Hello,

I've neglected my blog for a few weeks now. However, I've discovered a new author, Terri Molina, who wrote HER WILL HIS WAY, published by Cobblestone Press in April, 2008. I'm always on the lookout for great books by Latina/o authors as well as authors who feature Latinos as primary/ secondary characters in their books.

Here is my review of HER WILL HIS WAY:

HER WILL HIS WAY by Terri Molina is a beautiful  and passionate romance featuring Anita and Antonio who have loved each other for years since they grew up together in the same Rio Grande Valley town. However, Anita long ago decided she wouldn’t marry a man like her grandfather, or any man from the Valley, and be treated less than an equal. After a disastrous marriage and a bankrupt business in Chicago, Anita returns to the Valley to run her grandfather’s flower shop. Antonio has the tendency to rile her into doing things she’d rather not, but she does them just to prove him wrong.

When she cooks dinner for him the first time, I could almost smell the tortillas on the stove. Yum! And I could also smell the erotic scent of the handsome State Trooper who joins Anita for dinner. The sex scenes are explicit, but tastefully done and only add to the richness of the story.

HER WILL HIS WAY includes several elements I like in a story – Latino characters, Mexican heritage and a great plot. I also like the fact that Anita goes to church. What good Latina doesn’t go to church? The secondary characters are well drawn as well, but don’t overpower the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed HER WILL HIS WAY and look forward to other books by Terri Molina. Pick up a copy today at Cobblestone Press

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/herwill.htm

Also, check out Terri Molina's website: http://terrimolina.com/html/about_terri_molina.html

And, her blog, BEHIND BROWN EYES:
http://right2write.blogspot.com/

MY TURN ON THE NEW YEARS BLOG TOUR!!

Please excuse me! This is the first time I've done this and I'm late coming in. Maybe no one will see this. :( I actually thought my turn was tomorrow! Boo! Hoo!

Anyway, I've totally enjoyed reading everyone's excerpts, stories and essays. Read the excerpt and answer this question: What does Matt ask Gloria about her roses? I'll give an e-book copy of TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE? to a lucky winner.

My latest book, released this past June, is TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE?

A short blurb:
Gloria Amaya wants her rose garden to flourish. She hires a gardener to help her. When she meets Matt, thoughts of her dying rose bushes wilt to the ground. Immediately attracted to him, she kisses him and melts.

Matt Cerda knows everything about gardens as he has been working with plants, flowers and other green living things since he was a little boy. However, when he meets Gloria, he realizes that hers is one garden that needs more than a little tender loving care. And the lady could use it, too.

Matters are complicated when her sons and his daughters get in an uproar with Matt and Gloria in the middle of it. Health issues, job insecurities and phobias cause more difficulties for the couple. Can Gloria and Matt weed through all this baggage and allow their love to blossom?

Excerpt:
Gloria watched his smooth brown throat. “Do you want another one? Though I don't think you should drink it so fast,” Gloria could have bitten her tongue out for sounding like a mother hen.

“No, thanks. Maybe later.” Matt's dark chocolate eyes twinkled at her, as if he knew her thoughts and strolled back to labor in her yard. He turned to look at her. “So, did she die?”

“No, I divorced her, or, I divorced her son, my ex.”

“Ah.” Matt smiled and went back to work.

What did that smile mean, Gloria wondered? And “Ah”. What did that mean?
She busied herself in the kitchen, getting the chicken ready. Where was Gordy? Surely, taking a class off his schedule didn't take so long. Did it? Well, he had said the line to see the counselor was long.

Once she put the chicken in the oven to bake, Gloria grabbed a novel she had been trying to finish reading. The author wrote long boring speeches about the universe and the duties of a woman. She was ready to throw the book against the nearest wall. Still, she hated to stop reading a book before she finished it. However boring the book might have been in parts, soon, engrossed in it, she almost missed Matt's knock.

“Gloria?” Matt called and rapped on the patio door again.

She jumped to her feet, laying the book on the coffee table. Without thinking, her hands went up to smooth her hair and gather it up more tightly in the gold clip she wore. She opened the door and stepped outside.

“So, what do you want to do about these roses? Mow ‘em down, too?” Matt asked.

The tour wraps up with Tracy Montoya tomorrow.
http://tracymontoya.blogspot.com/

I've enjoyed this, hope you have, too.

NEW YEAR'S BLOG TOUR

Me and some of my fellow writers at Nunca Sola are in the midst of a New Years Blog Tour and here are the authors sharing original shorts, essays and prizes every day till January 11th.

Please check us out. We've got some great stuff to share.

