Category: News

Right now I don’t have much to say other than I’m in that part of writing a book where it’s like fishing. Bits of dialogue, character revelations and new plot twists bite and then I toss them into my little boat. My mom forwarded this quote to me yesterday and I wanted to share it with all of you who popped by to see what’s new.

“It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”

-Dizzy Dean

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry because I remember the day I sat down to write this book and the day I finished it. I had no idea that it would be loved by so many readers. So I’ll just say thank you.

This what they said:

In 2005, Mary Castillo warmed our hearts with her debut novel Hot Tamara. This year, she does it again, in true, fast-paced and fun Mary Castillo style with In Between Men (Harper Collins, 2006). According to book club member, Juanita Johnson, the romantic chick lit novel brings readers a truly loveable, but confused, protagonist, Isa, who appropriately finds love after a bump to the head. The believable and fun dialogue between the characters, clearly one of Mary’s best strengths as an author, makes this romantic tale of girl meets boy an enchanting read.

I can’t help but share the news that the Little Dude took his first steps yesterday! You’d think he was the first human to accomplish walking but I’m so proud!

And yet, I’m terrified every time he takes off. It wouldn’t be overdoing it if I wrapped him in bubble wrap, now would it?

Rascal the pug is greatly dismayed that he has to run for his life when the Little Dude goes after him.

Happy holidays!

Now onto the business at hand … this is a partial list. I didn’t do repeats from my Top Ten because you already know I love them, and I have a room full of gifts that need to be wrapped before this weekend.

6. Margo Candela will make her debut with Underneath It All next month. Read her. You won’t be disappointed!

5. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason, in Hollywood-speak is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Jane Austen.” Ever since I found her on MySpace and then read the teasers about her new book, I’ve been anxiously waiting for this one to hit stores next month.

4. Anne Mallory and I met as brand new Avon authors back in 2004. But having read her historical romances, I know she’s going to be a best seller and I’ll have the bragging rights to say I read her back when. (And that we were bought by the same editor!) Unfortunately I have to wait till August 2007 when her next book, What Isabella Desires, is released. But I won’t ask Avon for an ARC or a freebie. Yes, I will purchase it from my favorite bookseller!

3. Sonia Singh’s Goddess for Hire came out two years before my first book and after I read it, I wondered why Avon Trade bought me. I mean, I wasn’t as good as her! (Author insecurity is a terrible thing.) So when Josie Brown got us together to tour the Hard Rock Cafes, I was a little intimidated. But then after one drink too many at the Hard Rock Cafe in L.A., (it was my first night out without my then five month-old baby and husband) I blurted to Sonia that she needed to start writing more explicit sex scenes because she never showed us what the guys look like naked. It was one of those make or break moments where you could end up with a drink in the face or a laugh. Sonia laughed and we’ve been buddies ever since. Having said that, even if Sonia continues to toy with us in her next book, Ghost,Interrupted, I’ll still read it!

2. Marsha Moyer is in the pantheon of my all-time favorite authors. After reading her first two novels (The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch and The Last of the Honkytonk Angels), I was crushed to discover that her third book had not been scheduled for release. But just the other day, when I went to her website to see what she was up to, I realized there is a publishing God. Her third book, Heartbreak Town is coming in June 2007! Read the first two and you will be mesmerized.

1. Sacha Boutros is a jazz musician not an author and since this is my list, I figure I can fudge the rules a bit. When I was writing the character of Sela from “Till Death Do Us Part”, I could only hear her voice for the longest time. Usually I see my characters first and then hear their voices. But it made sense that Sela (who is a struggling jazz singer and musician) had a very clear, distinct voice. Later when I heard Sacha on MySpace, I went very still like a ghost had just walked into my room. She sounded just like Sela. If you read “Till Death Do Us Part”, I highly recommend that you do so with Sacha’s gorgeous serenade.

Cheers,
Mary

Check out the teaser of my upcoming novella, “Till Death Do Us Part” that will appear in the anthology, Names I Call My Sister!

Again, thank you all for your thoughtful comments and emails. By the way if Francoise were here, she’d want me to tell you that she was Gypsy Rose Lee (above) in a former life.

Cheers,
Mary

Yesterday we had to let go of our little girl pug, Francoise. She had been hit with a very aggressive form of intestinal cancer. It was time to end her suffering. She was six years old.

Most of the morning I sat with her in the sun next to her favorite lemon tree, reassuring her that we loved her, we would take care of her brother, Rascal and the Little Dude and that it was okay for her to go. It was a beautiful, sad day because I don’t know about you, but most of my days are a blur of activity and worrying and thinking. They’re like dreams on fast forward.

