 Reading Wrap-up

2011-12-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

I started the "2011 Colorful Chick Lit" challenge at the beginning of the year. The objective was to read as many books written by or featuring a woman of color (i.e. Latino, African, Asian, or Indian). And since this was "chick lit," the story had to fit into the romantic-comedy genre. At first, I was extremely voracious about my reading with one book each week, but then, like the spring flowers in the midst of ambient change, my desire began to wilt toward the summer; by the fall, it had completely dried out leaving nothing to regenerate a new breed of life. The last four books were the insects treading across a field of dead twigs--my passion was long gone. I just couldn't rekindle that same spark, and, of course, it didn't help that those last few books I tried to read kept on blowing (total, major blowing.) I pretty much had to stop reading before there would be nothing left to light.

Now as far as the challenge goes, I basically stopped reading for that in the summer. The last few books I tried to finish (I couldn't even break the middle spine mark) did not meet any of requirements for the challenge. First of all, they were all written by white women.

So to wrap it up, here was my total:

Latina books - 4

Asian books - 3

African books - 2

Indian books - 2

I'm not sure if this classifies me as a "queen" of colorful chick lit, but, hey, it's a start. Hopefully my hunger for books will return in 2012. I'm pretty sure it will.

Just Sex

2011-11-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

This is the fourth book I’ve read in two months, and it was still a bust. Just Sex by Susan Kay Law is a story of a woman, who has an unfaithful husband that dares her to have an affair to prove that an infidelity can be nothing else but “just sex.”

Chapter one started off with a nice bang. I loved the powerful rage Ellen exudes at the therapist’s office as she rants on and on over Tom’s uncontrollable cheating. Who could blame her, right? The interesting part was Tom firmly stating that his infidelity was not out of romantic pursuit or disrespect to his marital vows, but it was more due to curiosity. What would it be like to touch this woman, to kiss her, to be near her, to just have sex with her? Tom had to remedy his aching wonders and find out. And, of course, Ellen did not believe his theory, so he asked her if she ever wondered the same about other men she’s come across. It was in her pondering moment that Tom proposes that the she try it out for herself.

At first, Ellen’s agreement to Tom’s suggestion was purely out vengeance; but then she gives a second thought to the idea as she was never the expert dater. A contrast to her best friend Jill’s wild, boundless persona, Ellen is shy, introverted, and quite content with spending a nice, quiet evening with a good book. But, with Jill’s help, she embarks on a quest to find a lover, once again reverting to the doe-eyed, innocent days when her naïveté ran rampant and her virginity was untouched. And just as Ellen is re-discovering her dormant lust, her teen daughter, Katie, begins to experience the power of the temptation with her own innocence hanging in the balance.

I thought it was admirable how Ellen and Tom wanted to “let go of the anger” and try to get along for the sake of their children, but the whole repartee was just too corny and unrealistic. For god’s sakes, it was like watching a Hallmark movie. Nobody gets a long that well.

Was this a story about getting a family back together?

About half way through the book, I had to wonder why I was even reading this. At times, the writing was so confusing that I had to go back and re-read some parts just to find out who Ellen was even talking to. Bobby, Jake, Tommy—who the hell were these guys? They were just dropping in, trying to squeeze into the scene like jagged pieces in a puzzle. This is where I had to stop reading. Maybe this is my sign to take a break from it.

Emily Ever After

2011-11-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

“I wish…I could be around people who care about books all the time”—a dream for every book worm and a great start to Emily Ever After, a novel by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. (pg. 6)

Emily Hinton loves books and wants nothing more than to work with books and people who love them as much as she does. Her goal was to get out of her small California town and make her dream a reality someday. Finally, with the same fearsome drive of any college graduate, she packs up her things and trots off to New York, the book publishing capital of the world. You can’t help but love her determination.

In the beginning, it was easy to relate to Emily’s new-girl-in-the-city routine illustrated by her clumsy, wide-eyed, naïve manner. It practically brings you back to the early school days, being the new kid in class with all the other students staring at you like you were a 3-headed alien from outer space. And, of course, nobody wants to be the funny-looking kid that the others make fun of. You would pretty much do anything to avoid taking on that role, which was precisely the thought of our dear Emily. She wanted to fit in so badly with her fancy colleagues at any risk—even if it meant losing herself.

One thing I liked that was definitely different from many of the main heroines I’ve read about was that Emily was a “good girl,” which probably came from her traditional upbringing as a faithful Christian. The fact that she had little experience with boys made her all the more easy to relate to. I also suspected that Emily might have been born a Virgo because she had the tendency to be overly-critical of herself (who isn’t, right?)

I must say that Emily was too gullible about Bennett. One date with the guy and she was already planning the wedding and thinking up names for their children. Oh, please! Even for a school girl crush, it was still pathetic. And Bennett—he was way too perfect. What’s wrong with him? Every time I read something that made him sound like Prince Charming, I had to wonder what was wrong with him. He was really a frog, right? C’mon, nobody is that perfect.

The problem with Emily was the she believed everything she heard. I mean, if she heard that fish could fly and birds could swim, would she believe that too? Also, she was so bent on being a good Christian that I didn’t see this thing with Bennett—a guy always claiming to be a good Christian—working out. I must also admit that I skipped a lot of the religious stuff as it was all pretty dull.

At one point during the story, I wondered if the authors were British, only because this novel was classified as “Humorous Fiction,” and it didn’t make me laugh once. I thought perhaps it could’ve incorporated that dry, British humor no one ever gets, in which case, I definitely did not get my money’s worth. The only part that gave me a chuckle was when Emily’s roommate accused her of stealing her underwear. Oh, my god, that’s so outrageous when you think about it.

Even though the time correlated to the current season, I still had to skip all the holiday hoopla in the story (Emily having Thanksgiving with Bennett’s family and her flying home for Christmas) mostly because I get too much of it already from the media shoving all this jolly crap down my throat—it kind’ve makes you want to hate it all. I think Bennett said it best—“It’s just a holiday that Hallmark took advantage of. There’s nothing to do but sit around and watch It’s a Wonderful Life again and again and again and eat too much.” You said it, brother. (pg. 195)

The story didn’t really pick up until Jacob entered the scene about half way through the book. He was basically an old school friend that re-enters Emily’s life and refreshes her with a comforting past and youthful humor.

Overall, I felt this story was much too passive—no action whatsoever. I felt like I was being told the story, not shown it. Also, I really didn’t care for any of the characters, not even Emily, as they we were too flat and unrealistic. And, finally, there were some editing issues that got a little annoying. For example, “But,’ I say, pausing”—you can’t say something and pause at the same time.

The title was all wrong. It shouldn’t have been called “Emily Ever After;” it should’ve been “Emily Finally Over…Thank God.”

1-900-ANYTIME

2011-11-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

The fact that the economy sucks right now is no big surprise to anyone. Many are out there, sweating it out under a blistering heat with bumper-to-bumper traffic and infuriating people just to get to that 30-minute interview at the end of a 20-mile long drive. And, unfortunately, I’m one of the many.

Everyday I scan the job postings on Monster, Career Builder, and Craig’s List. They say to check everyday so you can get in before the position gets filled, which is all fine and dandy….when there are actual jobs that you can apply for. Most of the time I just sit there and openly declare “no jobs” after having gone through about 15 pages worth of nothing. I’ll pretty much consider any job at this point. And then, one day, I found an ad for a phone sex operator. No experience necessary. Flexible hours. Work from home. Pays…..$26 an hour! What!? Seriously? I hummed with intriguing wonder. It’s not like I’d actually be doing anything. Just talking, listening, agreeing mostly. I wouldn’t have to leave the house, and I’d be banking $26 bucks an hour. How bad could a gig like this be? And that’s why I chose to read 1-900-ANYTIME by Tracy Price-Thompson.

Bertha, A.K.A. “Bliss,” is professional about her work and awards her clients top-notch service, which is the main reason why most of them keep coming back to her. She has the gift of painting lustrous fantasies of pleasure with her sultry voice. With words so provocative and scenes so vivid, the experience explodes into a gratifying reality for her clients. Everyone loves Bliss, especially Bertha, because being Bliss is the only way she is able to release her own fervent desires—desires that are buried underneath the fragmented skin of a disfiguring “beast.”

Sadness envelops you as you learn of the pain and humiliation Bertha had to endure growing up with this congenital disease. When I think of people like Bertha, I get the impression that they live a cloistered, lonely life. They don’t go out, they don’t meet people, and they surely don’t get “normal” jobs. I honestly thought her reason for this phone sex gig was purely to make ends meet. But, instead, it was to fulfill her own aching sexual urges, which, surely, are also left forgotten for a “beast” like Bertha. Perhaps the monetary reason may have made Bertha more sympathetic, but the fact that it was purely sexual definitely made her human—a horny human, but human nonetheless.

In the story, we learn about Bliss’ clients—their history, their family, but, most importantly, their reason for wanting to call Bliss. Jim Burgess is an honest, hard-working man who wanted nothing more than to make a decent living and, eventually, fall in love with the right girl. But then a fraternity prank left him with an ailment that destroyed his hope of having the All-American package. His calls to Bliss were so earnest and genuine that they seemed to have a special connection.

By the end, all hell breaks loose when her clients discover that their fantasy girl was not what they had imagined. I gotta say that I was surprised to find out who actually wanted Bertha dead—always the last person you expect.

The writing was so raw and powerful that you could feel the characters come alive with crippling anger, sadness, and passion. However, the energy of the words wilted towards the end as some editing issues floated to the surface. Many of the sex scenes may have been too graphic—too disgusting, really—for my usual taste. Did they really have to be that descriptive? And then I thought, yes! Isn’t that what a sex operator does?

But, seriously, those scenes were still too nasty. I only kept on reading to explore the danger Bertha finds herself in, and I have to say the whole thing was pretty anticlimactic. The book started off well, but then it kind of tapped out in the end.

In conclusion, I think I’ll keep skimming the job ads.

Review: All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

2011-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Samantha Madison is an average, cool Washington, D.C., teen: She loves Gwen Stefani (who doesn't?), can draw like nobody's business, and enjoys being opposite to her sister's annoying ultra-social personality. When she ditches art class one day, however, she doesn't expect to be jumping on the back of a wannabe presidential assassin. Soon, the young hero is receiving worldwide acclaim for her bravery, having dinner with her family at the White House, and is even being named teen ambassador to the UN. As if this weren't enough, she and David, the president's son, strike up a friendship that everyone wants the dirt on, which starts to give her romantic "frisson" feelings. Unfortunately, Sam thinks her sister's boyfriend, Jack, is the true love of her life, and she makes a few wrong turns that could screw up what she's developing with David. Will she ever stop following what she knows and start following what she sees?

My thoughts: When I first saw the name “Meg Cabot” on the cover of All-American Girl, I had no idea that she was the author of The Princess Diaries—a story that I had seen on screen and never read in paperback.

Samantha Madison was the middle child stuck between her older sister’s effervescent popularity and her younger sister’s precocious intelligence. Now, I was never a middle child, but I do know how much the middle sucks, whether that middle is a line at the DMV or a seat on an airplane. Being the eldest in my family, I thought it would be interesting to see life through the eyes of a middle child.

The first thing I learned from being born in the middle, according to Sam’s story, was how much I would hate my big sister, Lucy. She was basically your “popular girl” nightmare—she was the one person in school who had all the friends, all the party invitations, and all the guys pawing at her feet. I guess I wouldn’t have minded the whole popularity so much if Lucy was just a little smart or, at least, appear to be smart. But, man, what a ditz!

My first impression of Samantha was that she was too political, which probably makes sense since the book was set in America’s capital. I also couldn’t figure out why Samantha refused to take art classes. Wouldn’t that be the natural recourse for aspiring artists to further develop their skills and practice the craft? Yeah, Samantha was already a great artist. But was she so great that she couldn’t stand to be better?

As I kept on reading, I felt like I was learning more and more about the problems of rich kids, and Samantha, in her own Beverly Hills way, was protesting against it. I guess she was kind of the black sheep of the bunch, which is probably the general feeling of the middle child. I must admit that throwing in the attempted assassination of the president did include some enticement as in a “what the hell is the president doing here?” kind of way. I liked Sam’s apathetic, no-nonsense attitude and thought it complimented the political theme in the book. I totally related to Sam’s preference to watch The Simpson’s instead of the presidential speech. And I thought it was funny how after saving the president’s life and had injured her arm, all she could think of was how mad her parents will be after they find out she skipped class.

Overall, I thought that Cabot rendered Sam as an impressionably naïve and, at times, delusional teen. Throughout the bulk of the story, Sam often fantasized about her sister’s boyfriend, Jack, soon realizing his deep devotion for her and sweeping her off her feet. She also was too quick to agree with whatever Jack said and did. I mean, my god, he wasn’t so great that he needed to control Sam’s mind. And that’s why I was glad she met David, the president’s son, because he freed her mind and her artistic soul. He taught her to think for herself and not be afraid to have opinions of her own. By the end, Sam becomes “patriotic” over an artist’s view of America through her window and fights for her entry in a national art contest, which was a little heart-warming.

The one thing that I didn’t like and found really annoying a lot of the time were all the lists like “The Top 10 reasons I hate sushi” or “The Top 10 reasons my sister’s boyfriend is right for me.” Really, what was the point of the lists? Did Cabot want to emphasize a neurotic side of Sam? Was she some kind of list freak?

Overall, this book was a combination of Clueless and Legally Blonde—two movies I watched and had no particular fondness for.

Escape from L.A. (and failing every time)

2011-10-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

So I had an entire day to spend in L.A. After all, I was already going there to do a lecture at the Los Angeles Public Library for Teen Read Week; but the event wasn’t until 2pm. So what could I do to kill some time until then? What could I do to soak up some “local color?” Then someone suggested I check out Olvera St. and the Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. I said, “Cool!” I’ve never been there, and it’s always good to try something new every now and then. So the plan was set. I would go to the Grand Central Market and Olvera St., and then leave at around 1 o’ clock with plenty of time to make it to the library event. Simple, right? Wrong! I never thought when I woke up that morning that I would find myself in the Bermuda Triangle—and not make it back out.

That day started off fine. We—my mom and I—decided to head off as early as possible so we could beat the traffic. We got on the freeway at about 9:30am and arrived in L.A. at 10am. The first thing that came to mind was how outrageous the parking rates were. $5.00 for parking!? $6.50!? Were they nuts? And it seemed that the price just kept getting higher and higher the deeper we went. We kept asking people on the street, “Where is there free parking? Where can you park for the market?” And they just mumbled a few incoherent remarks and threw a few gestures in aimless directions. Yeah, that helped. We kept on driving until—at the corner of my eye—I spotted an entry way to a parking structure behind the market. Halleluiah!

After we got a parking, we got off and hopped in the elevator, where we saw a sign that stated the first hour of parking was free with a stamped ticket, which would’ve been great if I hadn’t left the ticket on the front dash of my car (I thought that ticket was like a parking permit or something.) So back we went to get that ticket. The weird thing was that the car wasn’t where we left it.

“Didn’t we park near the entrance?” my mom asked.

“I thought so,” I said. “We parked as soon as we got the ticket. Oh, great, we’ve been here 10 minutes, and we already lost the car.”

It took us a while to realize that we were on the wrong floor; the car was on level 2, and we were on level 3.

So, with ticket in hand, we arrived at the market, where we were instantly greeted by the alluring scent of carnitas. What else could we think of but eat? So we chowed down on some papusas de queso y pollo. Oh, my god, delicious! After that, we walked around, sampling some other foods and checking out the scenery. But somehow we ended back where we started—at the papusa station, where we ordered a bean and cheese papusa with a beef empanada. The empanada wasn’t that great, but the bean papusa was even better than the chicken one we had earlier. It almost made the 35-minute trip worth while.

It was about 11:20am, and we thought we should leave so as not to get charged the additional parking fee for staying beyond the free hour. Of course, we ended up paying anyways. Oh, well, $1.50 was better than $7.00, right?

One thing that I noticed about L.A.—and I didn’t notice this until it was too late—was that it had all these one-way streets that go in all these directions. And I realized this after I had made a right turn into a street, where traffic was going the opposite direction. Aahh, mercy! Man, it was a good thing there were no cars coming. But, yeah, the L.A. streets were weird. Ya never know which way the traffic is going and you can’t turn anywhere. We were stuck on a one-way pile of congested traffic from 4th all the way to 9th St. with nowhere to turn and fat, giant buses blocking our view. And the entire time we kept asking people on the street how to get to Olvera St., and no one knew. How could they not know? They live here, for god’s sake. It wasn’t until we found a cop, who told us that Olvera St. was going toward 3rd St. instead—the exact opposite of where we were going. And, of course, turning back around proved to be impossible with all the streets being blocked off and cars not letting you get through. I swear, if you added a boogeyman with razor-sharp claws in his glove, you could’ve called this horror A Nightmare to Olvera St.

Eventually, we got away from all that hell (Phew!) and were clear on our way. Again, parking was a bitch. We ended up parking in a $9.00 lot. Boy, L.A. really probes you for every nickel and dime, huh?

So there we were at Olvera St.—a slice of Tijuana at our feet. The street had booths all the way down to the end, and they were all selling the same Mexican crap—ponchos, tamarindo, Chiclets, maracas, and, of course, the ever popular sombrero. What made this different than a swap meet was how all the people were scrunched together in the aisles, and you had to practically climb on top of one another just to get through. In fact, that’s kind of how it was at the Grand Central Market too. As soon as people got their food, they’d all huddle tightly together like rats, clawing and munching at their meal as if it was going to run away from them. I guess this was the natural hustle-and-bustle of downtown L.A. You buy, you pay, they throw the bootie, and then they throw the line back out there to try to hook another sucker.

By 1 o’ clock, we were heading back to the car. According to the Map Quest directions, we had to take the 110 freeway over by 3rd St. near the Grand Central Market. Well, I didn’t really want to get stuck in that horrific traffic jam again, and I knew we were near the 101 ‘cause I had just seen it. Wasn’t there a way to get the 110 via the 101? I wondered. A guy parked next to us confirmed that it was. Like idiots, we listened to the guy. Little did we know that getting on the 101 would prove to be start of one of the most disastrous domino effects ever.

Somehow the 101 turned into the 5 freeway, which we stayed on hoping to run into the 110; but we didn’t. We got off the freeway and arrived in a city called Montebello. It was 1:30pm, so we thought the library I was scheduled to do a lecture at would give us the directions to get there. Unfortunately, we wound up talking to a lady who didn’t know how to use Google and had virtually no idea how to get to that library, even though she worked there. It didn’t help that the lady was a moron, nor did it help that we were getting a heat stroke under the blazing sun (it was so freaking hot out there.) So we called our cell phone rep, hoping he would be able to utilize the GPS service to find out where the hell we were ‘cause, surely enough, we had absolutely no idea. But we basically spent all of 20 minutes spelling out “Montebello” for him. So then my mom found a trucker nearby and asked him for directions on how to get to the 110 freeway. After all, he was a trucker, and all they do is a drive around all day—they should know where they’re going, not to mention where they are. He told us to go down the street, where we’ll get the 710 freeway, then transfer on to the 10, and then finally the 110. That would’ve been all nice to try out……if it hadn’t been for the stalled train in the middle of the road. It was just sitting there, not moving, not an inch or a budge. I swear it was worse than a sleeping cow. And the whole time I kept thinking fate does not want me to get to this event, the world does not want me to get out of here!

After the train, we got ourselves into a tangled web of freeways. We saw the 710, we saw the 60, I think we even saw the 605; but we did NOT see the 110. Ooh, pues! So we got off again—this time in Alhambra. We sought more directions from people, which didn’t help. Then we found a computer. Hooray! We should’ve been able to find it now, except….not even the computer could find where we were. Map Quest did not recognize the address. By this time, I was pulling at my hairs.

Taking in a few breaths, I fumbled with a few keys and was able to pull up some directions. It said to go south on Freemont, make a right on Helmond, and take the 10 west freeway. Well, obviously, if one way was east, then the other way would have to be west; and that’s what we did. If I said this once, I will say it again: L.A. has got the weirdest (and stupidest) streets as they curve in all sorts of directions that take you nowhere with no way of getting back to where you started from. We traveled to Alhambra, Vernon, and Monterey Park. This Bermuda Triangle was spinning us in a whirlwind of circles. It was by dumb luck that we ended up at Cal State L.A., where I was a panelist at last year’s Latino Book Festival, and I recalled what freeway I took to get home—the 710 to the 5. At this point, we just wanted to get out of this upside-down world and back to where it was normal—home.

So there you have it. I didn’t make it to Teen Read Week, but I made it out L.A…...just barely. Who knows, maybe fate was keeping me away from that event for a reason. Maybe the roof caved in, or maybe there was a terrorist attack. Oh, well. Yes, I felt bad for having missed the event (even though I could feel we were dancing around the location,) but, in all honesty, this ain’t the first time I’ve missed something just because I got way lost on Planet Weird. But, hey, sometimes you have to get lost to truly find yourself; and that day, I got really found.

Review: Coffee at Little Angels by Nadine Rose Larter

2011-10-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

Today, I review Coffee at Little Angels by Nadine Rose Larter.

What do you do when you lose a childhood friend? What do you do when you know everyone is expecting you to come home? What do you do if you don't want to?

Phillip, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Caleb, Maxine, Grant, Melanie and Josh grew up in a small town where they spent their high school years together as an inseparable clique. But high school has ended, and they are all living their own “grown up” lives, each under the impression that their group has basically come to an end. When Phillip dies in a hit and run accident, Kaitlyn summons the others to all come back home, forcing a reunion that no one is particularly interested in partaking in.

My thoughts: It begins with a small forward by Phillip as he relays about the things he used to do when he was alive. The reader is then introduced to Maxine, a no-nonsense, fearless woman who doesn’t like to show emotion—bad or good. Next, we meet Josh, a divorce lawyer with a loony secretary; then came Sarah, the old high school girlfriend still holding on to an un-proclaimed love; then Kaitlin, the one who runs Little Angels coffee shop; then Grant, the prankster; then Melanie, the boy-lover; and finally, Caleb, Sarah’s first crush and, apparently, the one that brought together this group of high school friends, friends that stayed together all four years and then parted ways in the end. The heartbreaking news of Phillip’s sudden death is what reawakens their past and triggers a long-awaited reunion.

I liked how this book doesn’t really have chapters; it has sections that allow the reader to enter the mind of each character, all of which have their own individual story that they are narrating in their own voice. The characters are distinguished by their livelihoods, morals, and personal issues, and it is the distinct memories of their past that meld them together in a unified abstract form.

