The Fountain Pen, Issue 12, December 2007

In this issue...

From Mayra's Desk

News

Author Interviews:

Interview with Cheryl K. Tardif, author of Whale Song

Interview with Erica Miner, author of Travels With My Lovers

Interview with Maureen Fisher, author of The Jaguar Legacy

Interview with Dennis N. Griffin, author of Cullota

Interview with Michael Simon, author of The Last Jew Standing

Publisher Interviews:

Interview with Sandra Swayder Sanchez, The Wessex Collective

Articles

"How Do Books Get into Bookstore Shelves?" by Dee Power

Mayra's Reviews

Dead Right, by Brenda Novak (romantic suspense/thriller)

Who Killed Marcia Maynard? by Alma H. Bond (mystery)

Resources

Contests

*****

From Mayra's Desk...

Dear Readers,

This month I have a lot of great interviews to share with you. I hope you'll enjoy them. The article about how books get into bookstore shelves is also particularly interesting.

This November I spent most of my time sending off copies of Dark Lullaby and The Magic Violin to reviewers, as well as contacting violin/music shops. Thanks to all the violin shop owners who ordered copies of The Magic Violin for their little violinist customers during this season. Some ordered in the dozens and I was thrilled.

Relaxation hardly ever comes to an author who's marketing her books, and this December is no exception. I'm going on another virtual book tour (don't miss your chance of winning a $20 Amazon certificate on the 25th! Read under 'News' for details)), have to finish a proposal for Harper Collins, and edit a YA manuscript for an agent, all in between shopping for gifts, setting up the tree and house decorations, and dealing with family and friends... But naturally, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday filled with health and happiness and... (of course) great reading material!

Best,

Mayra

*****

News!

*To promote the release of my Christmas picture book, The Magic Violin, I'll be going on a mini virtual book tour during the month of December. The tour will start on December 1st and end on December 25th, when I'll be giving away a $20 Amazon certificate to a lucky winner. To be eligible, all you need to do is leave a comment at the end of my blog stops. The more comments you leave, the higher your chances of winning. For a detailed schedule of my tour and the stops I'll be making, visit my blog, Mayra's Secret Bookcase. I hope you'll join me in my tour! :-)

*The Magic Violin is now available on Amazon, B&N, and from your favorite brick & mortar bookstore.

*I finally put together the violion-related fiction blog I wanted. Do you love the violin and books? Then Violin and Books is for you!

*Reviews of my novel, Dark Lullaby, are slowly but steadily coming in...

Top Amazon Reviewer Harriet Klausner calls it "a terrific horror tale." Read the full review at Alternative Worlds.

Patricia Altner of Patricia's Vampire Notes says "a must read for those who enjoy novels of horror. Calvani keeps the tension tight throughout this gripping novel." Read the full review here.

Katie's Reading says... "Part horror and thriller with a touch of romance Dark Lullaby is a quick read that will keep you glued to the pages. Thoughtful, entertaining, and chilling the characters and the exotic settings will sweep you away."

*****

Author Interviews

Interview with Cheryl K. Tardif, author of Whale Song

Interview with Erica Miner, author of Travels With My Lovers

Interview with Maureen Fisher, author of The Jaguar Legacy

Interview with Dennis N. Griffin, author of Cullota

Interview with Michael Simon, author of The Last Jew Standing

*****

Publisher Interviews

Interview with Sandra Swayder Sanchez, The Wessex Collective

*****

Article

"How Do Books Get on the Bookstore Shelves?"

By Dee Power

*****

Mayra's Reviews

Dead Right, by Brenda Novak

Who Killed Marcia Maynard, by Alma H. Bond

*****

Resources

Fiction Flyer, monthly newsletter for writers and readers alike.

Nothing Binding, bonding authors and readers.

*****

Contests

*The Magic Violin Virtual Book Tour and $20 Amazon Certificate Giveaway!

*Jamieson Wolf's The Twelve Days of Christmas Contest

*Harlequin Intrigue author Tracy Montoya has launched a new contest in celebration of her December 2007 release, Telling Secrets. For details on how to enter and win a $25 gift certificate to BookSense or Barnes & Noble, plus a book from Tracy's backlist, visit her blog at http://www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com/ or MySpace page www.myspace.com/tracymontoya anytime between Dec. 1 through Dec. 23.

The Fountain Pen, Issue 11, November 2007

In this Issue...

From Mayra's Desk
News
Interviews
Interview with Terry Doherty, Founder of The Reading Tub, Inc
Interview with Virginia S. Grenier, Editor of Stories for Children Magazine
Interview with Andrea Sisco, co-Founder of Armchair Interviews
Articles
"On Writing Horror AND Children's Tales", by Mayra Calvani
"The Responsibilities of A Writer," by R.J. Barker
Mayra's Reviews
Resources
Contests

*****
From Mayra's Desk...

Dear Readers,

Would you believe Christmas is just around the corner?! It sure feels like the older I get, the faster time passes.

