Mary Castillo's Blog: News from Mary Castillo, page 27
May 20, 2011
Girl Love
Issue 2
May2011
October 28, 2000
As I get ready to play hooky and go see Bridesmaids, I wanted to share this moment with my own maid of honor, home girl, best friend and soul mate, Jen Mahal Wardrip-Fruin. There was no better person to have at my side as I promised the rest of my life to Ryan. And she's kept me to it!
Best friends are special women. Some play a life long role in our lives while others serve a specific purpose but leave good memories and lasting lessons.
I'm lucky that Jen has always been there for me. I probably couldn't rid of her if I tried and vice versa.
If you don't have a chance to see Bridesmaids (there's always my book Switchcraft … sorry but I had to try), consider my top five girl buddies:
1. When Thelma picks Louise up off the floor and resorts to armed robbery to keep them on the road.
2. Anytime Lula says to Stephanie Plum, "Suppose you need a big full-figure woman like me to help straighten things out?"
3. When Miranda follows Charlotte home even though they've fought over her decision to abort her unexpected pregnancy while Charlotte deals with infertility. Yes, there are tear-jerker moments in Sex and the City.
4. When Aggie asks Nely who will come for her when she dies while they're watching The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. It made me cry when I wrote it and then it made my editors cry. Score!
5. After I see Bridesmaids, I'll let you know.
Unexpected Finds
I haven't read it yet, but come on, with a cover like this, how could I pass it up?
Stella Hardesty dispatched her abusive husband with a wrench shortly before her fiftieth birthday. Now she's juggling her sewing machine shop and a series of clients seeking help with their own problem husbands while fighting a powerful attraction to the local Sheriff.
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Read about the book
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Read an excerpt
Purchase
Best friends since back in the day, Aggie and Nelyare as different as two women could possibly be. Aggie's slim and stylish, owns an upscale boutique and a long history of no-strings relationships. Nely has a busy baby, a metiche mother-in-law, and some extra post-pregnancy pounds she can't quite shed. And when they take a trip to a New Age spa, each friend finds herself wishing just a little that she had the other one's life.
Big mistake!
Thanks to the metaphysical meddling of a somewhat grumpy guru, Nely is now Aggie and Aggie is Nely–switching bodies, love lives, families, closets…everything! The grass may not be quite as green as the other originally appeared. As luck has it, they'll be stuck this way until the next full moon! And with a husband, his very suspicious mama, a temperamental tot, a business on the brink of disaster, and a sort-of boyfriend–not to mention a sleazy stalker–thrown into the mix, Aggie and Nely suddenly find they're not just walking in each other's shoes… they're running!
To purchase a copy, please visit Mary's store.
To refill your Nook, visit Diesel e-books or Barnes and Noble
To refill your Kindle, visit Amazon
Filed under: News, Switchcraft
March 10, 2011
Tamara and me
Issue 1
March 2011
Six years ago my husband took this photo, capturing the moment when theBarnes & Noble manager handed me Hot Tamara fresh out of the box. It was truly unbelievable to see the words in between the covers that I'd written and revised for almost two years. Suddenly, scenes that only my editor and I had witnessed were going to be public. I even had to check the author photo to make sure that it was by the right Mary Castillo, not some other girl who had published her first book.
The Spring Equinox is coming this month, transitioning us from winter to spring. I imagine on that day I'll get out of bed, say my prayers, get my son dressed for school and then sit down with the book-in-progress to see what Dori and her gang are going to do next. When that time is up, I'll get to work on my clients' projects.
But this Spring Equinox I'll try to do something special to mark the changing of the seasons. Perhaps I'll play hooky and hike down from the hills to the ocean, or I may be so caught up in work that I'll realize the equinox came and went a week ago. No matter what happens, I'll be grateful for what what was, what will be and especially what is.
Cheers,
Mary
Appearances
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books!