Jan 1 - Misa Ramirez http://chasingheroes.com/....

Jan 2 - Jamie Martinez Wood http://jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/....

Jan 3 - Lara Rios w/a Julia Amante http://juliaamante.blogspot.com/....

Jan 4 - Berta Platas http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/....

Jan 5 - Mary Castillo http://marycastillo.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-years-blog-tour-introducing-la.html....

Jan 6 - Alisa Valdes Rodriguez http://alisavaldesrodriguez.blogspot.com/....

TODAY - Jan 7 - Margo Candela http://margocandela.com/blogspot/blogspot.html....

Jan 8 - Caridad Ferrer http://fashionista-35.livejournal.com/....

Jan 9 - Gabriella Hewitt.... http://www.gabriellahewitt.com/blog/index.php

Jan 10 - L.M. Gonzalez.... http://www.myspace.com/lesmora

Jan 11 - Tracy Montoya.... http://tracymontoya.blogspot.com/

....

....

One Very Happy Holidays Contest

Happy Holidays to you! I'm taking part in an awesome giveaway this month. Thirty two (yes, you read that right - 32!) Authors have come together to offer an incredible variety of prizes. But more about that in a minute. Now is a great time to remind everyone that books make a wonderful holiday gift. In a bookstore you'll find something for everyone, from teenagers to grandmothers, doctors to the girl next door. Paperbacks make a great stocking stuffer. So keep that in mind this holiday season.

Good luck!

Enter here: http://docs.google.com/View?docID=df4wwg6h_117g6vzdcf7&revision=_latest

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ENDS TODAY

MANY THANKS!

To all the authors and readers who joined me during this time to celebrate stories that portray Hispanic/ Latino characters in primary or secondary roles. And portray these in a positive way.

I had many authors email me so that I could feature their books and I had room and time for only a few. Some personal stuff also came along and I wasn't able to post every day as I'd planned.

SO, in the coming weeks, I will continue to feature authors who write Hispanic/ Latino characters in their stories in primary or secondary roles as well as Hispanic/ Latino authors who may write short fiction or non-fiction.

My featured author today is Irete Lazo

THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERA is released today!

Blurb:

THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERA is one-of-a-kind novel that takes readers into the secretive world of Afro-Cuban Santeria--a place of fascinating beauty, pulsating rhythms and great mystery. It tells the story of Gabrielle Segovia, Ph.D., a biology professor who never imagined she would become a santera. Out of desperation to become a mother and save both her job and her marriage, Gabrielle turns to the Puerto Rican relatives she hasn't seen since she was a child. She journeys to Miami to find herself warmly embraced by three generations of Segovia santeras and unexpectedly marked for initiation. Gabrielle must decide whether she can bring herself to answer the call and, if so, how a scientist goes about becoming a santera. Gabrielle's journey into this mystical world is hilarious, heart-wrenching and, ultimately, triumphant.

LM: Why did you include a Hispanic/ Latino character in your story?

IL: This novel is based on my own experiences. It couldn't be told any other way than with a Latina protagonist. This is a uniquely Latina story about what it's like to reconnect distant family, build a career in a white male dominated field and struggle with cultural identity. And, since it is also about discovering the world of Santeria, it is also uniquely Latina.

LM: Do you think books should reflect the diversity of communities and the country?

IL: I think the community of published authors in the United States should reflect that of the country. That means more support from communities for their young people to choose writing as a career, more financial support to increase the diversity of students in creative writing programs and more workshops that target writers of color. It also means the same sorts of efforts to increase the diversity of the publishing industry.

LM: What do you think makes for a compelling story?

IL: What makes a compelling story has not changed for thousands of years. You have to have a person who is challenged by life and forced to make difficult choices, who must grow or change in order to make those choices and live with the consequences of them. We are all on a journey through this life and the stories that we read leave us with bits of wisdom or a new perspective we can apply to our own lives. These stories can be equally compelling if they take us into a completely unfamiliar world, like the fictional world of Harry Potter, or to a familiar one that reminds of us of our own, like many of the ones highlighted in this blog by Latino authors.

Excerpt:

http://us.macmillan.com/BookCustomPage.aspx?isbn=9780312381882Excerpt

My featured author today is Mayra Calvani...

DARK LULLABY

Whiskey Creek Press

EBook formats ISBN: 978-1-59374-908-8, $5.99

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-59374-907-1, $13.95

September 2007

Supernatural Thriller

Available from Fictionwise, Amazon, and Whiskey Creek Press http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Dream Realm Award Finalist!

