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A Writer Enters the Kitchen

I’m planning to make this a regular feature on the blog because (a) I love to cook, and (b) cooking made my writing career … not to mention rescued my savings account.

Even when I held down a real job (e.g. one that required me to shower, dress and then drive somewhere for a nine-hour daily incarceration), I cooked and I wrote. Cooking was my transition from the real world to the fictional world. Also, it saved me a lot of time that I could use to write!

I know a lot of you struggle with time – not enough to write, not enough with your kids but too much house cleaning, etc. Also, because us writers work on our cans, we have to be careful of what we eat, which is why I write this ode to the roasted chicken.

Whether you buy a whole cooked chicken from your grocery store, or you roast two breasts on the bone at home, you save money and time that can be put to better uses. Back in the good old days when it was just Ryan and I, a whole chicken yielded one dinner meal and two lunches each. You can make sandwiches (chicken salad or simple roasted chicken), serve it on a bed of greens (delicious with shredded mozzarella, cranberries and 1 tablespoon of Newman’s Own Lite Italian dressing), quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos … you name it.

Think of it this way: if you bring lunch to work and you’re dying to use some of your lunch hour to work on your book, you don’t have to use any time to get take-out. I used to walk to my car, eat my lunch and read the previous nights’ work, saving myself anywhere from five to ten bucks a day and up to 20 minutes off my break. I also think that hour kept me from killing off some of my co-workers.

However lately, I’ve stepped away from the pre-cooked rotisserie chickens at the store because they’re twice the cost of uncooked chicken and thrice the calories and fat. Roasting my own chicken is so easy that it’s ridiculous. Wanna see?

Turn on your oven to 450F. Take out the chicken breasts (use the ones on-the-bone for more flavor and ironically, less cost per pound than their skinless, boneless counterparts) and let them sit on the counter while the oven heats up.

Throw them on a cookie sheet wrapped in foil, or a glass baking dish. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and then sprinkle salt and pepper. (I like using Paula Deen’s house seasoning, which you can make or order.) Work it in – I like using a rubber basting brush so I don’t have to wash my hands and risk cross-contaminating my seasoning – and then flip the boobs over and season the other side. Throw them into the oven, skin side up for 55-60 minutes or until they’re 180F.

After you take them out of the oven, let them sit for 15 minutes before discarding the skin and shredding or slicing. This mini siesta allows the juices to redistribute into the meat (also you won’t burn your fingers). If you store it in airtight plastic zip bag, it will keep for two to three days.

Okay, you’re probably thinking, what about all the time I’m using to cook the darn things? While the chicken is in the oven you can (all within hearing distance of your timer):

  1. Review the previous day’s writing (or heck, write!)
  2. Play outside with your kid
  3. Read a book
  4. Chat with your friend on the phone
  5. Write a blog (which I was doing as I roasted two stunt chicken boobs the day before yesterday)

You don’t have to poke around, stir, mix, flip or hover over this dish. As long as I remain within range of the timer, tonight with some oven-roasted sweet potatoes and carrots, I’ll have dinner for the three of us – the Little Dude refuses to eat any kind of flesh save for bacon or ham. Even better, when the Little Dude goes down for a nap on my watch, I can quickly fix a big salad and get some writing in while he sleeps.

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Not Your Typical New Year’s Post

Cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson for DC Comics

If I learned anything in 2007 – other than how to make pie crust – it’s not to make resolutions.

For years, usually a couple of days after Christmas, I would diligently review all the things I’d accomplished alongside the plan I’d made the year before. Flush with victory, I’d sit down to plan out the new year. Well last week when I opened my business plan for 2007, I realized I didn’t accomplish all the projects I’d set out for myself. And you know what? It didn’t matter because 2007 was the year of unexpected blessings. This year I learned to roll with the punches, stay tuned to what’s in front of me versus thinking of what I should be doing, and rather than writing as fast as I could, I wrote as best as I could.

In December 2006, I’d no idea that in 2007 I would interview authors, actors and chefs for this blog. I got to spend four nights with my bestest friends in Dallas, each of us taking turns sleeping on the floor because the hotel only had one roll-away bed! I discovered the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, author Syrie James and historical romances by Loretta Chase. Even though I have no idea what they’re saying, I also discovered music artists Alejandro Fernandez (that’s Barb!), Juanes and Mala Rodriguez. I never imagined that I’d drive around Phoenix with Alisa Valdes Rodriguez and discover how much our lives have paralled each others. I also never thought that I could write two short short stories, “Necessary Evil” and “La Familia Orihuela” in one weekend respectively, or that Mom and I would be chased down a dirt road by a rabid dog. (Just so you know, we were taking pictures of an old house that inspired my latest WIP, The Guy Upstairs.)