April 30, 11 a.m. – USC Alumni Book signing. More details to come and I'm thinking of doing a special sneak peek of Aracely and The Guy Upstairs for anyone who stops by and says hey!
On the Nook-Shelf
I ordered my copy as soon as it became available and I can't wait to see what will happen to Maisie Dobbs. I can't say one more word because the previous book in this series was a doozy.
Unexpected Finds
Look at my girl, Kathy! Her second book is here and what a beautiful cover. With the the Organic Roibos Chai that I got from Halcyon Tea in San Diego, I've got some relaxing to do!
Purchase
Hot Tamara [image error]
To purchase a copy, please visit Mary's store.
To refill your Nook, visit Diesel e-books or Barnes and Noble
To refill your Kindle, visit Amazon
To check out at your local library, visit WorldCat
Enjoy
A writer's hands are my most precious tools even though I've not always taken the best care of them. This precious little pot of lavender infused shea butter is the perfect excuse to drop out of a story, rub it in and give tired achy fingers a break.
Filed under: News
January 29, 2011
Saturday night Monster Jam
One should always broaden her horizons.
Dad, I didn't bring a book!
Filed under: Mary's Not-so-secret Diary
January 26, 2011
Chely Wright is my favorite new singer to listen to while I write The Guy Upstairs. What are you listening to?
"And right now you don't call me friend,
But I'm still here, where I've always been
And even though you don't know it right now,
I'll outlast the shadows of doubt
Yeah, I'm stronger then shadows of doubt"
Shadows of Doubt by Chely Wright
Filed under: The Guy Upstairs
January 19, 2011
Worthy investment @NBPL
Special Child Checking Out a Book from the Librarian by Nina Leen from Art.com
When the news came out last week about proposed library cuts by Gov. Jerry Brown, I made a worthy investment by joining the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. If you check out books as much as I do – which is a lot – seriously consider doing something proactive to support your library.
Filed under: News
January 13, 2011
Oh oh: public libraries are in trouble according to @ShelfAwareness
California Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 eliminates state funding for public libraries, a loss of $30.4 million for the Public Library Fund, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy & English Acquisition Service.
So what can we do?
Make a donation or even better, get involved in fund-raising for your local library
If your local library has a bookstore, collect books and donate them
Shop at your local library's bookstore
Authors: donate copies of your book to the library's collection or set aside a portion of sales for donations
Read the entire story from Shelf Awareness.
Filed under: Uncategorized
January 12, 2011
7 Points on Leadership Among Writers
This morning I was inspired by Deepak Chopra's interview on ABC Money Matters to think about leadership among writers and authors. How do we cultivate that in ourselves, even those of us who are not big-time best sellers much less published? Does it matter? Should our readers care?
As a citizen of the world, I think it does matter especially if you're blogging and Twittering and Facebooking with your readers. Here's my brainstorm that produced seven points to developing leadership as a writer. (But after you read them, tell me what you think.)
Establish your intention with writing. What is your mission? Why did you choose to write the story that came to you? No matter the answer or what industry statistics tells us what sells bette, be authentic.
Embrace and accept fear at all levels. Own it and understand it than repress it.
Be patient. Go to any writing conference and the joint is packed with people who are throwing everyone in a panic to sell now! sell for more! Slow down and go at your own pace. Time and again I have arrived at the junction point where opportunity meets timing. I trust I will continue to do so in the future.
Be responsible in choosing your colleagues. Listen to what they're telling you and most of all, pay attention to how your body responds to what they're telling you and what they're not telling you. Likewise with your critique partners, critique groups, creative writing programs and writer's organizations.
Respect your work. If writing a certain genre compromises your values but promises financial reward and fame, think twice.
Establish a time and place for your writing. Set the boundaries with family and friends and in time they will understand what you're doing. Or they may not. In the words of Karen Maezen Miller: "Attention is the most concrete expression of love. What you pay attention to thrives. What you do not pay attention to withers and dies."
