tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15679506431372112242024-03-05T19:51:16.999-08:00Livin la vida LatinaBook Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-59027296667949893472018-12-04T07:31:00.000-08:002018-12-04T07:31:08.366-08:00THIS SITE IS CLOSED<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-16045932491109261852018-08-21T07:58:00.005-07:002018-08-21T07:58:57.935-07:00Q&A with Julia DeBarrioz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOJrRsdvoyNkaOOi6qWYi525ehT4i6HD7rnP2EY1yjqlWL5CqapOqUHf788o0GKYi1w_8CJIrEVZsWDn33z3Um0tz6syFGJe8Hv5TU1booXSErdKbSyRVDz3u9IeDqkdAiXzRqFlhxyQ/s1600/companeracover1125x703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOJrRsdvoyNkaOOi6qWYi525ehT4i6HD7rnP2EY1yjqlWL5CqapOqUHf788o0GKYi1w_8CJIrEVZsWDn33z3Um0tz6syFGJe8Hv5TU1booXSErdKbSyRVDz3u9IeDqkdAiXzRqFlhxyQ/s320/companeracover1125x703.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, we have<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Julia DeBarrioz, author of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Compa</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ñ</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">era. </span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></span><em>Marginalized young women have a tendency to disappear in New Mexico. PCT
Bounty hunter Dakota del Toro knows the local vampire coven and their
pet werewolves are to blame, but the badge she carries means she
requires pesky things like admissible evidence and warrants to
act—however when a bereaved mother comes to Dakota for help in
recovering her daughter from the Lobos Diablos gang this bounty hunter will risk her career, her freedom, and her very life to bring Pilar Guzmán home.</em></span><br />
<br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>What
inspired you to write <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Compa</span></i></u><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">ñ</span>era
</u></span></i><u>and what is the significance of the title? </u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Dakota del Toro is a character whose story I have been
carrying with me since I was just a teenager, and I’m in my thirties now. She’s
tough but goofy and always sticking her neck out to try and do the right thing.
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The plot of this book examines the vulnerability of
undocumented immigrants, particularly women, to sex trafficking. In this story
vampires and werewolves are to blame, but it’s sadly an allegory for our own
world which is too full of real monsters who prey on women. You can read
harrowing stories about it with just a few clicks on Google. According to the
ACLU “</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the United States,
victims of trafficking are almost exclusively immigrants, and mostly immigrant
women.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p2" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
title Compañera refers to Dakota’s involvement in a revolution that promises to
put an end to the abuse of women, at least in the vampire world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>How
does this differ from a traditional vampire story (if it does)? </u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In a couple ways, if I may toot my own horn. I know my book embraces
some tropes but I hope it’s presented in a fun and original way. I’ve found
it’s fairly hard to find a good vampire series that centers on Latino and
Iberian culture. So, I write what I want to read. If you have any
recommendations for a book I’ve missed I’m all ears! </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I also feel like my book stands apart because I work in the antique
business, and I have a good understanding of what life was like "back in
the day". I’m familiar with the objects they used, the cultural values, the
society norms, etc., and I think it gives me some insight into how someone who
was born in say 1601 might behave in this modern day. I love thinking about how
someone that old would have so much wisdom and insight in many ways, yet be so <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lost </span>in others. </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>What
genre would you put this book in?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This book falls into the urban fantasy genre. There are elements of
vampires and werewolves and magic, but it’s set in the recognizable world of
Santa Fe, New Mexico.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>What
are the intended goals of the main characters?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Dakota is a bounty hunter for the Preternatural Control Team. Basically
there's a lycanthropy epidemic and it’s her job to bring infected people in for
treatment before they turn furry and pose a threat to society. But she has a
side mission to bring home these missing women that she knows have gone missing
because of the vampires and werewolves, and she's willing to break the rules to
do it. She meets a man along the way who on the surface seems like a nice normal
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">human</span> gallery owner, but as it turns
out he's not what he seems and his goals are very similar to her own.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>What
are some of the main issues that you explore in this book and why did you
explore them?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As a female I suppose women’s issues have always been of foremost
interest to me. I’ve been very fortunate, but I think it’s important to
understand the lives of those who haven’t had as many advantages. As I was
writing this the #metoo movement exploded, and it was hard not to feel some
vindication in that. Like finally, our time has come. It's something that's
been boiling under the surface for all of us in all walks of life.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>What
do you hope readers will gain from your book? </u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6282613340p1">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I suppose first and foremost I hope my readers will be entertained! And
at the same time, maybe walk away with a bit more awareness of these issues,
and I hope more empathy too. Empathy is something I think we could use a whole
lot more of these days.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>Who
are some of your favorite authors?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv6282613340s1">I
have an eclectic list. Arturo Pérez-Reverte. Elizabeth Peters. Tom Robbins.
Anne Rice. Craig Johnson. Jo Nesb</span>ø<span class="yiv6282613340s1">. Larry
McMurtry. Seth Skorkowsky. To name just a handful, really. I’m constantly
reading.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
Oh dear. I think every author has a
running cast list in their head for their book, ha! I think Cote de Pablo would
play an amazing Dakota del Toro! And maybe…Maluma and Antonio Banderas c. 1995
as supporting actors? Hee hee…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>Are
you working on anything right now?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
I am always working on a handful
of things, my muse bounces around like a ping pong ball. Right now I’m
buttoning up edits for Dakota del Toro #2, as well as working on a spinoff
story set in 1860s California featuring a bandido and a vampire slayer.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u>And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
I think that any art based in such a
vivid and complex culture can go nowhere but up! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
For more info on Julia DeBarrioz, go to <a href="http://www.juliadebarrioz.com/">www.juliadebarrioz.com</a></div>
<em>
</em>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-37708894664540150702018-01-22T07:38:00.003-08:002018-01-22T07:38:45.806-08:00Review: EL DORADO BAY by Mary Schultz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrfjhQDbG_NlRjsAmEZ_bGBqbefEzlzeJ6yVPbB6zm8CpqUpSF3ysyZuRKt7eqfHZ4c8U9GTdsegU0FobPp_vPRco3D-cwCgILmt5cUEtN9lI-es41xKQ03vdhP5NNmlvNi87JV6fs9g/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrfjhQDbG_NlRjsAmEZ_bGBqbefEzlzeJ6yVPbB6zm8CpqUpSF3ysyZuRKt7eqfHZ4c8U9GTdsegU0FobPp_vPRco3D-cwCgILmt5cUEtN9lI-es41xKQ03vdhP5NNmlvNi87JV6fs9g/s320/Capture.JPG" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>A young U.S.-raised Mexico-born man brings only his hope, his complicated past and his chef’s talent to begin life anew in an isolated Mexican coastal village. When the wreckage of his past closes in, honor and love square off, and the fireworks begin.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 2.5
stars </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> The
plan was to make El Dorado Bay Resort the most unique in all of Mexico. All
David wanted was a job and forget the past he left behind. Born in Mexico and
raised in the U.S, he aims to forge a new life to where his roots took shape. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Story
depicted vibrant and colorful imagery of the Mexican landscapes; however, I
felt the plot was somewhat lagging and ambiguous. I couldn’t see a clear
lineage in the story. Where was it going? What was the point in all of it? Would
we ever reach a definitive conclusion? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
honestly was lost by the whole thing. </span></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-52308544407522028672018-01-10T07:53:00.002-08:002018-01-10T07:54:11.979-08:00Q&A with Philip Rivera<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHT4qgenAFvSn60EUypg3pVqURU_fcTp1BHS_PE2EOyXTP3N_UIPRXVZ-HKYRBd3WNgQwjO2YEO1vC6YgYvFXYixerhK31tSd4FXOCTR2F0eoHLN0j7E78gT2tZbHF9MUSKnFCMLa7DY/s1600/36454486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHT4qgenAFvSn60EUypg3pVqURU_fcTp1BHS_PE2EOyXTP3N_UIPRXVZ-HKYRBd3WNgQwjO2YEO1vC6YgYvFXYixerhK31tSd4FXOCTR2F0eoHLN0j7E78gT2tZbHF9MUSKnFCMLa7DY/s320/36454486.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Suburban Luchador:
Tales from Burb Side</i>?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My inspiration for writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Suburban Luchador: Tales from the Burb Side</i> was my sister who
encouraged me to take my brief, humorous Facebook posts about life as a husband
and father and post them to a blog for a greater audience to enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Where
did most of the stories come from?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of my stories come from
comical, slice-of-life scenarios from my misadventures as father, husband, high
school teacher and whimsical thinker.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In
the summary, it is quoted that “[Suburban Luchador is the] everyday, luchador
mask-wearing, suburban family man who's anything but common.” Could you please
elaborate?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I consider myself a regular suburban man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I water my lawn, pull the occasional weed,
attempt and fail at various DIY home projects, take the kids to the park, and
drive a 2014 minivan that I secretly believe is an illegal street racer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in a fairly normal world, but my
imagination adds a humorous spectrum to it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
are some of the main issues that you explore in this book and why did you
explore them?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I explore issues of parenting,
marriage and being a high school teacher of migrant students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose these topics because they’re close to
my heart and relatable to people from every walk of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find that misunderstandings between
men and women and adults and teenagers are some of the greatest scenarios for
humorous writing.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
was the hardest part about writing this book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hardest part about writing this
book was finding the time to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
father of 3 young children, as soon I get home and the garage door rises, a
Pandora’s box lies awaiting.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you hope readers will gain from your book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My hope is that my readers will find the joy and humor that is present in
our everyday, mundane, life situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because if you can’t laugh about accidentally drinking your son’s urine,
what’s the point of living?</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I like best about being a
writer is being able to share the whimsical, offbeat, and hopefully humorous
perspective I have on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I like
least is performing this one-man sideshow to an empty or unresponsive room.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who
are some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of my favorite authors are Jack
Handy and Joel C. Rosenberg.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If my book were to become a movie, the role of Suburban
Luchador would be played by Eugenio Derbez.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I am
currently working on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Suburban Luchador 2:
Suburban Luchador vs. The Big Gulp, </i>the second round of ringside suburban
stories.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a Hispanic teacher working with migrant youth, I see the hope,
imagination and resilience that lies within the upcoming generation. Although
many of them grow up in poverty, what they lack in material wealth they possess
in cultural riches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their families pass
on to them the stories from their homeland<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">;
consejos </i>about life, spirituality, family and relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe these young people will weave these
stories into every vocation they fill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ours is a culture of stories passed on from generation to generation, so
I believe Latino literature will continue to be passed on through today’s young
Latinos as they influence social media, academia, and the business world. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Estamos en buenas manos!</i></span></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more info, visit </span><a href="http://suburbanluchador.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://suburbanluchador.com/</span></a>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-57836222491822337382018-01-05T07:26:00.002-08:002018-01-05T07:30:33.614-08:00Q&A with Jennifer Brasington-Crowley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkofzkfhC9IKYRWogcnHvtJD63k369oV3sB8pO-u37-jW66oZUzOdwskUeAxjs9BFuewvoZcCWDOkgYmvWYSTt1D4CVLEWBou-HL5CgvkYXOQ58V8zi4yE1jrp8VxhCXqg-aWOBFRoS8/s1600/author1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkofzkfhC9IKYRWogcnHvtJD63k369oV3sB8pO-u37-jW66oZUzOdwskUeAxjs9BFuewvoZcCWDOkgYmvWYSTt1D4CVLEWBou-HL5CgvkYXOQ58V8zi4yE1jrp8VxhCXqg-aWOBFRoS8/s320/author1.JPG" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>Jennifer Brasington-Crowley is an author, illustrator, artist and animal advocate. She is a graduate of E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and an advertising copywriter and graphic designer. She has been writing all of her life, from poems and short stories, to children’s books and now contemporary fiction.<br /><br />She is the author of the Lyndsay and Lainey Lion children’s book series (www.sunnyvillezoo.com), as well as contemporary fiction The Woman Who Fell to Earth, Dolphin Song, and Dolphin Magic available for download from Amazon.com. <br /><br />She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and children, two dogs and three cats. <br /><br />Learn more at <a href="http://www.sunnyvillezoo.com/">www.sunnyvillezoo.com</a></em></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEoWgCUPS_Stl9ZLHfu7iB_i-_EiRa8kUVcDNeLNMAA9e93RpGxDzlMS4ohRdpXcfDcM6jrdtbF-vwtv0-YLtGwquVYEL0HD7Lur44avho_f_Liyaep5tCAvp-w1LeYw1biQdlE7tsPM/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEoWgCUPS_Stl9ZLHfu7iB_i-_EiRa8kUVcDNeLNMAA9e93RpGxDzlMS4ohRdpXcfDcM6jrdtbF-vwtv0-YLtGwquVYEL0HD7Lur44avho_f_Liyaep5tCAvp-w1LeYw1biQdlE7tsPM/s320/Capture.JPG" width="203" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dolphin Magic: Love
Goes On</i>?</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I published my first romance
novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dolphin Song,</i> in February of
2016. The ending was somewhat of a cliff hanger, and I had many people ask me
to write the sequel. I admittedly did not want to write a sequel – I had
finished the story of Janie and Christian. But after I published my second
book, and still had people requesting a sequel to Dolphin Song, I relented. It
actually became a joy to write after I decided on the angle I was going to
take. </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How
does this differ from a traditional love story (if it does)?</strong> </span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This story focuses more on
familial relationships, and how our upbringing effects our life choices. The
romance is quite accidental, and is almost a Shakespearean tragedy more so than
a heart-warming romance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How
do dolphins come into play, if at all?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a dolphin, a dolphin
who made its first appearance in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dolphin
Song</i>, acting as a catalyst for change of the main character. In this novel,
the dolphin represents hope. Its appearance occurs at desperate times, and
again transforms the main characters, offering strength and courage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
are the intended goals of the main characters?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want my characters to grow into better
versions of themselves after having met the other person. I love how the people
you meet in life transform you into the person you become, whether for better
or for worse, but in the case of these characters, definitely for the better. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
are some of the main issues that you explore in this book and why did you
explore them?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I explore a lot about family
ties in this book – how you are connected to family and why, and at what point
do you get to make a decision on who you want your family to be. What are your
familial obligations and how much do they matter when you are forced to choose
between them and something better. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
was the hardest part about writing this book?</strong> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hardest part about writing
this book was trying to fulfill my readers’ desire for a sequel, while trying
to keep my own integrity and writing a story I felt deserved to be told. Once I
had the idea, however, it was a pleasure exploring the characters and
developing a story around them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you hope readers will gain from your book?</strong> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to bring
emotions to my readers – whether it’s joy or sorrow, hope or despair, being
able to move somebody with words is my goal </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love bringing characters to
life. I am not an action/adventure writer. I love character development and
being able to transform a character from the beginning to the end of the story.
