Mary Castillo's Blog: News from Mary Castillo, page 28

And your point is?

It seems that everywhere I go, I overhear someone talking about New Year's Resolutions that they admit they'll never keep. I can't help but wonder: then what's the point? I'm not arguing that we should do away with resolutions because I think it's important to pause, clear the air and then establish goals for the New Year. However, I think the key to success is not only to set goals that are within one's power to keep, but to establish those goals with positive intention.

When it comes to writing – whether its the goal of starting or finishing a book, hiring an agent or selling a book – establishing intention with a negative, snarky attitude is the first step towards failure. Taking from my own experience, last year I told myself "this year I will attempt to sell my mariachi book … yeah right!" Note the word "attempt" and the "yeah right," both of which immediately implied that that goal wasn't going to happen and guess what, it didn't.

Instead, this year I'm not going to "attempt" anything. I will continue to abide by the law of least effort in which I establish my intentions, set reasonable time lines and even more important, detach my death grip on the expected outcome. For example, today and every day "I will make the most of the time I get to write my book – whether its 15 minutes or an entire day." Or, "I will bring a positive, open attitude to my desk when I sit down to work, even when approaching a challenging scene or a story that's not yet working."  Better yet, "I will pay attention to how and where the story wants develop, rather than me dictating it how and where to go."

These are goals that I established four months ago and because I've kept them every single day, I'm a successful writer. When it comes to writing, let go of the rules and resolutions and goals and soften your attitude. Love what you do or else it will become a huge weight around your neck and then who's more miserable? None of us knows for certain if we'll publish our book or if it will remain on our hard drive; or if it will become the next New York Times Mega-Bestseller or another book on the clearance table. What we can do is choose whether we enjoy writing and being in the fictional worlds that we create. I've chosen to be a successful writer by setting goals that are true to my nature rather than dependent on external forces. If that speaks to you, I'm glad. If not and you think I'm full of hooey, there are plenty of blogs and organizations who will back you up!

Wherever the writing takes you, I wish you peace, playfulness and joy. Happy New Year!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Birthday Love

Just so we're clear, I'm not one of those girls who hides her age or dreads her birthday. If I don't get another birthday that means I'll be dead. I like waking up each morning to hear my son's voice or hold my husband's hand or receive my niece's texts or talk to my mom on the phone or write something that seems to come from nowhere. With that said, I'm more than happy to admit that today marks the beginning of my 37th year on the earth.

Of all the gifts I've received, what I'm truly grateful for are my relationships: family, friends, acquaintances and yes, even those who have challenged me or hurt me. My loved ones support me and tell me when its time to get real. My not-so-loving ones, in the words of the Dalai Lama, are my spiritual teachers. They show me how good I've got it and reflect those characteristics in me that I'd rather not see.

What I take into 2011 is greater courage to be myself – the good, the bad and the ugly – and to speak freely, yet lovingly. Last year I learned the power that words have to make and break relationships and how carefully and judiciously we must use them. But most of all I learned to that to forgive and love unconditionally is truly the bravest action one can take in life. It takes real courage to not only say I'm sorry, but to accept it when offered. Real power and freedom come from three words: I love you.

So on this day, I want you to know that I love you.

Filed under: Mary's Not-so-secret Diary

Latitude 33 Bookshop turns 15

But instead of throwing a Quinceañera, Latitutde 33 in Laguna Beach is celebrating with a sale. #shopindie

 

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Namaste to 2010

"If you don't have garbage, you have nothing to use to make compost…if you have no compost, you have nothing to nourish the flower in you."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Shop Indie Bookstores" target="_blank"> Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames

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Read this: 2011 Writing Prep: Thick Skin

In order to become better writers we must evolve. We must challenge what we know about writing, how we write and what we write so we can continue to improve.

Read on

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In honor of Saint Cecelia: The Ballad of Aracely Calderon

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Ari demanded four days later, nearly crushing the phone in her grip.

"Miss Calderon, please understand that this sort of thing-"

"How could you lose my father? He was six foot four. He couldn't exactly run away and hide!"

