Today I'm excited to share an interview with a friend and fellow, author, Toni Margarita Plummer! We met years ago at a writing conference and have stayed in touch ever since. Please check out and buy her new fabulous book!
Tell us a bit about your book!
The Bolero of Andi Rowe is a short story collection, and my first book! The stories are inter-related, so you'll see recurring characters throughout. A lot of them tell the story of this one family, the Rowe family. They're mostly set in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles. Most of the characters are Mexican-American and Catholic, so the stories tend to deal with those cultures. I've heard from readers that some parts make them laugh out loud, and that they find other parts very touching. It's been really wonderful to hear readers' responses!
Did the idea come first, or the goal to write a book?
I think they happened about the same time. I wanted to have a published book, and I had a rough idea of what I wanted that book to be about. I didn't have much of a plot. I just had this desire to capture characters and place. It started out as a novel. Then I ditched that idea and put together a collection. It was even later that I realized the stories should be inter-related, independent but in communication with each other.
Outline or no outline?
I never had an outline for this book. I don't think one was necessary. The best moments writing it were when a story veered off in a new direction, when I realized that it was really about something else. These were short stories though. At the moment, I'm in the process of plotting out a novel. A novel seems so long! I'm hoping that if I can roughly sketch it out, it won't seem so daunting.
By day you are a book editor. How did it feel to be on the other side of the page? Did being an editor help speed up the process?
It was funny--while the experience felt utterly new, it also felt very familiar. I think being an editor meant I was coming in being more aware of the process. I knew there would be a copyedited manuscript, first pass pages, catalog copy, jacket copy--I knew the basic schedule for what it takes to make a book. I also had an idea of what the publisher would be handling and what I'd have to take upon myself. There are differences across publishers, of course, so I did end up making some assumptions based on my own experiences. There were surprises, but I think the process did run more smoothly than it would have if I were coming in a complete newbie. It's still very different when it's your own book being published, but it definitely did help just having been through it all as an editor with so many debut authors.
What were a couple of your challenges with writing the book?
I kept wanting to rewrite the stories! This drove my family and friends crazy, and me too, quite honestly. I would talk about how I needed to do more work on the stories and my family would say, uh, haven't you worked on these enough already? Aren't you done yet? But I couldn't let them go until I was satisfied that they were ready.
How would you describe your main character? What is the overall message you want readers to take away?
If there is a main character in the book, that would be Andi Rowe. Even though she's not the main character in every story, or even present in every story, she's sort of the focal point and the other characters and stories branch out from her. She's a college student, figuring out her life--what is her relationship to her hometown after moving away, her relationships to her friends, family, etc.
I wasn't really trying to give any kind of message. I was writing around my interests, which have to do with relationships, faith, and heritage, to name a few. I wanted to create stories around these and pose questions, more than give any exact message. What I hope readers will take away is a feeling of intimacy with these characters and with this world.
Will the experience change how you edit books?
I don't think that it will, actually. Each manuscript and author has different needs and I only figure that out as I'm reading something.
What is your story of how you got your book published?
I saw an announcement for the Miguel Mármol Prize, which Curbstone Press gave out for a first work of fiction by a Latino author. The winner got a contract and a small advance. I had several stories, enough to make the page count. And I thought, I have a good shot at this! So I brushed them up and sent them in. Roberto Márquez was the judge and he picked my collection as the winner. Curbstone was going through some internal changes though, and they found they couldn't go ahead with publishing the books they'd acquired. So my book was stalled. Eventually, Curbstone was acquired by Northwestern University Press, which added them as a new imprint, Curbstone Books. My book was the inaugural book in the imprint. And that's it! It only took, hm, I think about 8 years! That's from when I first started working on the material to publication. I think I needed all that time though. My perspective on these stories has changed over the years--I developed a better understanding of what I wanted to accomplish with this book and I'm very grateful to Curbstone and NUP for making it happen!
If you missed the first run of my online publicity class, I'm opening it up again! I've had a lot of requests for this, so I'm going to open it for this limited time. Sign ups will only be available for one week - today though Sunday, September 18th. Once you sign up, you'll have full access to the course for the next three months.
This is same course and materials I offered in June, except this round is self-guided - which means, everything is there for you to download, read, watch and click, etc. I won't be offering consultations like I did for the first group (hence the discounted price).