What I like least about being a writer is selling my goods. It’s difficult to
be an introverted creative and put on a salesman hat and hock your wares. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who
are some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allen
Poe, James Herriot, and I recently discovered a contemporary author T. C.
Boyle. I love rich characters and moving stories, and I love a wicked ending. I
am not a happily ever after reader. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think Gabriel Aubrey with his green
eyes and wavy surfer hair would be a beautiful Christian, and Genesis Rodriguez
would make a lovely Marina – gorgeous, scrappy and independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The part of Miguel would hands-down be played
by Ruben Blades. Oscar Isaac (my sister-in-law’s – who greatly inspired the
character of Marina - cousin) would play the luscious Jaime. It’s all planned
out now, let’s make a movie! </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am always searching for my
next story, for inspiration to hit me and get my creative energy flowing. But
right now, I am focused on promoting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dolphin
Magic</i> until I get that surge.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would think that with the advancement
of Latinos in the entertainment industry, like television shows like The
Walking Dead and its spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead, which feature prevalent
Latino characters, that authors would be inclined to write with more Latino
heroes and heroines. It is time for a Latino superhero, don’t you think? </span></div>
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Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-14286455653726967202017-12-21T07:38:00.004-08:002017-12-21T07:38:39.091-08:00Review: I’M SNOBBITY SNOWMAN by Maria Bardyukova and Quiet Riley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvy9B_KBTfvKgufAz3rUf9LyGMFMdhO1ySQkaWC10h8tHqTNuJkppLy45_g_LVs_y2s8jymV4w-OQCtWMQt9e0U6xD6yDgguQ4PYFFLMrEk0nRRLwrrwbiMDrvc491lzXoCDGRAIO1hk/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="381" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvy9B_KBTfvKgufAz3rUf9LyGMFMdhO1ySQkaWC10h8tHqTNuJkppLy45_g_LVs_y2s8jymV4w-OQCtWMQt9e0U6xD6yDgguQ4PYFFLMrEk0nRRLwrrwbiMDrvc491lzXoCDGRAIO1hk/s320/Capture.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Snobbity Snowman has everything a snowman could possibly want: a shiny hat, freshly-picked noses and enough pride to last a lifetime. In fact, he is so egocentric that he can't even see when his life starts falling apart.<br /><br />What disasters must take place to open his charcoal eyes? To help him see that pride and possessions cannot bring true happiness? Will he defrost his chilly ego and embrace the warmth of friendship? Only Snobbity can tell.<br /><br />Depicting winter in rich and whimsical tones, Snobbity Snowman’s quirky characters and unexpected twists promise to leave a lasting impression on all its snobbulous readers.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 3
stars</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> This
is the story of a snobby snowman that learns to see the light in his ways. It
was kind of like the snowman’s version of Scrooge.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illustrations
were cute. I especially liked the facial expressions. I wish the text could’ve
interacted more with the images. The images were so lively while the text just
stood at the bottom of the page. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall,
this was an okay holiday story.</span> </span></span><br />
</div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-51788698812217855512017-12-19T07:36:00.000-08:002017-12-19T07:36:08.076-08:00Review: PLANTAINS AND THE SEVEN PLAGUES: HALF-CUBAN, HALF-DOMINICAN AND FULL LIFE by Paz Ellis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBXRsiEVY3kSl938FeO8_Y83Wc6SFNiA7nP5WtSKwfN6Wxr1P_4ZtheznRry21SjsIV72oqFucTfSeQHytHJCB7e7kDe3Qd46pZm4b10KAPK3rN_W9NOso-LTqy-ai1PhaFWJ25wEP1M/s1600/plantains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBXRsiEVY3kSl938FeO8_Y83Wc6SFNiA7nP5WtSKwfN6Wxr1P_4ZtheznRry21SjsIV72oqFucTfSeQHytHJCB7e7kDe3Qd46pZm4b10KAPK3rN_W9NOso-LTqy-ai1PhaFWJ25wEP1M/s320/plantains.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText13860290576130499585"><em>Author Paz Ellis takes readers on a cross-cultural and trans-generational journey through her childhood in New Jersey to adulthood with Plantains and the 7 Plagues, A Memoir: Half-Dominican, Half-Cuban and Full Life. <br /><br />Paz insightfully describes, the complexities and contradictions of growing up in the United States to a Dominican mother and a Cuban father. From her mother’s obsessive cleaning rituals to her father’s remarkable knack for invention, this book beautifully explains what living a hyphenated-life means for so many Hispanics. She writes about what it means to be American, and Cuban, and Dominican, and having to be all of those things and only one of them… all at the same time. <br /><br />Following the passing of her mother, the author finds herself on a search for meaning through not only her past, but also her mother’s. This book is about life, loss, memory, culture, and family, the glue that determines who your family actually is- love. Written with a healthy dose of wit and an abundance of sincerity, Plantains and the 7 Plagues is honest, painfully relatable, and deeply heartfelt</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 3.5
stars </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> Born
a “mutt,” Paz Ellis writes a memoir dating back to the courtship of her parents
through her childhood in New Jersey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With witty
sentiment and reverence, this story is a simply poignant recollection of a
young girl’s life as she transitions into adulthood. Although lengthy and monotonous
at times, Ellis still manages to bring her story to life. Her story is so
insightfully detailed that it puts the reader in the author’s shoes, walking
around in a half-Cuban/half-Dominican world.</span> </span></span></span><br />
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-27385596614073054302017-12-15T07:54:00.001-08:002017-12-15T07:54:30.890-08:00Review: MASQUERADING OUR LOVE by Audrey Rich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6pmaIosGEsc3JjGDweXGBQ8c_q_2dC0xTHnYqvjX3ySWTItPU64j3wO7TgbjF1dQNodDyNADAQD-g2sq71s3RkJMDVS51Gh0hTCCNjMY_YRSvPX8mTPD40oOjh5XoTFjjO3iim4zpJ0/s1600/masq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6pmaIosGEsc3JjGDweXGBQ8c_q_2dC0xTHnYqvjX3ySWTItPU64j3wO7TgbjF1dQNodDyNADAQD-g2sq71s3RkJMDVS51Gh0hTCCNjMY_YRSvPX8mTPD40oOjh5XoTFjjO3iim4zpJ0/s320/masq.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText8633910346751328160"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><b>Junior year has been tough on Thalía Reynari.</b><br /><br />A new high school, trying to fit in with new friends, schoolwork, family commitments. With everything going on in her life, Thalía could use a break, an adventure.<br /><br />So when Thalía meets Christopher, the most gorgeous guy in town, her life should change for the better, right?<br /><br />Don’t bet on it.<br /><br />Thalía’s conservative parents insist she’s too young to date. Plus, Thalía and Christopher find themselves caught in the middle of a simmering feud that’s kept the two families apart for a decade. And no one is sure if young love will be enough to bridge this divide.<br /><br />As they hide their relationship behind masks they must decide if this new love is worth losing their parents’ approval.<br /><br />First-time novelist Audrey Rich imbues Masquerading Our Love with the joy and pain of how teens live life today as they wrestle with love, friendship, and faith. Thalía, Christopher, and Rich’s entire cast of characters is so vibrant, so alive, that they’re sure to leap off the page—and into your heart.<br /><br />Buy this stand alone novel and lose yourself in a clean, wholesome story about young love determined to stay together...no matter what.</em></span></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 3
stars</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> Surrounded
by her new high school’s crowd of Beamers, Lexis, and Benzes, Thal<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">í</span>a Reynari was the “clunker” of
Stonehaven. Always academically driven and her nose in a book, she has always
been the odd-girl-out and wouldn’t dare trade in her non-social status for the
in-crowd…well, unless she’d have a shot at Parade Guy, for whom she might
disobey her parents for. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the story
progresses, a whole slew of characters enter the scene, which portray the
typical high school setting. It definitely brings you back to high school with
all the various cliques and nameless faces. Story just had some characters that
you forgot almost instantly—just like high school. It probably would’ve been better
if the story had limited some of these characters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thal<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">í</span>a is a smart, endearing character
that readers could look up to, but I guess I had a hard time understanding her
journey. Did she want to be a swimmer or a life guard? What was her purpose? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who was Parade Guy and why was he called
that? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, the
story had more questions than answers. The writing was good, but I just could
not connect with the character or the story.</span> </span></span><br />
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-42057978629164244952017-12-07T08:02:00.001-08:002017-12-07T08:02:28.497-08:00Review: DEAD SEASONS by R.M. James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJvQ8dIXtTqRFrMc9mB9vC1ZDitigrMpr14a1LPHUxzSkBlECy5d16Bq51q6BMFXG6dcJ2XdNORQ5kUaK9NugdaXPyKYL74GOtxQs03dvkU_f9rrpp7erOabEFMPmN8tTXxh7m626zy0/s1600/dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJvQ8dIXtTqRFrMc9mB9vC1ZDitigrMpr14a1LPHUxzSkBlECy5d16Bq51q6BMFXG6dcJ2XdNORQ5kUaK9NugdaXPyKYL74GOtxQs03dvkU_f9rrpp7erOabEFMPmN8tTXxh7m626zy0/s320/dead.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText3908344270399225228"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>A group of four wedding goers, on their way to California, get lost somewhere in Kansas. The car doesn’t work. Reception is down. And morning has mysteriously become evening. In utter confusion, they search their surroundings, only to find a dead girl, rotting in a creek. <br /><br />They discover this small town is more than what it seems. From its undisclosed location, vacant establishments, and the bestial creature lurking in the shadows. When they come across the townsfolk, who take a keen interest in them, the four are then forced to participate in a simulation game, where newcomers must play to be allowed to leave. <br /><br />In this place, their fears manifest into tangible forms meant to kill them. Sanity gets tested. Doubt consumes each unwilling player. Yet no one knows the exact rules of the game. Except for one detail. If you don’t play, you die. There can only be one winner. <br /><br />Seasons change as the four contestants try to make it out of town alive.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Sandra</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 4
stars</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> A
group of friends get stranded in the middle of Kansas, where they stumble onto
the body of a dead girl. Tension and emotions run high among the group as the
struggle for escape reaches critical levels, especially when a killer is still
out there. Possibly human or animal…something that is part dog or wolf?