But as I scratched Francoise’s fuzzy ears next to the lemon tree, and then later, placed my hand on her head while the vet administered the euthanasia, I’ve never been more awake, more in tune with the present moment. And I’m so happy, so privileged to have helped someone I loved to let go.

I still tear up when I see Francoise’s leash and harness by the hall door, or when I think about how she’d sit with her hind legs spread-eagled. But then the tears ebb when I see Rascal and the Little Dude come tearing around the corner, off to carry out some mischief. (Last night I caught them trying to get into one of the toilets.) I remember to live in the present, to go running after them without any thought about what I should be writing or what I should be doing. Francoise taught me that. She was a wise little soul.

Okay so I updated my business plan, wrote all of my web content and even finished half of my Christmas shopping.

How is your Christmas shopping shaping up so far? This year, I am determined to do most of my Christmas shopping online using websites like eBay and Amazon. Honestly, I absolutely love shopping on Amazon. They have such a brilliant range of products and I always manage to find the things that I need at a fantastic price.

Plus, at this time of year, if you are lucky you can even find an amazon coupon to secure yourself some big discounts. With all of this in mind, if you want to save some money on your Christmas shopping this year, I would strongly recommend trying to see if you can find any promo codes or coupons that can be used on the Amazon website.

Anyway, for the last week, I’ve been on full-time, Little Dude duty so my husband can make his deadline. And still no word on the proposal sitting on my editor’s desk, or the proposal with my agent. What is a girl to do when the Little Dude is at toddler class with daddy and she already mopped the kitchen floor?

But then I remembered a Japanese proverb. “Where there is no wind, row.”

I have this new idea that has been filling up the pages of my notebook. I think the idea is sound enough to take it on a maiden voyage. So this morning I fired up my trusty character bio document, ready to work and then, nothing. The characters chickened out on me. But I’m persistent. Just ask the Little Dude when he’s 18.

I then grab The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders. As I’m reading, it’s like my characters poke their heads in the door to see what I’m up to; why I’m not shouting at them to get their asses in here.

They’re coy, but I’m patient.

Slowly, sometimes shyly they open up. When we reach an understanding, it’s time to write an outline and then the first 100 pages that will become the proposal that goes off to my agent. A rewrite here and there and then if I did my job well (and I’m lucky), I get the greenlight to write the entire book. Characters always save the juicy stuff till I’m well into the story, but that’s okay. We have to build trust and surprise is that unexpected but delicious flavor in a well-seasoned dish. Will, from Hot Tamara, taught me that.

Now in case you think I’m a freakin’ nut case, I’m not. Well, maybe a little. You kinda have to be with a job like this.

Cheers,
Mary

Today, Oprah featured some of her guests who received $1,000 to help others in need. She called it her favorite giveaway and it got me thinking what I would do if I had an extra $1,000 laying around.

Well, I’d go to my alma mater and find two students who can’t afford to go home for the holidays. Not only would I buy their tickets home, I’d also help them buy gifts to bring to family and friends. I can’t tell you what it feels like to show up with no gifts for your loved ones. There are no words, especially when they have been so generous and you have nothing to give back except a “thank you.” That was me for all of my college career and the gifts that I did bring home were those I had to put on an ever-increasing credit card debt.

There are no doubts about it, living with credit card debt can often feel overwhelming. One of the biggest factors affecting your credit score is the amount of debt you owe on your credit card. When your credit score drops, you may end up paying higher interest rates on any other credit cards or loans you apply for. Low credit scores may also affect your apartment rental applications. In most cases, the landlord would conduct a thorough credit report evaluation with the help of AAOA (see the company website for more information) or other similar agencies to assess your financial stability. Also, bad credit can negatively impact your insurance premiums, phone plans, etc.

However, nowadays there are some brilliant debt relief companies out there that can help you to consolidate your debts so that you can get your personal finances in a better position. If you would like more information about some of the different debt-relief options, you can try this website where you can also find plenty of useful debt-related resources.

Some of my friends also tried other methods to try and help them consolidate their credit card debt and this was by taking out a loan. For them, it was the less stressful option and helped them to pay it back in more sizeable chunks without incurring too much interest. The loan that is often chosen is secured loans, where people can get help to work out whether they would be able to pay off this loan efficiently with what they have.

Now let’s say I had $2,000. I would go to Girls, Inc. to get a list of materials they needed and then come back a few hours later with a van-full of stuff. This is why I’m selling signed copies of Hot Tamara and In Between Men on eBay. You can buy as many copies as you’d like, give me the names of people you would like for me to sign it to and then get it time for the holidays. Not only will you give a fun gift, you’ll also give the gift of empowerment, education and opportunity to the young ladies who come to Girls, Inc.

To purchase a personalized copy of Hot Tamara, go here

To purchase a personalized copy of In Between Men, go here

Happy Holidays,
Mary