Each character was enjoyable in their way, but I must say that I liked Maxine the best simply because I related to her most. She keeps the dating scene real. She’s not into the whole “love is a fairy tale” thing. The problem was that she was dating Prince Charming, a nice guy that liked to give her massages and flowers, and liked to talk about feelings and watch romantic comedies, and always remembered an anniversary, even if it was only 3 weeks old; he was the type of guy that never forgot to end his sentences with an “I love you,” and he absolutely adored the idea of marriage and children. Can you say, Gag!? I know there are probably a lot of women who would love a guy like this. But, in the words of Maxine, “On paper, he’s perfect. In reality, I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to breathe…” (pg 58) Unfortunately, perfection can be boring, and, let’s face it, it can make you want to stick a fork in your eye. To me, that whole “perfect boyfriend” charade is phony and superficial. It’s like having a Ken doll around, in which he is nothing but a plastic head completely devoid of male genitalia. I’m sorry, but I’m with Max: I want a guy that I can be a bitch with.

At first, the writing style grabs your interest as if you were talking to an old friend in a coffee shop, which I’m sure is the reason the book got its title; however, at the same time, my efforts were waned by the monotonous flow of the story. I felt that the author needed to mix up the pace a little using the old “Show, Don’t Tell” rule. But since I was a reader that often likes to see a story to the end, I continued reading, at times skipping some of the superfluous details.

It’s a quick read that makes you ponder what it would be like to reunite with someone you haven’t known in so long. The words dread, regret, and sheer awkwardness would sum it up quite nicely, and they certainly all come into play when these old friends come together again. And although tedious at times, I still could not help but wonder how this reunion would turn out, especially since these friends were all involved with each other in some way. I thought it would be like reading an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, where guy A breaks up with girl A to go out with girl B after cheating on girl A, who cheated on guy A with guy B yadda-yadda-yadda. But the story takes on a deeper meaning as each character reflects on their memories of growing up in that coffee shop, and everything else sort of “comes out” in that coffee shop. Eventually you start to feel like a psychiatrist to this group because of the constant exchange of emotions, which I found a bit wearing.

Overall, I’d say this book was okay but just not particularly tailored to my niche.

Summer Flop

2011-09-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

I know it may have seemed that I'd fallen off the face of the earth when I stopped blogging (and reading) this summer, and perhaps I did. With all the hectic changes that have been happening all around, how could I have not flopped this summer?

I'm usually a big book aficionado, and because of my deep literary devotion, I have a fairly steady regiment for reading (I usually read almost every night.) But, lately, I just fell off the wagon (or the planet) because of all the changes, both the planning and cancellation of these changes. Now I seemed to have run into a submissive lull, where I almost feel at peace, almost. I don't know. At this point, I'm tired of trying to get things back to the old status quo. The events of the summer have drained the life out of me, leaving a remnant to that of an old, flaccid and withered beach ball. I've been sucked so dry I feel like I've nothing left to give. That's it, I'm done. From now on, I'm just going to sit back and let this wild current take me where it wants to. Why fight it? I've been spending so much time battling the waves that I've forgotten how to enjoy the water. Well, I'm going to start enjoying it today.....starting with a book.

Review: The Undertaker by William F. Brown

2011-07-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

I know it's been like a month since I've done any book reviews. June has been especially hectic for me, and it is only because of the 4th of July holiday that I was able to finish my latest read. Of course, I would've been done sooner had it not been in PDF format. You know how it is when you've been working all day at a computer in the office, and the last thing you want to do when you get home is get back on the computer? Oy, vey!

Usually, I don't take E-books, but I thought I'd make an exception this once for The Undertaker by William F. Brown.

Pete Talbott is a California native and harried Boston computer wonk still grieving over the death of his wife Terri, when he found himself at the wrong end of Gino Parini's .45 reading his own obituary torn from that morning's newspaper. Talbott figured it was all a big mistake until Parini showed him his wife's obituary too, and this was a mystery Talbott couldn't leave alone. From a funeral home in Indiana, to car chases on the Dan Ryan, a bloody Back Bay townhouse, snipers in New York City's Washington Square, sleazy lawyers, corrupt County sheriffs, mafia hit men, the FBI, an army of Chicago cops, and that unforgettable scene in the upper berth of an Amtrak Train, "The Undertaker" is a thrill ride with a touch of humor and romance. Someone with a penchant for sharp scalpels and embalming tables is planting bodies under other people's names; and if Talbott doesn't stop them, he and his quirky new girlfriend, Sandy Kasmarek, will be next on the Undertaker's list.

My thoughts: It all began with a naked, fat man being tortured. The writer really tries to paint this scene for you as if you were watching some Mission Impossible movie. I found a few typos here and there before I ever got to the first chapter, which were a little distracting but not enough to completely deviate from the scene.

I liked the way chapter one began with the main character, Peter Talbott, reading his obituary in the newspaper—a real attention-grabber, if you ask me. At this point, I’m wondering how a man could be reading his own death announcement. Was it a conspiracy? Does he have a twin? What? Then Peter begins to tell his life story, which consisted of where he graduated and where he worked—all details that were a little mundane but were quickly revived by the author’s “cynical, black humor.” (pg. 16) Then it turns out that Peter has had quite a few death announcements. Confused, he embarks on a journey to find some answers, starting with attending his funeral scheduled the next morning.

Suddenly, this mistaken death becomes an obsession for Peter, and an investigation takes place. It was clear that Peter was no detective and had absolutely no idea what he was doing, which made for some pretty tedious reading; but his tentative efforts somehow drives you keep going. I thought it was endearing how a man could still be faithful to his wife even in death. Peter could not allow his wife’s name to be dragged through the mud. His philosophy was: “I don’t care what they say about me, just leave her out of it.” Very chivalrous. He was kind of like a middle-aged knight at the defense of his great lady’s honor.

This is a story of one man’s mission to seek the truth about a mystery death and clear his and his wife’s name. And, since it was written in first person perspective, we know all his thoughts, questions, theories, and epiphanies—basically, his amateur approach to this case. It’s no Sherlock Holmes, but it definitely makes you curious. I may not look at another obituary the same again.

For more information, log on to
http://billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com/

Review: You've Got a Hold on Me

2011-06-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

Another book down in the "2011 Colorful Chick Lit" Challenge by Reads4Pleasure.

You've got a hold on me by Tamara Sneed

It takes a lot for Assistant D.A. Amelia Farrow to lose her cool—except when it comes to George Gibson. With his devilish smile and chocolate brown eyes, the handsome defense attorney is known for playing it fast and loose with the ladies. When they're in court together, Amelia can barely think straight. But she refuses to succumb to George's charms—even if those charms can be pretty damn, well, charming...

When George sets his mind to it, he can have most women wrapped around his finger in record time. But prim and proper Amelia, the daughter of L.A.'s most prestigious black judge, is the exception to the rule. It's obvious Amelia finds him attractive—and she'd be one fine-looking sister if she'd lose those stuffy business suits. So why can't he break through that icy exterior and her to the hot-blooded woman inside?

Amelia and George can't avoid each other any longer when they both catch wind of a conspiracy involving court corruption and a possible murder. And when the violence hits close to home, it's impossible to deny their shared passion. But will a shocking portrayal of trust come between them just when the need each other the most?

My thoughts: This story has a whole "opposites attract" theme going between George and Amelia, which I liked. I can see how being with someone exactly like you can be boring sometimes; on the other hand, it may just be a perfect match. I guess it just depends on the couple. But, in this case, being the opposite is exactly what these two characters needed.

Written in the perspective of the two main lovers, this story takes us on a wild ride of "Love Boat" mixed in with "I Spy." Two opposing rivals, secretly lusting for one another, are suddenly thrown together into this scheming (possibly dangerous) judicial conspiracy--like the I love trouble movie starring Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte (my favorite part was when all the boy scouts were snapping pictures of Julia coming out of the pond.)

Both characters were rendered realistically with all the she-bang: fear, anger, stubbornness, and family issues. At times, it seems that George and Amelia are wrong for each other. After all, she's rich and he's poor; she comes from a "celebrity" family, and he comes from the foster care system. Still, I enjoyed the warring spark that ignites between them. And, unlike Amelia's previous relationship with Brian, the guy who was "perfect" for her in every way, George was way better for her simply because he was everything she was never seeking; and it was exactly the same for George--she was everything he didn't want. Overall, they were good for each other: Amelia broke through George's "tough guy" exterior (something he had to develop from a crummy, loveless childhood,) and George brought out the free-spirited woman from Amelia's in-born, conservative shell.

Sometimes I felt that these two people were trying so hard to be Sherlock Holmes that the "mystery" became jaded. Also, the lawyer jargon was too technical to follow, even though the story needed some since it involved courts and judges and stuff. Still, I found myself skipping a lot of this.

It's just as serious as Law and Order--in other words, not funny. It's just all law and lust.

There were some surprises toward the end, but it was overall unsatisfying.

Review: Buddha Baby

2011-05-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know that May is Asian Heritage month? I didn't. Hell, I only found out about from a commercial on TV. So I said, "Hey, I guess I'm reading the right book right now." And I just finished it!

Buddha Baby by Kim Wong Keltner

Summary:Want to learn a thing or two about a young Chinese-American woman with a penchant for Hello Kitty toys, who could be found squeezing into jeans at Old Navy while being asked for detailed explanations of Yo-Yo Ma's success?

This is a story about Lindsey as she continues her quest for identity, family secrets, and true love. Will she find double happiness, or will she be tempted by one last lion dance with a stranger? Ultimately, Lindsey realizes that Chinese girls really wanna have chow fun.

My thoughts: The name "Kim Wong Keltner" is not unfamiliar to me. I tried reading her only YA novel, I want Candy, and failed revoltingly because, quite frankly, the details were so sexually explicit that it made me want to vomit. But then I read her very first book, The Dim Sum of All Things, and ended up enjoying it a great deal. Kim's style was so hilarious that I wanted to give the next book--a follow up re-starring her lovable main character, Lindsey Owyang--a must read.

Buddha Baby, like the first book, instantly starts off funny, witty, and smart. I loved the way Lindsey depicted her family, especially her grub-stealing aunt. The author had described a caper similar to How the Grinch stole Christmas, where Lindsey asked her aunt where she was going with their dinner like "Cindy Liu-Hu." Clever and funny!

As pointed out in the first book, Lindsey still doesn't want to be perceived as the silent, no-opinion, money-making Chinese girl like her cousin. In fact, she still makes every attempt to hide her "Chinese-ness." And I totally get the idea of wanting to pursue artistic endeavors and not get stuck in a corporate prison. I guess that's why Lindsey was working two part-time jobs. In fact, she had stated that her career choices were a direct contradiction to her Asian-ness as she was supposed to be banking a great salary and have all this money saved up. But I agree: why can't you enjoy the money now before you get too old and enfeebled to do anything with it?

While reading her story, I often wondered why Lindsey would want to know about her parents and grandparents all of a sudden. To learn more about herself or her Chinese-ness possibly?

Lindsey's boyfriend, Michael--the "you-look-good-without-any-make-up-on" guy--is the kind of guy we girls only dream of. But things go into a rocky turmoil when Lindsey reconnects with an old school crush named Dustin, who seemed to have really connected with Lindsey on all levels, especially with regards to their Asian-ness. They seemed to feel the exact same way, like they were the same person practically--a rare connection nowadays. Most of the time, Dustin was a smoldering hottie; but, other times, he was just plain cocky. And why was he trying to get Lindsey to sleep with him even though he knew she had a boyfriend? I actually wondered if Lindsey would succumb to the tempation of Dustin. Will she give in to her secret desires? Will she ruin all that she had with Michael? I had to keep on reading to find out.

At times, I felt that the author embellished too much on the past and not enough on the present. Most of the scenes from her Catholic school days were sort've dull and, in my opinion, served no real purpose in the story. There was also a constant back-and-forth transition between past and present. I usually don't mind visiting the past every so often, but not in every other chapter!

I liked that that author had an eye and ear for details. You can tell that she has a deep fondness for the city of San Francisco; however, I felt that some of the details were kind of long-winded. Details can be great, especially when they are well-crafted, but, like with anything else in life, too much of anything is never a good thing; and I think that the writer could've cut back a little (a lot, actually.)

I also felt that the story dealt with too much religion. This may come from my own personal taste since I am not a religious person in any kind of sense. But still, is that why it was called Buddha Baby? It was just too pious.

Overall, I didn't quite enjoy this book as much as The Dim Sum of all things, because I guess I couldn't relate to it as much as far as humor and wit were concerned. Really, it was mostly about Lindsey's quest to learn more about her grandparents' history, and her deep pondering regarding the strength and commitment level of her relationship with Michael. If you were to ask my opinion of this book, I'd come back with, "Eh."

Review: All Eyes on Her

2011-05-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ever reach the last few chapters of a book but you're just shy of finishing it all the way? That's what happened to me this morning.

It was Monday, so, of course, that meant having to go to work. I got up early (like I usually do) and thought to myself: hey, I've got an hour to kill, why not finish up that book? So I started to. And I thought that I would be able to finish reading it and post a review before skipping off to my job. Okay, maybe not post the review, but I had hoped that I would, at least, finish it.

After glancing over at the clock for the last hour, I realized that my time was up and I had to get ready for work. Unfortunately, I was about to do it with an unfinished novel on the brain (and I was only a few pages away too!)

But, now, I can proudly announce that I just finished it! Hooray! Now I can die happy!

All eyes on her by Poonam Sharma

Summary: As a junior associate at the most-sought-after marital mediation and divorce boutique in Beverly Hills, Monica is part mediator, part lawyer, part marriage therapist and all celebrity babysitter. She's so good at her job that she's handling the firm's superstar clients Cameron and Lydia Johnson—Hollywood It couple Camydia. Although things would be easier if the only other female associate would stop sabotaging her career, and if the drama queen she refers to as mother wasn't moving back home!
When the latest Camydia scandal breaks wide open, it's time for Monica to save the day, to don her Prada cape and matching bag, then wreak havoc on her office rival and run circles around the paparazzi.

Everyone's watching to see what Monica will do… hey, are those claws on that French manicure?

My thoughts: First thing, the cover--awesome! Second thing, the beginning--boring! I had a really hard time getting into it at the start of the book, so much, in fact, that it almost made me wish that the last user had torn out the first several pages (like in the last book I read.) But, alas, I was forced to read about the boring details of Hollywood celebrity couples and their "scandals." Big, fat yawn.

There was also a back-and-forth rhythm between Monica's past and present, which I found okay--a bit unnecessary at times but okay. I definitely did not like the author's tendency to drone on and on and on and on and on like an old wind bag. My goodness, enough is enough! Get to the point already!

Now, normally, with a book this dull, I would''ve chucked the whole thing in the recycling bin before reaching the thirtieth page. But I like to give a book a second chance, because, in my experience, some books have started off slow but then, all of a sudden, got interesting towards the middle. And I'm glad I stuck this one out, because, to my own surprise, this one got interesting as well.

The story really took a turn for the better when our star, Monica, takes initiative and seeks out vengeance on her office adversary, Stefanie. But that's not all. You become more intrigued when, out of the blue, her old flame, Alex, comes strolling back into town and winds up being one of her new clients. And this was all stuff that should've been in the previews.

What I liked about Monica was her stubborn independence. She was engaged but didn't wear a ring. At least, not on her finger anyway; she wore it on a chain around her neck (like a noose, as described by her fiance.) She wants to keep her own name and often wonders "why guys are such chicks?" I can totally relate!

It seems like everyone is out to get Monica, it seems like everyone is watching her every move. My god her own mother set up her on a prank live on a reality TV show!
Also, why does Monica feel like she has to fix everyone's problems? It didn't feel like it was just part of her job as a private celebrity consultant.

I also liked the little Indian myths and old wives' tales--all of which just makes a woman think. Actually, this book sort've reminded me of the stories written by Latina author, Margo Candela, who has often claimed that she writes "smart, witty women's fiction." And that's sort've what I got from this novel. Although I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, it did leaving me thinking about my own behaviors as one of the female species.

So, the moral of this post is: Don't give up on a book too soon.

Don't people have respect for books?

2011-05-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

After committing to two more book reviews this past month, it was only natural that I take a break from reading. I mean, why force myself to read something when my heart isn't into it? What would be the point?

So for the past week or week and a half, I have been kicking back, reading blogs and posting on Facebook. But then I decided to get back in the game with a new book from my TBR pile. I picked one out, propped my feet up on the stool, held my reading light in place, and then finally popped the sucker open to the first page of chapter one. But then I discovered something: the first two pages of chapter one were ripped in half! The headline read, "Chap--," and then you see a big, ole' crude tear.

In all honesty, I did but this book second-hand from Amazon for like $2, but still. Who would rip the pages like that? And why would they sell the book this way?

I mean, yes, I am still reading it anyway (even though I had to start from like the third or fourth page.) Luckily, I didn't really miss much from the first four pages (remember, the first two pages have writing on both the front AND the back.) But still! Why would people just rip the pages out of a book like that? Don't people have respect for books? It just aggravates me when people do that. Not only are you ruining the look and quality of the book, but you are ruining the chance for someone to read the story! My god, it's like ripping the last two pages out of a murder mystery book. Now you'll never know who done it.

I noticed from the spine of the book that it came from some public library in Mississippi. In fact, there were several pages with the word, "discard," written across. Okay, I get it. Clearly, they wanted to get rid of this book, and I can see why.

I am still reading this book (I think I'm up to like chapter 5 or 6,) and I'm hoping that no more pages will be ripped out because that's just cruel.

Review: Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry

2011-04-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

When we say "Harlequin," what word comes to mind? Cheesy? Corny? Predictable? Most of us associate Harlequin books to be cheap indulgences for lonely nights--and maybe that's true. But, see, I think of them as a tiny piece of chocolate--that extra jolt you need to get you through pain, misery, life. Face it, sometimes you're in the mood for a little Harlequin.

Recently, I have been reading Her Best Friend--a Super Romance--by Sarah Mayberry.

Plot: What's a girl to do when she's secretly in love with a friend and he's married to someone else? She gets over it. That's what Amy Parker has done. Rather than lose her best bud Quinn Whitfield with an ill-timed, crazy confession of affection, she's taken the smart route. She's eased away from him. Just enough to get past the unrequited bits. And you know, it's working.

Until the day Quinn announces he's now single. That's right. He's single. And he wants to hang out. With her. Get reconnected the way they used to be.

Oh, this is so not good for Amy's equilibrium. Daily doses of Quinn remind her of everything she loves about him. But if he's free…and she's free…well, maybe the time has come for one of those crazy confessions.

My thoughts: You feel an instant connection between Amy and Quinn. I thoroughly enjoyed the re-living of their childhood, like when Amy first noticed Quinn's transformation from boy to man. Your sympathy goes out to Amy for her unrequited love for Quinn. I mean, c'mon, we've all had that feeling where you like someone and that person doesn't give you a second peek. And when Amy loses Quinn to her other friend! Well, that just sucks! After all, nobody likes being the third wheel.

Even though this story was predictable--a Harlequin book always is--I was happy when Amy and Quinn finally got together because they worked. I've always said that the best relationships stem from a friendship because no one is trying to impress; all the sags, moles, and wrinkles are there. And that's okay because it means that these two people are hanging out with each other because of who they really are on the inside. And that's important. I'm reminded of the "Jerry and Elaine" relationship on Seinfeld. They went out, broke up, and became the best of friends--the kind you can't imagine living day-to-day without. Can you imagine that? Most people who break up can't be friends, even if that's where it started, because it's just too weird for them. But Jerry and Elaine pulled it off. Friendships are the best!

Life is too short

2011-04-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Life is too short to waste on a book that is not doing it for you.

After a brief hiatus from reading, I decided to get right back on the horse. Problem was that I had about 30 unread novels in my TBR bag and didn't have a clue on which one to read. So I pretty much wanted to pull a Lucy Ricardo by putting them all on a Lazy Susan, spinning it around, and agreeing to pay (I mean read) which ever one stayed on the thing. That doesn't really work so well when they ALL stay on. So I just closed my eyes, shoved my hand in the bag, and pulled one out. And the winner was......a book given to me by another blogger after she had posted a 5-star review on her site. I was supposed to read this book and agree to post something about it. I just haven't gotten around to it....until now that is.

The first question that came to mind when I started reading this was: Why is it called Sheetrock Angel? Was this a murder mystery or a psychological drama? I couldn't really tell from the back summary. It starts off with a woman named Audrey, and she is looking for a house to settle from a divorce to her unfaithful husband. She rides around in the realtor's car just looking at each house--just looking and looking and looking, until, eventually, she buys a dilapidated, old cottage on the spot. So it started off boring right from the beginning.

As Audrey begins the remodel of her new home, she mourns the life she had with her husband and fears the loneliness that's destined to come. She goes on a journey of self-pity, which was kind of annoying. At some point, I think I said, "Get over it, lady! Move on!" I just couldn't sympathize.

I skipped some parts here and there because they just weren't interesting. Why waste the time? Life was just too short. And, in lieu of wasting more time, I must also confess that I never finished Sheetrock Angel. I just couldn't get into it, I'm sorry. Honestly, I don't know why I even bothered with this. When I read the review, I thought it was called Sherlock Angel (guess I should've had my glasses on for that one, huh?) With a title like that, I assumed it would be about a smart, savvy detective solving a bewildering murder using unorthodox skills. But no, Sheetrock Angel was nothing like this. I should've know that judging from the cover. It was nothing but a photograph of a beach cottage in front of a sun set--boring! I didn't want to judge a book by its cover, so I gave the back summary a shot, but it was just as boring (and confusing.) In summation, I wouldn't have bought this book if I saw it in a store. Hell, I wouldn't even have picked it up. Quite frankly, I can't even remember why I agreed to review this book. It's weird. It's like not being able to remember the night before, like I had been drinking and was now battling a wicked hang over. Well, thank god I didn't do anything I was going to regret......like actually finish this book.

Review: Slate by Brian Rowe

2011-04-10T11:52:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Slate by Brian Rowe.

It begins with a prologue depicting a mountain hike of a character named Nathan LeMille. The scene was well-written and filled with vivid details.

When I first started reading this, it seemed that the main character would be Nathan, but then chapter one begins with a woman named Vivien Slate, a casting director for movies, starring in the primary role. It made me wonder what happened to Nathan.

Like any typical TV businessman, Vivien is hard-working and extremely busy—so busy, in fact, that she can’t be bothered to remember an intern’s name. She can’t stand people who are ignorant about the entertainment industry; in fact, she nearly clobbers a video store clerk because of her lack of movie knowledge. Vivien also has a son, a child actor she desperately pushes into the spot light of fame and fortune.

We actually don’t run into Nathan again until he accidentally bumps into Vivien on the way to exiting the office of her son’s acting coach.