Whatever it was, it was hungry. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somehow, one
of them—Canela Robles—wanders off and encounters a man with a butcher knife. His
name was Gabriel, a convict just released from prison. Now, he joins the group,
which leaves everyone wondering who to trust. Who can you confide in? And who
are you truly safe with? In fact, one just has to wonder who (or what) was the
real danger. And “fear could do strange things to people.” (72)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The characters’
fears and secrets rise to the surface as their lives interweave into a
fantastically spellbinding tale of suspense and horror. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, they realize that they’re stuck in
some twisted game, and everyone’s a player. What kind of game? And what happens
if you lose? </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mystery and
surprise are unveiled in every corner of this book. At times, you can’t make
sense of what’s going on because of all the cryptic info. Were they running
from wildebeests or man-hunting cannibals? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, some of the details can be pretty sick. It
was almost hard to take. In fact, this book struck me as a cross-over between
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jeepers Creepers</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cabin Fever</i>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, well-written
and strangely gripping.</span></span></span><br />
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</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-34263256589333919812017-12-06T07:25:00.002-08:002017-12-06T07:25:47.991-08:00Q&A with R.M. James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i1saLjMmv5Z7sUGYlCrw-bsJUsNkmw8vJDMRq6iRPJNcn6PDCOuPklXVMkaf5ycUuZiJrVBwcbjZAGYn-dp4BPjWFtqMDFuRgsQZNs1GBK9CzOTd7lrsl6L0kZBlsGeQ1qE1Djnsk4k/s1600/RM6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i1saLjMmv5Z7sUGYlCrw-bsJUsNkmw8vJDMRq6iRPJNcn6PDCOuPklXVMkaf5ycUuZiJrVBwcbjZAGYn-dp4BPjWFtqMDFuRgsQZNs1GBK9CzOTd7lrsl6L0kZBlsGeQ1qE1Djnsk4k/s1600/RM6.jpg" /></a></div>
<span id="freeTextContainerauthor7361976"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>R.M. James wrote plays as a child and forced her sisters to read them. As she got older, her stories evolved into short movies. Her film and literature studies edged her into one of her truest callings: fiction writing. The majority of her time goes into caring for her family, taking nature shots, and imagining new scenes for another novel. She lives in Nevada.</em></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPVdrltXAHq2s6ZEXZoCdleAr5g1jxr2zk2JTOhW8mxusPZqrZcCk3cS4Vc04_V7RMsHZZGctR0U2c1aglp8kjTM4DqhICaa5PPDWbNFdHHXU2V7wmsEjjh_j7r4GZsmA0A3RN_hRVTU/s1600/dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPVdrltXAHq2s6ZEXZoCdleAr5g1jxr2zk2JTOhW8mxusPZqrZcCk3cS4Vc04_V7RMsHZZGctR0U2c1aglp8kjTM4DqhICaa5PPDWbNFdHHXU2V7wmsEjjh_j7r4GZsmA0A3RN_hRVTU/s320/dead.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="normalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dead Seasons</i>?</strong> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a dream about a couple of
friends jumping from season to literal season. That and the fact<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>wanted to write a horror novel. I put the two together and created this
novel.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What was the hardest part about writing this book?</strong> </span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last part.
Winter. Only because my sister died before I got to it. She had been my beta
reader up until that point. My sister is a huge inspiration and the reason I
dedicated the novel to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had
a lot of influence in how I ended the book. </span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What’s the premise of the game?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depends on which
character viewpoint. The point of the game is to get to the end and win. But
it’s the getting there that’s hard.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What was significant about the seasons?</strong></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</span></strong></span><div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each season
represented each player and their own journey. I’d say more, but I rather</span></span></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the
reader come to his or her own conclusion.</span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What was Canela’s role as “the leaf” and why was she
integral?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not sure how to
answer this question without giving a spoiler. But I will say, that she came
into the game with the most to lose. </span><br /></span><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->There were a variety of characters in the story. What
were some of the key issues between them?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philip struggled
with control and accepting what was happening. Nicole didn’t want to be alone.
Aspen buried a lot of his emotions, and Canela needed to come to terms with her
mortality. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What do you hope readers will gain from your book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope readers gain a new perspective when it
comes to life and death. What we live for? What we can’t let go of? What it all
means. And where we going. If nothing else, I hope they enjoy the read.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What inspired you to be a writer?</strong> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t remember what inspired me. I
have been writing since I was a little kid. I used to make my sisters read my
stories. I think that’s what it is. I wanted to share my stories with other
people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What do you like best and what do you like least about
being a writer?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the writing
and I love editing. I think my least favorite part is making time. I have small
children. It’s not always easy to sit down and write. So, I guess that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Who are some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get asked this
question a lot. I don’t have favorite authors. I keep discovering new ones
every year that I add to my list of other books I’ll check out by that person.
Every year I love a certain few more than others and it switches all the time.
I have many.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If your book would be turned into a movie, who would
you imagine playing the part of the main characters? (Actor can be ANYONE,
living or dead.)</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whoa, I have never
thought of this. I guess for Canela, I can picture Dania Ramirez. For Nicole,
Teresa Palmer. For Aspen, Evan Peters, and for Philip, Nicholas Hoult. This
question took me the longest to write. Haha.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Are you working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m working on a
psychological thriller at the moment. Been loving every minute of writing it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->And, finally, what do you think is in store for the
future of Latino literature?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hope is that we continue to
write and publish and support one another. But also make main characters that
are Latinos as well. When I was growing up and reading, it was rare to
encounter a Hispanic main character in my favorite genres. I hope that changes
for my children.</span></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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</div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-10330823719688986012017-11-30T08:15:00.003-08:002017-11-30T08:43:13.770-08:00Review: LIFE OF A BASTARD (Vol. 1) by Damien Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ZJ6U2D6gJldOaJFR0nR_xwmfypdWTCYORu7PkmlNoi16MUiqKnFtzexDC65zmjU4Tdx4fr8q7nAd9VStdvfjJnZFgNJxUpZ4IGpOCzKxjEYS8S0urZpgLE-jAH4s2p2Ohcry3_YQJw/s1600/35847932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ZJ6U2D6gJldOaJFR0nR_xwmfypdWTCYORu7PkmlNoi16MUiqKnFtzexDC65zmjU4Tdx4fr8q7nAd9VStdvfjJnZFgNJxUpZ4IGpOCzKxjEYS8S0urZpgLE-jAH4s2p2Ohcry3_YQJw/s320/35847932.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em><span id="freeText10241702778236475577">"My memories from this period are often nebulous. They bend and warp like clouds caught between two fronts. A lot of terrible things happened to me that I try not to remember, but I was a child, I was innocent, and I used to be happy sometimes. "<br /><br />Born in Spanish Harlem in 1972 to a teenage Puerto Rican mother and a Black father, Javier Soto is a blemish on the face of American society. After a suspicious fire allegedly set by his mother, while his father serves time in prison, Javier and his sisters are removed from their home into foster care. This true story of Javier Soto's life takes you on the soul-stirring journey of a young boy in the custody of a brutal world.<br /><br />Beginning at the Catholic Home Bureau, Javier's tale depicts the evolution of an innocent child into an enraged teenager as he battles his way through the perils of abuse, starvation, and neglect. Like thousands of American children who are driven into the foster care network Javier and his siblings are repeatedly shuffled through numerous foster homes, each one less welcoming than the last. Following eventual separation from his sisters, Javier is left to continue his crusade of survival alone.<br /><br />An indelible account that tells of a boy's anguish, self-loathing and an unsatisfied yearning for love that is the birthright of every child. With such little grounds for hope, how far will Javier go?</span> </em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>
Rating: 3.5
stars </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> This
is the harrowing story of a boy named Javier. His troubles first began in the
womb, conceived by a mentally unstable Hispanic woman and a convicted Black
man. By the age of 19, Javier’s mother had had enough of birthing “bastard”
children and tried to kill them by setting the house on fire, which prompted
Javier’s induction into the foster care system.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From that
point forward, Javier experiences <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">life as
a bastard</i> with abuse and neglect. Even in the face of such hardships, he
holds a glimmer of hope for that “empty hero” to rescue him, whether it be his
sperm donor or some guy named Jesus. Still, through his keen perception, he
could not deny the evils of the heartless world he was thrown into. It was then
that he learned to “survive at all costs.” The atrocities were just
heart-wrenching and crude. It was just a never-ending battle—a rather daunting
battle. Sometimes it was just too hard to take. Story had some considerable lag
and grammatical errors, and, at times, became too vulgar for my taste; but,
still, its endearing and infantile poignancy remains throughout. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raw and
gritty, Damien Black crafted a novel full of struggle and emotional turmoil. The
author managed to infuse this simple grace into a child’s remedial perspective.