For 2008 I have no resolutions or expectations. I only have hope. Hope that my family, friends and I will continue to enjoy good health and happiness, and if that’s not possible that we will have the strength to help each other out of the darkness. I hope that I will sell The Ballad of Aracely Calderon, the mariachi story I’ve been telling you about for ages now. Or else, I’ll just have to publish it myself. I hope the writer’s strike ends and that the Wonder Woman movie goes into production. Finally, I hope that every word I write has emotion and power.

But more importantly, whether the good times are a’rolling or the bad times have stopped for a visit, I hope that I will be grateful for every day I wake up alongside my husband … even if the Little Dude is shouting, “NOW!” at four in the morning.

Best,
Mary C.

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On Avon Romance Blog Today

Hey everyone, I’m on the Avon Romance blog today!

Since I’ve been on “vacation” the last week, I’ve fallen back into my addiction to historical romances. Those crack dealers at Smart Bitches Love Trashy Books introduced me to Loretta Chase and today a 30% Borders Rewards coupon arrived in my email. (Sigh) Last night, I finished Lisa Kleypas’ Mine Till Midnight. Thank God the next book in her new Hathaway series won’t be out till 2008 or 2009, or else I’d never get anything accomplished.

Now I’m reading Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. It’s very literary so that means I’ll get bored while reading and my subconscious will start working on my new book. (I always did my best thinking while half-listening to some of my college professors or my bosses at meetings.) Some may call it disassociation; I call it my creative process.

And now I’m going off-line to dip biscotti in chocolate and pack up my holiday goodies!

Love,
Mary

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Blockbuster with a Heart


Last night, Ryan and I went out to see I Am Legend. I expected to be bored out of my gourd as movies, lately, just haven’t been doing it for me. But this movie took me by surprise and I wonder if it was because Oscar-winning screenwriter, Akiva Goldsman was one of the producers as well as one of the writers.

Anyway, there is a scene that really struck home for me as to what we writers do. Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, routinely goes into a video store to pick movies that keep him company during the long nights he’s barricaded in his home. Inside the store, he has arranged mannequins to talk to because his only companion is Sam, the German Shepherd. Later in the story – and I’m trying really hard not to give anything away! – Robert returns and begs one of the mannequins to say hello to him.

By the way, if you don’t think much of Will Smith’s acting, you might change your mind after this scene.

I Am Legend is about our need to connect with each other. As the last guy alive in Manhattan, movies give Robert that necessary connection to other human beings. Have you ever thought it odd that when we’re among each other in the mall, or in our cars driving through the streets, that we humans get so impatient with each other? We flip off the dude who cuts us off, or quicken our pace so we get to the check-out line before the other lady does. (And don’t get me started on what we do to our family and friends!)

But when we watch movies or read books, we connect to the make-believe people who inhabit those stories. We cry when they’re hurt, or laugh at their follies. We cheer when they deliver justice, and sigh when they find The One they’re meant to be with. Sometimes I wonder if it is story that keep us civilized. Without us writers, what would this world be like? Thoughts?

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Top Latino Books of 2007

On Friday, the Top Latino Books of 2007 appeared in the New York Daily News. Chica power!

In other news, I’ve not written one word since La Familia Orihuela. I should just accept that the holidays are here and there are gifts to wrap, cookies to be baked and people to see. However, it’s the perfect time to do very important research. I get the best stuff for dialogue, conflict and characters at holiday parties. If I were you, keep your meshugas at home because there might be a writer lurking in the corner!

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Between the Pages With Frederick Smith

I remember the first time I saw Frederick Smith. We were in Miami for the Chica Lit Fiesta sponsored by Alisa Valdes Rodriguez and Fred walked into the room with Patrick Sanchez and Erasmo Guerra. In a conference of women, they were the three lone rangers but having read their books, they are some of the most talented writers I’ve ever met.

Two weeks ago, when Fred sent me a copy of his book, The Right Side of the Wrong Bed, I made a terrible mistake. It was the last stretch of NaNoMo and I cracked open the first page and in that moment, I was hooked by the story of Kenny Kane, a successful thirty-something who has been betrayed by the love of his life and has to start all over again. He meets Jeremy, a gorgeous, charismatic twenty-one year old who attracts him like a bee to honey. And that honey traps Kenny into a relationship that threatens his professional life as well as his heart.