As the story continues, we are introduced to other characters: Christopher Bells, the storyboard artist with the bowel syndrome and a longing aspiration for the acting life; Lila Perrington, a 50-something “B-level” actress who hates to admit her real age; Garrett Skyler, a former child actor that grew into a hunk that now ignites a fire in Vivien’s fantasies; Tyler Stiletto, a “show me the money” agent; Alyson Baumgartner, the film/acting student who is barely learning the non-California lingo of the industry; and, of course, Nathan LeMille (the guy we meet in the prologue,) another actor trying to get his face out there, even though the scar on his chin was his worst enemy. Every character—all of which come into the story with their own personal baggage—is somehow connected to Vivien, as she, herself, struggles to find balance in her career and family. But then Vivien’s world starts to crash and burn after she catches her husband sticking it to his young secretary in their Jacuzzi, to which, Vivien goes ballistic, grabs a bat, and chases after her cheating husband (a very entertaining scene!)

After that, Vivien can only think of one thing: to get back at her husband for what he did. One way—the only way, as it was bluntly stated—was for her to cheat on him. And that becomes her mission throughout the entire book. I liked how, in the beginning, Vivien was so clumsy about the whole getting-laid thing, especially in regards to the entire process—going to late-night bars, flirting, making eye-contact, going for the first kiss, etc. This gave her character a comedy quality, one straight out of a Sandra Bullock movie.

Eventually, Vivien decides that it would be easier to cast her perfect man; and a fake movie that everyone wants to audition for is born. But suddenly her mission for a one-night stand takes a different turn as Vivien’s true desire is to go to bed with one man for the rest of her life.

Full of humor and sensitivity, this story takes us on a fun roller coaster ride through Hollywood. It was interesting to learn the back story of the movie industry—the casting, the script readings, the editing, the behind-the-scenes look into the real office life. The author clearly knew a lot about movies and had a sense of humor about it. But I did feel that there were a few too many characters, so many that it took some of the focus away from Vivien. Was it really necessary to map out everybody’s life story in so much detail? However, despite the fact that there were too many people, the writer does take us back to the story, clean and simple, without losing the reader’s interest. I must also add that the book had a bit too much sex for my taste. Not that there’s anything wrong with a little sex in a story, but, in retrospect, I do tend to get a little put off—not to mention disgusted—when it gets too racy. I basically had to skip those scenes.

In any sense, curiosity compels you to keep on reading as you wonder how it will all end. Will Vivien achieve what she set out to do? Will she feel any differently about it? How will it affect her and those around her? Will she be happy with herself when this is all over? You can’t help but feel sympathy for Vivien as she goes through a crumbling marriage; however, she also portrays a selfish side I didn’t quite care for when she uses her power as casting director to seduce potential actors. Maybe she deserved to be a little selfish, but not at the advantage of a poor, struggling actor—that’s not professional. Did she really think she could find true love this way?

Towards the end, Vivien becomes more naive, clueless, and temperamental, which all rendered her as a true-to-life character. I mean, I’ll bet there are a lot of people like her in Hollywood Land. Overall, this was a quick and easy read, even as an E-book (I personally prefer reading my stories from an actual book in my hand as opposed to a computer screen.) Still, I could not wait to see how it would end.

Q&A with Richard Fast

2011-03-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

How would you like to achieve financial independence in 29 days? Or lose weight in 29 days? Well, we found an expert (or, rather, the expert found me)!

Today, we welcome Richard Fast, author of the "29 Days" series.

Q: Tell us about your “29 Days” book series.
A: They’re about making massive and permanent change to our thoughts, behaviors and beliefs in just 29 days.
The “29 Days” series is based on the book 29 DAYS ... to a habit you want!, which has spawned four programs are targeted
toward helping us gain complete control of one major area of our lives. The four programs are titled:
• 29 DAYS ... to your perfect weight
• 29 DAYS ... to your life without cigarettes!
• 29 DAYS ... to save money and achieve financial independence
• 29 DAYS ... to becoming a great listener and communicator
The programs are designed for one purpose – permanent change. Although combining the concept of just 29 days together with lifelong permanent change may seem like an oxymoron, in reality this 29-day journey is the all-important gateway to changing the most crucial part of permanent change: our thoughts, behaviors and attitudes.
When we successfully change our thoughts and feelings then permanent change becomes easy and effortless.
As we all know, it’s not hard to do something we want to do nor is it difficult to refrain from doing something we don’t want to do. By changing our true want and desires we affect permanent change and new lifelong habits.

Q: What inspired you to write these books?
A: I was inspired because of the simple fact that the world really doesn’t need another how-to book. All the information is out there. In fact, we’re drowning in a bottomless sea of information. My inspiration came from realizing that we really need something that motivates us to take action and begin to apply what most of us already know. But in addition to the application, we need to be sure our desired changes are permanent, none of this short-term willpower nonsense.
If we look at the weight-loss industry over the past 75 years, for example, we can see the same stream of solutions year after year. We see a never-ending stream of diets, pills, chocolates, gadgets and gimmicks, with each new “amazing secret discovery” billed as the amazing new answer to all our weight problems.
But when it’s all said and done we still have to burn more calories than we consume. There’s simply no way around that and we all know that.
So my inspiration wasn’t about giving people more information or some crazy gimmick but to simply show and guide them
toward taking action and making the simple changes that lead to a new way of living and a desirable new habit. Believe it or not – and this is the key – unless the changes we make are easy and sustainable, we’re setting ourselves up for certain failure.
The 29DAYS programs are designed to take someone through a very easy, step-by-step procedure that will result in a massive attitude change and a permanent new behavior and lifestyle.

Q: What makes your book different from other self-improvement books and plans?
A: I might be playing with semantics here, but I would really call these programs rather than books. These programs are designed to take someone on a 29-day journey of self-discovery. Together with their online coach, we take you through a metamorphosis of change. The entire focus is on application – taking action. Knowledge without application and action is useless. Most of us know what we should do, but if we can’t get ourselves to do it then that knowledge isn’t making the slightest difference to our lives.
Giving people a 300 page book that is chock full of wonderful information that isn’t read or applied is frequently what happens.
Many people purchase solutions and then perhaps hope they will receive the results through osmosis.
In these 29DAYS programs, we make sure you don’t try to do too much or too little each day. If people try to do too much they are heading for failure, because what they are attempting is not sustainable. On the other hand, if we go too slowly we may not see the beginning of change quickly enough and so we lose our focus and desire and we end up quitting.
The entire focus of 29DAYS is to gently interact with you twice each day to create a transformational way of thinking. People are
consistently blown away by what they accomplish simply because they stuck with something and really thought and focused on it for a solid 29 days. The results in these programs have been both predictable and spectacular.

Q: Where can we get more information on your books?
A: There is lots of additional information on the 29DAYS website, www.29daysto.com, and then of course the programs are available to purchase either through the website or at major online retailers.

I have his books sitting on my shelf and have not yet had the chance to try them out for 29 days. Been too busy to even try. But now that I am back from my trip to Arizona, I guess there is no excuse.....except I really want to start at the beginning of the month.

Tucson Festival of Books 2011

2011-03-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books in Arizona (actually, it was really only a Sunday since most of Saturday was spent at the airport trying to get to the festival.)

Many thanks to Nuestras Raices and the Pima Public Library for sponsoring my trip. I had a blast!

I must admit that this was my first out-of-state gig. Actually, it was my first flight ever! I always figured that I would avoid planes all together because I thought I would be a nervous flyer. I was surprised to realize that days before the festival, I was actually looking forward to the trip. But, still, I was a flight virgin--I didn't know a thing about airports. So I started doing my research the day before to figure out the logistics: what to do, where to go, what to bring. I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to bring toothpaste, especially since my sister got the story in my head about the woman who was frisked for the lipstick she wasn't allowed to take through security. Oh, geez, maybe I'm not allowed to bring toothpaste. Or sanitizer. Wait, what constitutes a "carry-on" bag? Was it even the right size for it? Oh, man, what do I do!? I don't want to get stripped search at the airport! Do you know how humiliating that is?

So I thought I would just play it "safe" and limit my packing to just the clothes on my back and about 20 copies of my book.

My flight was scheduled to leave at 12:45pm on Saturday, March 12. The website suggested to get there an hour to an hour and a half before your flight to have ample time to check in for your boarding pass and get through security. Okay, so I thought 11 was good, but nooooooo. My sister suggested I'd leave at 8 o' clock in the morning to beat traffic and the long lines I was bound to run into at security. And what if we got lost? "Okay, we'll leave at 8," I told her after about an hour of debate.

We got there at 9:56am. I didn't have to check in with the air line because I had done that online. All I had to do was go through security, which only took about 10 minutes. Then I waited for about two hours for the flight. Oh, yeah, it was worth getting up at the crack of dawn for this.

When I boarded the plane, I felt a mixture of excitement and uncertainty (most mostly excitement.) I felt like I was on a roller coaster plummeting down when the plane sped through the runway and finally jumped into the air. Okay, I admit it, I was a little concerned about that take-off....and the twisting and turning in the air kind of threw me a little too. But, once I got past that, it was all good, I was good. I may even go as far to say that I had fun riding the plane. I even got a little sleepy. Something about flying in the air just makes you want to close your eyes and snore your head off.

It took an hour and a half to get from California to Arizona. The dry, desert heat fell upon me as I got off in Phoenix. I mean, it just totally hits you right in the face the second you get off the plane. Whoa! Yikes!

After all that, I finally got to Tucson and met up with my volunteer, who drove me to the Hampton Inn that evening. I was so surprised at how nice the room was. I felt like I had gotten the presidential suite or something. I acted like such a kid, jumping around on the bed, kicking and shouting, "Whoo-hoo!"

I got a head start the next morning at 6am with the complimentary breakfast at the hotel. At 9:30am, my volunteer picked me up and took me to the festival. I was speaking on two panels--one at 11:30am and the other at 2:30pm with a book signing in between. So I had absolutely NO time for anything else. I just stopped by the Nuestras Raices tent, got a few mementos, got a little something to eat, and waited in long-ass lines for the bathroom. I ended up leaving my second panel early because I had to catch my plane back home at 4:50pm.

So there was my weekend. I only wish that I would've had the chance to enjoy the festival as a spectator. It would've been better if I had gotten to Tucson Friday night and spent two nights in the hotel. That way I would've explored the festival all day Saturday, meeting authors and buying their books, and done my panels on Sunday. On Saturday, I would've been a fan; and Sunday, I would've been an author. But that didn't happen. Oh, well, I still had a blast, and I hope to return for next year's festival.

A day in the life of a drifter

2011-03-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was quite a day for me as I had the opportunity to live a day in the life of a drifter, where I was constantly on foot with my few belongings strapped to my back, a train ticket in my pocket, and cars whizzing by on the side without giving me a second thought. I was sweaty, and dirty, and honestly felt unwanted by society.

How did this all happen? I'll tell you.

It all started out when I scheduled a job interview for the position of a Graphic Artist. The interview was scheduled at 2:30pm, and it was in a city called Mission Viejo, a place quite a ways (about an hour) from Fullerton. I could've driven down there, but:

I wanted to save on the gas and the mileage

I didn't want to put my car through such a long trip (after all, I want it to last me a good 20 yrs.)

I really didn't feel like driving

So how was I going to get there? The train! I've never ridden the train. Interesting.

I looked up the schedule for the Metrolink--the train was to depart from Fullerton at 8:30am and arrive at Mission Viejo at 9:15am; return trip was scheduled at 4:10pm. Wow, I was going to be there ALL DAY. But, the truth was, it was still better (and cheaper) than driving. So I booked it.

The day started off bright and early at 5:45 am. The goal: to leave promptly at 7:30 am so as to have enough time to hop on the train at 8:30am (since I've never been on the train, I wanted to make sure I found parking, bought a ticket, etc., etc.) I got out of bed, then I quickly ate, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and got dressed. By the time I grabbed my purse, it was already 7:25am--5 minutes ahead of schedule, alright.

At 7:40am: I stopped by Kinkos to make a few extra copies of my resume, because they had told me that I would be meeting with three people. I raced through the underground parking lot, bolted through the doors, and headed straight for the copiers. Oh, rats, you need a card to use these things. Now where do I get that card? Oh, look, there was a machine. I quickly scan the screen for a way to get that darn card. Where was the button to shoots out a new card?

"You can just grab a card from over there," said a girl from behind.

"Oh, great, thanks," I said. So I grabbed a card from the corner that the girl pointed to and made my copies, then, pretty soon, I was running back to my car. 7:50 am.

I drove to the station, which was just down the block from the Kinkos. I parked, and then went on a wild odyssey to get a ticket. After all, I only had 30 minutes 'til the train's arrival. But where was that damn machine? Up and down, all around, I couldn't find it. Finally, I just started asking a bunch off people, until, ta da, I found it!

So I had my ticket in my hand......then my mind wandered over to my car. Will it be okay if I left it in the 3 hr. parking lot? I was going to be gone all day. Will I get a ticket? Oh, god, it's all need to come back and find a ticket tucked between the clenches of my wipers. Oh, why chance it?

I went back to the car and drove around until I found a parking structure with a 72 hr. limit. Hallelujah! I had to go all the way to the top level because all the spots at the bottom were taken, but, at least, I wouldn't have to worry about getting a ticket.

8:20 am: By now, I am relaxed and standing by the railroad tracks, waiting for a train. At 8:34am, the train arrived and I hopped on board. The trip lasted about 40 minutes while I reclined and watched the scenery zoom by.

9:18am: I arrived at the Mission Viejo station. Now I had hours to kill. But, since I had never been here before, I figured it would be best to find the interview site to save on time. Logical, right? So I walked around to figure out where the hell I was. What, this city never heard of street signs? I had to walk a whole block to see one. Once I finally did, I traipsed across the freeway traffic (apparently, this city never heard of crosswalks either,) and walked and walked and walked. I passed by a Cocoa's restaurant--a sign that I was nearing civilization and, therefore, some form of human existence. Apparently, Mission Viejo was Spanish for boondocks!

I kept on walking, passing a shopping center, until I finally found La Alameda Street. 10:31am.

Swimming in time now, I figured I better stop for lunch. I saw online that there was a Subway. I could go for a foot long to deflect my hunger and last me all day. But then I looked at the map and found that the street it was on was all the way across town--back where I just came from. Ah, hell no! My feet were already throbbing from before, and I didn't want to stray too far away from the job site. Oh, I'll just eat something here at this shopping center. Lucky for me, it also had a bathroom. I could pee.

I ended up eating a ten dollar burger from Islands. What a rip off! The turkey burger with steamed carrots and broccoli was good, but it wasn't that great.

12:00pm: I was going to leave for the interview no later than 1:30pm; I decided to read my book until then. Reading turned out to be very peaceful right there in the courtyard underneath the cool shade of the umbrella.....until all these screaming kids came in and started running all over the place. Oy, vey! So I tried looking for a quiet spot--more walking. By that time, my feet felt like they were about to fall off.

When I found a spot, I only had about 15-20 minutes to read. That was okay, I read pretty fast anyways.

1:40 pm: I arrived at the building housing my job interview. Before entering the door, I figured I had better take a look in a mirror in case I needed to fix up my hair, blot my face, or clean out a booger. I bent down and reached into my bag to find my tiny compact mirror; and that was when a guy nearly beams me with the door (he was coming out while I was burrowing through my bag.)

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said.

"When can you have it done?"

Huh? I looked up and realized that the guy was talking on a headset the whole time and not to me. In fact, he didn't even notice I was there. Oh, excuse me, Mr. Corporate Dick, I thought you were talking to me. Forgive me if nearly clobbering me with the door was too much of an inconvenience for you. Why not just step on my hand instead?

2: 00 pm: I was sitting at a table surrounded by my three interviewers. They all asked me some questions, and I answered them to the best of my ability considering I was dead tired and all I wanted to do was take a nap right then and there. And maybe it was just me, but I got the feeling they weren't really interested in what I had to say. One girl practically waved her hand to me as if saying, "I don't want to hear that, I don't want to hear that. My time is way too precious to waste on what you're saying." Another girl wanted to start a war with me over why the Mac computers were better than the PC. Oh, too tired.

2:20pm: The interview is officially over, thank god! I walked away with the distinct impression that they were not going to offer me the job. Yet, I still wasn't bothered by it because I was walking back to the train station, and the trail was not as gruesome as it was before....probably because I was going home! YES!

3:00pm: Waiting for the train; read for an hour.

4:10pm: Boarded the train and practically dozed off during the ride.

5:20pm: Finally got home and could go to the bathroom now.

So that was my day--a day in the life of a drifter.

The Dim Sum of All Things

2011-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

Keeping up with the countdown of the "Coloful Chick Lit Challenge," I just polished off The Dim Sum of All Things by Kim Wong Keltner.

Now, I was a little worried about reading another book by this particular author because I read her YA novel, I want Candy, and it was totally horrendous! The details concerning the sexuality of 14-year old Candy Ong was just plain disgusting. What teenager goes through all this? I couldn't even get through half the book because I was too sick to my stomach.

But The Dim Sum of All Things was different.

Lindsay Owyang is a 20-something year old receptionist who doesn't like to show off her ethnicity, doesn't want to walk around with a sign reading, "I'm Chinese." She actually wants people to see her for who she is (don't we all, right?) She is mainly attracted to white guys but avoids those who have Asian fetishes. She lives with her grandmother, the mah-jong champ who's always looking to marry her off to one of her friend's grandsons. Lindsay has never had a head or the manual for romance until the day she receives an email from a sexy co-worker. Suddenly, the reader is taken on an awesome adventure through the scenes of Chinatown and Middle America.

Most of what Lindsay talks about is what it's like to be Chinese. It's like "Ask A Mexican;" only, in this one, we "Ask a Chinese." Some of her sayings, what she likes to call cliches, were funny! I have to admit that her crush with Michael was too crazy, almost to the extent that she basically stalked the poor boy, constantly watching his every move in the office.

Also, I really didn't know Lindsay's whole mission in life. Was it that she was looking for love, acceptance, understanding, wisdom, what? Really, the whole thing was just a bunch of mindless drivel of "I wanna be less/more Chinese." It seemed like she was complaining a lot about her Chinese-ness.

By the end, I was glad that Lindsay was FINALLY asking herself the very questions I've been wondering about throughout the entire book. The revelations she comes to realize suddenly made her a well-rounded human being.

I have to say that this was definitely better than I want Candy; however, she could've cut down a little on the scene descriptions. They were a bit too much, and too much of anything is bad.

UN-planned Day

2011-02-20T15:17:00.001-08:00

As most of you have probably heard (or maybe you saw the signs out front as you were driving by, I don't know,) Borders book store is closing its doors. Sad, I know. I guess they weren't making enough money to keep the business going (that's been happening all over the place, really.) And, like Circuit City a year ago, EVERYTHING must go--that means everything in the story has been marked down so that it be easy to get rid of.

Naturally, I decided to jump at that chance. What reader wouldn't?

The plan for today was simple: wake up early for a morning jog, get a hair cut, and go to Borders to rack up a good 8-10 books for my collection.

Sad to say that this plan did not go as expected; and I really hate that too because I'm a Virgo and Virgos are hard-core planners. If things don't go as planned, the whole world crumbles.

Not that I didn't get one thing accomplished. I mean, I did do the jogging thing, but I missed the hair cut. Why? Well, I forgot the hair cut place I go to is closed on Sundays.

But I did manage to go to Borders, and, sure enough, there it was--a huge sign across the building reading, "CLOSING."

The strange part was that as soon as I walked in, a lady quickly ambushed me asking where a certain book was. Excuse me, uh, hello, I don't work here! Common misconception, I know. Still, it was funny. Out of ALL the people in that crowded store, she singled ME out. Why? I wonder. I was actually curious to know why she thought I worked there. I mean, I didn't have a name tag with a Borders logo on it; most people that worked there had one. And I had my purse strapped to me. What worker carries around her purse on the job? And I had just walked in from outside and still had not taken off my sunglasses. Again, who wears their sunglasses inside, especially if they're on the job? These are all clues I look for when I seek an employee to assist me. Did she miss them all?

So why did she think I worked there?

Could it be that,"Mexican equals Stock Boy?"

Maybe so. Not that that's the first time that's happened to me. Oh, no. My complexion has been the factor to many misconceptions. From waiter to stock boy to thief even.

Something like this has happened before so it will happen again.

Well, anyways, after a few mutterings under my breath, I decided to forget about it and do some book browsing. I was disappointed to find that all the books only had a 20% mark down. If you buy a book that normally is $14, you're buying it for like $12 with the 20%. $12 is still pretty expensive! I thought the books were going to sell for like $5 or $7 (50-75% off) since the store was closing. But NOOOOO! The books are only marked down at 20%.

Well, I only had $20 in my pocket, so I walked away with that same bill as I didn't (couldn't) buy anything. Real drag!

So, basically, today did not go as planned. Really big drag.

Hook, Line, and Single

2011-02-16T17:09:00.001-08:00

Just polished off another book--this one called Hook, Line, and Single by Marcia King-Gamble--for the "2011 Colorful Chick Lit Challenge. " I am on a roll, baby, and it's only February!

This book was about a black woman named Roxanne. She is forty, a mother, a business owner, and recently single after her last boyfriend dumped her for another man. Now, she's looking for Mr. Right by doing the speed dating and the cyber chats--all things most of us would never consider because they would just make us pathetic.

Throughout the book, we join Roxi on a series of disastrous dates. One guy, for instance, just would NOT stop talking for hours and hours and hourse. Ugh, I'd puncture my skull with a fork just so I wouldn't have to listen.

Eventually, Roxi gets a few surprises along the way: her college daughter wants to move to Paris and her business may lose to a competitor.

I could tell the writer really wanted me to care for this character, but I just had a hard time with that. First of all, she is "in lust" with her biggest client, Mr. X. She basically fantasizes about him while working for him. Kinda screwy. And, also, she has one-night flings with a friend, who pops into town from time to time whenever he feels like it. And she still found the time to do the E-dating. This character was just obsessed with finding someone. It seemed like she would do anything to do it. What's wrong with being single? She probably got what she deserved when she started falling fast for Reed, the "too perfect" guy.

Additionally, the book read more like a quick summary than a story filled with details so descriptive it makes you feel like you're there--a sign of good writing. There was no steady flow. I felt like the writer was just trying to get rid of me by going through the jist of it all; it just felt too rushed. And it really wasn't as funny as the writer tried to make it seem. Also, it could've used more editing. Bad editing just jumps out at you and you can't focus on the story at all.

Yep, this book is definitely going in the donation pile.

Bollywood Confidential

2011-02-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

The next book I finished was Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh.

Raveena is an Indian actress trying to make it in Hollywood films, but she's never gotten her break (except for the Japanese tampon commercial.)

Then she receives the news from her agent--a director wants to give her a starring role in his upcoming movie.....in Bollywood (India.) Not exactly Blockbuster material. But, hey, you have to take what you can get.

Almost everyone in her life tries to talk Raveen out of this by telling her that India is full of disease, full of contaminated water, and that there is no clean lavatory (so, basically, don't use the bathroom the whole time you're there.) I was surprised at this. Most of these characters were Indian. Weren't they suppose to have some kind of pride for their country (like Mexicans and Chinese?) I guess, that's why they left their country, huh?