And the illustrations, which were full of innocence and joy, were an exquisite
contrast to the hardship of the story. Like the Yin Yang symbol, the white
purity of Javier was juxtaposed with the dark corruption of society, which gave
a suitable balance to the story.</span> </span></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-20942541649711191342017-11-29T08:21:00.003-08:002017-11-29T08:21:53.592-08:00Q&A with Damien Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpemfEHEsr_AJyZRdsChZVhE1lrOaspTv3wBKyMivsWbRZEarO2sWae9CDtBlyT9SDxy9b6uTtZFwdoayjAlOSdgUG_fvTyEmjEq3dPmJu38k1Hh_9lBR7LmXr2Yy7xLgEPfiUVAfmvo/s1600/17064728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpemfEHEsr_AJyZRdsChZVhE1lrOaspTv3wBKyMivsWbRZEarO2sWae9CDtBlyT9SDxy9b6uTtZFwdoayjAlOSdgUG_fvTyEmjEq3dPmJu38k1Hh_9lBR7LmXr2Yy7xLgEPfiUVAfmvo/s1600/17064728.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span id="freeTextauthor17064728"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Damien Black was born and brought up in New York during the more interesting times of ‘the summer of Batman’ when Times Square was less frilly. He was the writer, producer, and editor of the podcast and TV show, ‘The Short Film Show,' on MNN New York. Damien is currently a Language Arts and Science ESL teacher in China. He lives in Shanghai with his 5-year-old son, Hannibal, who shares his ardent love for Legos. Although Hannibal is his only biological son, Damien considers all his students as his children and is a passionate teacher. <br /><br />The Life of a Bastard is Damien Black’s first book. In writing the story of Javier Soto, he wishes to capture the essence of life in foster care and to expose the raw truths of the struggle for identity and the shocking violence inflicted on these abandoned children. He hopes that the series will increase awareness among readers and allow them to comprehend and empathize with each of the 20,000 children that leave the foster system every year in the United States of America. <br /></em></span><a href="http://www.lifeofabastard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.lifeofabastard.com/</span></a></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzu-3snrYBCqp6Xnej0k9XlJGvUYlDrbSHe3Rd9GNMlkQOZsanbT0EXq0HhzSgPURnXYHMCLn2zD-Xc3WiVB5ZmeUxqPPTilFGVAVoNdzeXgR6XfuEH32Iesa4kpINMioRRIIhbLDQSdc/s1600/life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzu-3snrYBCqp6Xnej0k9XlJGvUYlDrbSHe3Rd9GNMlkQOZsanbT0EXq0HhzSgPURnXYHMCLn2zD-Xc3WiVB5ZmeUxqPPTilFGVAVoNdzeXgR6XfuEH32Iesa4kpINMioRRIIhbLDQSdc/s320/life.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What inspired you to write
<em>Life of a Bastard</em>?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back 1990 I discovered "Down These Mean Street" by Piri
Thomas, I highly recommend this book about being Afro-Latino, growing up in the
50's in East Harlem and the struggle of identity. I read Down these Mean
Streets and felt I had something relatable to share about the Life of Javier
Soto ( also Afro-Latino) as he journeys to find calm and his place in this
world. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was Javier’s ultimate
purpose?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The purpose is a two-sided coin on one side if his story is concluded
with a happy ending of success without having a mother and father to guide him,
along with the demons of child abuse that haunts many and most times play a
destructive role in their adult years. The ultimate purpose can inspirational
to those who might have a shared experience with Javier. On the flip side,
cautionary tales because in the end, we have to get out of our way and find
ways to cope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What goals, if any, did
Javier achieve in the end and what did he learn?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The end is not written, and perhaps we can learn more in Volume 2
(2018). </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was the hardest part
about writing this book?</strong> </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making sure that journals that were written 30 years ago maintain that
voice with little hindsight and I self-censorship because sometimes a journal
entry had no real structure just rantings of a child. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are some of the main
socio-economic issues that you explore in this book and why did you explore
them?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Javier's viewpoint his raw view of welfare, the crack epidemic
(1980's ),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>East and West Harlem decay,
and tidbits of other things that were going on during his childhood. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you hope readers
will gain from your book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While it has elements of foster care and family dysfunctionality, in
the end, it's a "coming of age" story it's American. Readers can just
enjoy and see the outcome and do nothing or voice their concerns about child
welfare in the America or share their story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What inspired you to be a
writer?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The need for therapy and to make sense of life. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like best and
what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having someone read my book and the least not having a pen when I get
an idea. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are some of your
favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Piri Thomas and James Baldwin </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your book would be
turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part of the main
character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would cast someone new an unknown but maybe Samuel L. Jackson can
play Javier's father. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you working on
anything right now?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had my first book event at Shanghai Comic Con , and I hope to have
more. I am also working on the Spanish version of Life of a Bastard. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, finally, what do you
think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For the future of Latino literature, we need
more visibility, bloggers to review books, making sure our children have good
reading habits, diverse stories, and more writers.</span></div>
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-44355699177266864082017-11-17T07:08:00.001-08:002017-11-17T07:08:08.052-08:00Review: THE ANGEL OF A MADMAN by Ricky Dragoni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49I38cPXWACRgiM3UJ85acDf1LRN0MxknKEgvh333zgAP2Y72R49A9eovyENqwikZqF_BtMpFEHUi_yTAn7c_Vx6sgu7QkDGYXbJSfDh9_8Fw1lOkucg8yNaUnOUVXUOAcvz8uzLgxbM/s1600/35526304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49I38cPXWACRgiM3UJ85acDf1LRN0MxknKEgvh333zgAP2Y72R49A9eovyENqwikZqF_BtMpFEHUi_yTAn7c_Vx6sgu7QkDGYXbJSfDh9_8Fw1lOkucg8yNaUnOUVXUOAcvz8uzLgxbM/s320/35526304.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText5612703824313931694"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>In the dusty desert town of Pecos New Mexico, a unique and strange friendship blossoms. Bracket a self-proclaimed intergalactic spy encounters Gabriel. Gabriel, a world traveler, has returned home after a family tragedy and is now looking for hope in the bottom of the bottle. <br /> The desert and its majestic mesas bear witness to a grand escape, and what is to be a friendship for the ages. Experience this tale through both unique perspectives; the intergalactic science fiction prism of Bracket’s reality, and Gabriel’s grip on the sad realities of life. <br />Be part of this journey of friendship, self-realization and the healing of a broken mind. As we explore the beautiful depths of the human intellect and what it can truly achieve.</em></span></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Margo</strong></span></div>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 3.5
stars </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> Bracket
is his codename. After escaping from prison, he recounts his treacherous road through
the deserted jungles. Then he meets up with Gabriel, a self-loathing man
drowning in his sorrows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The possibility
of an escaped intergalactic spy running into a run-of-the-mill joe is pretty
unlikely and far-fetched. I mean, what could they have in common? It’s like
pairing up Rambo with Waldo. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the
eyes of these two men, reader becomes familiar with their pain and history. I
found Gabriel’s story much more endearing. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Infused with
lovely words of New Mexico landscapes, Dragoni penned a story of tragedy and
penance. His style is dark and poetic, which accurately reflected the emotional
frailties and struggles of the characters. The pace lagged in some areas, and,
at some point, I wondered if one of these characters was dead. For example,
when Bracket first meets Gabriel, Bracket is surprised that he could see him
because he was but a “human.” What could he have meant by this? Was he an alien
from outer space or a fallen soldier that died in battle? This might have added
a little mystery to the mix, but it was perplexing nonetheless. It feels like
the story almost crosses over into a ghostly plane of existence. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, the
story retains its well-written message of hope and strength. Readers will be
impressed by this work’s massive feat of beauty and strength.</span> </span></div>
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-84117679341801810822017-11-16T07:46:00.002-08:002017-11-16T07:46:37.767-08:00Q&A with Ricky Dragoni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpryMwdr3u8ReWw15pEZb59WKGUu2IeFL9maEWKnt2rgt2XOxs2lhyHqOVmjxOUrh7Bj_kQY1cBenhGnQNaUTfI0VhWSPzma57kcC3dHSm25q37rt1cbCbUCSmRA_Qc07NMTU82K6RO5M/s1600/rkic%252Cy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="622" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpryMwdr3u8ReWw15pEZb59WKGUu2IeFL9maEWKnt2rgt2XOxs2lhyHqOVmjxOUrh7Bj_kQY1cBenhGnQNaUTfI0VhWSPzma57kcC3dHSm25q37rt1cbCbUCSmRA_Qc07NMTU82K6RO5M/s320/rkic%252Cy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor14593373"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Originally from Puerto Rico, Ricky Dragoni spent half of his life in the United States. His true passions are writing and cooking. His favorite authors include Edgar Allan Poe and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. From an early age, he started writing poetry and short stories, and his books are born out of the nightmares of his mind and melded with his life experiences. He would describe his books as reality sprinkled with a good magical dose of faerie dust and hopes they can be entertaining and make the reader think.</em></span></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5roazRrpGs9RoewdEHdzAWYYaAYVt3bNlHXCz1rLrr6mAeZYARHPAY9zbdaaveMrABaovrJhzZM1yBXEk2klflbstoJjs_xaJCNwhSIEnZZ3FMkZxpDhYNZu85ZMYmGl5xX0lBsS8Be8/s1600/angle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5roazRrpGs9RoewdEHdzAWYYaAYVt3bNlHXCz1rLrr6mAeZYARHPAY9zbdaaveMrABaovrJhzZM1yBXEk2klflbstoJjs_xaJCNwhSIEnZZ3FMkZxpDhYNZu85ZMYmGl5xX0lBsS8Be8/s320/angle.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Angel of a MadMan</i>?</strong>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
wanted to do my part in encouraging an honest conversation regarding mental
illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before I started writing
it, two local middle schoolers committed suicide as well as Robin Williams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone seemed eager to talk about mental
illness, then Kim Kardashian got naked on the cover of Paper magazine and
everyone forgot about the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I understand it is hard to talk about mental illness during a time of tragedy,
so I wanted the book to open the conversation to focus on the everyday, the
funny, the brilliant, the sad, the scary and the human part of mental illness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Upon
first meeting, why was Bracket so surprised that Gabriel could see him?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bracket believes he can become invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rationalizes the failure of his “powers”
at the convenience store, but with Gabriel he doesn’t quite have an
answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the beginning of his
anchoring back to reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
did Bracket and Gabriel provide for each other?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friendship, support, and the
belief in each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though they
looked at the world through incredibly different prisms they believed in each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes in life that is what we
need the most. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
did each character achieve in the end?</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even
though the end is bitter sweet, each character got the opportunity to redeem
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
are some of the main sociological issues that you explore in this book and why
did you explore them?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental
illness, grieving and stigma associated with the mentally ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you look through history some of the most
brilliant minds, whether scientific or artistic, would be considered mentally
ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we can stop looking at mental
illness as someone being broken, and instead looking at is as someone experiencing
life through a different prism, I think the conversation could finally advance
beyond prayers during times of tragedy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In
the end, who was the angel and who was the madman?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wouldn’t you like to know?
LOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is that we all have a little
madness inside of us and we can all be an angel to someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you hope readers will gain from your book?</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want the reader
to know that whether it is mental illness or dealing with the loss of someone
we love, they are not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all go
through it and it is ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how
lost a situation might seem there is always light at the end of the tunnel and
a chance for redemption and happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love being able to express my
ideas through my imagination and hopefully make a positive impact on the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love being able to spend
quality time with my kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the
feeling of being able to be happy following my passion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I like the least?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The uncertainty of when the paycheck is
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having worked in the corporate
world for over 12 years and having the stability of a paycheck, it has been an
adjustment on how the literary world works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who
are some of your favorite authors?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edgar Allan Poe, love his short
stories, they are not only entertaining but they keep you thinking for
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a big
influence as well during my formative years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Current authors I enjoy Simon Green’s Nightside series, Jim Butcher’s
Dresden Files, Dean Koontz, I am partial to the Odd Thomas books and Laurell K.
Hamilton’s Anita Blake Vampire hunter series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main characters? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Gabriel there is no question, it
would be Gabriel Iglesias also known as “Fluffy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to his show around that time and he
talked a lot about the passing of his mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a huge influence and inspiration for the character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bracket I would love if Don Cheadle would
play him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is an amazing actor and I
could see him being able to play an outlandish character yet keeping the
kindness and humanity in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I am working on “The Swift”
It is a dark story, along the same vein as “I am Legend” but with different
creepy crawler monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a post-apocalyptic
survival story but with a huge twist in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is all I can say right now without
giving too much away. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also working on Tommy Jones,
a young adult series which I am writing with my 13 year old, Lorenzo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the sky is the limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us get exposed to so many kinds of different
literatures, whether American, Hispano-American, European and the local ones
from our countries that it polishes us as authors and writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we need to keep writing from our
unique and interesting perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon the days of Gabriel Garcia Marquez being the only well-known
international Latino author would be a thing of the past, and the Ramirez,
Dragoni and Santiago will be as common as Koontz, King and Rice.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-50552883725368195182017-10-31T08:13:00.001-07:002017-10-31T08:13:26.758-07:00Review: SIMPLY SALSA: DANCING WITHOUT FEAR AT GOD’S FIESTA by Janet Perez Eckles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXNfK2vGWLPIWJZYBtLchKn5zYehuoXb4vobYN1Nuf4XyAOFelpA3fiTzVwb5ANxJWCrGcXl5dUOT7sbn_MZ-Z6ZZj38_LPu2yG9mMOid2XV23s8J3GBgtMaCDRvlfJxj-Q2lvrl8tmo/s1600/simply.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXNfK2vGWLPIWJZYBtLchKn5zYehuoXb4vobYN1Nuf4XyAOFelpA3fiTzVwb5ANxJWCrGcXl5dUOT7sbn_MZ-Z6ZZj38_LPu2yG9mMOid2XV23s8J3GBgtMaCDRvlfJxj-Q2lvrl8tmo/s320/simply.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>With a bit of sassiness, a touch of humor, and an amiga-to-amiga style, Simply Salsa encourages women to accept God’s call to dance!<br /><br />What keeps women from dancing to the freedom God offers? With passion and boldness, Simply Salsa exposes the lies and misconceptions that imprison women with unfounded insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. No matter the degree of adversity or pain, Janet Eckles has discovered an alternative to gloom—through the security that is only found in God’s love.<br /><br />When women in the Bible faced tribulations and trials, they sought God’s grace. Simply Salsaillustrates how that same grace offers today’s women the opportunity to: <br /><br />Leave the ugly past behind and look to a fresh tomorrow <br />Find peace and increased faith as you wait for answers to prayer <br />Embrace God’s comfort to conquer sorrow and disappointment <br />With her own life experiences as testimony, Eckles will have you dancing!</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>
Rating: 3
stars</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Physical blindness, infidelity, the murder
of my child, and the acquittal of his killer—all these tragedies piled on one
another in my own personal train wreck.” (2) The experience of “her-panic” is
something we’ve all been familiar with, whether you’re Hispanic or not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Author Janet Perez Eckles speaks with such raw candor and reverence. Through