Blurb:

At a trendy Turkish tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. Soon, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her–her skin's abnormally high temperature, her obsession with milk products, her child-like and bizarre behavior as she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience.

The young woman, Kamilah, invites him to Rize, Turkey, where she claims her family owns a cottage in the woods. In spite of his heavy workload and the disturbing visions and nightmares about his sister's baby that is due to be born soon, Gabriel agrees to go with her.

But nothing, not even the stunning splendor of the Black Sea, can disguise the horror of her nature. In a place where death dwells and illusion and reality seem as one, Gabriel must now come to terms with his own demons in order to save his sister's unborn child, and ultimately, his own soul…

Reviews:

'Mayra Calvani is a masterful storyteller… Dark Lullaby is complex and compelling…' –Habitual Reader

'Dark Lullaby is an atmospheric paranormal horror that grips you from page one and refuses to let go until you've raced, breathless, to the end.' –ePinions 

'Dark Lullaby is a page-turner. A horror story from the top shelf! You'll love it.' –5 stars from Euro-Reviews

"This is a terrific horror…" –Harriet Klausner

"Dark Lullaby will capture you with its rich descriptions, its exotic location, and the need to uncover the dark secrets hidden within its pages." –Cheryl Malandrinos, The Book Connection

*****************

EMBRACED BY THE SHADOWS

Twilight Times Books

Vampire/Paranormal

Ebook ISBN: 1-933353-89-9,

Available from Fictionwise and Twilight Times Books

Trade Paperback coming in November 2008

Blurb:

In a bazaar in Istanbul one evening, ten-year-old Alana Piovanetti glances into the shadows to find a man watching her. He smiles, and over time she convinces herself that it was just her imagination that placed sharp fangs amongst those flashing teeth.

Twelve years later, Alana is surprised when she is chosen to manage a new restaurant opening in her home city of San Juan. She has neither training nor experience to justify her success. But La Cueva del Vampiro has the kind of ambience she adores, for Alana has always had a penchant for horror and the dark side of life. Yet she is also plagued with dreams of dark sensuality, dreams that take on shattering reality when she meets the stunningly handsome, charismatic Sadash.

For Sadash is the man she saw in the shadows so many years before...and Sadash isn't human….

Reviews...

'[Embraced by the Shadows] is a superbly written, deftly balanced story of love and death and twisted loyalties that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. More importantly, it will make you think and perhaps take a closer look at the shadowed corners of your own psyche." –The Blue Iris Journal

'Mysterious, intriguing and somewhat unsettling at times, this novel is a must for all vampire reading fans. A rich, twisting plot and a surprising ending awaits you.' --The Midwest Book Review

'[Embraced by the Shadows] is a wonderful tale of a woman torn between a love she can not resist and a life she does not understand. Alana is a character to fall in love with... Mayra Calvani did an exemplary job in weaving this story of passion, love and betrayal. Once the reviewer started the prologue she was hooked and could not put this book down. This is a must read for fans of paranormal!'   –Love Romances

"A dark brooding novel, Calvani takes us on a journey into the darkest corners of our hopes and desires, especially the desire of all humans to somehow survive and how far would we go if we were given the chance to live forever...This is a must read for all fans of vampire romance novels." --Murder & Mayhem Book Club

'...For any of you female readers that have always had the fantasy of your masculine vampire following you all through your life and not revealing himself until he thinks you are ready, this book is for you. This was an excellent read.'--ParaNormal Romance Reviews

LM: Why did you include a Hispanic/ Latino character in your story?

MC: My Hispanic background, in one way or another, has had a big influenced on my writing. All of my adult novels so far have Puerto Rican protagonists. In Dark Lullaby, it's an astrophysicist in his mid twenties. In Embraced by the Shadows, it's a newly graduated Philosophy student. This last novel is set in San Juan as well. The Latino element usually adds an exotic flavor to any story, but my tendency to choose Hispanic characters is done automatically rather than planned and as a way to keep close to my roots. I've lived away from Puerto Rico (in Turkey and Belgium) for the past twenty years, so writing about Puerto Rican characters is my own imaginary way of keeping in touch with my native land.

LM; Do you think books should reflect the diversity of communities and the country?

MC: I can only speak for myself. When I write, I don't choose people or places because this 'should' or 'shouldn't' reflect something--I don't try to make a statement in this manner. I write about things that I feel passion for, that intrigue me and/or obsess me. So in a certain way, I write first for myself and then for other people.

LM: What do you think makes for a compelling story?