The director of the film--Randy--was a total bastard! He did not send to pick up Raveena at the air port when she first arrived in Bombay. The writer did a good job depicting the chaos and lewd behavior. I would've cried myself to sleep the first night too.

Siddart is the famous Bollywood actor known for his romantic films that he is tired of doing. He grudgingly takes on the co-starring role with Raveena and treats like crap instantly. But his demeanor quickly softens when he's alone with her.

As I kept on reading, my interest started to wane. Some parts were kind've boring, like when Siddarth takes her on a little tour of Bombay. I also thought Siddarth was a cowardly wimp--so very UN-hunky. If you ask me, I thought he just didn't deserve Raveena. He's always concerned about what other people think. By the end, they sort've had a blase ending with the whole "happily ever after" thing.

This book was just OKAY. The good thing is that you can finish this book in two days! I think it could've used some more editing too.

China Dolls

2011-02-12T09:21:00.001-08:00

I just finished the final pages of China Dolls by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan.

This story is about 3 Chinese-American, career-driven women--best friends since forever--in their late 20's. The book is written in "acts"--each one chronicling the character's story from her P.O.V.

ACT I - M.J., who is trying to make it as sports caster in a white male's world where women know nothing of the sorts. The "Black Sheep"

ACT II - Alex, the Chinese success story....in her career, not when it comes to romance. The careful and responsible planner.

ACT III - Lin, the risk-taker and who has all the men fawning over her

Even though we get the scoop on each chick's love life in segments, it all intertwines with each other because these girls constantly get together for brunch and stuff; and through it all, they advise, console, and have fun together.

I loved the Asian theme background in the story, especially when it seeps through the American modern lifestyle of today (same as any other culture, really.) The prologue is what started it all when the three girls go see a fortune teller to see how the year would turn out. Each one had a different fortune. It was interesting to see how it all played out for each one.

For M.J., the traditional Chinese custom was: to major in business, get a job in the corporate world, and make lots of money; but M.J. was too artistic for all that, so she ditched her family plan for a shot as a sportscaster--you can feel her frustrations as she tries desperately to achieve her goals.

Alex is the "perfect Chinese daughter"--she got the good grades, got her degree, got a career as a top-notch lawyer, and is making lots of money so she doesn't need a man to support her; but lately, she's wishing that could change. She would like to have a family someday, but she refuses to succumb to the traditional role of the housewife. She's not afraid to speak her mind. If something is sexist, she says so.

Lin has always been the pawn in a match-making scheme by her overbearing mother, who wants her daughter to settle down with a nice and successful Chinese man. Then the white man enters her life, and her mother couldn't have been more shocked. Lin was so stupid to ditch everything for this guy that didn't even treat her right. Why do women do that?

Overall, all three girls seemed to be looking for love in all the wrong places when it was right there in front of them the whole time. They all seemed to have one thing in common: their worst nightmare is to be trapped in a traditional "Chinese" marriage, where the husband controls all the money and the wife is meant to cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Also, they all seem to think that what is working against them in their careers is the fact that they are Asian females, and they all constantly bitch about it!

This book was funny and relatable at times. I felt that I could empathize with all three--M.J. being the tomboy and never fitting in; Alex not wanting to waste her time with losers and would rather live alone; and Lin wanting to get out and explore the world (I so want that.)

2011 Colorful Chick Lit Challenge

2011-02-06T13:18:00.001-08:00

As you can see, I have added a chart to chronicle my reading progression on the "2011 Colorful Chick Lit Challenge." Obviously, I have gotten off to a good start on the Latina lit; I still have to read something with Asian, African, and Indian women.

For the month of February, I have decided to read China Dolls by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan. (I should probably start with a book on African women in honor of Black History month, right?)

Blog Tour: The Storm of the "i" with guest post by Tina Collen

2011-02-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

Today is the day. We have author, Tina Collen, on the spot with her book, The Storm of the i.
Below is a guest post by her.

MY FATHER DIDN'T SPEAK TO ME FOR 15 YEARS AND I NEVER KNEW WHY

Then I wrote the book I needed to read.

On the first three stops of this Virtual Book Tour, I talk about the inspiration for writing my memoir: ( http://www.jamesrament.com/ http://bookfetish.org/ http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/)

But let me tell you what happened after I wrote it. When I finished the first version, I thought I was finished. But as I re-wrote and worked on it, an interesting thing began to happen. The blame started to come out of the story. It wasn’t an easy thing for me to do. Something inside of me wanted to keep on blaming, keep on being self-righteous, keep on being the victim. But as my emotional life became imbued with my objects and my writings about them, and everything stayed in front of me day after day, the blame somehow started to dissolve. And as it disappeared from my writing, it started to disappear from my life as well. I was able to say “This was my story instead of this is my story. A simple change of tense changed my life, moved it out of my way, put it someplace I could always find it if I needed to.

So when I was really finished, I took the manuscript with me to New York when I went to visit with my sister and brother-in-law. Since they are an essential of the story, I wanted to be sure it was okay with them before I went ahead. I think they silently hoped the book would never be published. I’m sure they were worried about family repercussions. They thought it imperative that my father not know about the book. But they wanted to be supportive and gave me their tacit approval.

So before I leave New York, my brother-in-law gives me a CD of one of his favorite songs, “Father and Daughter.” Maybe you know it—it’s that beautiful song that Paul Simon wrote for his baby daughter. The refrain is, “There’s never been a father who loved his daughter more than I love you.” And it brought tears to my eyes—because that kind of loving sentiment always made me feel bereft and excluded.

I got back home to Boulder and played it again. And this time, I imagined what it would feel like to BE that little girl basking in her father’s love. And imagining the feeling turned into actually experiencing it. And I wondered, Where is that feeling of love coming from? and then I realized that the feeling was coming from someplace inside of me. And I’d included that story in the Epilogue of the book.

A week or two after I had finished the final edit and the book was being printed, there was a big family shindig in New York in a fancy hotel with 200 hundred guests. Months before, my sister had asked me what we should do about the seating arrangement because at the last family event, her daughter’s wedding, 4 or 5 years ago, she’d seated me and my contingent at a different table from my parents and when I went over to say hello to them and went to put my arms around my father, he pushed me away. So you can see why she was concerned. But I told her, “Why don’t we just try to be a normal family and all sit at the same table.” What’s the worst that can happen. He gets up and leaves. We’ve lived through worse.”

“Okay,” she said.

When the night arrived, it was the summer before last, everyone was on pins and needles about how my father would behave. No one wanted a scene. They were very nervous.

My two sons, my daughter-in-law and my ex-husband were with me. We walk in and are greeted by a crush of friends and relatives. While I talk to them, my ex-husband sees my parents, who are already seated at the table, and he goes over to talk to them. He gets down on one knee so that my father can hear him more clearly. At that point my father was 93. My mother was 90. After a few minutes, one of my sons does the same. I look over. It seems to be going well.

I make my way through the crowd and go over to them. I come up beside my father and he looks up at me and his eyes fill with tears. “Thank you,” he says. He takes my hand and pulls me down to the seat next him. He puts his arms around me. And then we sit hand in hand, with him telling me, he’s there for me, I should come home to visit more often. And my father and I talk and we laugh. The whole family is in disbelief. No one knows what to think or if it will last. He hadn’t spoken to me in 15 years.

We’ve just finished our dessert when the DJ starts to play Father & Daughter, the Paul Simon song. (Honest! No kidding. This really happened.) And it feels like they’re playing my song. And then the music switches to a big band era song (his music). And my father stands up— and he asks me to dance. And we danced.

If you'd like to see a bit more about how Autobiography came into existence click here.

To purchase a personally autographed copy of Storm of the i go to http://www.tinacollen.com/ and in the comment box include how you'd like it signed. Books are also available at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon. If your favorite bookstore doesn't have it on the shelf they can order it for you.

The next stop on Tina’s blog tour is Doing It With Grace at http://doingitwithgrace.blogspot.com/

We’re giving an autographed book away in a contest, asking people to leave a comment answering this question:

Oftentimes the objects we hold onto contain cryptic clues that point towards something deeper about ourselves. Take a look around your house (or your room) at the things with which you have surrounded yourself. Is there anything you are still hanging onto that seems to contain a hidden message for you? What do you think it is?

Good luck and enjoy the rest of the tour!

Announcing the virtual book tour for "Storm of the i"

2011-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Next week will launch the virtual book tour for Storm of the i by Tina Collen.

Collen’s memoir is not anything you’ve seen before. The coffee table memoir is overflowing with memorabilia, art (some of it a bit risqué), foldouts, diecuts, a popup and even a mildly scandalous lift-up flap. “In a world where the printed page is in jeopardy of becoming an endangered species,” writes Sara Davidson, TV producer, and New York Times best-selling author, “this remarkable work reminds us of the joy of holding an actual book in one’s hands.” Beneath the light-heartedness of the interactive elements, however, lies the story of Collen’s difficult relationship with her father. Excerpts of this unusual work can be seen at http://www.tinacollen.com./

Stop by each blog for an inside scoop and a personal appearance by the author.

The schedule is as follows:

week 1

1/31/2011 James R. Ament http://www.jamesrament.com/
2/1/2011 Book Fetish http://bookfetish.org/
2/2/2011 Found Not Lost http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
2/3/2011 Sandra’s Book Club http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/
2/4/2011 Doing it with Grace http://doingitwithgrace.blogspot.com/

week 2

2/7/2011 Minding Spot http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
2/8/2011 CIPA Bookshelf http://booksatcipa.wordpress.com/
2/9/2011 Faye Quam Heimerl http://fayequamheimerl.wordpress.com/
2/10/2011 Thoughts in Progress http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
2/11/2011 Linda Lou, Live from Las Vegas http://www.vegaslindalou.blogspot.com/

For ongoing blog tour information, go to Tina’s blog at http://www.tinacollen.com/bookselfpublish/

My Colorful Chick Lit List #1

2011-01-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

As you may or may not know, I have joined my first reading challenge: 2011 Colorful Chick Lit.

This is a challenge where I read books by women of color (black, Asian, Latino, and Indian.)

I have placed my order with Amazon and will receive them in about a week.

Here is my first list:

Hot Tamara by Mary Castillo
More than this by Margo Candela
Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps by Lara Rios
China Dolls by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan
The Dim Sum of all things by Kim Wong Keltner
Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh
Hook, Line, and Single by Marcia King-Gamble

If you want to join this challenge, do so here

If any of you have any other "colorful chick lit recommendations," please share them with me!

My Book Boyfriend: Jake

2011-01-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Today I am taking part in a new theme called "My Book Boyfriend," hosted by The Unread Reader.

My Book Boyfriend: Jake Tyler
Likes: Motorcycles and Books!
Book: Beyond the Gardens by Sandra C. Lopez

The part that made me swoon: (Short Excerpt)

Jake calmly saddled on the bike, resting his hands on
the handles, and looked up at me. “Well, then I suggest that
you hold on to me tight—that way we can fall together.”
“Was that supposed to make me feel better?” I asked.
“Yeah, it was,” he said. “People usually feel better
knowing they’re not gonna die alone.”
“Die!?”
“I’m kidding,” he stated. “Look, don’t worry.”
“Oh, I’m way past worry.”
“Really, there’s nothing to it.” His arm extended toward
me. “All you have to do is take my hand, and the rest
will follow through.”
“But what if—”
“I won’t let you fall. Trust me.”
Then, as a frail grin emerged, I knew. I did trust him. (Pg 227, Beyond the Gardens)
[...]
Without realizing it, my foot suddenly stumbled over a
hard rock partially rooted in the ground, which began my
rapid descent to a complete fall. But before I could even
meet my climax, I soon felt the strong embrace of an unknown
source, holding me in mid-air. Surprised, I looked
up to see Jake towering over me with his arms wrapped
around my back. He caught me in the knick of time.
“Oh, wow, great catch,” I mentioned, breathless.
“Yes…..you certainly are.”
What? My hearing apparently must’ve been affected
by that close call.
I stared at him curiously. “Did you just say
something?”
Jake flustered and quietly shrugged. Then he lifted me
back up while keeping his gentle grasp on me. With his
hands tenderly supported on my waist, I found myself
face-to-face with him. His beautiful eyes sparkled with a
twinkle in each iris. I could almost see myself in them.
Oh, wow.
“Are you alright?”
“Of course, I am.” Nervously, I tried to stand on my
own again, and, somehow, I ended up tripping over my
feet and fell right back into his arms.
“Whoa, easy there,” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sure, I’m good,” I answered. “Thanks for catching
me…..again.”
“No problem. Now you see?”
“See what?”
“I told you I’d never let you fall.” (Pg 230, Beyond the Gardens)

Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

2011-01-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

Last night, I finished the final half of Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales.

It’s Violet’s junior year at the Westfield School. She thought she’d be focusing on getting straight As, editing the lit mag, and figuring out how to talk to boys without choking on her own saliva. Instead, she’s just trying to hold it together in the face of cutthroat academics, her crush’s new girlfriend, and the sense that things are going irreversibly wrong with her best friend, Katie.

When Katie starts making choices that Violet can’t even begin to fathom, Violet has no idea how to set things right between them. Westfield girls are trained for success—but how can Violet keep her junior year from being one huge, epic failure?

My thoughts: I liked it! Violet was someone I could really relate to, that is, if I were an ivy-league student attending a $250,000 a year all-girl private school, which would cost my parents every dime they had to pay (just like Violet's.) She was smart, ambitious, and studious; and she was not one of those girls who knew about clothes and make-up--she went as casual as could be. She was also rather clueless about boys with never knowing how to talk to them or even breathe the same air as them (we all feel that way, don't we?)

I also liked the friendship between Violet and Katie--true BFFs to the end. But then things start to change with Katie. Suddenly, she wants to drink, steal, blow off school, and even start dating some Starbucks loser like Martin. Seriously, what did she see in that guy? Ewe! I didn't like the riff this guy created between the two friends. But, luckily, Violet had problems of her own with trying to score the perfect grades, edit her school magazine, and get Scott Walsh to notice her. I did think she was a little too obsessed with that guy almost to the extent that it was just plain nutty. It was crazy how many times she thought the guy was "in love" with her and how she thought he was "god's gift to womankind." Oh, please. No guy is that great.

This is a clean YA novel (not dirty like that I want Candy book.) And, even though it's like 400 pages long, you get through it in practically one night. It may have been a little too clueless for my taste, but, overall, good.

Witch Craft or Voodoo?

2011-01-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

We all have people we don't like in life. Sometimes we wish we can make them all just go away (along with the rest of life's problems.)But can simply writing the person's name on a piece of paper and tearing it up really make that happen?

That's exactly what the heroines in Meanicures did.

Meanicures is a story of a Jr. High kid named Madison, and all she talks about is how mean this group of girls can be--from making her believe a certain boy wants to ask her to a dance to making fun of her green hair!

Anyways, one day, she goes to a salon, where she picks up an idea from the stylists: To get rid of the person in your life, write the name on a piece of paper and destroy it.

For some reason, it ends up working. But now Madison and her friends have the mean streak going. Apparently, the meanness bounced back onto them, and they can't shake it off. Now, they must reverse the "spell."

To me, this all seemed a little too far-fetched. First of all, the stylists that came up with this ritual really didn't know what she was doing. Hell, she didn't even recognize Madison when she came in the second time. What a ding bat.

This wasn't witch craft or voodoo. This was just a story for ditsy middle schoolers.

But, at least, you get through it quickly. I mean, who can't do 200 pages in one sitting, right?

Book Review: At the Crossroads of Terror

2011-01-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

At the Crossroads of Terror by Lenny Emmanuelli

What would you do if.... You were being hunted by a gang of killers? These killers are holding your best friend captive. You are also being hunted by the police for a murder you did not commit. Would you run? Would you fight? Who do you turn to for help? Surely not a person you don t trust? Or a person you believe has ulterior motives. These are just some of the situations that haunt Charlie Johnson that he needs to answer. What he does to overcome these and many more obstacles might surprise you and are answered in this new suspenseful romantic thriller. Charlie Johnson, a man suspected of killing a local merchant, reluctantly teams up with a television street reporter, Sherry Mann, trying to prove, he is innocent which takes them both deep into the world of an organized Asian street gang, who is on the verge of making their biggest stride, in their drug business. At the Crossroads of Terror is a very contemporary action filled thriller that crosses over to many genres. The story captures action, crime, suspense, and romance with a touch of comedy. It has it all, which can be a real advantage to the reader, who longs for a touch of reality and believability in their fictional reading. The book will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more. We believe this novel would make a blockbuster movie someday. The book is also working with RAINN, a non-profit organization helping victims of sexual assault.

My thoughts: When you first open the book, you come across a not-so-favorite thing of mine--the prologue. The reason I'm not a huge fan of prologues or epilogues is because most of them are a huge waste of time; otherwise, they would've been written as chapters instead. But there was actually an exception, in this particular case; I was actually enthralled by the dying moments of the rape victim featured before the beginning of chapter one. The details were so vivid and raw that I felt like it was actually me in that scene.

In chapter one, we get a quick overview of the main character, Charlie, and his life. After he and his college sweetheart, Chelly, are reunited and agree to meet for a date, the trouble begins. A mysterious Asian woman walks out of a restaurant and stashes a gun in his pocket. But what Charlie soon realized was that that gun may be a murder weapon, and he may be the only suspect. Suddenly, he must run along with the companionship of a reporter named Sherry as he learns about an elite gang of Asian youths that have been terrorizing his town. And he must learn to stop them.

This book will fill you with terror and disgust. The crimes in this story will shock you as you absorb every gruesome and vile word. The homicide investigations were so meticulously crafted that it felt like I was watching NCIS or something. Overall, I felt that there was a nice flow to the story, but there were some places that required some minor editing in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Additionally, although it did not leave me gripping the edge of my seat like any other thriller, I still wanted to see this story to the end. I wanted to know: Will Charlie save his loved ones from this dangerous gang? Will this horrible nightmare finally come to an end for Charlie? I could not let this book go without finding out.

New Year

2011-01-02T11:47:00.001-08:00

Well, another year has gone and a different has just begun. Awesome, right? Enough to make you want to jump up and shout? Not really. I don't know about you all, but I think 2010 was a sucky year. At least, that was the consensus in the Facebook community. I don't think I found one person who had anything nice to say about 2010.

In any sense, here we are in a brand new year. Now the question is: what changes do you hope to aspire? In other words, (I know you get this question a lot this time of year) what is your New Year's resolution? The most common resolution is: lose weight (especially all that holiday weight you just gained.) That's the number one answer! Well, we all want to lose weight. This is just the same ole' same ole.' I don't want the same ole' same ole.' I want to make a change in 2011.

For the last four years, I felt like I've been stuck in a rut--like I was backed up against the wall with nowhere to go. I was going nowhere. This year, I want to get somewhere. Whether that means taking a new job or moving to a new location, I want that change. Hey, you never can tell. I may get a new publishing contract in 2011.

You never know.

So let's get to work!

Taking a Holiday Read

2010-12-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, many bloggers are taking a break for the holiday season, which means there will be no reviews until after the new year.

Well, instead of posting that I am taking a holiday break, I am saying that I will be taking a holiday read, which means I am on vacation but will continue to read during that time. It is particularly important especially since I've been getting more and more book review submissions. Thank you authors, publishers, and publicists!

I am looking forward to getting a lot of reading done before the year is up.

Until then, Merry Christmas to all!

12 Men of XMAS vs. Dating Mr. December

2010-12-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever heard of "12 Men for Christmas?" How can you not? They've been showing previews of that movie all season long on that Lifetime channel.

I figured since the holiday season was upon us (yet again), this might not be a bad movie to watch; so I programmed my TV to the first (and only) showing. But then my Secret Santa gave me my present a little early this year. I got what I asked for: "Dating Mr. December" by Phillipa Ashley.

My plan was to read all my holiday books, which wasn't many BTW, before the year was up. Because what's the point of reading a holiday book if the holidays were over, right? So I got right down to it and began by reading "The Three Kings: A Christmas Dating Story" by Alisa Valdes Rodriguez. (I think somebody posted a review on Livin' la vida Latina)

Before I could even tackle "Dating Mr. December," I soon realized how similar the story was to "12 Men of Christmas." Both were stories of a woman who is trying to get an all-male calendar out by Christmas. Then I found out that "12 Men of Christmas" was based on a story by Phillipa Ashley, the author of "Dating Mr. December." But could that movie be based on this novel in particular? No, right? Because if it was, then I wouldn't be able to watch the movie yet until after I finished reading the book. I always hate watching the movie first because it absolutely spoils the book for me. It happened with "Queen of the Damned," "Must love Dogs," and "The Devil wears prada."

So I didn't watch that movie on Lifetime. Instead, I sad down and read the book for two days. And you know what? I think the movie might've been better.

And here's why: According to the TV guide, "12 Men of Christmas" was about a PR woman, who tries to raise funds for a town by issuing a male calendar. That's kind've the back summary of the book as well. But the thing was, the book really wasn't about the calendar. Right off as you start on page 1, BAM, they talk about the calendar for a few pages, and then it's never mentioned again throughout the entire book. It's really all about the main character, Emma, dating the guy posing as Mr. December, hence, the title, "Dating Mr. December."

The book is just a hard-core romance between Emma and Will (Mr. December). When I first heard about this book, I thought it was really going to be about the calendar and the 12 naked men. I thought we would see her at each of the photo shoots, and some of the guys may take a romantic or lustful interest in her, and she will have to choose in the end. I would've liked to have know how she got there in the first place--how she got fired, how she got that new job, how she came up with the whole calendar idea, how she and Will met, and how she found the other 11 guys. But, no, none of that happened. The whole story is all about Will and Emma and their fervent desires for each other. There was really no story.

I just have a feeling that I should've watched the movie first.

Wow, what news!

2010-12-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

What can I say about the recent news I've just received? Except, YAYYYYYY!

I was voted as one of the "2011 Top Ten Latino Authors to watch" by Latino Stories. My novel, Beyond the Gardens, made it to #7 on that list. Click here to see the rest.

And now I've been invited to submit one of my stories to Latina Voices, a group that's publishing an anthology of Latina stories and bios in the near future.

Can I get any more great news? We shall see next year!

Thank you, Secret Santa!

2010-12-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

Today started out like any other day. Got up, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth. I didn't have to go to work today, so I thought I'd do a little blog hop to other sites.

After about an hour, I decided to take a walk to the post office for three main reasons:

1. I needed to mail something and pick up a package
2. I didn't want to waste the gas when the post office was just two blocks down
3. I wanted to get the much needed excercise, especially after having those nachos the day before

So I head out at about 10 am. It started off fairly well, until I realized I forgot my ID (the post office won't give you your package without an ID.) That was one problem. The other thing was that I had to go to the bathroom. Rats. So what else could I do? I race back to my apartment, all the while waiting at cross walks and getting stuck behind old folks and people walking their dogs.