life’s turmoils, which involve financial hardship and the death of a child, she
somehow manages to find strength and solace in God’s grace and worship. Of
course, I am not religious, but I could certainly appreciate the meaning in
this story, even though there may have been too much biblical jargon
throughout. There was certainly some lag here and there, and, although I couldn't really get that into it, readers will
surely enjoy the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chica</i> commentaries
and dialogue. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ultimately, the story delivers a powerful message to never give up and
keep dancing, which I certainly applaud.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A memoir of love, loss, and salsa! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-69408361722470609632017-10-30T07:47:00.002-07:002017-10-30T07:47:29.512-07:00Q&A with Janet Perez Eckles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zl-Mcu5lsOxQmXpH3IynaTgKG16iL_s8_ZiM0e-ox4Psg5udRT0MHztIWS8gNu_08MOiuKz-kRmehdNwMREy74IlfadaM2ygELLGIVRgsU4vZETkn9FgdRcAdf9VWUSFT3RKkdzQBEA/s1600/xD31_0445-fixed--199x300_jpg_pagespeed_ic_AZSMAMMAbN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zl-Mcu5lsOxQmXpH3IynaTgKG16iL_s8_ZiM0e-ox4Psg5udRT0MHztIWS8gNu_08MOiuKz-kRmehdNwMREy74IlfadaM2ygELLGIVRgsU4vZETkn9FgdRcAdf9VWUSFT3RKkdzQBEA/s1600/xD31_0445-fixed--199x300_jpg_pagespeed_ic_AZSMAMMAbN.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Although physically blind, Janet Perez Eckles has been teaching thousands to see the best of life. “Because I lost my sight at 31 and endured the murder of my youngest son, along with the acquittal of the man responsible,” Janet says, “my life should’ve been a mess. But God gave me a message to showcase His power: His power at work to conquer fear and turn the deepest pain to a life rich with triumph and success.”</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>This triumph sparked Janet’s passion to help others overcome their own struggles. Without sight, but with insight, her inspiration fills the pages of her four books and keynote presentations. And at every local, regional, national or international event, Janet’s lively style captivates audiences as this inspiration dances into their hearts. Whether her messages are delivered in Spanish or English, they have been called “transformational.”</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdaeIXz9-Qk-OxMosk0RzwLkuN7ZeEVNpKWr4cPaRSbOvEobyiANrjOpV0plXvR6oqiJV1pQ5gZpPTcyj4Q4sex8gwJYA5Gy122q1iYoBuwk_8-2iRITTbQYUfQVy_BG5Xe12x0rd_s0/s1600/simply.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdaeIXz9-Qk-OxMosk0RzwLkuN7ZeEVNpKWr4cPaRSbOvEobyiANrjOpV0plXvR6oqiJV1pQ5gZpPTcyj4Q4sex8gwJYA5Gy122q1iYoBuwk_8-2iRITTbQYUfQVy_BG5Xe12x0rd_s0/s320/simply.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Simply Salsa: Dancing without Fear at God's Fiesta</i>?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not so much “what”
but rather, “who” inspired me to write. It was that woman who feels defeated by
the problems in life. She is close to giving up and feels overwhelmed by her
broken plans and heartache.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My passion is to
lift her up, help her see her potential and no matter what she’s facing, guide
her to a rich, triumphant life.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
was the development process like?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of
self-reflection to see what kind of a book I, myself would like to read.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Research
illustrations to blend with my own.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review the notes,
letters and prayer request I receive to know what to address.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the topics
that challenge women the most</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, write with
a blend of warmth and passion as if I were talking to my best friend.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
was the hardest part about writing this book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making sure the
illustrations sang for my readers. Questions like these would usually barge in:
are the examples relevant? Is my story well illustrated? Are the insights
clear? Are the steps practical for anyone to follow?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will the content
spark in my readers a desire to change?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4. What do you hope
readers will gain from your book?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A renewed perception
that their situation is not impossible, insurmountable or hopeless. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as they see the
powerful way God turns trials to triumph, they would feel empowered and repeat
to themselves, “I know I can live in victory too.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to be a writer?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reactions to my
first book. I had written it as a story with the only thought of inspiring my
grandchildren. But when I received comments about how my book was impacting
women not only in the U.S. but also in Australia, England, and New Zealand, I
thought I might have something to say.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, I continued
to write and after hundreds of magazine articles, 32 stories featured in
Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, I wrote Simply Salsa.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the fact
that, being blind, God allows me to write (I operate my computer with a screen
reader). And as my readers learn about my complete blindness, they realize that
what you need is not so much physical sight, but a vision to overcome the
impossible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I relish on each
finished piece because part of my soul sings through the lines. It’s a great
expression of what goes on in my heart.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the hardest
thing is having the time to write about to many topics that rumble in my mind.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who
are some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francine Rivers, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Max Lucado, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cecil Murphy, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Jeremiah, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carol Kent</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary Tyler Moore</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I’m constantly
writing blogs, my free inspirational newsletter, articles, and slideshows for
Ibelieve.com and crosswalk. And also I’m working on a book about success, what
does it really mean?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An explosion of
writing in all genres. Each providing opportunities for Latinas to speak their convictions,
to go higher, remove inhibitions and shout out the triumphant passion that
pulsates in the Latina heart.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-16899915693638939502017-10-13T07:37:00.003-07:002017-10-13T07:37:55.167-07:00Q&A with Chad Vega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVISXbabv_vMrb0fIdXfmG2wjl6rTRiFuFJMp3WM_r5NN4rhWofnudsgIBDa3z55G73aSZVp1pbLTkKxyMO_CJSroiXP1tSV6njpmfU6KUpTYIkiA3S5Rn6sdNeFCa619CUWb4o8CNJM/s1600/35706738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVISXbabv_vMrb0fIdXfmG2wjl6rTRiFuFJMp3WM_r5NN4rhWofnudsgIBDa3z55G73aSZVp1pbLTkKxyMO_CJSroiXP1tSV6njpmfU6KUpTYIkiA3S5Rn6sdNeFCa619CUWb4o8CNJM/s320/35706738.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chad Vega is the author of <em>Sex, Drugs, and Corruption: Welcome to Peru.</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="freeText10295828293138862009">This is the adrenaline filled story of two carpenters from California who end up taking on the Peruvian government. Faced with losing their property in the jungle to corrupt officials, they start growing medical marijuana to make ends meet. This keeps them in the fight, but it puts their lives at risk. As the court case progresses, they accidentally uncover an unprecedented amount of corruption. Join them on this dangerous journey as they frantically search for justice…</span> </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><strong>
</strong>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What inspired you to
write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sex, Drugs, and Corruption:
Welcome to Peru</i>?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was inspired to write this book after being in Peru for ten years.
Living in the jungle and going through court cases gives you a unique glimpse
into a different side of Peru. It’s completely different from what most people
see, so I wanted to highlight it.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What was
the development process like?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After my son went to school I would make coca tea, sit in front of a
laptop and let it flow naturally.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What was
the ultimate goal of the two carpenters?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faced with a grim reality in America, they wanted to make their dreams
come true in the Amazon jungle. They tried to escape poverty in California and
create their own oasis in Peru. Max found the ideal place in the jungle and
managed to purchase the land at the perfect time. Unfortunately, just because a
place is beautiful doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. They accidentally stumbled
upon a hotbed of corruption, but they had no choice but to keep fighting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What did
they gain in the end?</strong> </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On top of life
experience, they learned the importance of family. Being thrown into stressful
situations has a way of making people unite. Max got closer to his family, and
the main character ended up finding his.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What are
some of the main socio-economic issues that you explore in this book and
why did you explore them?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I touch on a lot of issues that many Peruvians face every day. The
main focus is on corruption, since it affects everyone. Peru is an extremely
resource rich country that has everything going for it, but it’s so poorly run
that it barely works. This blatant abuse of the people was built into the system
by the Spaniards, but there’s still hope. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that everyone has a smartphone, things are coming out that used to
be routinely stifled. The ex-president and his wife were recently thrown in
jail, and three other presidents including our current one is under
investigation. For too long politicians have been selling out Peru’s resources
with impunity, but now they are starting to go to jail. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the biggest offenders can start being held accountable, Peru has
the potential to break free from this vicious cycle. This is why I wrote the
book, since it’s based on things I saw happen to other people. With education
comes the possibility of social change, & I would love to see that happen
in Peru.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What
inspired you to be a writer?</strong> </span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="NoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
always enjoyed writing as a teenager, but I didn’t make time for it unless
someone paid me. For years I wrote articles for clients, but I didn’t write for
myself until my friend published a book. This showed me that it was possible,
so I decided to start writing recreationally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What do you
like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being able to express myself is amazing, but spending hours sitting
down isn’t.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Who are
some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always loved Michael Crichton & David Sedaris, but Hunter S.
Thompson became my favorite author as a teen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="9" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>If your
book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could see Benicio del Toro playing Max, and Matthew McConaughey
playing the main character.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="10" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Are you
working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I just finished writing the sequel to this book. It should be
completely edited by the end of October! At the same time, I am also translating
this book into Spanish. It’s pretty tedious, since I learned to speak Spanish
by ear. But it’s an interesting experience, so I will happily do it so everyone
in South America can read my book.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ol start="11" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino
literature?</strong></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it will continue to grow. Nowadays many of the main barriers
for authors have been removed. You don’t have to rely on a big publishing
company hiring you to make it. Self-publishing has been streamlined, so it will
open doors to people who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten noticed. This platform
is open to everyone, and the time is right for Latino authors. Millions of
people around the world speak Spanish, so Latinos in any country can
participate and reach a large audience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-2718173238705218992017-09-20T07:10:00.000-07:002017-09-20T07:10:05.393-07:00Review: ALL THAT GLITTERS: A TALE OF SEX, DRUGS, AND HOLLYWOOD DREAMS by Liza Treviño<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2OYGER78tDNRIWPp8V-JAxkPBke4RxD2g5RoSYx4Ex9gUXaYpjlX_3pkIH3j-Z6rcynqTj841qE_stMEP5JIHdj06gUckRoWYZwagkXokp-6dxT2MRBDz8CfxkrHa6HuLwtWPocP9gc/s1600/all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2OYGER78tDNRIWPp8V-JAxkPBke4RxD2g5RoSYx4Ex9gUXaYpjlX_3pkIH3j-Z6rcynqTj841qE_stMEP5JIHdj06gUckRoWYZwagkXokp-6dxT2MRBDz8CfxkrHa6HuLwtWPocP9gc/s320/all.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText14517665704298808505"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Alexandria Moreno--clever, sexy, ambitious and, at times, self-destructive. She blazes a path from Texas to Los Angeles at the dawn of the 1980s to make her dreams of becoming an A-list Hollywood film director come true. She and her best friend arrive in Los Angeles with little more than hope and the determination to make it big. Alex, a beauty as dark and mysterious as her scarred heart, stands at the bottom of the Hollywood mountain looking up, fighting for her chance to climb to the top. Will her quest to live fast and take no prisoners on her way to success destroy her in the end?<br /><br />All That Glitters is a women's fiction Jackie Collins-type saga that introduces a strong, driven Latina heroine at the center of a rags-to-riches story spanning a decade of action. Along the way, Alexandria walks the fine line separating ambition and self-destruction, and discovers that some sacrifices will cost her everything.</em></span></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<span><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></span><br />
<br />
<span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Celia</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
Rating: 3.5
stars</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong>
Alexandria Moreno is a renowned Hollywood starlet with everything a girl could
ever dream of—fame, money, and a hot stud. Unfortunately, behind all that
glitter lies a patch of dark shame and sadness. Suddenly, the charade of the
glitz and glamour becomes too overwhelming for Alex as she begins to ponder
what keeps her going and how she came to this meaningless lifestyle. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the
story rewinds to when it all began when Alex and her friend, Elly, journeyed
the road from Texas to Los Angeles to make something of themselves. Together,
the girls contend with crummy motels, dead-end wages, and leery men while
mesmerizing over glowing beach sunsets grazing over Pacific waters. Story is a
compilation of parties, sex, drugs, and shady business—it’s Hollywood, after
all! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the girls
get caught up in the hype of beauty, fame, and money, they soon realize that the
life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. At times, the story takes on a humdrum
quality as repetitive aspects and various characters come into play, which
causes a lag in the flow. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well-written
and captivating, this story takes the reader on an enrapturing ride through the
ritzy glamour and sordid underbelly of Hollywood.</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span> </span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-31867367288267751172017-09-19T07:29:00.003-07:002017-09-19T07:29:58.649-07:00Q&A with Liza Treviño<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIYe9ALm9CWgkUry2kXj1cGjAo1NNHcetEqkGfY3UGwZychkZ4DSE1y7OeOZ1h6i2ChmDnhI4Duzj0vpPTX-GT6GFcVhtHpbtZ4pcdbjEvgNSDBGEiz8tTMMsSjYPAdjewjIV0ZZyrT8/s1600/liza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIYe9ALm9CWgkUry2kXj1cGjAo1NNHcetEqkGfY3UGwZychkZ4DSE1y7OeOZ1h6i2ChmDnhI4Duzj0vpPTX-GT6GFcVhtHpbtZ4pcdbjEvgNSDBGEiz8tTMMsSjYPAdjewjIV0ZZyrT8/s1600/liza.jpg" /></a></div>
<span id="freeTextContainerauthor16330980"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Liza Treviño hails from Texas, spending many of her formative years on the I-35 corridor of San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. In pursuit of adventure and a Ph.D., Liza moved to Los Angeles where she compiled a collection of short-term, low-level Hollywood jobs like script girl, producer assistant and production assistant. Her time as a Hollywood Jane-of-all-trades gave her an insider's view to a world most only see from the outside, providing the inspiration for creating a new breed of Latina heroine.</em></span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREzbqOKdOeBvddnnvnBzyT0ipb74_k6E1u3tTGVtyRaRk56NZCXIcpiVGauf8HbdEPbUczijPXThG0HYD62fRlmaOHrkT-8I3-mqkvZZDk2ZnzvSksL-NSFuKqCtYl9uA2TTgyVLxFdY/s1600/all.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREzbqOKdOeBvddnnvnBzyT0ipb74_k6E1u3tTGVtyRaRk56NZCXIcpiVGauf8HbdEPbUczijPXThG0HYD62fRlmaOHrkT-8I3-mqkvZZDk2ZnzvSksL-NSFuKqCtYl9uA2TTgyVLxFdY/s320/all.png" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All that Glitters</i>?</strong>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve always been a reader and a writer since I was a kid. I
loved – LOVE – all kinds of genres: horror, suspense, romance, but Jackie
Collins, in particular, always held a special place in my heart. I adore her
work and all Hollywood fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
gobbled it up when I was a teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually, I was re-reading one of my favorites of hers while I was in
grad school in Los Angeles, and it hit me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where is a Latina Lucky Santangelo? I wanted to read about a badass
character like Lucky Santangelo, but I wanted her to be Latina. And that’s how
it started for me. I began thinking about the popular stories I liked to read
and decided I was going to create those kinds of stories but put a Latina at
the center of the action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
definitely something I wanted to read. I couldn’t find it, so I started writing</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
were Alex and Elly’s ultimate goal in their journey?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alex and Elly, strangely enough, are
on similar journeys. There are three key relationships in the book, and each of
the relationship highlights different but complimentary themes that overlap.
