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Showing posts with the label Mayra Calvani

4th ANNUAL BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2016

We lose ourselves in books; We find ourselves there too. We don’t know who said it, but we truly believe in the saying above. We have lost ourselves in numerous books this year. Books are our happy place; our escape; sometimes our refuge. It’s always a pleasure to discover a “new” author and to reconnect with favorite ones. We were super excited as The Latina Book Club started putting together its 4th Annual List of Books of the Year for 2016. Readers will love these exciting, daring, gripping books by Latino authors and about Latinos in all genres, and some in two languages. We encourage everyone to support our authors by buying their books and telling all their friends and neighbors about the books. Remember that books make great gifts year round, and do consider giving books to your local library. For this new year, explore a new author, a new genre. All learning is good. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself in one of these books too.  Happy ...

REVIEW: LATINA AUTHORS & THEIR MUSES, EDITED BY MAYRA CALVANI

      The artist must possess the courageous soul…The brave soul. The soul that dares and defies. – from THE AWAKENING by Kate Chopin LATINA AUTHORS & THEIR MUSES is a celebration of creativity, the writer’s life, the passionate quest for spiritual and artistic freedom. – Mayra Calvani   Twilight Times Books  I admit it.  I like to write in my books.  I add notes on the margins.  I underline, and if the quote is too long I fold the page for future reference.  Some of my family and friends cringe when I do, but I love it.  It’s a very definite way of knowing which books are “keepers” and LATINA AUTHORS & THEIR MUSES is a Keeper! This book is a treasure trove of information.  It’s like a literary marketplace and who’s who rolled into one.  Mayra Calvani is to be commended for her hard work and vision in bringing 40 of everyone’s favorite Latina authors together for this marvelous collection;...

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH WITH TEN LATINA AUTHORS TO WATCH!

       A woman who writes has power. A woman who writes is feared.   In the eyes of the world this makes us dangerous beasts .—Gloria Anzaldúa from THIS BRIDGE CALLED BY BACK The Latina Book Club celebrates “dangerous beasts” –aka Latina Authors –during March, Women’s History Month! This month, we will have guest posts from authors Chiquis Barrón, Erika M. Martinez and Thelma Reyna; plus, an excerpt from Sandra Perez Gluschankoff’s new book, FRANCIZCA’S BOX. We celebrate pioneers like Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros, Lucha Corpi, Laura Esquivel, Reyna Grande, Meg Medina, and Pat Mora.  Yet there are many more Latina authors making their mark and flexing their power.  Below is a list of 10 Latina Authors to watch and read: Mayra Calvani -- LATINA AUTHORS & THEIR MUSES (Paladin Timeless Books), an inspirational collection of interviews about the writers's life and the passionate quest ...

CULTURAL IDENTITY: How I Celebrate My Latinidad by Graciela Limón

    The Latina Book Club is proud to welcome author Graciela Limón ,  who will tell us how she celebrates her Latinidad. Plus, we’ll learn about her new suspense novel,  THE INTRIGUING LIFE OF XIMENA GODOY. When I was a little girl growing up in East Los Angeles, I loved school.  You see, I went to Hammel Street School, a public grammar school that had been there since forever, and even better, it was a school where all the kids were Mexican.  Most of us were born in the barrio, but others had recently come up with their familias from Mexico.  But it was all the same; we all spoke Spanish – on the sly, of course, because the teachers scolded or punished us when they caught us talking, as they said, “funny.”  Another thing I loved was that kids took a lunch in a little brown bag, many times exchanging that delicious gordita for a burrito.  I loved school because it was hardly a change from home where I lived with my mom, da...

NEW YORK TIMES RESPONDS TO LATINO OUTCRY!

I was out Christmas shopping yesterday so did not see this message until this morning – a response from the   New York Times!   They are responding to the continued protests from the Latino community in regards to their  not  including a Latino book or author on their annual book list…again. The Good News:  they ARE looking.  Poor Alan Weinberg is a consultant to the NYT and is being bombarded with emails. Now, while I am not sorry he is getting emails, I am sorry some of them are calling him racist and such.  Let’s not resort to insults, Mi Gente.  Let’s keep the dialogue open with Alan and the New York Times  and let’s keep it constructive and positive.  Below are his email and my response, which was probably too long but I wanted to give him as much info as possible.  If anyone has any extra links that would prove helpful about Latino book awards or review sites, let me know....

DARK LULLABY and SUNSTRUCK by Mayra Calvani

      Mayra Calvani is a prolific writer. This author-journalist-book reviewer writes everything from paranormals to romances to women’s fiction to children’s books.  She has two books out now that are complete opposites. One is dark; one is light. One is supernatural; one is normal. Both are page turners and will keep you on the edge of your seat! And, both are available now at amazon.com.  Download them today and get started on your summer reading! DARK LULLABY By Mayra Calvani Amazon Digital Services At a trendy Turkish tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. Soon, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her–her skin’s abnormally high temperature, her obsession with milk products, her child-like and bizarre behavior as she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience. The you...

DAY ONE: BEGINNINGS

  The Latina Book Club is pleased to introduce our Guest Blogger, author Mayra Calvani, on writing and beginnings.  Welcome, Mayra. DAY ONE:   BEGINNINGS By Mayra Calvani From the time I was about eleven, I loved writing stories. Writing fiction was my special talent, what made me stand out among my peers. Later, in my mid-teens, I seriously began picturing myself as a published author. The possibility of holding my own book in my hands and seeing it on bookshelves was a thrilling fantasy to have. I remember being asked in class what we planned to do with our lives. We were supposed to stand up and answer and, of course, I answered ‘I’m going to be an author.’ Agatha Christie was a big influence back then. I think I had read all of her novels by the time I turned fifteen. In those days, I also read a lot of Barbara Cartland and Janet Daily. I gobbled up their books and dreamed of becoming a known author just like them some day. I wrote my first n...