Celebrate Read an Ebook Week with Twilight Times Books

Read an Ebook Week begins today!

Twilight Times Books, publisher of critically acclaimed Literary, Mystery and SF/F books, is offering a special during ‘Read an Ebook Week,’ from March 4-10, 2012.

A FREE ebook will be given away each day.

Some of these books include:

How I Wrote My First Book: The Story behind the Story
Twenty authors tell amazing stories about the efforts that went into writing their first book.
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/MyFirstBook_ch1.html

Book Reviewers Talk about their Craft
A series of interviews with 22 publishing professionals regarding book reviewing including Magdalena Ball, Judi Clark, James Cox, Lesa Holstine, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Cheryl C. Malandrinos, Sharyn McGinty, Alex Moore, Stephanie Padilla, Andrea Sisco, Irene Watson and others.
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/ttb_free_ebooks2012.html

Thirty popular titles are available for $3.50 or less via Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, and OmniLit until March 10th during Read an E-Book Week.

In addition, ebook ARCs now available for the following upcoming releases:

Divided, historical novel by Ralph Freedman
Equity of Evil, medical thriller by Rudy Mazzocchi
Essentially Yours, mystery by Aaron Paul Lazar
Griffin’s Fire, fantasy by Darby Karchut
Shadows of Kings, epic fantasy by Jack Whitsel
The Patriot Spy, military historical by S. W. O’Connell.
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/ttb_arc_order.html

Happy reading! Feel free to spread the word via Facebook or Twitter!

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Upcoming workshops presented by Marcela Landres

Former Simon & Schuster editor Marcela Landres will be presenting two workshops for both aspiring and experienced writers.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 25

Time:

How Editor Think workshop – 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Publishing for Latinos workshop – 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:

UNM Continuing Education, Albuquerque, NM

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit
http://dce.unm.edu/writers-conference.htm

Workshop Descriptions:

1st Workshop: How Editors Think

Do you think editors spend their days reading manuscripts?
Think again! If you want to understand why editors choose to
publish certain writers and reject the rest, learn how they think.
Topics discussed include: the three most common mistakes
writers make when trying to get published; the two most
important jobs of an editor (editing isn’t one of them!); and the
number one quality editors look for in a writer.

2nd Workshop: Publishing for Latinos

Finding the right publisher is difficult for any writer, but Latinos
face unique challenges–and opportunities. Topics discussed
include: the significance of Latinos to mainstream publishers;
writing in Spanish vs. English; dealing with the label of "Latino
Writer"; how to find a good agent and editor in a non-Latino
industry; overcoming cultural and social barriers, especially for
Latinas; and the most important thing you can do to ensure the
future success of Latino publishing.

About Marcela Landres (from her website):

Marcela Landres is the author of the e-book How Editors Think: The Real Reason They Rejected You, and is the Publisher of Latinidad®, an award-winning e-zine which was chosen as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Writers by Writer’s Digest Magazine. She is also an Editorial Consultant who works one-on-one with writers providing developmental editing for manuscripts, critiques of book proposals, and strategic advice on how to launch and manage a successful writing career. She works with writers of all backgrounds in fiction and nonfiction, and specializes in helping Latino writers get published.

 

Raised in the projects of Long Island City, Queens as the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, Marcela is one of the few Latina editors in book publishing. She can be reached by visiting: Contact.

Links:

Request a workshop from Marcela Landres:

http://www.marcelalandres.com/requestaworkshop.html

List of Marcela’s upcoming workshops:

http://www.marcelalandres.com/workshops.html

 

—Mayra Calvani, www.MayraCalvani.com

 

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Press release, New Latino Blog

BronzeWord’s Blog
One Place for All Things Writer
Jo Ann Hernández – BronzeWord1@yahoo.com

Please visit: http://bronzeword.wordpress.com

Does anyone know the name of the star in the original movie: “The Blog.” Post it on the contact page.

BronzeWord’s Blog is a new entry in the field of Latino news. The blog offers writers information on publishing news especially with an impact on Latinos/as, Latino/a book awards, Latino/a author’s new releases, agents and editors views and needs, writing techniques, contests guidelines and conferences information and marketing and promotional strategies. BronzeWord is passionate about helping Latinos/as maximize their writing potential. Articles will be provided to relevant writing news and to inspire and assist you to achieve your writing goals this year.

BronzeWord’s Blog invites guest bloggers to submit articles in categories pertinent to the publishing industry. Guest bloggers are welcome to announce new services or opportunities for Latino/a authors and writers.

BronzeWord’s Blog invites new writers to ask questions, seek guidance, and announce their victories, no matter how small or how big. Young Adults are invited to make comments, ask questions and be published. They can post their poetry and short stories. Also names of magazines and online publishers are provided where Young Adults can post their writing, so they can see themselves in print. I want young people to see they have a voice and the ability to broadcast that voice to the world before somebody puts them into vocational training.

BronzeWord’s Blog invites published authors to talk about their experience, their marketing plans, ask for helping in getting word out on their books, and anything that would make their book life a more prosperous venue..

BronzeWord’s Blog main goal is to provide the one place any Latino/a can come to for full coverage of the Latino/a book world and publishing industry. Soon free books will be given away.

BronzeWord’s Blog is run by award-winning author, Jo Ann Hernandez. Her two books, The Throwaway Piece (2007, Arte Público Press) won first place and White Bread Competition (1997, Arte Público Press) won second place at the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize contest at the University of California, Irvine.

Ms.. Hernández hopes to make BronzeWord’s Blog the one stop information site for all things in writing.

RSS feed and email subscriptions are provided.

Please visit: http://bronzeword.wordpress.com

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My Interview at Blogcritics Magazine

Hi all,

I was recently interviewed by Dorothy Thompson for Blogcritics Magazine.