Eventually, I made it. After that, I just decided to take the car. Screw the excercise and wanting to save a buck on gas.

I mailed off my package at the post office and picked up another one (I had ordered something from Amazon.) The guy ended up coming back with TWO boxes. Two? Huh.

The mystery box came from Borders.com. I didn't order anything from Borders. I wondered what it could be. I opened, and there was my present from my Secret Santa!

Oh, that was so nice. They got me exactly what I wanted.

Thank you!

Featuring: Testarossa by Julie Dolcemaschio

2010-11-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

This week, I have finished off reading Testarossa by Julie Dolcemaschio.

Things are never as they seem, especially in police work. John Testarossa is an LAPD cop with an NYPD attitude, and he has seen it all. The dead, the dying and the decomposing are all in a day's work for the red-headed Italian from New York. When an arm rolls up on a Santa Monica beach, and the dead body on which the arm was once attached is discovered, John and his partner, Alex Ortiz, enter the world of college sports, athletes, and the illegal drugs that enhance their performance. Rage and revenge come together in a toxic cocktail John is all too familiar with. John knows rage. It came to define him as a young boy, and ultimately as a man. He carries a dark secret, and it is through his narrative, and a compelling back-story, that the true man is discovered. And in the beautiful Dr. Karen Gennaro-a woman with a few secrets of her own-John finds a soft place to land. But he knows all too well what falling in love with a cop can do to a woman. What sustains this hard-boiled detective is the bond he shares with his brave and dedicated partners. When that bond is destroyed in a senseless act of violence, will his past, and a desire for vengeance, destroy him? In Los Angeles, where Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, and the dream of Abbot Kinney's Venice Canals paint a picture of bliss, Testarossa will take you on a deeper, darker journey.

My thoughts: This is a good story if you like hard-core police and forensic investigation. With all the sports and drug elements, it felt more like a guy's story though. John is one tough cop with great instincts and intuition. I liked his surly, sarcastic attitude mixed in with his juvenile sense of humor, which exploded vibrantly when he was around his partner, Alex. He did seem a bit cocky to me, especially when he was courting Dr. Karen, but it actually worked well with his no-bullshit character. The flirty banter between John and Karen was enjoyable and entertaining for the most part. It kind've makes you wonder if you would ever fall for lines like that.
Overall, the story let's you see what it's like to be a homicide detective in the mean streets of L.A. through dark and gritty details that were so vivid you can taste the putrid blood. At times, I found it to be a bit too technical with all the police and medical jargon, but, luckily, it doesn't dwell too much on it. Also, the writer did give some background history on John's childhood at the beginning of each chapter, but I found it odd that it was written in the third person while the rest of the book was written in first person narration. I felt that inconsistency interrupted the flow of the story. Overall, I'd say this was still a pretty good book written with a laugh-out-loud style.

Now, here's where I get a chance to ask the author some questions.

1. How did you come up with Testarossa and how did you come about calling it that?

I knew from the start that I wanted a red-headed protagonist. Testarossa means, literally, ‘red-head’, and I thought it was not only a great name but it would be a title people would remember. The truth is that when Italians came to Ellis Island, many times they had no papers or identification of any kind (where the term WOP came from, meaning ‘without papers’), and because of the language barrier, misunderstanding arose. “What’s your name?” “Messina.” Well, Messina might be the town they came from, so new arrivals would get stuck with that (Vito Corleone in The Godfather, for example, came from Corleone. It wasn’t his real surname). Other times they’d get stuck with a name that described their physical characteristics (Grasso=fat, Bello=handsome). I love irony, is all I’m saying.

2. What kind of research did you do for this story and how long did it take you?

I made a lot of it up, to be truthful. I researched the things I really needed to get right, because I didn’t want to get emails from cops saying ‘that’s not right!’. The guns they carry, protocol and procedure—those kinds of things I researched. I didn’t want to insult the folks I was trying to honor.

3. Where did you get John's character and what was it like writing for a man? Was it easier than writing for a woman?

I find writing as a man much easier. I’ve done both, and what I found when writing in a woman’s voice was that some insecurities came out I never realized I had. I couldn’t quite find that same strength I found writing as a man. Analyze that one!

I loved the John Kelly character in the first season of NYPD Blue (played by David Caruso). John Kelly was definitely a muse for me while writing Testarossa. I also knew I wanted to write a crime/detective novel where it wasn’t just about finding the bad guy. I wanted a real character study—in other words, something I was searching for, and not getting, in the crime novels I was reading. I wanted a love story, too—a strong, meaningful one.

4. Who was your intended audience for this story? Mostly men or women?

In the beginning, I truly believed I’d equally attract the men with the gore and the ladies with the love. The bottom line is that woman read more than men. I love getting the feedback from the guys. I think that, for most men, when they choose to read they want something special, and I hope I give them that with Testarossa.

5. Please describe the relationship between John and Alex and between John and Karen.

John and Alex are as close as two men can be, I think. They are opposites in many ways. Alex is calm and pragmatic, and John tends to be driven by his emotions quite often. Alex has the ability to quiet John when things get too intense, and John brings a street sense and an intelligence to the work that compliments Alex. John admires what Alex has and what he’s accomplished, and I think John is still somewhat of a mystery to Alex. Alex worries about John. A lot.

John and Karen are two passionate people who were lucky enough to find each other. John is an old fashioned man who has ideas about love and about women, and he has no intention of changing his views. He’s one of those men we don’t see a lot of these days in novels. I‘d say he’s not too PC. And while she is an accomplished doctor who has made her own way and is very sure of herself, she sees something in John that she has been searching for, and it is the very thing she loves about him that she tends to fight against. She’s terrified of loosing herself in a man like John. I think it’s a fear many strong women have when they love a man who’s stronger than they are. It begs the question, ‘Does loving a man like this make me weak? Will I lose myself giving in to that strength’ But I think intelligent women know that in allowing a man to be who he is, both to her and to himself, is quite powerful, and John knows this. He knows the power he has, but also the power she has over him, simply by not running for the hills when he gets so…him. It was important to me that I write a strong male character, and at the same time write a woman who can stand up to him, but also admit that maybe she likes and needs this kind of take-charge man—just a little bit.

When I set out to write Testarossa, I wanted readers to get to know the characters so well that they stuck in their heads and hearts long after they finished the book. I’ve had many readers tell me that they missed these people after they finished the book, and that they worry about John. I think we writers underestimate the deep affect we can have on our readers through not only the writing, but also the character development.

6. I wondered if John became a cop for the right reasons as I was reading this book. What was that reason? Was it truly because of his father?

It takes a certain personality to become a cop, and I think John possesses this personality. He’s altruistic, he wants to protect, but he was also able to use his career choice to avenge a wrong, so in some ways, his father influenced this decision, yes.

7. What kind of advice would you give someone who wants to write for this genre?

None, except write in the genre you’re comfortable with, not the one your agent or author friends tell you is hot right now. ‘Hot’ changes constantly, and if you don’t have a passion for the subject matter, it will show, and your readers will know. They’re very intelligent.

8. Fun questions: What is your favorite Italian food? What is your least favorite? Which one of your characters would you have dinner with and why?

LOL! Oh, my. My favorite Italian food is probably the Pasta chi Sardi in the book. I love Eggplant Parmesan, too, because I have a slight wheat/gluten allergy, so I need to stay clear of the pastas. My least favorite is Lasagna, definitely. Not a favorite at all.

I’d love to hang with Junie Joo. She is so much fun, and I think we’d be good friends. I dine with John and Karen in my head all the time, truth be told.

9. Are you working on any follow up sequel to this story?

Yes, I’m working on the sequel and I plan several more. I’m not done with these people yet.

10. What have you learned after writing this book?

The first is to know exactly what I’m doing and why. My goal, daily, is to write every word with the deliberate intent to affect the reader in some way. I’ve also learned not to allow talent to get in the way of the creative process. The minute I sit back and say, “Gosh, I’m a good writer’, then that’s all I’ll ever be. I’m never good enough; it’s never good enough. Working on that bit, trying to find some balance so that I don’t cease writing all together, is my biggest challenge right now.

Thank you, Julie, and good luck with your writing career!

To learn more about this book, you can log on to http://www.testarossa.com/

What to do with a not-so-great book?

2010-11-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of books out in the world.

As someone who has been reading since two, I happen to be a big fan of most of the books out there. But, let's face it, people, there are also a lot of books out there that, oh, say what's the word for it? Suck! They just down right suck.

The question is: What do you do about it?

Well, most of us would just chuck it in the recycling bin (if you're a world hugger) or the garbage can (if you're not); or maybe we'll donate it to a library (if you're a good book Samaritan) or Goodwill (if you're just looking for a tax write-off); or maybe we'll do what many do around this time of winter season and re-gift to someone you really don't want to shop for. The list goes on and on.

But what do we book bloggers do?

There's a whole book blogging community out there, and authors and publishers are using it to their advantage by giving away complimentary copies of their books for an honest review and a featured post on the blog. That's show business, folks! Strictly publicity.....for the author or publisher. But for the blogger, it's sheer heaven. I mean, who wouldn't jump at the chance to get a free book?

Now, most of us can read through the whole book and say it was excellent in the end. Best read ever, couldn't put it, highly recommend it to any bum I see on the street, yadda, yadda, yadda! But there are times, so few really, when we run into books we can't get through. No matter what we do, we just can't generate an interest in it. I mean, if you're like me, you strive to give the book a chance because it may actually pick up in the middle even though it had a slow start in the beginning. (I've read many books like this, BTW) But what happens if the books still isn't interesting by the time you get to chapter 30? What do bloggers do? Do you type in DNF in the post for "Did Not Finish?" Or do you write a fake review even though you couldn't get past page 5?

Well, you know what I do? I skip. No, not like Bugs Bunny. I skip paragraphs or even pages to get through the book. Why do I do this, you ask? Why don't I just stop reading it all together? Because even if I die tomorrow, I still want to know how the book ends; however, I don't want to waste my last precious moments on Earth reading something I don't like. That's why.

So there it is: my answer to what to do with a not-so-great book.

Holiday Swap

2010-11-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

There's some exciting news in the Book Blogger community!

Introducing the Holiday Swap!

What happens you ask? You're a Secret Santa, and you get to buy some random book lover out there a gift this year! It can be cookies, pop corn, a CD, a home-made craft, and, of course, let's not forget a book.

Fun, right?

I just joined! Why not you? Join here

Ain't gonna happen

2010-10-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Being an author has allowed me the opportunity to speak at panels and do book signings whenever my schedule permits. I feel honored when fans read my books and ask for my autograph. They treat me like I'm some sort of celebrity (god knows why.) But it can be kinda cool. However, like celebrities, you do get kinda tired from all that. Sometimes you just want to be a normal person. I'll let you in on a little secret: sometimes I like to attend a literary event disguised as a civilian.

Like, for instance, I saw from a website that there was going to be an author's luncheon coming up this November, and I thought, "Oh, that be cool to go to." I was all psyched about it too. I was already gearing up to get the directions.....until I read further down that you needed to pay $45 for a ticket that you have to pre-order in advance. And another $25 for three raffle tickets. So that's $70 total! $70! And what do you get? A lunch that you probably won't enjoy, a discussion with 3 or 4 authors that you've never even heard of and are not really dying to go see, and a minuscule chance of winning a couple of (probably crappy) prizes. For $70? Are they serious?

Not that I am totally bashing this event. If this thing was free, then, yeah, I'd go. But I have to pay to go? That's not fun. How does that New York song go?

The world belongs to everyone
The best things in life are FREE

I am a big supporter of other writers. I like discovering new talent and hearing what they have to say about how they got there and where they're going. I like to PAY IT FORWARD every now and again, I do. But not at $70, I don't. Nah-uh, no way, ain't gonna happen.

Official Book Reviewer for Livin' la vida Latina

2010-10-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, guess what? I'm an official book reviewer for Livin' la vida Latina.

They just published my post on their site. Check it out!

http://livinlavidalatina.blogspot.com

Starting a third book

2010-10-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

This morning, snuggling between two heavy blankets, I woke up to the icy rain splashing outside my window. Ordinarily, Saturday mornings called for some piping-hot French Toast and OJ instead of cereal. Today, however, called for some hot chocolate and bread. And, yes, I mean, Mexican hot chocolate and pan dulce.

Boy, that sounded so good. That's would've warmed me up, for sure!

But, sadly, there was no chocolate, and I wasn't gonna get out on road to pick some up either. So, I had cereal for breakfast...again.

I didn't really have any plans for today; didn't have any money; didn't have any gas to go anywhere. So that pretty much summed up all my plans.

Since I was staying home on this soothing, rainy day, I figured it was a great time to start writing a third book.

I fished out the outlines I began years ago and started composing some rough drafts. I always start my first rough draft in pen, not pencil, pen. Pencil usually fades after some time, and I then I can't read my own damn writing. So, I write in pen. And not a red pen either 'cause they tend to bleed through the page. It's gotta be a blue or black pen. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but it's how I write.

My Shallow Moment

2010-10-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

My shallow moment: Like most readers, I choose books that have an interesting plot. If the back cover makes me hum in anyway, then I buy it.

But, occasionally, I find myself attracted to other parts of the book, like the cover or even the title. Yep, I did it. My latest read was chosen based on the cover AND the title.

Devil Talk by Daniel Olivas

I mean, look at it! Need I say more?

The book features over 20 chicano stories.

Some were ironic like Don de la Cruz and the Devil of Malibu and Devil Talk, which told dark tales of wanting something but instead getting something else in return.

The narration in Ramona was compelling and left me wanting to hear more.

But I'd have to say that I liked the dialogue in Muy Loca Girl the best.

Now, I admit that I got this book without even glancing at the back cover. I wasn't sure if I was even going to like it, I just took a chance. But I'm sort've glad I did. I mean, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have discovered these great stories.

My shallow moment gave me a lucky break on this one, and it added another gift to my vast collection.

No Point!

2010-10-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read a book that had no point to it?

Of course you have. Who hasn't?

The question is: what do most of us do about it?

As a reviewer, I try my really hard to keep on reading because it may actually get better toward the middle. There have been some books that did exactly that in the past.

But, let's face it, there are some books that you just can't get through. At times, I find myself skipping whole paragraphs, even full pages to get through it!

Now, I'm not going to name any titles (I don't want to get myself blacklisted here), I'm just speaking the truth about the dark sides of book reviewing. We've all been there.

Do I laugh or do I cry?

2010-10-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Some books make us laugh. Others make us cry.

But there are a few select that actually make us do both.

And one of the stories in The Heavens Weep for us by Thelma Reyna did that for me.

In Little Box, an old lady named Petra visits her daughter and son-in-law in Chicago. During her stay, she takes the dog for a walk and discovers a little box along the way. It was a fancy box that just screamed, 'expensive.' Being that she likes collecting hand-me-downs, Petra took the box and hid it in drawer of her daughter's home. Her plan was to take it back home and add it to her vast collection.

But Petra noticed something else during her Chicago visit. Her daughter's marriage may be falling apart. Not wanting to interfere, Petra leaves them to hash it out. Eventually, Petra jumps on a plane back to Arizona when she realizes that she forgot the little box she wanted to bring back with her.

Days later, Petra received news that her daughter was getting a divorce.
"What happened?" she asked.
"There's someone else," her daughter replied.
"What evidence do you have of this?"
Her daughter looked grimly at her and calmly answered, "Because of the little box I found."

The little box Petra hid in her daughter's drawer.

So because of what Petra found, a couple's marriage was now over.

It was sad to see a marriage crumble. It almost makes you want to cry. But when you see that it was because of the mother-in-law all along. That part makes you want to laugh because it would be an in-law that would end a marriage.

Funny!

Books, books, books, and more books!

2010-10-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I nearly cleaned out....my wallet. I went home with so many books from the Latino Book Festival that I practically got a back spasm. Actually, I did get a back spasm. (I'm wearing an Icy Hot patch right now.)

Nonetheless, I achieved one of my main goals last Saturday. Now the question is: which book shall I start with? Should I start with "Estrella's Quinceanera" by Malin Alegria? Or "Anywhere but L.A." by Daniel Olivas? Or "I wasn't born a teacher" by David Bueno-Hill? I don't know.

Maybe I should just flip a coin and let fate decide.

I'll let you know. Book reviews are coming up!

The Latino Book Festival is coming this Saturday, Oct 9

2010-10-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to this year's Latino Book Festival coming this Saturday, Oct. 9 at CSULA.

Last year I went, I did not much but sit in a booth, which was alright since my intended goal was to sell books. I was suppose to speak on a YA panel with two other authors, but, unfortunately, it was cancelled and never happened.

This year, I will be speaking on a YA panel called, "Not another vampire book: Teen Lit for the sophisticated reader" with Latina authors, Jamie Martinez Wood and Malin Alegria.

And although my panel will not start 'til way late in the afternoon, I'm planning on being there all Saturday to check out the other booths and panels.

You know, since I have been a published author, I have almost forgotten that I was a fan first. I was an avid book worm before the fame of writing took over my life's ambition. And that's exactly the role I will take over at this year's fair.

This year, I will come home with a wagon full of signed books. I will not leave empty handed.

Q&A with Rene Colato Lainez

2010-09-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

I first heard the name, Rene Colato Lainez, when he asked me to be part of the blog tour for My Shoes and I, a story about a boy who crosses the country with his father to visit his mother. Each page in the story illustrates the wear and tear of his shoes with each passing obstacle.

Rene’s stories reflect a true depiction of immigrant life with a child-like sense of wonder and innocence. They are both entertaining and enlightening.

So when I received an email from Rene asking if I would like to participate in another blog tour for his newest book, From North to South, I only had one question to ask: When can I start?

Like his previous book, From North to South is about a boy traveling with his father to visit his mother. Only this time, the boy is traveling south to Tijuana, Mexico.

The story begins with Jose jumping with joy at the thought of visiting his mother in Mexico after she had been deported from the states a while back. Jose and his father go through bumper-to-bumper traffic and cross the gate separating Mexico from U.S. soil.

Jose visits his mother at a refuge for deported women and children. There, he spends his time meeting her friends, eating her warm tortillas, and planting seeds in a can.

By the end, Jose asks his mother when she will return to the states to be with him.

This was an endearing story. Again, Rene was able to reflect the emotional difficulties of deportation—an issue that is still rampant today—with pure ingenuity and intriguing wonder.

Below is an interview with Rene Colato Lainez.

1. I understand that most of your stories come from your own immigrant experience. Is that where From North to South came from?

The idea to From North to South came from my classroom. One day I found a child crying because her father was deported to Mexico. I had a discussion with all my kindergarten students and they also knew about a relative, friend or neighbor who had been deported. I know the fear about being deported too. I was an illegal immigrant for eleven years. It is really scary to walk in the streets when you know that from any corner an immigration officer may appeared. I remember the day when I went to a fieldtrip to Sea World, San Diego. In the way back to Los Angeles, I prayed to all the saints in heaven to become the school bus invisible to the immigration officers’ eyes. My prays were heard and I arrived safely to Los Angeles. My mother and father were waiting for me.

2. One thing I found particularly interesting was the planting of the seeds. Is this an important key element in the story? If so, what?

The process to immigrate to the Unites States is long. It may take years for a person to get the right immigration papers. The seeds represent the children who are waiting for their parents. Now they are little seeds but with time, affection and care one day they will become big beautiful flowers. When this day arrives, they will be happily together like in the last page of From North to South.

3. At the end, you added one final scene—the dream of Jose that he has during the ride home. I understand that this dream acts as a symbol of fervent hope that his family will once again be reunited. Was this always part of the story, or did you add that in during the publication process? Why didn’t you end it with Jose falling asleep while listening to his mother’s story?

Actually the dream scene was one of the first scenes that I wrote. I usually write the beginning and the end of the stories and then I work in the middle. I always want to know where I am and what will be my final destination. Ending the book after the mother kiss José in the forehead when he falls sleep would work but I wanted to end with a more positive image. The dream brings hope for the future. Jose knows that one day he will be with his mamá in their house in San Diego.

4. Were there any other scenes that didn’t make the final cut in this story? Can you tell us about some of them?

All the scenes make the final cut in the story. I did not have the introduction of the book and my editor asked for it. It was a delight for me writing because the author and teacher are telling the reader more about the story and Centro Madre Assunta.

5. One of the hardest things for a writer is coming up with the title. How did you finally settle on From North to South? Did you consider any other title?
El norte is a synonym for the United States. Many Latinos dream to make the long trip from South to North in order to achieve the American dream. But in my story my characters were making the journey in the opposite direction. They live in the north and need to go south to visit José’s mother in Tijuana. I had the title since my first drafts.

6. How is From North to South different from My Shoes and I?
Both books are about immigration. In My Shoes and I, I am telling my own immigrant journey crossing three borders from south to north in order to arrive to the United States.
It is a journey of arriving into “the promised land.”
From North to South is about going back to the native country. It is the story of José’s mother who was deported to Tijuana and now José and his papá are traveling from North to South to Centro Madre Assunta to visit her.

7. What do you hope children will learn from reading your stories? What do you hope parents will learn? Who is your intended audience for From North to South?

I want children to read realistic and authentic stories. After reading From North to South, I want my readers to have hope for the future. Children who are not familiar with the immigration dilemma will learn a little more about a child who had to cross a border in order to see his mother. For parents this book can lead them to have a discussion with their children about immigration and its complications.

My first intended audience is children and families who are waiting for someone who had been deported but also my audience is the all society worldwide. People talk about the illegal immigrants who had been deported but what about their children who stayed behind?

8. I understand some of the profits go to Centro Madre Asunta. Can you tell us a little about that?

Centro Madre Assunta is a refuge for immigrant women and children in Tijuana, Mexico.
Every day they received between 400 and 500 immigrants who are deported back to Mexico. El Centro provides shelter, food, medical and immigrant assistance to all the immigrants. They always are in need of donations. The profits from From North to South will provide some assistance for these women and children.

9. What is your next writing project?
My new project is about two boys living in two cultures. They will play, eat, dance and have fun in two languages and two cultures. It is great to share all the wonders that two cultures can offer us.

Thank you, Rene!

Please be sure to check out some of his other work at http://renecolatolainez.com/

Visit the other stops on this tour.

Friday, Oct. 1 –
http://adrianadominguez.blogspot.com (Voces) Adriana Dominguez

Monday, Oct. 4-
http://www.mamalatinatips.com (Mamá Latina Tips) Sylvia Martínez

Tuesday, Oct. 5 -
http://www.dianebrowningillustrations.com (Out of the Paintbox) Diane Browning

Wednesday, Oct. 6 –
http://www.christinarodriguez.com/blog (Christina Rodriguez) Christina Rodriguez

Thursday, Oct. 7 –
http://loricalabrese.blogspot.com (Lori Calabrese) Lori Calabrese

Friday, Oct. 8 –
http://www.examiner.com/latino-books-in-national/mayra-calvani (Examiner) Mayra Calvini

Monday, Oct. 11-
http://www.childrensbookpress.org/blog (Many Voices, One World) Children’s Book Press

Blog Tour: From North to South by Rene Colato Lainez

2010-09-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to From North to North to South/ Del Norte al Sur Virtual Book Tour.

