Category: News

I got an email today from an aspiring writer who happened upon In Between Men and loved it.

She asked if I ever got used to the rejections – apparently she read my story about how I almost didn’t become an author. She wanted to know because her fear of “no” kept her from sitting down to write.

Unfortunately, yes, I have gotten used to people saying no. In fact, I’m slightly surprised when I get a yes!

It all began when I was in the School for Creative and Performing Arts at Chula Vista High School. We had to audition for every play and I sucked so bad that I always ended up as walking and talking scenery. But it never stopped me from trying for the roles with lines.

I finally got it but I only had one line and the nerves before each performance nearly killed me.

When I took my first screenwriting class, we had to pitch three ideas to the group and they decided which one you would write. I had do it again because the first three – none of which, thankfully, I can remember – wouldn’t fly with the class.

It’s not so much that I have this tough-as-rawhide skin. My writing teacher, Ben Masselink once told me, “The writer’s skin has to be thick enough to withstand criticism but thin enough to take in the world around him.”

Rather, I’ve learned not to take it personally and if a “no” stings, then there’s a lesson in it somewhere. Either my idea doesn’t have legs or it needs time to develop a pair; or its a matter of wrong person, wrong project, wrong time. When its the later, saying no to me is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. I’ll take the hits but somehow, some way, I’ll find the person who will say yes.

Have you had to keep going in spite of getting a no? Did you ever have to give up and change direction?

I wanna know!

Cheers,
Mary

I’m guest blogging today at A Slice of Orange! Check it out.

Not much else to tell you. I made it over the wall and so far, so good. The one thing that’s been on my mind lately, is that many of my nearest and dearest have been touched by good fortune. I was at my local book store a few weekends ago and someone mentioned a fellow Avon author’s book. When I told them how great she was, three different people each took one copy home. How cool is that?!?

And lately, friends have fallen in love, gotten pregnant, started new ventures or received new jobs. I’m just tickled that they’re happy and excited. It’s cheesey, I know, but what the hell, I have my moments of cheesiness.

Cheers,
Mary

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

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

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

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.

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