By the way, it wasn’t a terrible mistake (it just sounded more dramatic) and I finished NaNoMo at 30,000 words!

Anyway, Fred took the time to talk with me about his new book.

Chica Lit: What inspired the story of Kenny and Jeremy?

Fred: I started writing this novel on the day I got dumped by someone I was dating. He said he was no longer interested in me and had started dating someone I thought was a friend of his, but was actually more than just a friend. My intuition had told me one thing about their “friendship” while we were dating, I’d chosen to not to follow it, and I wondered how I’d been so stupid. Instead of continuing to put myself down, I decided to channel that energy into writing. And while this story isn’t a play-by-play of our relationship, the real life breakup inspired the creation of Kenny, Jeremy, and all the fun and not-so-fun situations the characters face in the novel.

Chica Lit: The thing I took away from The Right Side of the Wrong Bed was the issue of integrity. Kenny has been a victim of a dishonest partner and he has so many reasons not to trust Jeremy.

Fred: Integrity and intuition are two areas I think are important to relationships. Sometimes, though, we’re blind to or choose to ignore signs that tell us that the person we’re with may not be the right one for us. We do it for a number of reasons. For the character Kenny, he doesn’t want to appear to have failed at yet another relationship. He also fears to some extent that at age 33 he might not have another shot at meeting someone as young, exciting and attractive as Jeremy, even though in his heart he knows they shouldn’t be together… and even though deep inside he knows he can find someone else who’s more compatible. Those same factors might influence us in real life to ignore issues of integrity because we’re acting out of fear rather than out of genuine love of self.

Chica Lit: Looking back on your two books, what is a common theme and why?

Fred: I tend to write characters who are culturally-empowered, meaning they’re not ashamed of their ethnic or class backgrounds, and aren’t looking for validation from majority culture per se. This is important to me, because sometimes young people of color who decide to come out but don’t get affirmed immediately by their families/communities, may search for acceptance from people and communities that don’t necessarily have their interests at heart. They feel they have to choose sexual orientation over ethnicity. But these characters navigate all their labels and communities well and have a strong sense of identity.

Chica Lit: What was your process in writing this book? How long did it take to complete?

Fred: This book came so quickly to me. Partly because I had so much energy from the break up, and also because I absolutely loved all the characters created in the book. They were fun to write, so full of life, and really leaped off the page for me in the creative process. I generally get up around 4:30 or 5 in the morning and write for a couple hours before going to my day job. I finished the first draft of RIGHT SIDE in about three and a half months, and my agent and editor thought it was in pretty good shape, though I did do some extensive revision work. I wish I could go through a break up every year and maybe it would help my writing productivity, lol.

Chica Lit: Which authors and books have inspired you?

Fred: I was inspired when Terry McMillan and E. Lynn Harris came along on the fiction scene. When I discovered their work, while in my late high school and early college years, in the early 1990s, I knew that one day I could write a novel that might one day be published. They opened so many doors in publishing, and I always have credited them for giving me hope that I could realize my dreams in fiction writing. Other authors I admire for their works or their career paths are J. California Cooper, Eric Jerome Dickey, Alisa Valdes Rodriguez, Lorrie Moore, and Tayari Jones.

Chica Lit: What are you reading now? What was the best book you read in 2007?

Fred: Right now I’m reading two books: Them by Nathan McCall and Boston Boys Club by Johnny Diaz. The best books I read in 2007 weren’t written in 2007: Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller and Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey.

Get to know Fred or order your copy of Frederick Smith’s The Right Side of the Wrong Bed at:

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Tu Ciudad’s Book Blog & Why I’m a Big Idiot

Check out how Tu Ciudad’s new book blog treated my girl, Margo Candela and her new book, Life Over Easy.

To read the blog click here.

And in other news, I am officially a big idiot. Yesterday at the Gypsy Den, I wrote 15 pages on my AlphaSmart. But when I went to transfer the file onto my PC, I deleted the file. Fifteen pages, people. FIFTEEN! Gone. Forever.

So I had to rewrite them. I have to say, they’re better. But I’m still pissed.

Okay, not really. I have no hope of meeting the NaNoMo goal of 50K words unless I write 150 pages by midnight on Friday. Not gonna happen because I’m reading The Right Side of the Wrong Bed by Frederick Smith and nothing is tearing me away from that book! (Darn you Fred for writing such a juicy story!)

You’ll meet Fred on the blog soon.

