Category: News

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Valentine’s Day Doesn’t Have To Suck

Thank you everyone for sharing your kind comments on the tasty tidbit of Switchcraft! If you haven’t already, check out the sneak peek of my May release, Names I Call My Sister featuring stories by moi, Berta Platas, Sofia Quintero and Lynda Sandoval.

There will be more Sisters sneaks as well as a Switchcraft Sneak Peek posted on my website in the near future, so don’t be a stranger!

Love,
Mary

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Come Back Tomorrow!

I’m posting an extra special Valentine for all of you tomorrow. But it will be up for tomorrow only so make sure that you stop by!

Besitos,
Mary

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YEEESSS!

To steal a line from my book, Switchcraft, I’m so proud that I could fart glitter!
The Dixie Chicks have won five Grammy’s including record and song of the year for “Not Ready to Make Nice.” They also won best country album and country performance by a duo or group With vocal, even though they no longer consider themselves country artists and were shunned by the country music community.
And to make it even nicer, they took the big daddy home: Album of the Year for “Taking the Long Way.”
Stick it to ’em, girls!
Photo credit: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
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Almost a Real Book

I just finished reading the copyeditted version of Switchcraft and the story wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

When I started this book way back when I was six months pregnant, the wiring in my brain got all twisted around because I’ve been living with this bone-chilling fear that the story is the worst I’ve ever written. My agent loved it. My editors loved it and so you would think that I’d believe them.

But until I read the manuscript again, I realized that it’s pretty good. There are some areas that need a bit of work. Overall, I think Switchcraft is touching, sexy, funny and honest and I can’t wait for you to read it.

(By the way, it took me five minutes to write the previous sentence because I have a weird thing about praising myself.)

Quick reminder: the sneak peek to “Till Death Do Us Part” (from the anthology, Names I Call My Sister) will only be up for two more weeks! So if you haven’t checked it out, or you haven’t entered the contest, you better get over there!

Cheers,
Mary

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Secret Desires Exposed!

Check out this Reuters article:

NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters Life!) – Men might protest when they’re dragged along to the latest “chick flick” but really they enjoy romantic movies almost as much as women, according to a new U.S. study.

In a survey, psychology professor Richard Harris from Kansas State University asked 250 men and women to watch a romantic movie together then rate their enjoyment level on a seven point scale, with seven being the top score.

Women rated the movie at about six but men rated the film at about 4.8 which is much higher than people would have guessed and went against the usual stereotypes, Harris said.

“Everyone thinks that women like romantic movies and that they drag guys along to them,” Harris told Reuters.

“What was significant was that the guys also liked the movies, and that the choice to view a romantic movie was usually made together as a couple, not just by the girl.”

The study also asked both men and women to guess which scene their date would choose to play in the film.

Most women selected a romantic scene for themselves and their date, but guessed their date would pick a sex scene.

Harris said while many men did select a sex scene, the number was not nearly as high as the women predicted, with the findings again running contrary to common stereotypes.
He said movie studio executives should put aside stereotypes about “chick flicks” and recognize the fact that there is a moderate interest among men in romantic movies.

“There are a lot of men who go to these romantic movies and enjoy them. I wouldn’t write off the male audience just because it is a romantic film. I would suggest marketing to the men in the audience,” he said.

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Why I Love Bad Movies

Sunday night Ryan and I popped in a copy of My Super Ex Girlfriend into the player and we just about died with joy.

It was so bad – the kind of bad where you feel embarassed for the actors – that we had to stop after fifteen minutes. Even though the movie was unwatchable, it was a gift. I have watched some pretty bad movies in my time, but that’s ok. I’m always looking for other movies to watch, so make sure to recommend some to me. My friend recently told me about using a Pirate proxy the other day to access the movies on Pirate Bay. She told me that there are multiple movies to download on there, so that’s something I need to look into soon. Plus, if we want more variety, we can always check out the best torrenting sites as well, so we can have other options. We love movies in this house, but we never seem to find any good ones.

My husband ran off to his computer and figured out his new screenplay. I whipped out my trusty AlphaSmart and wrote a scene that had me, literally, on the edge of my chair.

When I suffer through a horrible movie (the love scene from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones … shudder), I think to myself: if those guys could get that junker off the ground than damn it, there’s hope for me!