There is a LOT of fabulous information packed into this course, lots of insider tips from days working as a journalist!
TO SIGN UP: Pay for the course below. Make SURE to use a PayPal email that works - this will be how I send you your class invite! Once you pay, i'll email you 1. Crafty Chica classroom invite and and 2. The PR Class invite.
Here is an intro video I did back in June about the class! Keep in mind that this "rerun" will not include personal consultations, the $50 special is a self-guided offering.
I'm excited to be a part of the Condor Book Tour for this very important title!
Publisher's summary: "On the eve of Mexican-American War of 1848, a group of recently arrived Irish immigrants deserted the U.S. army and joined the Mexican army as the Saint Patrick's Battalion. This excellent study explores the motivations of the Irishmen, their valiant contributions to the Mexican cause, and the consequences for them when they were ultimately captured. The Irish Soldiers of Mexico sold out four editions in English and two editions in Spanish from 1997 to 2001. It has been the basis of an MGM feature film starring Tom Berenger, two documentaries and has also been used in many history classes both in the United States and abroad. As Michael Hogan rightly points out in his introduction, American textbooks scarcely devote attention to this war. "Coverage," he writes, "generally consists of a two or three page section entitled Westward Expansion or Manifest Destiny."
This title is for anyone who is interested in the deeper historical roots of Mexican history and culture. It's a must-read - one for the bookshelves - because it shows a side to the U.S./Mexican war, that of ethnic diversity among the troops, that is not often observed. Hogan dives into the details of the Saga of the San Patricios - a poignant battle where the Los Angeles Times says "Irish immigrant soldiers who deserted and fought for the enemy during the war with Mexico are revered south of the border, honored in Ireland and all but forgotten in the United States." From the elements of controversy to the question of "cowardly deserters or genuine heroes," Hogan confronts these topics head on.
I have to admit, at first I felt intimidated at this book, such serious undertones to take in. But the further I progressed, the more I became engrossed, moved, heartwrenched, curious and empowered. I'll definitely pass along my copy to my kids to read now that they are in college.
Michael Hogan lives in Colonia Providencia, Guadalajara, Mexico, with his wife Lucinda Mayo, the internationally known fabric artist. Born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1943, he is the author of sixteen books, including a collection of short stories, six books of poetry, collected essays on teaching in Latin America, a novel, and a history of the Irish battalion in Mexico which formed the basis for an MGM movie starring Tom Berenger. His work has appeared in many journals such as the Paris Review, the Harvard Review, Z-Magazine, Political Affairs and the Monthly Review. He is a consultant to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Overseas Schools in Latin America. As an author he has received wide recognition for his work, including a PEN Award, two Pushcart Prizes, an NEA fellowship, the Benjamin Franklin Award, the gold medal of the Mexican Geographical Society.
For more information visit the author's website at http://drmichaelhogan.com
Book Tour Schedule
Sunday August 21 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific Author Livechat at Condor's Author Chat Salon!
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison AllenBantam Books, 2011 Review by Ana Berumen for CraftyChica.com
We were all given labels in high school. There were the populars, the jocks, the punks, the loner, and little miss perfect. So try getting away from these labels when you are from a small town. Willa and Paxton do just that in The Peach Keeper.
Laced with superstitions and mystery, this is a story of two unlikely women bonding over an unlikely event. Willa is an independent, head strong woman, intent on folding laundry every Friday. Paxton juggles the running of a society club and her mother’s oppression all while trying not to fall in love with a gay man. While renovating The Blue Ridge Madam for the society club’s gala, a skeleton is found buried under a peach tree. Who was it? How did it get there? Paxton the princess, and Willa the joker, come together to find the
answers to these questions. The answers may just be held by their grandmothers.
But how do you get answers from one who is locked in her dementia and another
who is blind and cranky? Hidden behind the endless superstitions, love interests
and claims of magic, is a beautiful story of two women forming a friendship, and
learning what it means to be a friend. Beyond the mystery, it’s a page turner,
if just to find out what these characters will do next.