"We'll conduct the mass with a sealed box at the altar," Mr. Hill jumped in quickly. "No one will know. When we locate him, we will arrange a private burial. This situation has uh, unfortunately happened before and we've always corrected it to our customers' satisfaction. I'm so very sorry, Miss Calderon."

If they found out, they were going to think Ari had done it on purpose. She promised Mayda that she would take care of everything, that she'd follow – to the letter – her father's arrangements. With Uncle Danny and Great Uncle Gustavo yapping to the press Mayda stressed that they'd do something to ruin the funeral. Just as she was about to pull it off, the funeral home had lost her dad … literally.

"When you find him, how will I know it's really him?"

He cleared his throat. "Everyone is carefully registered and monitored. We'll be able to track him-"

"Then track him down now."

"There's just not enough time…"

His voice droned on as a surge of panic left her dizzy.

"Fine, whatever, just stop," Ari said and he went quiet. "As long as no one knows, just do what you have to do."

"Of course, Miss Calderon. I'll do whatever you need me to-"

"And I want a discount."

"Well, I've never-"

Later that same morning, when she made eye contact with Mr. Hill, she narrowed her eyes from her seat in the front row pew of St. Joachim's. His gaze dropped to the floor. She'd all but beaten that discount out of him. If Mayda knew, she'd be proud.

Ari took in a deep breath, grazing Mayda's shoulder. Her aunt had been quiet all morning, no doubt thinking of how she'd sat in this very same pew at Tío Esteban's funeral nine months earlier. Her Great Tía Belen, who had flown in from Guadalajara yesterday, comforted Mayda with cariños and tequila. But you had to know Mayda like they did to know that grief hollowed her out. She still appeared crisp and polished, not a hair out of place and no loose threads poking out of the seams of her St. John's suit. Ari wanted to reach over and take Mayda's hand but Belen held them both in hers.

Her mother, Pilar sat to Ari's left. Escorted by Uncle Danny and Great Uncle Gustavo, she had made her entrance wearing a black veil that drifted behind her like Death itself. She dabbed a white handkerchief under the giant bug-like Dior sunglasses.

Behind them, Javi sat with her uncles and cousins who made up Mariachi Calderon. Mourners packed the church. The royalty of Mexican music – the regal Vicente Fernandez with his son, Alejandro, Eugenia Leon, Vicky Carr, Nati Cano, Laura Sobrino and members of Mariachi Vargas de Techlitan – sat among the unknown, hard-working street mariachis who emulated and worshipped their hero, Candelario Calderon. As they drove to the church in the black limo, Belen gasped at the thousands of fans who lined the streets leading Orange Avenue that had been shut down by the police.

When Ari had walked down the aisle earlier alongside Mayda, the whispers among her father's friends and contemporaries drifted up into her ears.

Is that her? Let me see!

She's the daughter.

The one in that red dress?

Will she take over Mariachi Calderon?

Even though she kept her gaze fixed firmly straight ahead, she'd caught the disdain and the curiosity out of the corner of her eye. Sweat tickled her spine and jammed up in her Wonder Woman chones. She hadn't had the time to do laundry, so sue her, she had thought this morning when she'd gotten dressed. But those star-spangled bottoms gave her courage to walk by the stares and whispering with her head held high.

But this time she wore a black dress; another vintage sleeveless find with a Peter Pan collar and a rhinestone starburst pin at the neck. With her hair pulled into a severe twist at the nape of her neck, her forehead felt stretched tight.

The Most Rev. Tod D. Brown, Bishop of Orange County was appropriately emotional and yet spiked his eulogy with funny stories about her father. When it was time to take communion, Ari slipped her foot out of her heels, just enough to ease the pinch. She'd gotten used to Keds, jeans and t-shirts in the past few months of taking care of her dad full-time.

"Wait, Pilar, please-" Danny whispered.

Her mother staggered across the marble floor between the front pew and the altar to the small black box that should've held her dad's ashes.

Forgetting her shoes, Ari jumped to her feet but Mayda clutched her hand.

"Let Danny get her."

"But-"

"Mi vida, mi corazon," Pilar sobbed, her voice echoing in the giant church even though the cameras were outside. But a select group of reporters had been allowed to attend the funeral.