October was a busy month with me going on a virtual book tour to promote the release of my paranormal thriller, Dark Lullaby. It was my first virtual tour and it was a learning experience. I was astounded by the high traffic it brought to my website--over 10,000 hits in one month! If you missed my tour and would like to read some of my interviews, here are some links:
The Book Connection
Paranormal Watch
Melanie Nilles' Blog
Fiction Scribe
In Detail with Nikki Leigh

I'm taking a rest this month and will be going on another virtual book tour this December, this time to promote the release of my first children's picture book, The Magic Violin. Join me on my tour next month for a chance to win a print copy of The Magic Violin. I will be posting my tour schedule on my blog, Mayra's Secret Bookcase, at the end of November. To be eligible to win the book, all you have to do is write a comment at the end of my guest posts. The more you comment, the more chances of winning. I'll announce the winner on Christmas Day!

Before saying goodbye, let me just mention a little change I will make to the newsletter from now on. Instead of posting the entire interviews and articles, I will simply post a link to them. This will keep the newsletter shorter and prevent you from having to scroll down long texts in order to find what you specifically want to read. I know this can be quite frustrating at times. I hope you will appreciate this.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and enjoy that delicious turkey with gravy and pumpkin pie!

Warm regards,
Mayra

*****
News

The Magic Violin is now out and available for purchase. Consider buying this book as a Christmas gift for a child--especially if the child plays or would like to play the violin!
For the full press release and blurb, visit my website Mayra's Secret Bookcase.
The publisher's purchasing page can be found here, but the book can be ordered from any brick and mortar bookstore and will be available from Amazon and B&N soon as well.

*****

Interviews

*Interview with Terry Doherty, The Reading Tub, Inc.
Part I
Part II

*Interview with Virginia Grenier, Editor of Stories for Children Magazine
Read the full interview here.

*Interview with Andrea Sisco, Founder of Armchair Interviews.
Read the full interview here.

*****

Articles

*A lot of people ask me how I can write both horror and children's tales. I tried to answer this question on M.D. Benoit's Blog, Life's Weirder than Fiction.

*"The Responsibilities of A Writer,"
by R. J. Barker

Dear Sir.

Thank you for your application to become A Write! We are happy to tell you that you have been successful. However, it is imperative that we keep to strict guidelines in order to protect our trade. I have supplied a copy of these guidelines, please read these five simple rules carefully and do not let us down.

1) Whether at a dinner party or merely enjoying the waxing moon on a balmy night with a young lady--you must remember at all times--that you are A Writer!

Tell people, tell them as often as possible and with an emphasis on the dramatic. Suitable conversational cues for the beginner can be:

"I'm John, you are...?"
"Peter, I am A Writer!"

"What shall we order?"
"This menu is terribly written, it has no plot arc. I know, for I am A Writer!"

"So what do you do then?"
"I" (pause for effect) "am A Writer!"

"A funny thing happened to me the other day."
"Tell me of it, it may provide inspiration. Lack of inspiration is death to A Writer, for that is what I am!"

"Why haven't you paid your credit card bill, sir?"
"I am A Writer!"

"I'm tired now dear, I'm off to bed."
"IamAWriter."

2) A Writer and someone who writes are two entirely different things. Any fool can put words down on paper. A Writer is an artist, he is A Writer whether he has written a word or not. Be The Writer, don't bother yourself with the technicalities.

3) Do not listen to the critic. They may try to make it seem like they want to be helpful, this is a lie. You know within your heart that you are A Writer, a genius and above them all. Pillory them for their foolishness when they do not see the beauty in your words. Strike at them and know you are in the right for you my firend, are A Writer.

4) Value creativity beyond all things. Be true to your vision. You are not bound by earthly rules such as grammar or spelling. Fly high on the wings of what you know to be beyond all comparison. Some may not be able to read it. That is their loss, not yours.

5) When you come across others whose talent may be near or even (however unlikely this is) equal, hate them. Hate them well. Your badge and complimentary fountain pen will follow via separate post (you will need to sign for these).

Yours,

Nefariouos T. Cumblepot
Secretary
P.S. If you are A Poet please follow the same rules but substitute 'Poet' for 'Writer'. We all work from the same office and sometimes the letters get mixed up a tad.

R.J.Barker is a sometime journalist, occasional Editor and slack writer. His 'Dead' Dave York novellas have been described as 'A noir Terry Pratchett' and the first novel length story in that series is due to be published in 2008. You can read more of his nonsense on MySpace--Leave a comment and then he'll feel like people are paying attention which makes him all warm and fuzzy inside.

*****

Mayra's Reviews
Princes Caitlin's Tiara (picture book)
Little Skink's Tail (picture book)
Meerkats Don't Fly (picture book)
Judgement Fire (mystery/detective)
Mortal Touch (paranormal)

*****

Resources

Blogcritics High-profile community of bloggers
Reader Views Book reviews
Katie's Reading Paranormal fiction reviews
New Book Clubs Connecting Authors and Publishers With Book Clubs & Readers

*****
Contests
The authors who are on virtual book tours with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours this month will be giving away free copies of their books on November 30th. Click here to get all the info and see the list of authors and their books.