I loved this book, it was a perfect pool side read. No wait, it was more than
that. It ended up being a good airport read, a good waiting room read and a good
there-is-nothing-good-on-tv read. It made me into one of those annoying people
who walk and read with no concern for the people they are crashing into. I was
hooked into the mystery and the story but more than that, I yearned for Willa
and Paxton to walk arm and arm into the sunset. A good friendship is hard to
come by and I relished in the afterglow of theirs. 'Ana Marie is a reading, writing, crafting superhero' fighthopeheal.blogspot.com
I adore the writings of Sarah Addison Allen. Her novels remind me of adult fairy tales - sprinkled with magic dust; flawed, soulful characters that lure you into their world with beauty and mystery. This book fits right in with the program!
It revolves around two women, Emily and Julia. Emily is a quiet teen who goes to live with her 8-foot-tall gruff grandpa in a house that first appears creepy, but later - extremely captivating. Of all the rooms in the house, Emily chooses the one that belonged to her deceased mother. The wallpaper mysteriously changes patterns depending on the changes that take place in Emily's life. Happy frogs appear inside the dryer. Dancing lights live among the trees in the backyard. Romance sparks. Emily falls for a local boy who comes from a family with a long history of pain and misery. There are no werewolves or vampires under this Moon, but let's just say...Emily's guy carries a supernatural secret of his own.
Julia's story is equaling compelling. A past decision from her teen years haunts her as an adult. She is forced to trust in destiny to bring closure and peace to her heart. And for being brave enough to confront her insecurities and regrets, she is rewarded with not one gift of love, but two. A tasty highlight: Julia's passion is baking cakes and she uses the recipes and scents to attract positive energy to her life.
Magic or no magic, this is a wonderful book about taking risks, trusting instincts, asking questions until the truth is revealed.
I didn't read 'Something Borrowed' before I read this book, not sure if it would have changed my experience.
I wish I could say I liked this book more than I did. My first flaw with it is that I hate stories where lifelong female amigas backstab eachother by sleeping with eachother's boyfriends/fiances. Yes, I know at the end of the book, Darcy analyzes it all, but it still makes me cringe a bit.
Now about Darcy - her arrogant, childish manners grated on my last nerve and it felt like this went of for half of the book. Even so, I put up with it because I knew something would happen that would trigger a change in her, but when it did come, it just didn't seem big enough. I expected a huge crash-and-burn, but it all boiled down to was - a conversation.
One calm scolding from her friend Ethan, and suddenly she became a madeover angel with a heart of gold. I felt the transformation was too fast and forced.
But - I'm a sucker for happy endings! I loved Ethan and the way he slowly warmed up to her. Out of everyone, he had the guts to shove the proverbial mirror in her face. I liked that he didn't let her manipulate him the way she did with her other men, even if they did end up dumping her. My favorite part was her trip to the OB/GYN when she recieved her first ultrasound and learned about her bonus prize.
The writing was clean, colorful and smooth. Even though I didn't like this book as much as 'Love The One You're With' (another title of hers), I am crazy curious to read 'Something Borrowed'!
Last week I was at Target in the book section. Every time I go there, I stand in front of the budding authors section and visualize my books on those shelves. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm still working on it. I'm a firm believer in that kind of stuff. Maybe it won't be one of two novels, but one in the future after I'm grown into my books a little.
ANYWAY - my point for this picture...look at all these covers. They all have the backs of little kids on them. Must be some kind of trend. I Googled book cover trends and found this incredible round up by Publisher's Weekly: The Season of Windblown Hair - Or, the Zeitgeist of Book Covers.
I'm happy to say I've never seen a book cover that has spilled glitter bottles on the front like mine. :-)
BTW: I got some really good news about my two novels! "Listen" up for an update when I can announce the news!
I've been spending my nights writing these days and during one of my, um...breaks...I came across this article in the Huffington Post Books section. It's about a man who is set on stopping folks from using clichés. You may think you already have your warrior shields up in that department, but take a look at his list and see if there are any you fall victim to. What a buzzkill! (Yikes, I just used one, but so what!)
- Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Good stuff to keep in mind for any kind of writing project!
One of my writing mentors and coaches has been the wonderful Marcela Landres! Here is her latest newsletter where she shares information about online writing classes.
Good stuff - I thought I'd share it with you! Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter and buy her ebook!
OK...on to the newsletter...
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