MC: First and foremost, interesting and real characters that jump from the pages and that the reader will care about. If I don't care about the protagonist or what happens to her (or him), I won't like the book, no matter how good the plot is. After good characterization, a well-organized plot that is original and imaginative is important, as well as prose that shines with clarity and depth of thought.

Mayra will give away ebook copies of both DARK LULLABY and EMBRACED to a lucky commenter.

For more info on this author visit: http://www.mayracalvani.com

My featured author today is Jamie Martinez Wood…

ROJELIA'S HOUSE OF MAGIC (June 2008, Random House)

Blurb:

In ROGELIA'S HOUSE OF MAGIC, three different 15-year-old girls find friendship and special powers as they are trained in the ways of the curandera by a wise old woman.

When Rogelia becomes a maid at Marina Peralta's home, it's obvious to Marina and her friend Fern that they have a real mystic on their hands. Soon Rogelia agrees to teach the girls the magic of their ancestors, much as she taught her granddaughters, Xochitl and Gracielia. Even though Marina and Fern are thrilled to have this chance to understand and use their powers, Xochitl isn't happy about sharing such a sacred thing with anyone but her sister, who perished in a car accident. Besides, magic has let Xochitl down before. Why wouldn't it now? But, as the girls will eventually discover, at Rogelia's House of Magic anything is possible.

LM: Why did you include a Hispanic/ Latino characters in your story?

JMM: Honestly, that's what the editor wanted. She wanted a book about Latina teens and magic, and since these arenas are my speciality, I was the right writer for the job. Also, I find my Hispanic Californio history interesting and I've always wanted to weave that culture into a book.

LM: Do you think books should reflect the diversity of communities and the country?

JMM: Yes. It was important to me to demonstrate diversity within the Latino community in ROJELIA'S HOUSE OF MAGIC. Therefore, of my three main characters, Marina is eighth-generation Mexican-American (with Californio roots that make her family think they are practically royalty); Fern is first generation Columbian American from an eccentric family of free spirits and conservative folk, and Xochitl is a recent Mexican immigrant, both humble and reserved. Each girl represents a different sect and yet all relate to issues of concern to Latino people.

LM: What do you think makes for a compelling story?

JMM: Characters that are relatable with everyday flaws and a goal to somehow improve themselves or their situation. Also the characters should grow emotionally and learn something through their trials and tribulations.

Jamie Martinez Wood is also the author of The Teen Spell Book: Magick for Young Witches, The Enchanted Diary: A Teen's Guide to Magick and Life, The Wiccan Cookbook, and The Wiccan Herbal.

For more info on this author: http://www.jamiemartinezwood.com or

http://www.myspace.com/earthyfaery

Review

Gr 7-10–Set in Southern California , this novel is about three teens who find a common bond and grow in their relationships as they learn the healing arts from a curandera (folk healer). Marina , from a newly wealthy Hispanic family, struggles with her mother's insistence that she forget her Mexican heritage and barrio roots. Fern, whose Colombian family still lives in the old neighborhood, is a free spirit who has trouble trusting a potential boyfriend. When Rogelia Garcia, a wise curandera from Mexico , becomes the maid at Marina 's house, the girls befriend her granddaughter, Xochitl, who grieves for the twin sister she recently lost in a tragic accident. Rogelia takes the girls on as apprentices and helps them to understand and control their innate magical powers (Marina hears voices from the beyond, Fern sees auras, and Xochitl has the ability to disappear) while teaching them that by caring for and healing others, they can help and heal themselves. The narrative is well written and descriptive, incorporating Spanish phrases that are easy to understand in context and add flavor to the telling. The characters and their relationships with others are solidly developed. The novel will appeal to readers interested in magic and astrology, and several spells are appended (charging a crystal wand, a confidence incantation, etc.). -Lorraine B. Wiener, Inglewood High School , CA, School Library Journal

My featured author today is MAUREEN SMITH…

   WHISPER MY NAME

Blurb:

Detective Sebastien Durand can't believe that the beautiful woman he sees in a café is the one woman who can help him. He needs Francesca Purnell's expertise to find a serial killer. Sebastien tries to ignore the instant, undeniable attraction between them. Yet the more he resists, the more he wants Francesca…

Professor Francesca Purnell knows she must help the sexy detective in his search for the murderer who's been stalking the streets of San Antonio, marking each one of his female victims with a mysterious spider tattoo. Working by Sebastien's side, Francesca soon gives in to a passion she's never felt before. But their relationship is in jeopardy. For their target has his sights on Francesca—and he's bent on trapping her in his deadly web…

Maureen will give away a copy of her latest book, SECRET AGENT SEDUCTION, to one lucky winner!