The Little Dude calls!

Night night,

Mary

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Mary’s Favorite Things

If you have a writer in the family or among friends, I’ve got some great ideas! Pens are great but more than likely a writer has her favorites in bulk. Journals are cool, too, but a writer has very strong preferences as to the size, paper type, etc. Yes, we’re a picky lot, which is why I started this list that ranges from $12 to $40. Stay tuned for more ideas because if you’re like me, you’ll be shopping at the last minute!

Whether you write by hand or keyboard, a writer’s most precious tools are her hands. Ulta’s Rescue Hand Cream smells like lemons (you know, to invigorate the senses) and it melts into your skin so you don’t get that sticky, icky feeling. A little goes a long way! The Warming Hand Mask is great if you have achy fingers and wrists. Slather it on and you’re treated to a gentle warming sensation (ahh!). Rinse off and you’ll swear that Madge herself worked on your hands! And if you buy it now, Ulta is having a 20% off sale!

When I need some inspiration or words of wisdom, I crack open my trusty copy of Pen On Fire. Each essay is maybe two or three pages, tops, but the content will illuminate the mind and refresh the heart.


I’ve had The Observation Deck for almost 8 years and it always helps me out of a jam. Basically you grab the deck, shuffle the cards and pull one at random (kind of like tarot cards for writers). A handy guide contains writing exercises and stories about legendary writers.


Stick this warming scarf from Bed Bath and Beyond into the microwave and viola, the chills are gone! I have a neck warmer that I would take to work when I was a reporter. We worked in a building from the 1920’s and when a brisk wind swept off the ocean, it funneled through the swiss cheese walls, turning my desk area into a mini-fridge. Even if your friend doesn’t work in such primitive conditions, this is a great treat because it also helps alleviate neck and shoulder aches, the malaise of all desk-dwellers.

When I’m in deep writing mode, I have a tough time leaving my book at my desk. But a girl (or guy) needs to relax every now and then. The Umbra Aquala Tub Caddy allows you to read through your manuscript or a book without wetting the pages. There’s a handy slot for your wine glass and a place for your tea or coffee cup. What more could you want?

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Bethany Hiitola Guest Blogs

A frequent reader and fellow blogger at Mommy Writer, Bethany Hiitola has guest blogged at my other blog, My Best Friend’s Baby. She tells it like it is in her essay, Motherhood is a Bitch. But it’s not all bad; she shares how her friends were her lifelines during and after her first pregnancy.

More than likely this will be my last post for the week. I’m hosting Thanksgiving so there are floors to clean, china to wash, pies to bake and much eating to take place. I hope that all of you are surrounded by the ones you love, even if they’re with you in spirit.

Much love and thank you for all your support!

Besitos,
Mary

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Friday Night at Cantera

Alas, I have no photos to share. I thought the camera was in my bag but it was on my desk!

We raised a lot of money for YWCA’s Wise Place and I think there are plans to do it again so I’ll keep you posted.

One of the coolest things happened to me. A woman came upstairs where I was hanging out and I noticed her look at my table and then walk away to talk to her friends. She did this a couple of times and even though I smiled, she kept wandering away. So finally, she walks up to me with her friends on either side and says with her voice shaking, “I have all your books. I’m a big fan.”

Dude, I almost cried. (But I didn’t!) I just stood up, shook her hand and said thank you because honestly, I had no idea what to say. (By the way, what should one say in this situation? I always imagine it should be something elegant and inspiring but I was floored.) Many moons ago, I did the same thing to James Elroy. I wanted to go up to him and yet, I was so intimidated that I couldn’t. Finally he picked up a book, signed it and handed it to a guy to give to me.

So it was very cool to meet a fan of my own! (Fan? I have fans?!?! I still can’t get over it.)

Anyway, I’ve been up since 3 a.m. today because someone who shall not be named decided he wanted milk and chips. One day when he’s seventeen and sleeping in till 1 p.m., I will be merciless in my vengeance!

But I’m still in NaNoMo mode so I have pages to write. I think I cracked the first 100 pages of the new book. This weekend I stopped keeping track because it was driving me nuts, so I’ll update my stats tonight.

I wasn’t going to do this but I can’t stop myself…

This is the house that is inspiring my new book! I grew up not far from this street and I always asked my parents to drive me by the Victorians (there’s a huge mansion across the street from this one) because there was something about them that got to me.

Finally, after twenty odd years, I’m writing a story set in this house. I’m so giddy that I’m annoying myself! So I’ll go now.