Make sure to leave your comments every day to have the chance to get free copies of the book.

Three lucky winners will be announced at the end of the virtual book tour at http://www.childrensbookpress.org/blog

Schedule

Monday, Sept. 27 -
http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com (Tales from the Rushmore Kid) Tina Nichols Coury

Tuesday, Sept. 28 –
http://www.onbeyondwordsandpictures.com (On Beyond Words & Pictures) Megan Frances

Wednesday, Sept. 29 –
http://writeon.margiesrose.com (Write On) Jeannine Montgomery

Thursday, Sept. 30 –
http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com (Sandra’s Book Club) Sandra Lopez

Friday, Oct. 1 –
http://adrianadominguez.blogspot.com (Voces) Adriana Dominguez

Monday, Oct. 4-
http://www.mamalatinatips.com (Mamá Latina Tips) Sylvia Martínez

Tuesday, Oct. 5 -
http://www.dianebrowningillustrations.com (Out of the Paintbox) Diane Browning

Wednesday, Oct. 6 –
http://www.christinarodriguez.com/blog (Christina Rodriguez) Christina Rodriguez

Thursday, Oct. 7 –
http://loricalabrese.blogspot.com (Lori Calabrese) Lori Calabrese

Friday, Oct. 8 –
http://www.examiner.com/latino-books-in-national/mayra-calvani (Examiner) Mayra Calvini

Monday, Oct. 11-
http://www.childrensbookpress.org/blog (Many Voices, One World) Children’s Book Press

Good luck!

Blog Hopping

2010-09-18T14:28:00.001-07:00

This past week, I have been doing something I've never done before: Blog Hopping.

The basics of Blog Hopping is just what is says. It's stopping by other blogs written by people who love books--people like me!

Some of the blogs I've visited are:

Lori's Reading Corner
Take Me Away Reading
Reading with Tequila
Tea Time with Marce
Reading without Restraint
Teresa's Reading Corner

Check 'em out and subscribe!

Product of the ABC School District

2010-08-26T16:06:00.001-07:00

Today, I discovered that I am a "product of the ABC School District."

If you are not familiar with the schools that are a part of the ABC School District, then let me help you out: Ferguson, Melbourne, Tetzlaf, and Cerritos--all schools that I went to as a kid!

About a week ago, I got an email from a lady that works for the district. She was ecstatic to learn from the internet that I was from Hawaiian Gardens and now an AUTHOR. She called me a great role model for young kids and absolutely insisted that I meet up with her to discuss a possibility of talking to the classrooms of the district. So that's what I did today.

I met up with Ann (that's her name, BTW), who hit the floor at the first sight of me (maybe I should've brushed my hair or something, or it might have something to do with the fact that I'm some sort of celebrity now.) Anyway, after she breathed a few times, I proceeded to talk about how I got started in writing and what, if anything, led me to take on this goal when I was in school. For a second, I thought Ann was going to have a stroke. Apparently, she couldn't contain herself because before I could even say anything else, she rushed to the phone to ask if the superintendent could spare a few moments to meet me at that point. Then ten minutes later, we met up with the superintendent, who I relayed my life story and writing career to. Both of them were so amazed by my accomplishment that they purchased like 8 copies of my books. Even the secretary was in awe. And when I told him that I was the designer of my website, they were that much more amazed.

By the end of the meeting, they referred me as "a product of their schools." It actually made me wonder: Did I have anything to do this, or was it all them?

In any sense, it was good to go back and recall all those memories in school. I even met up with my old Vice Principal in Jr. High. Of course, he didn't remember me, but I remembered him (vaguely). See, I'm not that old.

It's going to be great to speak to the students next year. I will tell all of them that it IS possible to make something of yourself. It REALLY IS. I am living proof of that.

"The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina" by M. Padilla

2010-08-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last week, I received a complimentary copy of "The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina" by M. Padilla.

I read this book in three days! Why? Because I couldn't put it down!

I was instantly hooked from page one and could not stop 'til I reached the end. "The girls from the revolutionary cantina" is a must read!

The main character, Julia, is the introverted, ambitious, hardworking Latina most of us can relate to. The story is filled with humor and engaging wit. It's all about how the best of relationships can be tested when love and work get in the mix. Filled with characters you love to love and love to hate.

Today, I welcome the author of this book with a brief Q&A.

1. First of all, what inspired you to tell this story?

Some of my fondest memories as a kid growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area come from when my Spanish-speaking relatives from Los Angeles and Mexico would come to visit. The women in particular were incredibly funny. They brought a kind of energy to our household that was so different from what I was used to. I was a sponge for their stories and jokes, and I loved the way they relentlessly teased each other. Their voices were a big inspiration for THE GIRLS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY CANTINA.

Another inspiration comes from my fascination with friendships and the forces that cause them to begin, evolve, and sometimes die. As people change and come to want and need different things, this can place unexpected pressures on even the very best of friendships. The conflicting needs and desires that arise interest me much more than friendships where everyone gets along, and where everything is wonderful, warm and fuzzy. It’s also a much richer source of comedy. I don’t think CANTINA would be nearly as funny if there weren’t that kind of conflict.

2. Where did the title come from?

I had originally planned to call the novel ARRIVING. That theme kept appearing in the book – arriving in one’s career, arriving financially, and arriving at a new understanding of one’s self. However, my publisher wanted something catchier. I have to say, I feel THE GIRLS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY CANTINA was a smart choice. It captures the spirit of the book and the outlaw quality of some of the characters’ behavior in a way that my original title didn’t. People say it makes them want to open the book.

3. Most men often wonder what goes inside a woman's head. More often than not, they really can't even make an educated guess. How were you able to write women so realistically, being a man?

I’m glad you found my depiction of the women realistic. I don’t know that I have any great insights into women, but as I said, since an early age I’ve been fascinated by the way women, especially the Chicana women in my family, talk. So I drew upon my memories of them to bring the CANTINA women to life. It also helped that as a kid I got to hear the way they talked when men weren’t around.

Getting into the mind of my main character, Julia, was relatively easy, because she and I share very similar concerns about financial and emotional security. We’re also similarly uptight about certain things and get easily stressed out. So creating her character wasn’t a stretch.

4. Interesting how some men are worth losing a friendship over and some are not. That's why Julia, at first, stepped off of Ilario when Ime was interested in him. But then Concepcion lost her friend, Remedios, when she slept with her boyfriend. What are your thoughts on this?

Some women might say that no man is worth losing a friendship over, but I suppose it depends on the nature of the friendship. In the case of Remedios and Concepcion, the man didn’t matter much to either woman. Remedios cared little for him, and to Concepcion he was just a one-night stand. But because Remedios was hiding a secret, and because she is such a prideful character, she felt ending her friendship with Concepcion was her only option. That is the irony – their friendship didn’t need to end.

5. The Cantina seems to be the key element in the story. Is there any other significance besides the fact that it is the main hangout for the girls?

This is a group of women who have taken varying career and economic trajectories. The the Cantina is a place from their past that allows them to come together naturally. The Cantina also represents something different to each woman. For Julia, it represents security. It’s a place of safety and familiarity, even if the other people there may be a little nuts. For Ime, the Cantina is a reminder of how far she’s come in life. She may disparage it, but returning there allows her to say to herself, “OK, here’s proof that I’m successful. I started here, but now look at me.”

Also, I like the way the Cantina, with its pictures of Mexican revolutionaries on the wall, harkens back to a history and heritage that these girls are relatively disconnected from. I like the irony in that. These are women who live very much in the here and now. Ime at one point states that she doesn’t know a thing about Mexican history, and she’s not particularly embarrassed by that fact. I suspect she’s a little proud of it in a defiant kind of way. In this regard, the Cantina highlights in what I hope is a non-judgmental way the growing distance between their past and their present.

6. In writing this novel, did you ever consider writing it from a multi-character point of view? Did you ever consider telling this story from Ime, Concepcion, Marta, and Nina?

I did! But ultimately I chose to stick with one character because I thought that would be easier to follow. While there are many multi-narrative novels that I like, I lean more toward stories that follow a single character from start to finish. I tend to stay more invested when I’m reading. I also wanted the story to be a page-turner – readers can judge for themselves if I’ve succeeded – and that’s easier to accomplish when different narratives aren’t interrupting each other. If I were to write a sequel, however, I would consider taking a multi-narrative approach, if only for the sake of mixing things up.

7. Julia seems to be the "good girl" in the group. She questions her friendship with Ime and Concepcion, especially. Why were they friends? Does she need them, or do they need her?

Again I think it comes down to a question of security, or the illusion of security, for Julia. Just like in romantic relationships, we’re often drawn to the familiar, even if what is familiar isn’t all that good for us. Ime, Concepcion and Julia all grew up together, so it’s what Julia knows. And there’s also the issue of loyalty holding them together. Ime and Julia have been through tough times. They’re willing to put up with more from each other than newer friends might.

Concepcion and Ime have come to rely on Julia for her good sense, her practicality and her readiness to help in a pinch. Unfortunately they also take advantage of those traits. It takes a while for Julia to see that there may be other friends out there that might be better for her.

8. By the end, Julia comes to some hard realizations. What do you think readers can learn from her?

One of the biggest changes she undergoes is learning to stand on her own two feet. Yes, everyone needs support from friends, family and partners to get through life. But learning that she can survive even without those allows her to find an inner strength she didn’t know she had. And that inner strength turns out to be the true security she was looking for all along.

9. Any sequel to this story in the making?

Right now I’m immersed in working on a novel about a Mexican American family trying to get ahead against the backdrop of the final years of the Vietnam War. Since the publication of CANTINA, however, I’ve begun to think about a sequel, and the ideas are percolating. I’d love to write a novel that focuses on new triumvirate of friends that I envision emerging from the ashes of CANTINA: Julia, Remedios and Lydia. They would be the “new” girls from the Revolutionary Cantina.

Well, I really enjoyed this book, and I hope to read more by this author.

He will be joining me along with many other Latino authors at the Latino Book Festival at CSULA October 9-10 2010. More info can be found on http://www.lbff.us/

To learn more about this author, you can go to http://www.mikempadilla.com/

I will give away free books today!

For those who post comments and/or questions regarding this interview will be eligible to win a free book by another Latino writer.

Author, OSCAR HIJUELOS, the son of Cuban immigrants, is a recipient of the Rome Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. His seven novels have been translated into twenty-five languages.

He will be giving away 3 copies of either "The Mambo Kings play songs of love" or "Beautiful Maria of my soul" (winners choose the book.)

Here's a link to the first chapter of "Beautiful Maria of my soul."

This drawing will end on August 16 2010. 3 winners will be chosen!

Just be sure to leave an email address so that I may contact you.
Good luck!

End to "Beautiful Maria"

2010-07-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Just put my copy of "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" by Oscar Hijuelos to bed last night.

The author brought a poetic masterpiece to life in Havana during the days of Fidel Castro. But it mainly revolves around the powerful beauty of Maria and the love spell she cast over any man that crossed her. Then she meets Nestor while working the Havana nights as a show girl. Nestor, like every other man, falls madly in love with Maria. He is so captivated by her that he asks her to marry him. But out of fear of living the life of a poor man's wife, she declined his proposal. Then came the birth of Nestor's hit U.S. single entitled, "Beautiful Maria of My Soul." Now, 50 years later, Maria still remembers Nestor fondly, cherishing their fleeting moments together.

This story brought a few questions to mind:

1. What inspired it?
2. Was Maria based on an actual character?
3. Who was the intended audience for this story and what does the author hope they will gain from reading this novel?
4. Is this story a life lesson for regrets and taking chances? What do you, as the reader, believe?

Overall, I thought that Oscar's words were intimate and powerful, and I look forward to what he writes next.

"Beautiful Maria of My Soul" by Oscar Hijuelos

2010-06-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, I started reading an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy--God, I feel so special having gotten a book that hasn't even hit the shelves yet!) of "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" by Oscar Hijuelos.

I got through the first two chapters.

It's about a woman named Maria, a girl that turned numerous heads in her day with her honey skin, voluptuous figure, and innocent face full of natural beauty. In chapter one, Maria travels to Havana by cab, in which point, she meets a cab driver named Sixto--an ugly man with rotting teeth and a scent so putrid that it reminds you of mutilated cattle. At first, it seemed like Maria could trust Sixto. After all, he wasn't like all the other men, who flattered in exchange for sexual favors. Sixto seemed nice for no apparent reason at all. Until he asks for a kiss. Just like a smelly, flea-ridden dog begging for a belly rub, she reluctantly succumbed to his request. It wasn't as bad as she would've thought; but then he puts her hand on top of his genitals, which have hardened with lust.

Suddenly, it seems like Maria can't really trust him anymore.

End of chapter 2.

Invitation to the Festival of Books

2010-06-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Guess what?

I just received an email. Actually, it was a message sent from my email form found on my website http://www.sandra-lopez.com/.

It was invitation to the Festival of Books......in Tucson, AZ!

Wow! I've never been invited out of state before. Usually, I just do signings and panels in So Cal, since I really don't have a travel expense, and I usually don't get compensated for my appearances.

Actually, I've been getting more and more honorariums for my appearances lately. I got a few dollars just in the last two alone! Not bad, eh?

I'm glad that I'm finally starting to get paid for these gigs. And I'm hoping that it will take me out of my general vicinity and out there somewhere--somewhere I've never been before.

Maybe Tucson will be my first stop.

Anyways, I was just stoked.

Details are still being worked out for the Tucson Festival of Books, which will take place at the University of Arizona, March 12-13 2011.

For more info, go to http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Getting to Work

2010-06-17T17:30:00.001-07:00

Okay, I have several books sitting on my shelf--most of them were given to me as a complimentary gift for a review and/or a posting on my blog. I'll be honest: I haven't touched any of them quite yet. I've been busy with stuff--ya know, working, paying bills, working, buying food, working, cleaning the house, working, sleeping, and, oh yeah, did I mention working? But no more!

I will do the thing that makes any book worm happy. I will get back to reading!

Now, which one do I start with?

Should I write each title down on a piece of paper and toss them all up in the air? I figure one of them is bound to face up.

Or shall I stack them all up in one high pile and throw a dart at it? The one it hits is the one I'll read.

Well, I'm sure I'll figure out when I get there. But rest assured, this weekend I'm getting to work (reading, not the work you have to pay taxes on.)

Tour for "Bernardo and the Virgin" by Silvio Sirrias

2010-06-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

When Latino author, Silvio Sirrias, asked me if I wanted to be part of his upcoming tour for his first book, "Bernardo and the Virgin," I immediately accepted! His other book, "Meet me under the Ceiba," was a throughly enjoyable read that had mystery, romance, and terror! It was intriguing how it read as both a story and a journal. Plus, you had the soulful words of Mr. Sirria's heart and soul mixed in, so, yeah, that made for a thrilling read. I was almost sad to finish it.

But it is a great honor to have Mr. Sirrias re-visit this blog. Here is an essay by him.

The Benign Demon that Fuels Me
By Silvio Sirias

All writers are vain, selfish, and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives there lies a mystery. Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.
George Orwell, “On Why I Write”

Just last week, as I strolled through the corridors of Balboa Academy, where I teach, a sheet of paper lying on the floor caught my eye. Like every lover of the written word, I am compelled (the central narrator of Don Quixote de la Mancha admits to the same vice early in Part I) to read every scrap of writing that I find, even those on the ground.
My finding, this time, was a student essay, already corrected and graded. As an assignment—in a class other than mine—the student had been asked to analyze George Orwell’s essay “On Why I Write.” Once back in my classroom, I sat down at my desk and started to read the student’s work with interest. The thoughts contained on the page were fluid and clearly stated, giving me the impression that the young person had fully grasped the ideas of the English journalist, essayist, and novelist.
The student’s work stirred my curiosity, so I sought out Orwell’s essay. As I read the English author’s piece, I was pleased to discover that the student’s paper had prepared me to readily understand the notions Orwell expresses.
To summarize “On Why I Write”: Orwell opens by discussing his early development as a writer—beginning at age 5 and concluding at age 30, when he completed his first novel, Burmese Days. Orwell concludes this segment by defending, briefly, his detailed account of the early stage: it was provided, he says, so that readers can access his motivations as a writer.
Orwell then explains how he—based on his experience and on his observations of other writers—determined that there are four categories of authorial motivation:
1. Sheer egoism: a wish to be talked about and remembered.
2. Aesthetic enthusiasm: the pleasure of producing beautiful writing.
3. Historical impulse: the desire to record events as they were, or are.
4. Political purpose: the wish to push the world in a certain direction.
Orwell goes on to note that these artistic impulses often struggle against one another, and that they fluctuate as well—with every writer switching from one to another to differing degrees. Regarding his own motivations, Orwell states that it was his experience as a participant in the Spanish Civil War that led him to become a writer whose purpose is political. And this should not surprise readers, since his best known works are Animal Farm and 1984.
Any writer examining Orwell’s motivational construct would seek his or her category at once. This is only human nature. Focused on that task, then, I quickly concluded that the work of every writer of Nicaraguan heritage will have a strong political undercurrent. Not doing so would be impossible. Nicaraguans experienced a turbulent 20th century—and that turbulence continues. As a result, politics permeates the creativity of all Nicas, regardless of their race, age, gender, religion, or social class.
And with regard to the historical impulse that motivates many writers—that is, the desire to set the record straight—this too plays a major role in every novel I’ve written. My works, instinctively, have been attempts to rescue stories that reside on the margins and move them toward the historical mainstream.
The category of aesthetic enthusiasm is, without a doubt, the one that least describes my motivations. While I work hard so that my prose will be as pleasing as possible, and I try to bestow every page with one or two noteworthy phrases, to write in a beautiful manner ranks low among my creative priorities; instead, in my work beauty is invariably at the service of a well-told story, and not an end in itself.
The category of Orwell’s motivations that best describes my own is that of sheer egoism—where vanity reigns, according to the English writer. What fuels me is the desired to be remembered, to have my work examined and discussed after I am gone. In several essays I’ve stated that the following words of the Spaniard Miguel de Unamuno have become my writer’s mantra: “I write so that people remember I was here.”
Sometimes, when I gaze at the bookshelves at home, the surnames of writers I admire call out to me from the spines, as if beckoning me to set high standards for myself. I know my name shall never elicit the admiration that theirs provoke, but I shall keep aiming at the benchmarks they’ve set. And I will be satisfied, once I’m a feeble literary ghost, to witness, years after my departure, a student at a university picking one of my novels off of a library shelf, reading it, and then telling someone: “There was a Nicaraguan-American author who wrote a few things I find interesting.”
Such is the fuel that keeps me writing day after day.

About "Bernardo and the Virgin:"
The year is 1980, and the Sandinistas are newly in power in Nicaragua. Bernardo Martínez, a modest, unassuming tailor in the town of Cuapa, witnesses an extraordinary thing: an otherworldly glow appears around the statue of the Virgin Mary in the church, and soon the Holy Virgin appears. Though a work of fiction,Bernardo and the Virginis based on the real-life experiences of Bernardo Martínez. Silvio Sirias’s sweeping novel tells many stories, weaving together the true account of this humble, devout man with the moving and often humorous fictional tales of the people whom he influenced and inspired. It is also a stormy epic of Nicaragua through the long Somoza years and the Sandinista revolution.

Mr. Sirrias is giving this away at the end of this tour! Stop by each one of the blogs to increase your chances of winning.

Here are the stops:

Mon June 7 Latino Book Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner
Tues June 8 Regular Rumination http://regularrumination.wordpress.com/ and La Bloga http://labloga.blogspot.com/
Thurs June 10 Sandra's Book Club http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/
Fri June 11 Sententia Vera http://sententiavera.com/

Mon June 14 The Tranquilo Traveler http://blog.joshuaberman.net/
Wed June 16 The Book Nook http://booknook516.blogspot.com/
Thur June 17 Pisti Totol-Black Bird http://pistitotol.wordpress.com/
Fri June 18 Musings http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com/

There will be two live chats with Silvio at the author chat salon at Condor: http://condorbooktours.com/index.php?pr=Author_Chat_Salon

The first will be on Friday June 11th and will be for questions from the readers of the blogs hosting from June 7-11

The second will be on Friday June 18th and will be for the questions from the readers of the blogs hosting from June 14-18. Everyone is welcome to attend both sessions and invite others to both, we just want to make sure everyone gets an opportunity for a one-on-one with Silvio.

You can purchase this book on Dulce Bread and Bookshop

This tour was affiliated with Condor Book Tours

Another tour for Silvio Sirrias

2010-06-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

Latino author, Silvio Sirrias, is having another tour! Only this time, he is promoting his first book, "Bernardo and the Virgin."

Here are the dates so stop on by!

Mon June 7 Latino Book Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner
Tues June 8 Regular Rumination http://regularrumination.wordpress.com/ and La Bloga http://labloga.blogspot.com
Thurs June 10 Sandra's Book Club http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/
Fri June 11 Sententia Vera http://sententiavera.com/

Mon June 14 The Tranquilo Traveler http://blog.joshuaberman.net/
Wed June 16 The Book Nook http://booknook516.blogspot.com/
Thur June 17 Pisti Totol-Black Bird http://pistitotol.wordpress.com/
Fri June 18 Musings http://nilkibenitez.blogspot.com

You can purchase this book on Dulce Bread and Bookshop

The tour has started, so see you there!

Now I'm a Book Reviewer

2010-05-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Boy, my popularity must be soaring!

This past week, I have received three books to review and write about on my blog. Three!

I don't know how it happened. One minute, I am a newly published author, working hard to promote my work; and the next, I became a book reviewer. I guess I was always a book reviewer deep down inside. I mean, I've read books, and I've had opinions about them; I just never vocalized those opinions (or, in this case, written them down.)

In fact, the only reason I started this blog was:

a) To promote myself and my books
b) To discuss the books I read on my own spare time (even though it's mostly my opinion.)

Sometimes, I would get lucky and host an author every now and then. That's always fun for me because I get to be a nosy bugger and ask the writer all kinds of questions about their books, including, "What's your secret to writing a good book?" (We all wanna know.)

Before I became a blog host, I've had the honor of hosting such authors like Donna Del Oro, author of "Operation Familia;" now, I've hosted even more than that (e.i. Silvio Sirrias and Kermit Lopez.)

So far, being a blog host has been the best job I've ever had. Even though I don't get paid for it, I still get a free book out of it. And one of my favorite things is to discover new and emerging authors, and this gig has allowed me to do that.

Now, I'm getting requests to review books and host the writer on my blog with a Q&A. Just this week, I have received the following books:

1. "Bernardo and the Virgin" by Silvio Sirrias, whom I'll be hosting here in about a week for his blog tour.
2. "Beautiful Maria of my soul" by Oscar Hijuelos
3. "Tattoos on the Heart" by Gregory Boyle

What a treat! I'm getting new books for FREE!