It's sealed, Ari told herself as Pilar wrapped her arms round the box. Dread spiked cold and jagged. No one will know.

Pilar then paused and straightened her spine. She shook the box and Ari caught herself from sliding off the pew.

Copyright 2010 Mary Castillo

Filed under: Mary's Books, New book, The Ballad of Aracely Calderon

Fun stuff: Fall Farmers Market on Etsy

I love the new Newport Beach Farmers' Market that comes to Lido Marina Village every Sunday. It's a dangerous place for me not only because of the baguettes and cheeses, but because of Lido Village Books!

Incidentally, they haven't been carrying my books so I may have to screw up the courage to ask them.

This morning was a slow one.  so what did I do? I created an Etsy Treasury dedicated to the Fall Farmers Market. Curating an Etsy Treasury is almost as good as going hog-wild with a credit card.

Almost.

Filed under: Mary's Not-so-secret Diary

7 Ways to Slow Down

Maybe I'm just getting older and learning to appreciate the view more than the speed at which I'm traveling but I've really slowed down my writing. This morning, my bestest friend and I agreed to be accountability partners and report in one a week. Rather than racing from page 1 to a publishing contract, we're taking the long way way around and you know what, it's kinda nice.

Speaking for myself, I no longer get a knot in my stomach when I think of my book. I actually look forward (imagine that!) to sitting down and seeing what my characters might do next. By committing to one hour a day, either first thing in the morning, the middle of the day or the last hour of work before dinnertime – whatever is available – I actually get more done than I did when I was floundering aimlessly trying to hurry up and finish The Ballad of Aracely Calderon two years ago. I now average a finished chapter a week and at this pace, I will have a strong draft by December.

(FYI I haven't given up on Aracely, by the way. I just needed a break and perspective!)

So here are the seven ways I've slowed down my writing and returned to the pleasures of writing:

Commit to one hour a day. It can be any time of the day or night, five days a week or seven.  Do what feels right and works with your schedule.
Streamline. Stop reading blogs and articles and books about how to sell your book while you're writing the book. If you see a must-read title, jot it down on your wish list and then wait to read it after you've finished your book.
Find an accountability partner. Set a time one a day, every other day or week – again, do what works for you – to report your progress.
Change your thinking from, "I must finish the book" to "I will finish a chapter a week." By breaking it down into bite size pieces, a 300+ page book is easier to digest.
Schedule and log your time on a calendar, or better yet: a soundtrack. I do both! I have a soundtrack for my book made up of mostly movie soundtracks and a scattered jazz vocal pieces. Mostly I want to get into the mood and not sing along. By setting reminders on my Google calendar, I get ready to switch gears and get into the groove.
Prioritize your time. It's so tempting to sign up for every class, writing group or conference. (And don't get me started on volunteering!) But ask yourself: will it take time away from my writing? I'm using RWA's National Conference in New York as a goal to have a finished book and a polished pitch and proposal.
Stop beating yourself up. This comes from a reformed drama queen who went to bed with the hair shirt and gave herself lashings while kneeling on a pile of beans when she didn't meet her goals. If you got hit by a bus tomorrow, would it really matter if you only wrote two pages or missed your writing time? Probably not.


Filed under: Mary's Not-so-secret Diary, New book

Take Tea & See: Sept 18 Jupiter/Uranus Connection in Pisces

by Janice Roper

The Jupiter/Uranus Connection in Pisces is believed to be beneficial but may not be felt immediately. Uranus represents intuition that brings knowledge on a bolt of lightning. Jupiter rulers over the Higher Self in each one of us. Nothing can confine, limit or restrict that Self and herein is inventive energy with creative power (or the genius aspect). During this connection everyone should trust their intuitive powers and act on them. First impressions will be true. Look...

Steaming up the nook

Vintage Harlequin title

Ever since I discovered the Southern California Digital Library through the Newport Beach Public Library, I've been putting El Libro (the name of my Nook) through her paces especially in the romance department.

For about three years I've strayed from romance novels, only reading the latest Lisa Kleypas. I just wasn't into the whole girl-meets-boy-happily-ever-after stories. Instead I devoured historical mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear, Rhys Bowen and Tasha Alexander...