If a book doesn’t grab me by page five, I read the last chapter and then never open the book again.

However, the movies and books that I really have trouble with are the good ones. Depending on my current level of vulnerability, I can either finish with a renewed spirit, or feel the weight of every tree that died to provide the paper on which my books are printed.

Do you think I’m weird?

Don’t worry, I can handle it.
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Supporting the Ones You Love

This has been the week of Ay Yi Yi!

My husband’s back went out on Friday afternoon and the Little Dude and I swept in to the rescue. (Ay!)

Thank God that my parents live just a couple of hours away because I don’t know what I would’ve done with this lingering cold, a grumpy toddler, a pug who has suddenly decided to poop in the house and a husband who couldn’t walk. (Ay yi!)

The day mom and dad went back home, the Little Dude began coughing and since Sunday, has been a supersized, runny-nosed grump. (Ay yi yi!)

But in the midst of all this ay yi yi-ing, I managed to finish two chapters, install a closet organizer and attend Alyson Noel’s booksignining for her new release, Fly Me to The Moon.

Dana, that blog ho’ over at that other blog, and her mom were there. At one point, we hit the floor and passed out bookmarks … by the way, it really works when you’re accompanied by a cute child or you’re looking a little sass-eh like we were. 😉

I’m not sure if we helped or hindered Alyson. But we had a blast supporting our fellow author and blog ho’ and that my friends, is something that I take with me to the bookstore. I know, I know, books are pricey. (Hey, I buy used books and use my library too!) But I make a point to buy new books from new authors because let’s face it, Nora Roberts has plenty of dough!

(But I’ll be watching Nora’s movies on Lifetime this weekend!)

Yes, I am the obnoxious customer who faces out books by (ahem) me, Emily, Erica, Alyson, Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, Lynda, Berta, Sofia, Cari, Michele … if we want books, it boils down to supporting the ones you love, and ones who love you back.

Mary

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Beauty and the Beat

When I was 9 years old, mom took me and my friend, Trista to see the Go-Go’s at the SDSU ampitheatre.

It was awesome.

It was also my first (and only) vicarious experience with marijuana.

Am I dork or what?

Don’t answer that!

So in the spirit of the Go-Go’s upcoming concert at the Luxor (thanks for the link, Mom!), which one was/is your favorite Go-Go?

Mine is Charlotte.
If you can name the eighth track on their debut album, I’ll send you a signed coverflat of In Between Men.
Besitos,
Mary
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Dude, what’s up with that?

My husband took the Little Dude to baby class yesterday because I’ve been sick with this cold thingy. This particular group, frankly, sucks. It’s way over populated by Newport mommies – big hair, skinny bodies and big boobs that could tip them over if it wasn’t for the big hair.

Ryan had to help clean up and asked two moms to watch the Little Dude. He turns around and my son is half way down the path towards the street! Ryan made it in time but none of those stupid bitches noticed!

Dude if I was there … (picture steam hissing out of my ears!)

But seriously, what’s up with that? I hear people saying that you just can’t let kids run around like you could in the old days, and yet out of those ten mothers, none of them could tear themselves away from their gab fest to watch a toddler. If someone asked me to keep an eye on their child, I’d be on that kid like a shadow. (You thought I was going to say something else, huh?)

Can you imagine how you’d feel if something happened to someone else’s kid on your watch?

Mom tells me that it is only a matter of time before I complete the transition from the don’t-make-waves nice girl to a roaring mama bear.

In the meantime, I’m switching to another class where I hope there are more like-minded parents who actually give a shit.

There. I feel much better.

Mary

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Running Around in a Tank Top Without Shaving

Yes, I did that today. I thought I was okay but after my workout, I realized I’d been flashing armpit hair!

But you know what? I’m cool with it. Anyone who has read my books has looked into my heart and soul. Yes, I may disguise certain people, events and even myself, but publishing my fiction is a bit like running around in a tank top without having shaved. If I didn’t bare it all, if I try to be dishonest, than the stories wouldn’t be compelling and you’d get bored and never remember a word I had written after you finished the book.

However, rest assured that when I came home from the gym and showered, I made sure to take care of business.
Cheers,
Mary