Themes that include the redemptive nature of loyalty and friendship, the
destructive power of giving into your worst impulses, facing your demons,
learning to love yourself, self-acceptance and trust. Both Alex and Elly come
up against these questions and they each have to figure out these answers for
themselves.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How
did the main characters evolve in the story and what did they find in the end?</strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over a span of the ten to twelve years, we follow
Alex and Elly as they each grapple with heartbreak, love, envy and
ambition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, each woman learns their
true nature only by going through similar di the nature of the way they each
deal with difficult situations.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 13.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt -4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4. What are some of the main
socio-economic issues that you explore in this book and why did you explore
them?</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main
socio-economic issues tackled in this book are sexism, gender inequality and the
masked yet innate racism/prejudice all ethnic others face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My story is about this Latina, Alex Moreno,
who decides to set her sights on filmmaking as her life’s work. This is what
she wants more than anything else in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is an outsider and she wants to break in and take a seat at a table
in one of the toughest businesses there is. Given that Hollywood is a notorious
guy’s club, this book had to take a very particular look at gender and sexism
through the lens of this most glamorous business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while Alex doesn’t experience overt
racism, prejudicial slurs toward her surface when others are threatened by Alex
and her success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By tackling these
issues this way, I hoped to bring to light prevalent inequalities that existed
and continue to exist at every level. I get no pleasure considering how
relevant these issues are today, when the book’s setting is nearly three
decades old.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">5. </span>What
do you hope readers will gain from your book?</strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope readers enjoy the book,
first and foremost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I’d love for
them to feel like they gained a new Latina hero; someone who is both
recognizable and larger than life.<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best: Finishing a story and knowing
the ending feels right. It literally feels like a weight has lifted and the
story is out of me and into the world. And the satisfaction that I did it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worst: Just before
starting a new story or project. I get racked with insecurity that I’ve
forgotten how to write.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Who
are some of your favorite authors?</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> </strong>Jackie Collins and Joan Didion are my absolute favorites. I'm also a big fan of Carlos Fuentes, Carrie Fisher, Michael Crichton, and Stephen King.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This used to be a very difficult question.
While writing, there were different actresses I could see aspects of Alexandria
Moreno, but none were quite her. Recently, I saw the Latina actress Adria
Arnoja in NBC’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emerald City</i>. She
definitely is the best fit for Alex Moreno. No doubt about it. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> </strong>Yes! <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>All That Glitters</em> is a 3-part series, and I’m working on the second installment. I just finished a Christmas-time romantic comedy set in San Antonio, and I’m developing a true crime, detective story also set in San Antonio, Texas.</span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sincere hope is that Latinas
are recognized for the avid readers they are! I think the “Diverse Books
movement” is going to result in the providing Latino stories across an array of
genres. While the immigrant narrative will always be a part of Latino
literature, the future will move beyond the immigrant narrative and expand and spread
out among all the popular genres. We all enjoy these pop genres, but what’s
missing is the Latino representation. And making Latinos the protagonist, the
center of the action is long overdue. That future is here. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Find out more at <a href="https://lizatrevino.com/">https://lizatrevino.com/</a></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></o:p> </div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Coming up: A review of <em>All that Glitters</em></strong></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-77713657560316929552017-09-13T08:39:00.001-07:002017-09-13T08:39:47.474-07:00Review: ANGIE by R.A. Rios <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKuvq_W8gJcw20OixLwiCWlobB6JB8Hda1PJ-QNPX6y_shhp-Mr9cxnJHwuz7lA0eBDwUqYhw-cuJYoTGR0Sv9sRgrJ9yetv2gHRoTPvpnNf4-ZL1HL949qwmU3bmBJ4-OQY0pPp95cs/s1600/angie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKuvq_W8gJcw20OixLwiCWlobB6JB8Hda1PJ-QNPX6y_shhp-Mr9cxnJHwuz7lA0eBDwUqYhw-cuJYoTGR0Sv9sRgrJ9yetv2gHRoTPvpnNf4-ZL1HL949qwmU3bmBJ4-OQY0pPp95cs/s1600/angie.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>This is a story of young love and personal prejudices during the 1950's and 1960's. This is an interactive book giving the reader a whole new perspective when reading short stories. <br />When Angie the daughter of a Latin family meets Frank a young man from China sparks begin to fly as family conflict forces Angie to lie and go behind her parents back in order to cultivate their romance. As you join us on this real life experience you will find yourself rooting for Angie and Frank.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by: Sandra</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 2 stars</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon first impression, I assumed that this book was a story about Angie. But when I started reading the first chapter titled “Are You Alone,” which was written in the 1<sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">st</span></sup> Person POV, I started to question it because the voice sounded male. So I was instantly confused. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I read on, I found out that the guy’s name was Robert, a freshman in college that meets a girl named Angie during Spring Break. Then Angie begins to tell a story about a Chinese man and his love for a Latin girl. From then on, the whole thing turns into a monologue, taking the reader to 1950’s Colorado and the musical reign of Rock n’ Roll. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading through it, I often wondered what the whole point of this story was. I didn’t really get it. And the typos didn’t really help any, even though I usually try to overlook them as long as it doesn’t deter from the story. But this story didn’t really hold any interest. It almost felt like reading a series of run-ons, with no periods and no pause for breath. It just didn’t suit me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-33732397447179166992017-09-11T07:51:00.002-07:002017-09-11T07:51:59.325-07:00Review: PACIFIC REAPER by Carmen Amato <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQCLHBlvD1cduLaQ6h0FcT2KgIfMARmg3XNeVwoVMudnnOUGnxu_KukLzMhkmKWNqMVXkqKRTa8TBOMd9NSG4MLua00AM0GWg5sMjPyn5KFUDs9lBu4D6C5adqPqWsIC0454x2WwyV1c/s1600/pacific.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQCLHBlvD1cduLaQ6h0FcT2KgIfMARmg3XNeVwoVMudnnOUGnxu_KukLzMhkmKWNqMVXkqKRTa8TBOMd9NSG4MLua00AM0GWg5sMjPyn5KFUDs9lBu4D6C5adqPqWsIC0454x2WwyV1c/s320/pacific.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText6840242608576051237"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Acapulco detective Emilia Cruz confronts a death-worshipping cult in PACIFIC REAPER, the fifth novel in the series that takes you inside Mexico's drug wars with a fearless style and an unforgettable woman. <br /><br />Imagine if you were the first and only female police detective in Acapulco, investigating crime in a city both deadly and breathtaking. Mexican drug cartels battle for control and politicians are bought with blood money. <br /><br />Gang warfare rages across Acapulco. <br /><br />Murder victims are sacrificed to Santa Muerte, Mexico’s forbidden saint of death. <br /><br />Will you investigate? Or be cursed? <br /><br />In the remote Coyuca Lagoon reserve, Detective Emilia Cruz Emilia and her partner Franco Silvio find an elaborate altar to Santa Muerte next to the body of a known gang member. Prayers to the so-called Skeleton Saint curse the deity’s enemies. <br /><br />Another murder victim is hung from a billboard. Soon it’s clear that a new gang has moved into Acapulco looking to grab a share of the lucrative meth trade. <br /><br />Focusing on the Santa Muerte angle, Emilia’s investigation is soon a maze of unholy clues. At the same time, everyone close to her has a brush with death. Bad luck? Or is the Skeleton Saint’s curse coming true? <br /><br />The closer Emilia gets to the truth, the worse things get. When she goes undercover as a Santa Muerte worshipper on the eve of the Day of the Dead, her life will be stripped of everything she holds dear. <br /><br />Her family. <br /><br />Her lover. <br /><br />Her job. <br /><br />Herself.</em></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by: Celia</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 3 stars</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> For Detective
Emilia Cruz, sometimes the danger can be too much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed
the Latina flair against the backdrop of a luscious beach resort masquerading
as a Mexican battleground for crime and drug lords. The story line sounded
interesting and the mystery could certainly send a thrill to crime-loving
aficionados, however, I wasn't that enticed. Let's put aside that I'm not a big
crime buff. I just thought the plot was too complex. I was almost
lost at times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although
well-written, the story felt besieged by a variety of characters, even though
they carried great dialogue. It felt crowded and overwhelming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I applaud
that there is another book dedicated to a strong Latina character, but I just
felt lukewarm about the story. </span></div>
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</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-75510152359202133712017-09-08T07:34:00.002-07:002017-09-08T07:34:47.174-07:00Q&A with Carmen Amato<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvoKThEgTYlvzvlHF8rPSSDixpLScWPezOYBmSieZVHuI4pmtYvaL0p0mGh2dEODxNgsJwy6FGQFUfobVWaOSITE3z6vI31-iv8_nYCIpy_og5sr0gBRZ8dMX9aoKYTXNIiCJfhZPgt4/s1600/carmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvoKThEgTYlvzvlHF8rPSSDixpLScWPezOYBmSieZVHuI4pmtYvaL0p0mGh2dEODxNgsJwy6FGQFUfobVWaOSITE3z6vI31-iv8_nYCIpy_og5sr0gBRZ8dMX9aoKYTXNIiCJfhZPgt4/s1600/carmen.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextauthor6154479"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Carmen Amato the author of romantic thrillers and the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series set in Acapulco. She's the first female police detective in Acapulco and the series has been optioned for television by a major US network.<br /><br />Carmen loves to travel and Mexico and Central America provided the impetus for her writing career. Her books live at the tangled intersection of risk, power, and corruption. <br /><br />Every month, she shares the Mystery Ahead newsletter with thousands of mystery readers and writers. Together they explore what makes for a compelling mystery with writing protips, author and publishing insider interviews, books reviews, and Q&A from the Mystery Ahead mailbag.<br /><br />Visit her website at </em></span><a href="http://carmenamato.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>http://carmenamato.net</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em> to get a free copy of the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library and subscribe to Mystery Ahead.</em></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What inspired you to write Pacific Reaper?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for hosting me!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
Pacific Reaper</i> is the fifth book in the Detective Emilia Cruz series set in
Acapulco. She’s the first female police detective in Acapulco, which over the
last 10 years has gone from tourist mecca to one of the most violent cities in
the world, thanks to drug violence. The first four books in the series
established Emilia as a fighter but also as a woman trying to have a love life
and a successful career amid the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">machismo</i>,
drug smuggling and official corruption. But in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific Reaper</i>, her carefully built life comes unglued.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of research did you do, if any?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in the book, Emilia and her partner Franco Silvio
discover an altar to Santa Muerte, the folklore saint of death, next to a
murder victim. Soon they believe a gang is invoking Santa Muerte to intimidate
a rival. I first became interested in developing a Santa Muerte story line
after finding a booklet of scary prayers to Santa Muerte at an outdoor book
fair in Mexico City, but really had my eyes opened by Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut in
his book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Devoted to Death</i>. The
colors of Santa Muerte artifacts, the type of item left on altars, and the
intersection of Santa Muerte beliefs and law enforcement all provided important
details that appear in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific Reaper</i>.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you relate to the main character, Emilia
Cruz, in any way? If so, what?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get asked this question a lot. Emilia and I are both
Catholic and were raised by single moms. We both know how to take action and
get things done. That being said, I’m </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more polite than
Emilia and have more shoes. She’s much quicker on the draw and lets her mouth
get out of control. Also, I’m into yoga and she’s a kickboxer. That, more than
anything, illustrates the difference between us!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was Emilia’s connection to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las Perdidas</i> and what was her purpose
with it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of Emilia’s friends disappears in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Made in Acapulco</i>, the prequel collection of short stories, and she
began to collect information about women who have gone missing in the Acapulco
area. She calls the missing women <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las
Perdidas</i>—the Lost Ones—and has a binder of names. Most of the cases are
cold and Emilia is the only one still looking. Thousands of people have gone
missing in Mexico due to drug violence in the last 10 years, plus I drew on reports
of the decades-old mystery of missing women in the Juarez area and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">desparacida</i> notices in Latin American
newspapers to build this part of Emilia’s world.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are some of the main socio-economic
issues that you explore in this book and why did you explore them?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Detective Emilia Cruz series is grounded in contemporary
Mexico. It was important to me to make the series as authentic as possible—this
isn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baywatch</i> with Emilia running
around in a bikini. Starting with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cliff
Diver</i>, the series pits Emilia against gender inequality, income equality,
human trafficking, and official corruption. The setting of Acapulco forces
Emilia to live with one foot in the deluxe tourist locations that ring the bay
and the other in the impoverished and violent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">barrios</i> far from the water’s edge. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific Reaper</i> stayed true to Emilia’s world, but added the
complexity of dark religious beliefs.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you hope readers gain from your book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, I hope readers are entertained and want to read more
Emilia Cruz! The books are mainstream police procedural fiction. Mystery lovers
are my main audience. I hope they get a better understanding of the issues that
Mexico faces right now and see Emilia as hope for the future.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. What inspired you
to be a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve always loved the art of arranging words on a page and
finding new ones in a thesaurus. I got my start as a novelist, however, writing
an aviation adventure series for my son when he was in third grade. He adored
airplanes and while there were plenty of non-fiction books, we couldn’t find an
age-appropriate action story. I wrote two novels in which a young teen always
winds up in the cockpit of historic aircraft, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Secret Blackbird</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Pacific Ghost</i>, but never published either. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like best and what do you like
least about being a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the editing process but hate typing in a first draft.