A few of my fellow authors have told me that I should start charging people to review their books. I don't really want to do that. As a writer, I know how hard it is to find people to review your books. I'd hate it if they were to charge me for it. So why should I do that to them?

So, for any of you writers that want me to do a review for your book, then just send me an email and tell me all about it. We might be able to work something out.

Reading "Barrio Writers"

2010-05-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

I was pleased when fellow author, Sarah Rafael Garcia, handed me a copy of "Barrio Writers: The First Edition," not just because I'm a nerd and books are my only friends but because I was one of the contributors in this project.

Last year, I had the opportunity to speak these kids about writing and my experience of being a newly published author. The kids were so engaged with my words and I held their interest throughout the entire session. I was surprised! I could tell that these kids wanted to learn, which is a rarity considering most kids don't want to. At least, that's been my experience when I was in grade school. I was always the "eager beaver" in the class. I was alwasy the one that reminded the teacher to assign homework for the weekend, and I always reminded them to collect it to. I got countless spit balls thrown at me for that, BTW.

"Why did you do that?" they always said. "Can't you keep your big mouth shut?"

What can I say? I was a sucker for homework, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting A's.

That has been my mentally about kids. They made me feel like the outcast in school because I liked staying home on a Friday night, reading, studying, or doing extra credit. I had to do something on the weekends. After all, I didn't have any friends. Nobody wanted to be friends with the nerd, the suck up, the teacher's pet (my most hated nick name, BTW.)

But these kids surprised me. They were actually different than the kids I knew. I could actually see potential in them. I'm sure most of the kids I went to school with are either pregnoids or drop-outs or even jail birds. That's not the future for the students of Barrio Writers.

Now, I am reading each of their stories in the anthology. Most of them are dramatic stories in which you can tell was a personal revelation in the writer's life. You can see all the heart and soul poured on by these kids as you read their stories.

I was proud to have been a part of this, and I look forward to the next class in the upcoming year!

A break from reading

2010-05-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hi, all

I know this blog features what books I'm reading and which author is in the spotlight. Right now, "Mexican Enough" by Stephanie Elizondo is on my book shelf with a book mark between the pages. I am on like chapter 4 or something.

Although this memoir is an enlightenment to politics and life in the Mexican border, I'm having grave difficulty getting into the plot (or, in this case, the point of it all.) So, for this posting, I have decided to take a break from reading to tell you about a dream I had last night. It was really more of a nightmare since I was dreaming about work. Ugh!

The day at work started off with every worker's basic nightmare: I was replaced! My boss decided to hire this snobby, pretentious blonde, who constantly boasted about what a fast typer she was (like that's what got her hired in the first place.) Anyway, she was your typical "secretary"-the kind you don't want to deal with in your life because they make you feel unimportant and inferior. So, my boss gives her my desk, my computer, and my phone, and he demotes me to a student-style desk with a bunch of papers torn out from the yellow pages scattered all over the place. And I'm sitting right across from blondie. So I tried not to let it bother me (even though it was bothering me that I was replaced by her) and I tried doing my job. But she just kept saying, "Oh, I can type this up really fast. I'm a super fast typer." Like this is suppose to impress me? Who cares? But she was just being so annoying.

And just when I thought things couldn't get worse. BAM! Another assistant shows up on the premises. This one was a Mexican girl (like me) except she couldn't speak a word of English and had no idea what to do on the job. God, why did she even get hired?

So I was stuck working between these two broads. I turn around, and blondie is blow-drying her hair. I turn back to the Mexican girl, and I discovered that she let in 10 sales people in to talk to my boss (my boss has always told me to tell salespeople that he was in a meeting.) The office was turning into chaos! So I take control: I get rid of most of the sales people, I sit Mexican girl down, and tell Blondie to unplug that damn dryer 'cause, frankly, it was distracting. Of course, the blonde bitch didn't give a rat's ass about it and kept on blow-drying. So then I went back to "work."

Funny thing was that even though I was the only one doing any actual work (blondie was busy getting a perm and Mexican gal was busy staring at a computer screen with a dumb look on her face) my boss was actually yelling at me for not doing my job. Okay, getting yelled at for not doing any work? Suddenly, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.

It was at that moment that I felt unappreciated, and I wondered what it was that kept me here, putting up with all this crap. I mean, clearly, my boss had found my replacements (blondie and Mexican). Then what the hell was I doing here? They don't need me here. I should just quit.

Do you think this dream was a sign? I wondered.

Event at Santa Ana college

2010-05-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was in a panel called "Growing Up Latina" at Santa Ana College. With me were fellow Latina writers, Sarah Rafael Garcia, author of Las Ninas: A collection of childhood memories, and Jamie Martinez Wood, author of Rogelia's House of Magic.

The event was in honor for the first book of the year, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

It all begin with a brief introduction and a video clip of Sandra Cisneros. Then they introduced the authors (us.) We discussed "growing up latina" in Santa Ana, Orange County, and Hawaiian Gardens. Then we proceeded with how we got started in the writing biz by talking about our books. There was a Q&A by the moderator and the audience; then we read excerpts from our books.

We began with Sarah, who read an excerpt called, "Chair, Chair, Chair," and it detailed all about her experience in elementary school when she was trying to pronounce the word "chair" with her Spanish accent. It explained how humilated she was when she couldn't pronounce it correctly and how she felt singled-out by the whole ordeal.

Then came Jamie, who read a little bio of Sandra Cisneros and a chapter from her wiccan novel. Her story is about three young girls finding the inner magic with the help of their curandera.

Then came the closing act: ME. I read the short paragraph that outlined Esperanza's first life drawing class AKA the first time she saw a naked man; then I went on to read about how she sees herself everday--as a tall, fat, ugly freak. Of course, that's just her own opinion; other people would beg to differ.

People have often told me that I have a real gift for dialog.
"What's your secret?" they ask.
"I hear the voices in my head," I tell them.
And it's true. Each character's voice just screamed in my head, and the dialog took a life of its own. Really, I had no control over it. I was pocessed by my own work.

I love to read from my book. For me, it's like I'm reading it for the very first time (even though i know what happens.) I especially like to read the dialog because, for a moment, the character completely takes over my body and re-enacts the scene at hand, so it literally plays out in front of the audience. And they love it! They bust out laughing so hard.

When this happens, I know I've done a great job and keeping the audience entertained. Like an old English teacher once said (over and over again), "grab the readers attention and keep it there." I'm so glad I'm able to do that.

My very first blog tour

2010-04-24T11:24:00.001-07:00

Starting Monday, April 26, I will be on my very first virtual blog tour.

Join me at the following stops:

Virtual Book Tour for Beyond the Gardens by Sandra Lopez:

Monday April 26 Bonnie S. Mata http://authoroffaith.blogspot.com/

Tuesday April 27 Mayra Calvani http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner

Wednesday April 28 Christina Rodriguez http://www.christinarodriguez.com/

Thursday April 29 Lori Calabrese http://loricalabrese.com/blog/

http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner

Friday April 30 Mary Jo http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

Monday May 3 Erin O'Riordan http://www.erinoriordan.blogspot.com/

Tuesday May 4 Joylene Nowell Butler http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/

Wednesday May 5 Terri Lee-Johnson http://www.browngirlspeaks.com/book-speak.html

Thursday May 6 Romina Tybitt http://www.mamaxxi.blogspot.com/

Friday May 7 Leslie Toledo http://thatchickthatreads.blogspot.com/

A Panel of Men

2010-04-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Throughout most of my writing career, I have participated in various panels. One thing that those panels shared was that they were all LATINA panels.

But, last night was the first time I participated in a all-male panel. Joining me in the panel were Gustavo Arellano, author of "Ask A Mexican," Julian Camacho, el machismo and author of "Huevos y La Mujer Latina," and a writer for La Opinion (Hugo something.)

I had nearly forgotten how much debate can go around in a college classroom, especially for a class like Chicano Studies. The panel was supposed to discuss writing tactics and the world of publishing; instead, we got to discussing the roles and social responsibility of men. Actually, only one of us did a lot of discussing: Julian Camacho, being that he was el machismo and, apparently, an expert on the bravado of men. The reporter added his own two cents every now and then, and Gustavo inserted a hilarious tid bit or two; but I was the one that did most of the listening (unlike the audience that just wanted to keep going and going and going, like the Energizer bunny.)

Not that I had a problem with being the audience to such heated debates that were tossed around. Quite to the contrary, I actually enjoyed listening. A lot of great points were made, and I often found myself pondering their thoughts and opinions.

For example, one female student asked Mr. Camacho what his thoughts were on the family responsibilityof men, besides earning the money and protecting the family. His answer was: procreation (I shortened this, of course, because the actual answer would be too long to post.)

Another student asked all of us why a Chicano Studies class is sometimes called "Chicano Studies" and "Latino Studies" some other times. Is one less or more important than the other? How do you feel the class has evolved through the course of time? Even though I was asked to volunteer my opinion, I felt that I was not the right person to answer since I had only taken one Chicano Studies class over ten years ago (my studies in college were only focused in art.) So I just gave them a quick line or two, then the rest of the men answered (Julian was the one who the put the most in his answer, BTW.)

It wasn't too hard to conclude that Julian was the "star" of the panel. He did the most talking. It was funny because I thought Gustavo Arellano would end up being the most talkative because, let's face it, he was the most reknowned author of us all. But, no, it was el machismo. He discussed a lot of things. One of which was the child rearing of his son, in particular to how his wife would treat him in front of the boy (he said that he'd tell her not to be a bitch in front of him so that he would grow up not to take that sort of abuse from women.) In essence, men should be strong not weak.

Then some other things were tossed around. Like how men actually get treated better by other men than they do by women. Men will actually buy men a steak lunch and a beer as opposed to women, who will slam the refrigerator door in their face and nag that you can't eat this and you can't eat that (even though it might be out of concern for their health, weight, and overall longevity.) And I agreed! Guys actually get more respect from other guys than they get from women. Why is that? I wondered. Well, I think it's because men give women all the power. Then Julian went on to call us "manipulative," in a sense that we know how to work "it." That's why we get a lot of the attention from the male teachers. Ha, ha, ha!

Even though I was the silent participant in the panel, I had a great time laughing at everything that was shared yesterday.

A Change of Pace

2010-04-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

We all need a change of pace every now and then.

Like, yesterday, for instance. It was one of those lazy Saturdays in which I didn't feel like going anywhere or doing anything. God, I even thought that watching TV was too stimulating. Well, anyways, nonetheless, I had to write my two essays for my upcoming virtual blog tour starting on April 26, and, let me tell you, my brain was not useful at all. In fact, it had completely turned into mush. Ugh! So, there I was, sitting in front of the computer, fingers on key board, just staring at a blank screen with a dumb look on my face. Drag!

I was getting a headache. In fact, I think I even started with a headache. The point was that nothing was getting done. There was no way I was going to work on this essay today. I needed a change of pace.

And it just so happened that I got a new book, "Mexican Enough"- a memoir by Stephanie Elizondo Griest. And, wow! Did that feel good. Suddenly, I was able to feel the neurons inside my brain again. Talk about a great distraction.

A word of advice: If you ever get stuck writing, distract yourself with someone else's.

Does "best seller" mean a good book?

2010-03-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

We've all seen the words "best seller" on book covers. "New York Times Best Seller" or "International Best Seller" or something like that. But what does that really mean?

The words "best seller" are supposed to mean prestige and nobility. They create awe in all of us and make us believe that this piece of work is magnificent. In other words, "best seller" means good. Right?

Not necessarily.

I have read many "best sellers," and, I gotta say, most of them did not live up to the hype. Most of them were lacking in flavor. They basically bored me from page one. I gotta say that some of them bored me so much I couldn't even finish the book. When a book starts putting me to sleep, that's a red flag.

Now the question is: why?

As I read some of these "best sellers," I remember thinking, "this author could be anybody." There was nothing distinct about them--not in the voice, not in the personality, not even in the so-called humor. Lines that were supposed to be funny didn't even make me snicker. In a nutshell, these books were generic. And I hate generic.

So what does this mean in the world of publishing? I mean, I know that the money prospects is a big factor in whether or not a book gets published. The publishers want to make sure they make a lot of money. Nothing wrong with wanting to make a lot of money. And, yeah, maybe that's why they keep publishing a lot of the "best sellers" (they don't even care if the story is good.) Well, when they don't care if the story is good and they keep shelling it out into the world, then I'd say that's a problem. That's a big problem.

So what does this mean? That I have to write a generic story--one that is tasteless and pointless--in order to get that "best seller" sticker on the cover? I'm sorry, I can't do that.

I write my stories mainly for me, and, since I don't like generic stuff, I have to make sure that I put my personality into it (my weird, witty--sometimes construed as insane--personality.) I have to put my whole everything into my stories--heart, brains, voice, bone, blood, maybe even a liver or two.

If this means that I'll never get that "best seller" sticker, then so be it. In fact, I would rather not get it, if you don't mind. According to the world, "best seller" means generic. If having that sticker means that I will be thought of as a generic, faceless writer, then I'll gladly throw that sticker away. I don't want it, and I don't need it.

No offense to those writers who want that sticker, of course. If that's your goal, then all the luck to ya. It's just not for me, thank you.

Start to Finish: What keeps me reading?

2010-03-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I read a lot of books!

Doesn't really matter what kind, I just really like to read.

But what keeps me reading? What makes me read a book from start to finish?

Well, I'll tell you what my criteria is.

Stories for one thing. I LOVE good stories.
A good story will have true-to-life characters made of flesh and bone. I want to believe that this story is actually happening right in front of me.
I want to be able to feel what the characters feel, see what they see, taste what they taste, and so on. They don't have to be my best friends (although that would be a plus), they just have to be real to me.
If a story can make me laugh, that would be another great plus. But, again, a plus, not a requirement. I have read many great stories that did not have an ounce of humor in it, but I was still entertained by the writing. Yet, another thing of what keeps me reading.
And, finally, I would like a story to go somewhere; I want it to have a point, a goal, anything really. If it could teach me something, great! But it doesn't have to. I just want the story to take me on a brand new adventure (an adventure that I don't get to experience in real life). When I read, I want to live vicariously through the story; and if I'm doing that, then I wanna go somewhere! Anywhere--to a far-away land, to outer space, to hell, anywhere! And I want the characters to take me there. See, for me, a good story will have a beginning, a middle, and an ending. The characters will go from Point A, to Point B, and then finish at Point C. They will never stay at one point through the whole book (at least, I hope not. I'll be bored before I even get to the middle.)

The bottom line is: I don't care if the author has written about the love between a man and a woman, or about an ex-slave in Virginia, or about a Mexican immigrant assimilating to American life, or even about the battle of witches and warlocks. I don't care. As long as it is a good story made up of read, strongly defined characters that take me from Point A to Point C, then I'm all for it. And if you add humor and great writing that can clearly come from sheer talent, then I'm a happy camper. If you give me all this, then you can bet that I'll be finishing this book from start to finish.

Now, why have I written this post, you ask? Well, in my last post, I told you that I was reading "I want Candy" by Kim Wong Keltner. I have read about 7 chapters before coming to the conclusion that I will not be finishing this book. Why? Because I'm BORED.

I thought this book was going to be a Chinese version of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I thought this 14-year old character was going to talk about coming of age in America while working in the Chinese restaurant with her old-world immigrant family. I thought this girl was going to have ambition and dreams. But all she keeps talking about is how she wants to be like her bad best friend that keeps having sex with random guys she meets. And the writer gets so graphic when she talks about the main character going up to some guy's apartment and watching him "touch" himself. I was disgusted!

So, now I'm finished. I am stopping at chapter 7 and moving on to a new book.

Reading "I want Candy" by Kim Wong Keltner

2010-03-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

What I am reading.....

"I want Candy" by Kim Wong Keltner

This is something I have always wanted to read. I always figured that there was a story behind a young American born Chinese growing up with a family that comes from the old country. And here it is.

This book is all about a teen girl named Candy, and she spends most of her time working at a San Francisco Chinese restaurant with her mom and dad, and she hates it. Compared to her Asian friend, Ruby, Candy is the fat one. But she is also the smart one.

Candy's goal is to not waste another summer working in the sweat shop AKA the restaurant kitchen, where she makes about 10,000 egg rolls a year. She wants something different.

So far, I have read two chapters. It starts off with the start of her first period, and I stopped after she follows her friend, Ruby, get de-virginized by a pimple-faced kid.

I hope that this book will be more than a girl hitting puberty. I hope Candy will share some of her aspirations as a teen, an American, and a person. I hope her one goal is not just to get a boyfriend or just a boy to stick his tongue down her throat.

Here's hoping....

Book Review: "Forget about it"

2010-03-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just finished the final chapter of "Forget about it" by Caprice Crane.

I REALLY like it! It had the same sacastic, blunt humor from her first novel, "Stupid and Contagious." We all say, "life sucks!" but how many people would try to fake amnesia to make it better? Certainly, not me. And who would've thought that you would end up meeting a great guy from it? Shoot, maybe I should try that.

After some time, things actually turn out better for Jordan Landau, until she actually does get amnesia. Then she is forced to start her life over for real.

Although, Jordan didn't end up with the guy I wanted her to end up with, she still got a pretty good deal in the end. Plus, she came to the realization that "you have to live your life, you can't let your life live you."

Until the next blog tour

2010-03-20T14:38:00.001-07:00

hey, everyone

Thanks to everyone who participated in the blog tour for "My Shoes and I" by Rene Colato. I had a great time visiting the stops, and I congratulate the future winners that will receive a free autographed copy of "My Shoes and I."

At the moment, I have no new assignment for a blog tour, so, until then, I will finish reading my latest book, "Forget about it" by Caprice Crane. Then I will get into reading "Seeing me naked" by Liza Palmer.

Maybe I will get a new hosting gig in April.

Until the next blog tour.....I will be reading!

"My Shoes and I" by Rene Colato

2010-03-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have only been a blog host since the beginning of 2010, and, so far, I have greatly enjoyed it.

Seriously, this is a pretty sweet gig I got! (Can I get a holler, y’all?)

I get to meet a new author, get to ask some great questions, AND I get a free (sometimes, autographed) book! SWEET!

So far, I’ve had to honor of hosting Silvio Sirias, author of Meet Me Under the Ceiba, and Kermit Lopez, author of Cibolero. But this is the first time I have hosted an author of a children’s book, and it has given me a new appreciation for this job because not only am I a reader and a writer, but I am also an Illustrator. So you can imagine my enthusiasm.

Today, I am hosting author, Rene Colato, and his book, My Shoes and I.

If you have been following this tour, then you have a good idea of what the book is about. But just to recap.

It is all about a little boy’s journey across land. And what do you think accompanies him on this journey? You guess it, his shoes—his brand new shoes he received as a gift from his mother in the United States. Each page illustrates an obstacle the little boy encounters in his first cross-country trip to America. Some of these obstacles include a pack of dogs that eat his sandwich, a lost wallet in the bus terminal, and a hike through a torrential rain storm.

What I liked best about this book is that it’s not your typical children’s book with three little pigs or a little girl with a red hood. This book stands uniquely on its own. It is a true account of what it’s like to immigrate into this country. People have to crawl through dirt and mud, rain and storm, mountain and barbed wire to get to America.

Today, most kids have at least one older relative who went through that, like an aunt, a cousin, or grandfather. And this book would definitely show them (not just tell) but actually show them what these people went through to give them a better life. Not only was the story quick and easy to follow, but the illustrations were fun. They had a distinct, distorted style with a sketchy, child-like quality. It reminded me of all the crayon drawings I did as I kid.

And, in each picture, the focal point was always those shoes. Almost every detail in the picture pointed to the shoes.

Thank you, Rene, for bringing your work into my life.

If you think that this book would be great for some kid you know, then here’s your chance to win a free copy by the author, Rene Colato.

Leave a comment on this blog and fill out the contest entry form provided by the link below.
http://sandralopez.tripod.com/id24.html

Be sure to fill this form out so Rene will know where to send this book

If you don't win, you can still buy the book here at Dulce

About the Author:
I am René Colato Laínez, the Salvadoran award winning author of I Am René, the Boy, Waiting for Papá, Playing Lotería, René Has Two Last Names and The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez. My picture books have been honored by the Latino Book Award, the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the California Collection for Elementary Readers, the Tejas Star Book Award Selection and the New Mexico Book Award. I was named “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com. I am a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults.
My goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future. I want to write authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States

The tour continues with:

Here is the schedule:

Monday March 08-Mayra Calvani http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner

Tuesday March 09-Lori Calabrese http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner

Wednesday March 10-Christina Rodriguez http://www.christinarodriguez.com/

Thursday March 11-Silvia http://www.mamalatinatips.com/

Friday March 12-Monica Olivera Hazelton http://www.latinbabybookclub.com/

Monday March 15- Tina Nichols Coury http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/

Tuesday March 16-Michael Sedano http://www.labloga.blogspot.com/

Wednesday March 17-Caridad Pineiro http://www.caridad.com/blog/

Thursday March 18-Sandra Lopez http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/

Friday March 19-Sheila DeChantal http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

THIS TOUR IS ASSOCATED WITH BRONZEWORD LATINO

Interview with Author, Donna Del Oro

2010-03-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, I read a complimentary copy of "Operation Famila," which was given to me by a fellow author named Donna Del Oro. This was her first published novel, and, at the time, she, like me, was in the beginning stages of her writing career (the time when one is trying to break through the book industry and speak out - even now, two years later, it still seems that way.)

Well, not Del Oro has written a new book, "Hasta La Vista, Baby." It is a romantic-comedy starring Sonya Reyes, who has just been dumped by her husband of over 20 years at a family BBQ. The whole story reads like a personal journal as Sonya goes through anger, self-deprecation, sadness, humiliation, and then, finally, acceptance of her break up.

Even though I could not relate to the pitfalls of marriage (having never been married in my life), I could still relate to Sonya as a woman, a friend, and an artist.

Some questions sprung to mind when I reached the end. And, here to answer them, is Donna Del Oro, herself.

Welcome, Donna!

1. In fiction, finding the right name for your characters is important. It gives the reader an insight to the characters's personalities and where they will go in the story. How did you come up with the following names: Sonya, Earl, Scott, and Evita?

A: From people I know. Eva was my grandmother's name and I've used it in a couple of novels. Sonya, of course, means "dreamer" in Spanish and for this character, it's very appropriate.

2. "Hasta La Vista, Baby" is a famous movie quote by the Swartzanegger man, himself. How did you finally decide on that title?

A: I loved it for this particular story because a few of my divorced girlfriends used this expression when they divorced their husbands. It's like saying, "It's been interesting but now I'm outa here!" As in, so glad to rid my life of you, brother!