You may read the full interview here.

Cheers!

Mayra

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Halloween Festival: Interview with Christine Verstraete, author of THE WITCH TREE

Thanks for stopping at the Dark Phantom today, Christine. How long have you been writing dark stories?

For a while now. Funny as while I lean towards mystery first, I always seem to want to write horror. Blame it on Stephen King. Ha!

Tell us about your story, The Witch Tree. What inspired it?

Jimmy Grayson thinks he’s found utopia – a new house, a nice porch to relax on… and then THEY came…. Day by day, they arrive by the dozens, the hundreds, their beady eyes, watching, waiting. Jimmy fears for his sanity.

How will it end?

Who will survive?

Will it be him-or them?

I can tell it’s spring out here in Wisconsin when the red-winged blackbirds appear. We’ll get hundreds sitting in the trees, swinging on the cattails. They flock in hundreds, then do the same in fall, until they suddenly disappear, flying off to wherever they go until next spring. It’s a screeching, noisy, eerie mass.

Have you written other books with paranormal or supernatural elements?

My middle grade book, Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, from Quake/Echelon Press, has some spooky elements and a creepy family legend. Sam and her friend, Lita, are staying at her great aunt’s old Victorian while they search for a missing miniature replica of Van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night. They’re working in an old shed that Aunt Hilda once used as her painting studio, and where a family barn burned down, inspiring the family legend. Plus, Sam tends to like to tease Lita, who is kind of skittish about ghosts.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers may learn more about you and your works?

Readers are welcome to stop by my website, http://cverstraete.com and also see some of the miniatures I collect. I also am featuring various Halloween miniatures at my blog, Candid Canine.

Bonus: Visit my blog for a Scavenger Hunt this week and a chance to win some Halloween miniatures and a pdf copy of “The Witch Tree.” See question at end.

What’s your favorite horror novel? What about movies?

I have several favorites, Salem’s Lot, Dracula, Pet Sematery… Movies: We’ve gotten into a tradition of seeing a creepy movie near Halloween, probably Saw. I like suspense too.

What do you usually do on Halloween?

I usually go with my sister to a few local Haunted house events. Nothing like a good scare!

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Visit Candid Canine this week for details on how to follow my Spooky Scavenger Hunt.

Scavenger Hunt Clue 1:

On Halloween, we go door to door

To get candy, look up to get scared and more

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Cool Summer Contest at Armchair Interviews

Hi,

I just heard from Andrea Sisco at Armchair Interviews that they have a cool summer contest going on!

Here is the message by Andrea and Connie:

Announcing 2008 Contest: Summertime Blues For all you authors out there — or those who simply like to write –Tell us in fewer than 1,000 words (in any genre) a short story that takes place in summer. Our panel of judges will be looking for:

• Good storytelling
• Unique turn of words
• Use these words: summer, hotdogs, campfire, “Kumbiah” and blues.
• Well-written (grammar, word usage, etc.)

Winning story will receive $50 in prize money and the first and second runner-up will receive two books of our choosing. All three stories will be published on our site. AND you can list your winning honor on writing resume or book proposal.

Guidelines:

• Submit to Connie@ArmchairInterviews.com as a Word doc (if Word not available, submit it inside an email)
• 1,000 words maximum
• Please underline the required words used (listed above)
• Your favorite genre
• On cover sheet, list genre, name, email address, mailing address

Deadline is September 30, 2008

Only one submission per person Winners will be notified after the judging decisions are made. Get writing, get creative–and don’t wait until September 29 to submit. And good luck!

Andrea and Connie

–Mayra Calvani, aka The Dark Phantom

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Book Reviewing Month Continues…

Hi all,

Book Reviewing Month continues….

My two latest guests are Sharyn McGinty of In the Library Reviews and
Katie McNeill of Katie’s Reading.

Sharyn McGinty is the Print Review Coordinator of In the Library
Reviews, a review site also featuring author interviews, spotlights,
and contests. Started in 2002, the site reviews books and ebooks in
most genres, including Christian and inspirational titles…

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/16/071327.php

Katie McNeill writes reviews for Blogcritics Magazine and her own
blog, Katie’s Reading. She specializes in what she loves to read,
paranormal books — from horror to dark fantasy to paranormal romance.
She also writes a weekly column for Blogcritics called “Beyond
Bounds: The Paranormal and Fantasy with Katie.” If you’d like your
book reviewed by Katie, visit her blog and drop her an email. In this
interview, she talks about the influence of reviews and she also
compares reviewers who write nasty, mean reviews to playground
bullies seeking attention…

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/17/152613.php

I invite you to leave a comment under the interviews for a chance to
win some great prizes on July 2nd.

1st Prize: a Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tour (Bronze
Package Plan, coordinated by book publicity guru Dorothy Thompson),
OR, as an alternative to a non-author winner, a $50 B&N gift
certificate!

2nd Prize: a one-year subscription to ForeWord Magazine.

3rd Prize: a T-shirt with the cover art of The Slippery Art of Book
Reviewing on the front.

More details at Slippery Book Review Blog.

Thanks!
Mayra

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The Women, Words and Wisdom Blog Tour starts today!

The Women, Words and Wisdom Blog Tour starts today, May 19th! Visit the authors' blogs for a different story each day. Each author will be offering prizes (books, goodies, gift certificates) to people who leave a comment.

Here's the line up:

May 19 – Mary C. (http://marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 – Barb Ferrer (http://fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com/)
May 23 – Cari (www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie (http://jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta (http://bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com/)
May 28 – Misa (http://chasingheroes.com/)

Happy reading and good luck!

Best,

Mayra Calvani (my story will be posted here on Thursday, May 22nd)

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