Category: News

Here’s the soundtrack Caridad Ferrer created for her new book, It’s Not About The Accent.

Other Side of the World- KT Tunstall
Downtown Train- Everything But The Girl
Peace of Me- Natasha Bedingfield
If Anybody Had a Heart – John Waite
Songbird- Eva Cassidy
Forgiven (Featuring Jonatha Brooke)- Chris Botti
Better (m)- Toby Lightman
Stumble- Natasha Bedingfield
More Than Words (English Version)- Frankie J
Don’t Dream It’s Over- Sixpence None the Richer
Look Where We Are Now- Teddy Geiger
Cry – Faith Hill
Missing You- Alison Krauss & John Waite
St. Teresa- Joan Osborne
One – Mary J. Blige & U2
Come September – Natalie Imbruglia
Do You Sleep- Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Everytime We Touch (Yanou’s Candlelight Mix)- Cascada
When Did You Fall (In Love With Me) [Groovin’ Version]- Chris Rice
Heal Over – KT Tunstall
Afterglow- INXS
Run to Me- Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
Come On Home- Everything But The Girl

Read chapter one

Today I’m celebrating two birthdays. The Little Dude turned two and he woke up extra early this morning to begin the festivities!

And then my editor sent me PW’s review of Switchcraft. I conceived the story idea a week or two after I discovered that the Little Dude had taken up residence in my uterus. It’s amazing to have watched him grow into this feisty running, screaming and talking little person, and now, Switchcraft is findings its legs. This is enough to make a mama get a little misty.

So here’s the review:

Best friends Nely Mendoza and Aggie Portero share a life-changing switcheroo in Castillo’s spirited romantic comedy. Past 30, curvy wife and mom Nely and hot, no-carb spitfire shop owner Aggie are a little jealous of each other’s life. But after the two switch bodies during a “transcendental meditation ceremony,” they realize that the other’s grass isn’t necessarily greener. Aggie, who’s been yearning for marriage and a baby, experiences some reality checks while taking care of Nely’s toddler, and Simon, Nely’s cop husband, all the while handling Simon’s manipulative mother. Nely’s challenges as Aggie include rescuing her friend’s shop from financial meltdown, fending off a stalker and figuring out what’s up with Aggie’s playboy pal, chef Kevin Sanchez. Although the trading places idea isn’t a fresh concept, Castillo’s effervescent style and likable characters sweeten the deal.

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

My husband is a six foot one Irish-German guy. (His mom swears that he’s Mexican by association because he was conceived in Cancun.)

Anyway, our Little Dude has been throwing nuclear tantrums and the other day my husband walked into the kitchen as I was saying, “No llores, papi. No llores!”

Bewildered, my husband says (in his O.C. accent), “What a coincidence that the word for crying is the name of that town where all those women were disapearing.”

“Llores,” I replied. “Not Juarez.”

“Oh.”

In case you were wondering, the lunch was excellent and that nimrod who was so rude to Mom wasn’t there!

An extended excerpt of Switchcraft is now up and so is your last chance to win a signed ARC of this eagerly awaited book (yes, the one with all that damn cussin’!).

Sorry, that was catty of me. But wait till you read the love scene in chapter 24!

Go play.

Besitos,
Mary

Switchcraft received an early review at Blogcritics!

Check it out:

Book Review: Switchcraft by Mary Castillo
Written by Jill HartPublished June 27, 2007

Mary Castillo, a hot new Latina novelist, shakes things up with her newest title, Switchcraft. Castillo gives chick-lit a twist as her heroines, Nely and Aggie, end up in each other’s bodies.

Nely and Aggie have been friends for years, but have grown apart since the birth of Nely’s baby. In an effort to reclaim their friendship, and also in hopes of speaking to her dead mother, Aggie signs them up for a weekend getaway at Guru Sauro’s New Age Spa.Once they arrive at the spa, things go a little haywire. During their session with the guru, they end up “switched.” They confront the guru, who says he can’t switch them back until the next new moon, 28 days later.

There is nothing they can do but try to muddle through living each other’s lives. Aggie (in Nely’s body) must care for 18-month-old Audrey, avoid the advances of Nely’s husband, and fend off her control-freak mother-in-law. Can she manage it without wrecking Nely’s marriage?

Nely (in Aggie’s body) heads to Aggie’s boutique. What she finds is a lack of customers and a store going down the tube. Can she come up with a plan to save Aggie’s business? And how will she handle Kevin, a man she despises, but who Aggie considers a good friend? Can she successfully avoid him without costing Aggie her friendship?

Switchcraft has a unique plot – a little bit Freaky Friday, but way more fun. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the overuse of curse words. Not my taste, and it broke my concentration when reading. Overall, I loved the plot and the twists in the storyline. A great book for chick-lit fans.

***
Obviously its too late to do anything about it, but what is your opinion on cussing in books? It doesn’t bother me because I grew up around fire fighters and they probably rival sailors for worst potty mouth. I’m not much of a cusser – I believe they should be saved for an emergency – but I feel that if the character speaks that way, then as an author you have to go with it.

Cheers,
Mary

The girls and I decided to celebrate National Sisters Day (Aug. 5th) by holding a virtual booksigning. All you have to do is purchase a copy of Names I Call My Sister and then make a photocopy of the receipt.

On an index card, legibly print or type the following information:
Your Name:
Your preferred mailing address:
Email address: (In case we have any questions)
For whom should we autograph the book?

Prepare a self-addressed, stamped 6 x 9 envelope and mail it along with the index card and the photocopy of your receipt no later than July 15, 2007 to:

Sofia Quintero
c/o Chica Luna Productions
1690 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10029

We will send you a personalized bookplate with the signature of all four authors.

When the bookplate arrives, peel off the back, stick on the inside front cover, and enjoy!