I’m always so impatient for what’s in my head to get on the page! I also love
that my dog sleeps on a fur blanket next to my desk whenever I sit down to
work. I’m never alone; he’s like Velcro.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are some of your favorite authors?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to mystery, I love books by Robert. B. Parker,
Jo Nesbo, Louise Penny, Susan Spann, Tana French, and Ann Cleeves. For dialogue
and humor, no one does it better than P.G. Wodehouse and I’ve learned much
about pacing and flair from his Jeeves series. When it comes to craftsmanship,
I’m in awe of Carlos Fuentes. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Eagle’s
Throne</i> was a tour de force.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your book would be turned into a movie, who
would you imagine playing the part of the main character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe me, I have thought of this! Last year I signed an
option contract with a major US studio for a television series based on the
Detective Emilia Cruz series. I don’t know if a series will ever become reality,
but I think Gina Rodriguez would be terrific as Emilia Cruz, with Salma Hayek
as Carlota Montoya Perez, the self-absorbed mayor of Acapulco; and Benjamin
Bratt as Victor Obregon, the crooked head of the police union. I’m not sure who
should play Franco Silvio, Emilia’s cranky partner in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific Reaper</i>, or Kurt Rucker, her hotel manager boyfriend. I’m
open for suggestions!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you working on anything right now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m working on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">43
Missing</i>, Detective Emilia Cruz #6, which was sadly inspired by the true
disappearance of 43 students from the town of Iguala, not far from Acapulco, in
September 2014. Emilia will find out what happened to them in a powerful
conclusion, but of course it will be fiction. In reality, it’s been three years
and I’m not sure anyone will ever know the truth. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">43 Missing</i> is slated for release in early November.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, finally, what do you think is in store
for the future of Latino literature?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago, I wrote a series of posts for
Latinas4LatinoLit.org and have been happy to see the steady growth in Latino
books for children. But when you get to adult reading material, I think Latino
literature is mostly associated with literary fiction. There are wonderful
books by Latino authors in this category, but the reality is that the most
popular fiction genres for readers worldwide are romance and mystery. Latino
literature needs to expand more aggressively into these categories.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I appeared on NPR’s Alt.Latino show with Felix Contreras last
year </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2016/10/26/499330831/latino-noir-private-eyes-and-really-bad-vatos"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2016/10/26/499330831/latino-noir-private-eyes-and-really-bad-vatos</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
and we discussed the Detective Emilia Cruz series and other Latino mystery
series. Compared to Nordic noir, there isn’t much. Colorado-based Manuel Ramos has
been tremendously successful. Leighton Gage’s Inspector Silva series set in
Brazil was a role model for me when I was told books with all Mexican
characters would never sell. But there is room for much more.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much! Readers are invited to get a free copy of
the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library at </span><a href="http://carmenamato.net/starter-library"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://carmenamato.net/starter-library</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-47368438635995988882017-07-20T12:49:00.000-07:002017-07-20T12:49:03.472-07:00Q&A with Phyllis H. Moore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSgoAnw33CJ4wzWzm9aTVY_-5RPLmh2bSQ7qcszFOZOr1Ppq9JMFrhyphenhyphenTXqbBMQpf3bHy2C-jvo2YXNiWycOn-l1arA33b-4DpIXcJZmuxpayjXBpfmekTukzoKySTbZr5cVFEt8BnHCQ/s1600/phyllis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSgoAnw33CJ4wzWzm9aTVY_-5RPLmh2bSQ7qcszFOZOr1Ppq9JMFrhyphenhyphenTXqbBMQpf3bHy2C-jvo2YXNiWycOn-l1arA33b-4DpIXcJZmuxpayjXBpfmekTukzoKySTbZr5cVFEt8BnHCQ/s1600/phyllis.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: #181818;">Phyllis H. Moore is the author of the Sabine Trilogy, Sabine, Book One, Josephine's Journal's Book Two, and Secrets of Dunn House, Book Three. She also has written Tangled, A Yarn and Opal's Story, A Novel. All of these novels are written in the Southern Gothic style. Phyllis calls them Texas Gothic. They are set in her home state, Texas.</span><br style="color: #181818;" /><br style="color: #181818;" /><span style="color: #181818;">She is fond of reading authors like Fannie Flagg, Rebecca Wells and Kathryn Stockett, stories of dysfunctional families with a touch of humor. She is also fond of the non-fiction of Rick Bragg and Jeanette Walls.</span><br style="color: #181818;" /><br style="color: #181818;" /><span style="color: #181818;">Phyllis is a self-published author, retired social worker, avid gardener and loves to travel. She lives on a small ranch in South Texas with her husband and their adopted terrier, Ollie Bubba. She has operated a haunted bed and breakfast and has stories to tell.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #181818;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #181818;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
inspired you to write <i>The Bright Shawl</i>?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I
lived in San Antonio and a couple of smaller towns around San Antonio many
years ago. I love the culture and atmosphere there. I spent most of my
childhood near Corpus Christi and in the Rio Grande Valley and most of my
recent years have been in Galveston. The setting is what inspired me initially.
I worked as a social worker when I lived near San Antonio and I met so many
young girls who ran away from home and got themselves involved with people who
took advantage of them. I didn’t want to romanticize the runaway, but I
fantasized about what would happen if a strong female character was being led
by her own goals and dreams. I believe in Karma and positive attraction, and I
wanted Bella’s positive attitude to draw support to her. I also wanted her to be
able to be inspired by the spirit of her mother. I believe that our guardian
spirits are always trying to get our attention and we don’t always recognize it.
That’s why I called them tender whispers. They are subtle hints to follow our
dreams. The bright shawl is a symbol of Bella’s mother and all the
possibilities are woven into the colors. It is her spirit wrapping around Bella
as a reminder of what she can be and do, a cocoon, a shelter, and a vision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->How
did you manage to weave the individual story lines of the characters into one?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes the
characters tell me what to do. I know their strengths and weaknesses and I
place them in a situation. I’m often surprised by what they choose to do. For
example, initially, I thought Manny, Bella’s younger brother would flounder and
get involved with drugs, or a gang following her departure. However, he
surprised me, as young men often do. His tough, don’t care attitude was all
show, and his desire for his family overrode his need to conform to his
father’s lifestyle. I wanted him to survive and there were times when I didn’t
think he would. I was also surprised by his love of animals and his desire to
have a dog. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn’t know Lenny
was going to show up and when he did I had to give him a reason to be at the shop.
It was only natural that he would be able to make beautiful sea shell jewelry.
I know so many people like him. They come to the surface when I’m writing and
ask to be in the story. Slade and Gina were inspired by siblings I knew when I
was a social worker. Their parents were extremely religious and adopted a
bi-racial child, then when the child became a teenager, the first time there
was a marijuana incident, they disowned the child. That’s where I got their
attitudes and Slade and Gina’s disgust with their decisions. It’s almost two or
three stories that I take bits and pieces of, but I often think I could go back
to the parents of Gina and Slade and write a novel about that situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My other novels are
similar, I’ve noticed. I often have two characters with different stories going
on in alternate chapters, and in the end they have a common bond and come to a
resolution.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">What is the significance behind the "colors, scents,
and textures" of the shawl?</b></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suppose I am constantly aware of all
my senses. I do needle work and always loved embroidery, crochet and weaving.
The texture of fabrics excites me. I can’t keep my hands off. I’m a child of
the ‘60’s. The original hippies are the current Boho look. I love it,
especially the clothing and jewelry. I must have been a gypsy in another life.
I always have about three dresses from the El Mercado in San Antonio in my
closet. It’s like comfort food for me. They remind me of my childhood. I knew
that is what Bella and Rosa would remember from their childhood, the simple
pleasures in their backyard, the colors of the flowers, the smells of the food
and garden, the feel and warmth of the worn shawl. That shawl would have been
something their mother would use daily, especially in the evening when
everything settled down and they relaxed. It was the constant that reassured
the children that everything was okay. When it was hidden in a drawer, it was
as if that comfort was not available. Their mother wasn’t even allowed to
choose the décor for the house to make it comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">What roles did Bella and Slade play for each other?</b></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella was Slade’s reminder that he had
set his dreams aside. She was the catalyst for him to realize he was stuck in
grief. Bella was the breath of fresh air and adventure that pushed him off dead
center and enabled him to dream again. Slade was Bella’s model for maturity and
business sense. He was her example of the possibilities that were open if you
follow your passion. However, neither of them would have known each other if it
wasn’t for Gina, the distracted psychic. She knew two people who she loved, saw
their dilemmas and matched them perfectly.</span></div>
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<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">Could you please explain "the whispers" of
Mirabella and Petra?</b></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, in this story, the words
whispers and sprit are interchangeable. The spirits of Mirabella and Petra are
the guardian angels of the girls. Their essence is constantly around them and
for Mirabella it was the same for Manny. Her spiritual energy whispered around
them. There may have been no words, but there were memories, scents, visions,
values, and symbols reminding the children of their true family. It never
leaves a person, but not everyone pays attention to the spiritual influence
around them. When they do, anything is possible.</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">Could you please describe young Manny's journey in this
story?</b></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended up loving Manny and wanting to
take care of him, but he did just fine for himself. He became resourceful,
independent and strong in character. His mother’s influence won out and he made
all the right choices. He could have made all the wrong choices, but he allowed
his tender heart to prevail. He grew to recognize the weaknesses of his father.