Practice gratitude for the 20 pages that came in a rush of inspiration, for the two pages that made your eyeballs bleed; for the agent who passed over your book and for the phone call that said yes. Lady Gaga is a celebrity whose gratitude sets her apart. I don't think I've ever heard her attack another artist or a producer. She puts out a lot of positive energy for her fans and for the causes that she believes in – did you ever see this video when she stopped a concert because some people were fighting? – and it is returned hundred fold.
Filed under: Mary's Not-so-secret Diary
January 10, 2011
Take Tea and See for January 2011: Consciously cooperating with solar eclipse can bring about blessings of life, prosperity & abundance
Capricorn Art Print by Alan Gutierrez
by Janice Roper
New Year Blessings to each of you. As we enter the New Year 2011 we must stay attuned to the infinite good the universe has in store for us. We begin anew by first acknowledging our oneness with creator and the limitless gifts Spirit has made available to us with the following statements:
I accept the gift of forgiveness, which frees me from the past and the mistakes of the past.
I accept the gift of wisdom which assists me in meeting any challenge with good judgment and understanding.
I accept the gift of love, which opens my heart and enables me to share warmth and caring with everyone in the world.
I give thanks for the Infinite possibilities that come with each newbeginning!
So let's find out what the sky symbols this NewYear 2011 are communicating to us: The first New Moon and Solar Eclipse occurred Jan 4, 2011 at 13 Degrees Capricorn. This eclipse energy will be in effect until the next Solar Eclipse June 1, 2011 at 11 degrees Gemini. Capricorn energy is very potent earth energy. Consciously cooperating with it can bring about concrete blessings of life, prosperity and abundance. It also brings spiritual blessings of new ideas, new creative expression, new viewpoints and greater expansions of consciousness. We can use this energy to transform our personality and life! This Solar Eclipse asks us to reflect on our feelings, to nurture ourselves because self care is healthy. To take care of the details in our life and we will reap great rewards later in the year. Let your creativity be expressed—creative art develops our consciousness, refines our emotions and heals our bodies. Real creative art builds bridges among people, creates love and understanding and cultivates more inclusive values within people. Capricorn energy asks us to overcome the fear of loneliness. Capricorns often fall into depression because the daily demands in life engulf them and covers their eyes with the fog of uncertainty, doubt and fear. A person is always lonely, no matter how many friends surround him if he has no contact with his Inner Guide. Once he has contact with the spirit within, loneliness disappears.
As the Sun moves through Capricorn, each one of us can challenge ourselves to allow major changes in all our expressions and in our field of service. Our words, our writings, paintings, music, songs and actions now carry a higher voltage of energy— it's a perfect time to free ourselves from the traps of physical, emotional and mental stress. During the full moon period you may be internally motivated to search out and find your path—to get a glimpse about the field of service your soul has chosen. Now you can put your life in order. Business is where Capricorn excels. Business is about making things happen, finding needs and filling them, making plans and following them. If you live in this light, life happens!
Janice Roper will be in Newport Beach, CA for one-on-one tea leaf readings January 13, 15, 2011. For an appointment please call Ilona at 949-283-7070. Or, you can contact Janice directly through email: teaandsee@gmail.com or phone 480-947-6493. You can learn about Janice at her website.
contact Janice
Filed under: Janice Roper
January 6, 2011
7 Keys to Empower Your Intentions
"Mastering the power of intention includes honoring the rhythms of life. There is a time to act and a time to practice forbearance. Staying tuned in to the synchronistic clues around you enables optimal results with minimal effort."
-David Simon
Check out all seven keys at Chopra Center Newsletter
Filed under: Inspiration
Review: Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery
Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery by Chögyam Trungpa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I keep this book active on my phone's Nook application so when I need an injection of wisdom, it's there. My favorite line so far: "…fearlessness is unconditional because you are neither on the side of success nor on the side of failure. Success and failure are your journey."
Filed under: Uncategorized