3. I understand that you are a married woman, correct? Happily, I'm guessing. Well, I'm curious, as you were writing "Hasta La Vista, Baby," how did you cultivate Sonya Barton's anger/resentment/denial throughout the whole story?

A: I've been married 42 years but as in all long marriages, not all of those years have been happy ones. A lot of my girlfriends are divorced, including my sister (2x). I listen to their anger, disappointment, resentment, denial and some of it mirrors my own over the years. I've always maintained that the only difference between a single woman and a married one is that a married woman is more willing to put up with s#*t from a man than a single one. Believe me, if it has tires or testicles, it's going to cause you trouble!

4. Was Sonya's childhood regarding the abandonment of her father a reflection of someone else's? Possibly your own?

A: No, but her father's abandonment certainly set the emotional stage for Sonya's unhappy marriage. Like she says at one point, At least he didn't leave. She's willing to settle for far less because she's never really had a father in her life.

5. Scott and Sonya seemed so right for each other. They seemed to "fit." But as I was reading this book, I couldn't be sure if I wanted them to be together or not. At times, they seemed better off as good friends. What were your personal thoughts on this?

A: There were times I vacillated on whether I wanted them together romantically or not. In a more serious book, I would not have had them end up together. But because this is a romantic comedy, it's a natural ending.

6. And, finally, I hear you may start a sequel to "Operation Family." Could you please tell us a little more about it?

A: I'll be starting this sequel soon. It's now percolating mentally. The tentative title is OPERATION KILLER WATCH and it's partly based on a real life incident that has happened in our Northern California neighborhood--an alleged murderer being released on our street after three hung juries have failed to convict him. He's free to roam our area and the neighbors are feeling VERY uncomfortable. In fact, the local gun shop is doing a brisk business! We're also forming a Neighborhood Watch to cope with this growing fear. So in my book, Dina's pal, Lisa Luna, a part-time PI is asked by fearful people in her neighborhood to do something about this guy. She's tough, still has the .38 revolver that Dina gave her, and she has a cop boyfriend. Still, what can she do? Legally, her hands are tied...and she too is inwardly scared. But knowing Lisa Luna, she thinks setting up this guy and sending his butt back to jail is going to be a piece of cake! Because this is a romantic comedy--yes, it is!--Lisa's going to get into a lot of hot water trying to make this happen!

Thank you, Donna, and good luck!

What I'm reading

2010-03-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Want to know what I'm reading now? I am reading "Forget about it" by Caprice Crane.

Originally, I bought this book on the grounds that I really enjoyed her first book, "Stupid and Contagious," a hilarious page-turner from start to finish. I mean, I could not stop laughing!

Now, "Forget about it" is about a young lady named Jordan Landau (great name, BTW) who thinks her lifes just sucks: her boss, her co-workers, her boyfriend, her mother, her sister, everything and everyone in her life just sucks. Then she gets hit by a car after catching her boyfriend with another girl. She pretends to have abnesia in hopes of making her sucky life better. I have just come to the part where she is about to fake it.

What I mostly like about Caprice Crane's novels is her blunt, straight-to-the-point humor. I mean, she tells it like it is. The world does suck, and she's not afraid to admit it. I think we all feel that way at some point (I know I do at times). But Crane brings this everyday casualty to this smart wit.

Even though some of her sentences do run kind've long that I lose track of what the point was. And not everything she says is funny or even sensible. Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Oh, I get it," when something really isn't as funny as it should be. Or I think, "What? I don't get it."

Nonetheless, some of it is pretty hilarious, and I can't wait to read more of it tonight.

Blog Tour for "My Shoes and I"

2010-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

Children's book author, Rene Colato, will be on a blog tour starting Monday, March 8, promoting his book, "My Shoes and I."

Here is the schedule:

Monday March 08-Mayra Calvani http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner

Tuesday March 09-Lori Calabrese http://www.examiner.com/x-7597-Childrens-Books-Examiner http://loricalabrese.com/blog/

Wednesday March 10-Christina Rodriguez http://www.christinarodriguez.com/

Thursday March 11-Silvia http://www.mamalatinatips.com/

Friday March 12-Monica Olivera Hazelton http://www.latinbabybookclub.com/

Monday March 15- Tina Nichols Coury http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/

Tuesday March 16-Michael Sedano http://www.labloga.blogspot.com/

Wednesday March 17-Caridad Pineiro http://www.caridad.com/blog/

Thursday March 18-Sandra Lopez http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/

Friday March 19-Sheila DeChantal http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

The author will be giving away a free copy of his book on this tour, so be sure to stop on by!

Received a new book from a local author yesterday

2010-03-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I came home from work at around half past five. I had just finished locking up the office (my boss and everyone else had left me all alone to wait for the Fed Ex guys while they started their weekend plans earlier in the afternoon.)

Anyways, I picked up the mail at my apartment, and there was a package inside. What could this be? I wondered. I don't remember ordering anything. Then I saw the return label, and it was from an author friend of mine, Donna Del Oro, who has recently published her second book, "Hasta La Vista, BAby."

I was so psyched that I instantly started reading it last night!

Chapter one started off with the main character, Sonia, who just received the heartwrenching news that her husband, Earl, was divorcing her to marry his pregnant ex-girlfriend. And this happens at a family BBQ.

Sonia starts going ballistic. She ended up chasing Earl all around the pool with a fork. The first chapter ended with her quest to find out what makes a man tick. She figures if she can figure that part out, she may even get her husband (and her normal life)back.

What makes a man tick? Boy, we've all tried to figure that out (and most of us still haven't).

I bet that chase scene was pretty funny. Like something out of a Charlie Chaplin film. I just wish the author would've shown it to us. She just basically summarized it in a sentence or two.

And Earl? He is described as a Brad Pitt Cowabunga dude. With a name like Earl? He sounds more like my grandpa. I wonder how the author came up with the names for the characters.

Well, maybe I'll find out. In the meantime, I am going to get back to "Hasta La Vista, Baby."

Shopping for a new book

2010-02-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a new book in weeks--that's right, weeks! I need it REAL BAD!

So I am browsing through my line of websites and blogs to find a good suggestion from somebody. And I'll even browse through Amazon, even though I'm pretty that will be the least helpful site.

I am shopping for a book, and I open to suggestions.

It only takes one

2010-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone!

As most of you know, I had a book signing event at Tia Chucha Cafe y Cultural yesterday. The place was located in Sylmar, CA A.K.A. "The Boondox."

It took me an hour on the freeway, and when I finally got there, there were mountains and hills all around. I got lost trying to find the store, and my map was useless because it only went as far as Los Angeles. So I called Tia Chucha for directions. They told me they were next to a Denny's. Luckily, I found the Denny's, but Tia Chucha was nowhere to be seen. So I drove around the parking lot a few times until, miraculously, I spotted it!

The event started at 1pm. At first, there was no one there. I thought the whole thing was going to be a bust 'til at about 1:20pm, a few people showed up. One lady even walked up to me and said that she came a long way just to hear me read from my latest novel, "Beyond the Gardens." I was so honored.

Even though the "crowd" consisted of about 5 people, I felt that hearing that one comment by that one fan made the entire event a "success" and it just made the whole trip to the mountains worth it. It only took one.

Live Reading and Book Signing at Tia Chucha's

2010-02-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

Hey, all!

Join me for a live reading and book signing for my newest Latina novel, Beyond the Gardens, at Tia Chucha Cafe y Cultural located in Sylmar, CA.

Date: Saturday, Feb 20 2010 at 1pm

Hope to see you there!

All work and No play

2010-01-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I began reading "Cibolero" by Kermit Lopez, who is currently on a blog tour right now (please check out the dates below.)

Now, usually, I like to get home from work around 2:30pm, eat some dinner, watch a little late afternoon TV; then just prop my feet up, lay back, and read a good book ('cause, quite frankly, there's usually nothing on TV at night anyways.)

Well, lately my boss has been asking me to work 'til 5pm (maybe even close to 6pm), and I've been getting home tired--too tired to even open up a book!

This past week alone, I've just been getting home at around 6:30pm (maybe eat a little something) and just going to bed like an hour or so later. And, let me tell ya, when my head hits that pillow, I am zonked out! I mean it, Lights Out!

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I have been neglecting my reading. Well, today, I have the day off from work, so I'm hoping to get some tonight (reading, I mean).

Don't wait up.

"Cibolero" by Kermit Lopez

2010-01-25T09:12:00.001-08:00

Before we begin, let me share something with you.

As you know, we’ve been having heavy amounts of rain this past week here in So Cal. I mean, it’s been non-stop everyday ever since Sunday.

Well, last Thursday was no exception. I woke up, got out of bed, and went out into the world, where it was (guess what?) raining. I couldn’t find my umbrella, and I got to work all drenched and muddy (not the best way to make a good impression on your boss, but there you go.)

The whole day was a drag from the start (Oh, my GGOOOD). Do any of you feel like your boss just thinks you’re a moron? Well, anyway, the whole day ended with me calling my boss a jerk (not to his face, of course – I waited ‘til I got in the car to call him that – best if he didn’t hear it.)

By the time I started driving home, the streets were flooded, and the rain just would NOT let up. So I got home, got a little more wet, and I picked up the mail. And stuffed inside that little mail box (underneath the massive pile of bills, yay) was a manila envelope.

I brought it inside, dried it off a bit, and tore it open. And inside…..was Cibolero by Kermit Lopez.

The excitement from getting a new book seared through me and made me burst. I was so happy! And it came at just the right time too, because I had just finished reading Meet Me Under the Ceiba by Silvio Sirias (excellent book, by the way), so, therefore, I had nothing else to read. And being stuck inside with nothing to read was bound to make go up the walls.

So it was perfect!

As I held that book in my hands with an infinite smile on my face, a faint ray of sunshine suddenly cut through the dark clouds and glistened brightly……even though it was still pouring out.

About the book: For years, Antonio Baca lived the wandering and restless life of a Cibolero, or buffalo hunter, following the great herds that roamed the endless Llano Estacado-the high plains of a region that would one day be New Mexico. After marrying and settling down, Baca has finally found a modicum of peace in the home he built for his growing family.
But Baca witnesses the transformation of Nuevo Mexico from an isolated colonial outpost of the Spanish empire to a province of the newly independent nation of Mexico and, finally, to a land conquered by the avaricious americanos. Following the United States's seizure of New Mexico, Antonio and his countrymen find themselves treated as foreigners and second-class citizens in their own land.
When his daughter, Elena, is kidnapped by a band of invading Texas Rangers after the American Civil War, Baca desperately tracks them across the llano of New Mexico and into Texas using his skills as a Cibolero. Terrified for his daughter's safety, he plunges into the world of the gringos, and discovers just how much the americanos have changed his homeland. But as the days pass without any sign of Elena, Baca fears for her life-and his own
So thank you, Kermit, for your wonderful timing and for your appearance on today’s blog.

1. Mr. Lopez, I read from your bio that the idea for Cibolero was inspired after researching your ancestry. How did the rest of the story come about regarding the kidnapping and all?

Cibolero was generally inspired by my family ancestry and the history of New Mexico. In particular, the story was based on the historical relationship between Hispanics and Anglos in New Mexico and Texas during the 19th and early 20th centuries. That is, Mexican American citizen were treated as foreigners and second class citizens in their own homeland. Hence, the attitude of the Texans/Anglos towards Hispanics in Texas and Mexico, which in the story, results in the kidnapping and so forth. In addition to these underlying themes, however, I wanted to create a story with "action" combined with historical interest. Hence, the novel can also be thought of as a "Western" from a Hispanic point of view.

2. I see you have another book, The Prodigy. What is that about and how is it different from Cibolero?

The Prodigy was a very different book from that of Cibolero. The Prodigy was my first attempt at a published novel and is essentially a legal thrilller, aka, John Grisham. Because in my "day job" I'm a patent attorney, The Prodigy covered themes of patents and intellectual property in the context of fiction.

3. Who are your favorite Latino authors and what books do you have on your book shelf?

My favorite Latino author is Rudolfo Anaya, particularly his novel Bless Me Ultima.

Thank you, Kermit! I can’t wait to get to the exciting conclusion of Cibolero.

Author Bio:
Kermit Lopez wrote “Cibolero” after researching his family ancestry, which spans four hundred years of New Mexico history. He received electrical engineering and law degrees from the University of New Mexico and lives with his wife and son in Albuquerque. Mr. Lopez is also the author of the novel The Prodigy.

ISBN: 978-0-595-43567-8

Blog Tour Schedule:

Mon Jan 25th: Sandra's Book Club
Tues Jan 26th: Musings
Wed Jan 27th: Latino
Book Examiner
Thurs Jan 28th: Mama
XXI
Frid Jan 29th: Latino Musings on Literature & More
Mon Feb 1st: Heidenkind's
Hideaway
Tues Feb 2nd: Efrain's Corner
Wed Feb 3rd: BronzeWord Latino Authors
Thurs Feb 4th: TBA
Fri Feb 5th: Regular
Rumination

AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY A FREE COPY OF CIBOLERO ON THIS TOUR!

To be eligible for a chance, post a comment and/or a question on this blog and all other blogs on this tour.

Please fill out the contest entry form for shipping information at http://sandralopez.tripod.com/id24.html

Blog Tour for "Cibolero"

2010-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

I am hosting a new author here on Sandra's Book Club, and it all starts right here on Monday, January 25.

Here is the schedule:

Mon Jan 25th: Sandra's Book Club
Tues Jan 26th: Musings
Wed Jan 27th: Latino Book Examiner
Thurs Jan 28th: Mama XXI
Frid Jan 29th: Latino Musings on Literature & More
Mon Feb 1st: Heidenkind's Hideaway
Tues Feb 2nd: Efrain's Corner
Wed Feb 3rd: BronzeWord Latino Authors
Thurs Feb 4th: TBA
Fri Feb 5th: Regular Rumination

Lots of Rain and No Book

2010-01-21T11:06:00.001-08:00

Hey, everyone!

Hosting Silvio Sirias yesterday was an honor. Thanks to everyone who posted comments and questions. Mr. Sirias had some interesting and challenging questions, but he answered them rather well.

I just finished reading the last pages of "Meet Me under the Ceiba," and I am now sorry to say that I have no new book to read.

It's been pouring the last couple of days here in Southern California, and it hasn't been able to stop since Sunday night. So, basically, I am stuck in here without being able to go out for a jog and without a book to read. So, basically, I am BORED!

My plan, however, is to go down to Libreria Martinez this weekend (hopefully, it will be dry by then) and stock up on some new books. I would order through Amazon, but, let's face it, I can't wait that long.

"Meet Me Under the Ceiba" by Silvio Sirias

2010-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

As a blog host, I now have the fun task of reading books by newly discovered writers, and I consider having read Meet Me Under the Ceiba by Silvio Sirias both an honor and a treat.

If you have been following this online book tour, then you know what this story is all about. But for those of you who are just joining us, here is a quick recap of the story.

"An American professor of Nicaraguan descent spending the summer in his parents’ homeland learns of Adela’s murder and vows to unravel the threads of the mystery. The suspense builds as he patiently interviews the townspeople and extracts their intriguing and often outlandish accounts of Adela’s life and death in this backwater town. It quickly becomes apparent that Adela—a hard-working campesina who never learned to read and write—and Don Roque had one thing in common: the beautiful Ixelia Cruz. The love of Adela’s life, Ixelia was one of Don Roque’s many possessions until Adela lured her away.
The interviews with Adela’s family, neighbors, and former lovers shed light on the circumstances of her death and reveal the lively community left reeling by her brutal murder, including: Adela’s older sister Mariela and her five children, who spent Christmas morning with Adela, excitedly unwrapping the gifts their beloved aunt brought them that fateful day; her neighbor and friend, Lizbeth Hodgson, the beautiful mulata who early in their relationship rejected Adela’s passionate advances; Padre Uriel, who did not welcome Adela to mass because she loved women; Adela’s former lover Gloria, the town’s midwife, who is forever destined to beg her charges to name their newborn daughters Adela.
Through stories and gossip that expose jealousies, scandals, and misfortunes, Sirias lovingly portrays the community of La Curva, Nicaragua, in all its beauty and ugliness. The winner of the Chicano / Latino Literary Prize, this spellbinding novel captures the essence of a world rarely seen in American literature. "

What I liked most about this book was how it reads as both a journal and a story at the same time. Sirias makes you feel like you are a part of the characters' lives and histories, and you feel like you were right there--in the middle of that love triangle, just standing there witnessing the greed, anger, jealousy, and lust. It just pulls you in and devours you completely. I can honestly say that I could not put this book down.

I would now like to take the opportunity to welcome Silvio Sirias today.

Sandra: Welcome! First of all, your story concept reminded me a great deal of "The Salvation of La Purisima" by T.M. Spooner. It was about an anglo who traveled to Mexico and discovers a mysterious death that has plagued a village for so long, and he is the only one who can help heal the town. How did you come up with the idea for "Meet Me Under the Ceiba" and, more importantly, how did you come up with the title?*

Silvio: In February of the year 2000, about six months after my wife and I moved to Nicaragua from North Carolina, the papers in Nicaragua started carrying a news item that centered on the disappearance of a woman, named Aura Rosa Pavón, who lived in the small town of La Curva, in the province of Masaya. As details of the mystery began to filter out—the result of the sister’s desperate search to locate her—I began to surmise that the disappearance had to do with Aura Rosa’s involvement in a love-triangle.

The day her body was discovered, three suspects were apprehended; subsequently they were put on trial, and found guilty. And, Sandra, as the picture became clearer regarding what had taken place, the story became sublimely “novelesque” in my mind. There, right before me, was a writers’s dream: a narrative that contained many of the elements that constitute marvelous fiction—love, lust, greed, exploitation, hope, fear, compassion and, to top these off, homophobia. Although at the time I was committed to completing my first novel, BERNARDO AND THE VIRGIN, I knew that as soon as I had finished this task I’d be moving on to tell Aura Rosa’s story. And eight years later, here we are.

The title was inspired by a phrase in a note that lured Aura Rosa Pavon to her death. In it, someone posing as her former lover wrote: “Meet me under the chilamate.” That note and that phrase stuck to me throughout the research stage and I knew they would figure prominently in the narrative. Now, the chilamate is a tree that grows in abundance in Nicaragua. While it’s a striking tree, I hardly found inspiration in it. The ceiba, on the other hand, has a rich religious lore that goes back centuries, particularly with the Yoruban people of Western Africa and the Mayans of Central America. This lore has been mined by other writers of the Caribbean region, so it was an easy decision to substitute “chilamate” for “ceiba.” And, in the end, my writer’s intuition had been correct as the pivotal scene in the novel revolves around the phrase, hence the title.

Sandra: I see you were named one of the top ten Latino Writers to watch for 2010. How does that make you feel?*

Silvio: As a published novelist yourself, Sandra, you’re well aware of the long, lonely hours—and, in my case, decades—spent trying to master the craft. On top of this, it takes months, if not years, to complete a novel. To be named one of the Top Ten New Latino Writers to Watch (and Read) in 2010 is, to me, one of the most gratifying moments I’ve experience in my career. The honor means that every second I’ve spent suffering to get the right turn of the phrase, to make a scene call out, to try to get the story to grab a reader’s heart has well been worth the sacrifices.

Sandra: Thank you for joining us and good luck with your book!

About the Author:
SILVIO SIRIAS is the author of a novel, Bernardo and the Virgin (Northwestern University Press, 2007), and he has written and edited several books on Latino/a literature, including Julia Alvarez: A Critical Companion (Greenwood Press, 2001) and Conversations with Rudolfo Anaya (University Press of Mississippi, 1998). He received his doctorate in Spanish from the University of Arizona and worked as a professor of Spanish and U.S. Latino/a literature for several years before returning to live in Nicaragua in 1999. He currently lives in Panama.

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Arte Publico Pr (September 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-1558855922

Link to author's website: http://www.silviosirias.com/

Blog Tour associated with Latino Book Tours

Silvio Sirias Blog Tour Dates:
Monday 11th: Book Lover Carol http://bookluver-carol.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Jan 12th: Brown Girl Speaks www.browngirl.weebly.com/book-speak.html
Wed Jan 13th: Regular Ruminations http://www.regularrumination.wordpress.com/
Thursday Jan 14th: The Tranquilo Traveler http://blog.joshuaberman.net/
Friday Jan 15th: Pisti Totol http://www.pistitotol.wordpress.com/
Monday 18th: Mama XXI http://www.mamaxxi.blogspot.com/
Tuesday 19th: Farm Lane Books http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/
Wed 20th: Sandra's Book Club http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/
Thurs. 21st: Latino Books Examiner www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner
Friday 22nd: Una in a Million http://unainamillion.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour for "Meet Me Under the Ceiba"

2010-01-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

Here is the blog tour for "Meet Me Under the Ceiba" by Silvio Sirias.

I will be hosting on Jan 20.

Monday 11th: Book Lover Carol http://bookluver-carol.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Jan 12th: Brown Girl Speaks www.browngirl.weebly.com/book-speak.html
Wed Jan 13th: Regular Ruminations www.regularrumination.wordpress.com

Thursday Jan 14th: The Tranquilo Traveler http://blog.joshuaberman.net/

Friday Jan 15th: Pisti Totol www.pistitotol.wordpress.com

Monday 18th: Mama XXI www.mamaxxi.blogspot.com

Tuesday 19th: Farm Lane Books http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/

Wed 20th: Sandra's Book Club http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/
Thurs. 21st: Latino Books Examiner www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner

Friday 22nd: Una in a Million http://unainamillion.blogspot.com

Blog Tour for "Sins of the Flesh"

2010-01-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

Caridad Piniero will be on a blog tour next week for "Sins of the Flesh"

Here is the schedule:

Jan 11: Jo Ann BronzeWord Latino Authors http://www.authorslatino.com/blog
Jan 12: Lara Julia Amante http://www.juliaamante.blogspot.com
Jan 13: Mayra Latino Books Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner
Jan 14: Kate Babbling About Books and More http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/
Jan 15: Tasha Heidenkind http://www.heidenkind.blogspot.com
Jan 18: Nilki Musings http://www.NilkiBenitez.blogspot.com
Jan 19: Erin Pagan Spirits http://www.erinoriordan.blogspot.com
Jan 20: Alice Bergers Book Reviews http://www.bergersbookreviews.wordpress.com
Jan 21: Blodeuedd Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell http://books-forlife.blogspot.com
Jan 22: Misa Chasing Heroes http://www.chasingheroes.com

PRIZE:

Those who leave a comment are eligible for an autographed copy of Sins of the Flesh and a T-shirt.

Rules:

Leave a comment with your email addy!

Extra Entries:

+4 for asking Caridad a question
+3 for being a follower
+2 for becoming a follower
+1 link on your sidebar or twitter (please leave a link)

I have a new blog

2010-01-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

Hey, everyone

I got tired of the old blog, so I started this new one.

Hope you like it better.