I want to say that I also have a soft spot for the father, Manuel. I’m certain
that Manny also saw Manuel’s frailties and that is probably why he thought he
could help him by staying close to him. Everyone has a past. We all make
choices as to how we react. The reaction is what determines character. Manny
evolved to be a person with character and I believe his sisters and his mother
were the main influences. He could feel the difference in the home and see the
neglect of space and character his father allowed.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">7.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
are some of the main socio-economic issues that you explore in this book and
why did you explore them?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella, Rosa, and
Mirabella came to recognize their simple lives in the Valley were preferable to
the fancy house they occupied in San Antonio. Their closeness to Petra and her
husband, the small, friendly atmosphere of their house and the simple things
they enjoyed gave them comfort they could not find in the mansion with Manuel.
In that large, fancy house there was deceit, secrets and maybe even murder.
Character and strength have nothing to do with money and everything to do with
decisions and values.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuel had an
extremely neglectful childhood. He took responsibility at a young age for his
brother on the streets on Monterrey. He was street wise and for him, the symbol
of family was the house and material things, but he always looked at those
things from the streets. He had a hole where the heart of the family should
have been. He couldn’t fill the hole up no matter how he tried. I know so many
unhappy people who live this way, judging things by how much they cost and not
the spirit and comfort afforded. It’s no wonder Manuel grew to adulthood
without developing some values and character, however he also toughened himself
so he wouldn’t be hurt and that alienated him from the people who could have
helped him. Things were more important than people. In a culture that stresses
family, Manuel was not the norm, and he probably felt that difference also. I
just think that’s an interesting thing about our society, and still we judge
success by a person’s house, car and clothing. We continue to miss the point.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted the natural
beauty of Bella and Lenny’s jewelry and Slade’s clothing to be the material
thing that could show there could be a luxury of richness and an abundance in
natural substance, seashells, color, texture, and scent. Those things are not
used up. They exist always. Those things speak to the natural abundance we all
have access to. However, in quest to get the bright and shiny, we sometimes
overlook the things around us that are even more appealing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The family that
Bella finally accumulated was multi-racial, of different sexual identities and
various economic backgrounds, and this includes Lenny. I dream of the day this
diversity will define who we are as people, not the “them versus us” mentality
we struggle with sometimes today. No walls, you know what I mean?</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">8.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
do you hope readers will gain from your book? </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope readers can
identify the simple pleasures of their childhoods and seek ways to
reincorporate those things into their lives. It was would be wonderful if they
could recognize big houses don’t make comfort and joy. It’s the simple things,
and keeping true to values that make people happy. Embracing diversity of all
people and recognizing their strengths is one of my goals, no matter their
physical/mental abilities, background, race, religion or status.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">9.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
do you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the chance to
be creative and jump out of bed in my pajamas and write. I like the challenge
of getting to know the characters and I love it when they start telling me what
they’re going to do. It’s like meeting someone new and discovering new things
about them every time I talk with them. For me writing is a new experience, so
I like being a beginner. It’s a challenge and I think everyone should push
themselves to be a beginner at something. It keeps me fresh and alert. I also
make many mistakes. That’s part of being a beginner and somehow, I find it
refreshing. That’s a little weird when I say it, but it’s true.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a beginner
makes me vulnerable. I ask myself daily will anyone want to read what I write.
Is it any good? Will people think it’s silly or a waste of my time? This
bothered me the most when I first started writing. However, when I got the
first acceptance email that a journal wanted to publish what I had submitted and
one of my short stories was accepted for an anthology and I actually got a
little check in the mail, I decided someone would want to read something I
wrote. I read my reviews and I love to hear the good ones, but the negative
ones make me feel a little unworthy. I try to take any nuggets of wisdom and
improve. If the review seems to be negative just for the sake of such a thing,
I try to put it out of my mind. That’s not easy to do. We all want everyone to
like us. However, I know that’s not possible. I think creative souls are
especially vulnerable to that desire to please.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<b>0.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->If
your book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of the main character? (Actor can be ANYONE, living or dead.)</b> I</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> think Demi
Levato would make a great Bella. She’s a little quirky and I think she’s
beautiful. A younger Eva Longoria could be Bella’s older sister, Rosa. I would
love to see Lenny Kravitz as Lenny</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">11.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Are
you working on anything right now?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just published the
story of my mother-in-law’s childhood,<u> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Day-Came-Phyllis-H-Moore-ebook/dp/B071CJZLN2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8"><i>And the Day Came</i></a>.</u> It is the true
story of a girl orphaned by age 12 and separated from her five brothers and
sent to boarding school in San Antonio. She knew there was a secret being kept
about her father, but she didn’t discover what it was until she was in her
seventies. Despite her difficult childhood, she became a strong, independent
woman and mother to nine children. She was the mayor of the small town where I
grew up and went to school.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also started
a book entitled, <i>The Ember Months</i>. I
hope to have it ready for publication in October. It’s about a woman I met when
I was a social worker who had three females in her care who all had Huntington’s
Chorea. She was one of the most creative, loving people I have ever met, but
the community she lived in had no empathy or understanding and offered little
support for her. Her name was Bessie and I’ll never forget her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #ffd966;">12. And, finally, what do you think is in store for the future
of Latino literature?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think stories are how we make sense of our past and our
futures. They are what we carry that weigh nothing. I would never have believed
that in this day and time we would be considering walling ourselves off from
the people who remind us every day to be humble, family-oriented, creative,
hospitable, spiritual and damn good looking. It makes no sense. Stories of all
cultures and back grounds should be celebrated as a way to introduce
differences and acceptance. Our borders should be reduced instead of
strengthened. We should be the globe and not a continent, island or state.
Literature is one vehicle to spread the message of culture and spirit of
inclusion. Stories can cross a border no matter how high the wall and they will
float on the air in the tender whispers of a Bright Shawl.</span></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-38357254786127749362017-07-20T12:41:00.000-07:002017-07-20T12:41:08.348-07:00Review: THE BRIGHT SHAWL: THE COLORS OF TENDER WHISPERS by Phyllis H. Moore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd4Em0MUPB-ShidLubkF_-QQbv7NpS7Sz-Xbi5Uku0BevySfIt-oFNgEXIQUeBlja1otLXjURaaXMLg7d96QqclzbdsgsEM2PoVGVE_5kxaQ0ak5iYRbU2mXp1QBhgLbgT3mlKE5iWYQ/s1600/bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd4Em0MUPB-ShidLubkF_-QQbv7NpS7Sz-Xbi5Uku0BevySfIt-oFNgEXIQUeBlja1otLXjURaaXMLg7d96QqclzbdsgsEM2PoVGVE_5kxaQ0ak5iYRbU2mXp1QBhgLbgT3mlKE5iWYQ/s320/bright.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Bella Rodriguez has decided it’s time to leave her step-father’s home. Her mother has been dead for three years and her older sister, Rosalinda, has disappeared. Bella fears she is next unless she makes a plan of her own. However, she struggles with what will happen to her younger brother, Manny. </span><br style="font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px;">While Bella plans a journey to a new life, Manny is left to face the unraveling of the only home he has ever known. Without Bella, his father’s motives and instability is obvious. He is torn between the loyalty to his father and the dependability of his step-sister. The siblings experience whispers, guiding them to follow their instincts, but sometimes these messages are clouded in their own uncertainty. Will they cling to the known, or strike out and shape their own futures, and if they do, how will they ever know a family? </span><br style="font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px;">Bella encounters a self-proclaimed, distracted psychic, Gina, who introduces her to new possibilities, but is it too good to be true? Gina and her brother, Slade have been marking time, waiting for acceptance and the passage of grief to embrace a bold lifestyle in a new place. Will all their dreams and plans be woven together in a new tapestry of adventure, or will their lives unravel, leaving them floundering, struggling to redefine what the future might be? </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><b>Reviewed by: Celia</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><b>Rating: 4 stars</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-size: 14px;"><b>Review: </b></span>Bella
Rodriguez is a young girl trapped beneath the stringent confines of her
controlling and abusive stepfather. But what made living with him worse were his
gang and drug affiliations. That wasn't a life for her. "Home could not be
a prison where strange men gathered in the kitchen, waiting with clenched fists
and narrowed eyes." (10) A voracious reader, Bella longed to travel to
foreign places. "Instead, she was like a caged animal, peering out in
quick glimpses, seeking recognition in the faces she saw." (11)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With her
mother and older sister gone, her only hope was to escape his clutches and
start fresh. "Bella thought it was
the best time to begin a new life away from Manuel and Manny. She feared that,
if she stayed until graduation, an arrangement would be made. Bella did not
know what it would be, but she suspected it would happen like it had with
Rosalinda: a disappearance and no further contact." (21)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with
nothing but a backpack and her mother's bright shawl, she hits the road, never
looking back. The reader follows Bella on a fretful journey, battling
loneliness and fear, through the dark trails of the unknown. That niggling concern that her stepfather
would come looking for her weighed on her because, even without his foreboding
presence, "he was the barrier between her future and her freedom."
(36) The fact of the matter was that he had pre-arranged for Bella to be
"sold" to marriage, and, if he didn't get her back to fulfill that
arrangement, he would be out a lot of money. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Passing
through town, Bella meets Gina, a "distracted psychic," who believes
Bella's impromptu arrival was a charted destiny. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Story is a
dramatic tale of strength and adversity. It's a beacon of dreams for those with
the courage to go after them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well-written
and captivating.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1567950643137211224.post-59461674872775475942017-05-24T07:46:00.001-07:002017-05-24T07:46:54.345-07:00Review: PURA VIDA by Annette Montez Kolda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11NXCWMUnmg3WCcf1P52LG7XYrhGaxNTwT1aOwdF2q2Ov9iE6mTZAOhsQYmiqUilrPdbEOWwcmCL0c75m7l83MgVi94AVMYF7e_ZSWC3LHfV7Dwc_puK2vUsJKpFqQVWwf25Vdze5EQg/s1600/pura+vida1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11NXCWMUnmg3WCcf1P52LG7XYrhGaxNTwT1aOwdF2q2Ov9iE6mTZAOhsQYmiqUilrPdbEOWwcmCL0c75m7l83MgVi94AVMYF7e_ZSWC3LHfV7Dwc_puK2vUsJKpFqQVWwf25Vdze5EQg/s320/pura+vida1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText6478123118801709216"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The Lopez family has a lot on its plate - war, death, drugs, undocumented immigration, deportation, teenage pregnancy, and now international terrorism. <br /><br />Sister Bridget is the Miss Marple of East Austin's Latino community, but she might be in over her head this time. Terrorists have snuck into the country. She and fifteen-year-old Miguel Lopez must race against the clock to stop them.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Miguel's mother must journey deep into Mexico to find her missing husband and tell him that their oldest son has died.<br /><br />Eventually, the two storylines intersect.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reviewed by:
Sandra</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
Rating: 4
stars</strong></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review:</strong> "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pura vida</i>, pure life. In her country, it
mean living one's life <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">con gusto</i>,
with pleasure, appreciation, and gratefulness, even through adversity."
(78)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book
centers on the complicated lives of somber and genuine characters―Perla, a
Mexican mother of two struggling to find answers to her husband's
disappearance; Miguel, Perla's troubled 15-year old son, who only strives to
make it while looking after his pregnant sister; and Sister Bridget, an
atypical, not-so-average nun, who keeps the word of God in her heart and often
finds herself in "sticky" situations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Perla
flees in the dead of night to Mexico in search of her husband, Miguel somehow
stumbles on the schematics of a bomb. A bomb mean to kill Jews and Latinos? All
this becomes overwhelming for Miguel, especially since his brother, Andres, was
killed by a bomb in Afghanistan. Needless to say, this was a very bad time for
his mom to leave as Miguel wouldn't even know how what to do about this. But
perhaps Sister Bridget could be the answer to his prayers?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
characters take on a nefarious journey through the dark depths of the seedy
underworld. Fear and trepidation trail them as they relentlessly continue their
efforts. And when danger arises, they see a brief glimpse of Andres, the fallen
soldier, beloved son and brother, and, apparently, a guardian angel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Story had
that vibrant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chicano</i> vibe and that
refreshing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">barrio</i> dialect. Well-versed
and enriching, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pura Vida</i> captures the
soul, delighting readers with its stirring ambiance and endearing characters.
The author speaks with such a reverent and poetic stride, depicting the Spanish
culture in its raw beauty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sister
Bridget is a tough <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chica</i>―crafty, intuitive,
and brave. She is just the right nun that would be able to stop a terrorist
attack, save the country, and reunite a broken family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole
thing was just a fast ride of drama and excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An enjoyable
read!</span></div>
</span>Book Club Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030306241563341911noreply@blogger.com0