As a writer I’m a fan, also.  So here are a few authors and their books I’ve come across recently that I’d like to share with you!

JULIE COMPTON Check out her web pages.

Her new book is called RESCUING OLIVIA.

EXCERPT

Here’s what the heavy hitters are saying about it.

“Compton’s intense, entertaining second novel involves a horrifying cover-up and a powerful new drug . . . [She] pulls off a super-satisfying resolution to this romantic thriller.”
–Publishers Weekly

A “[m]odern-day fairy tale about a princely Florida lawn guy who must rescue his princess from a clutch of monsters. . . Compton burrows so deeply into Olivia’s and Anders’ troubled back stories and dramatizes in such psychologically compelling terms the swain’s attempt to rescue his princess . . . that the result is a pleasing hybrid of fairy tale and contemporary thriller. . . [Her] increasingly pointed questions about what exactly it would mean to rescue Olivia make the journey worthwhile.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“A page-turner.”
–Booklist

Next up:

JERDINE NOLAN

Children’s book are not easy.  Some are almost perfect.  Others, just so-so.  I was captured from the first by Jerdine’s titles:

She’s witty, imaginative, and wonderful!

If you like an author who isn’t afraid to step into controversy, in fact, likes to put on her waders and stomp all through controversy, try this lady.  She’s audacious, an original, and one of a kind.

Newest release: REBEL YELL

The Washington Post – James A. Miller

…Rebel Yell offers a rich journey through the world of distinguished graduates of Southern black colleges, black fraternities and sororities, Jack and Jill societies, Ivy League institutions and summer vacations at Martha’s Vineyard—the world, in short, of a black elite whose lives are only dimly glimpsed by many Americans…Part detective story, part love story, Rebel Yell is a novel deeply suffused with nostalgia and mourning.

Publishers Weekly

What starts off as a drive from Nashville to Birmingham quickly moves across the globe as Randall (The Wind Done Gone) unravels the life of Abel Jones. “The day Abel was born, sweet tucked deep in the dark South, Langston Hughes, out west on a speaking tour, typed a little poem in celebration… Abel was colored-baby royalty”-but things aren’t always so sweet. Abel faces run-ins with the KKK and, after a short lifetime as an angry husband and father and a secretive spy, meets his untimely end in the bathroom of a campy dinner theater restaurant. We learn most of his history via his first wife, Hope, following her journey from “a young Georgetown matron” to the present (thoughts on President Obama and all). As she tries to reconcile Abel’s “right to tell necessary lies to his wife, and to whomever else he chose,” she discovers what it is that bound them together in the first place. Randall leaves much to the imagination, but in the end, she successfully creates a family that’s been torn apart and haphazardly put back together by forces sometimes terrifying, sometimes hopeful. (Oct.)

To round out the groupings, and give the guys a shout:

JIM BUTCHER

I know, he’s been around a while, even has a cable series, but I’ve just discovered him.  And, boy,can

he make the little car go!  I’m reading the first of the DRESDEN FILES.

“The Dresden Files are Jim’s first published series, telling the story of Harry Blackstone Copperfield

Dresden, Chicago’s first (and only) Wizard P.I.” — From the official website.

The hero’s not a bad ass but he can bring it when necessary.  I like the fact he doesn’t sling magic first

then ask questions later.  The baddies are bad enough for anymore into gore.  But the story is about a

man dealing with his gift/curse and making his way with as much integrity and humor as he can

manage, as the only Wizard in the Chicago phone book.  You gotta love that.

So, go forth and read.  Something here for almost every taste in fiction.  Oh, wait!  there’s still me.  If

you haven’t read ICING ON THE CAKE (Available as a ebook) or LOVE ON THE LINE (ebook and audio

book) you can get your Women’s Fiction fix here.

I’d like to know who you are reading and why.

March 6th, 2010 | Tags: ALICE RANDALL, Icing On The Cake, inspiration, Jerdine Nolan, Jim Butcher, Julie Compton, Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, Love On The Line, Rebel Yell, Rescuing Olivia, The Balloon Farm, The Dresden Files, The Writing Life | Category: Friends of Mine, The Writing Life | Leave a comment

If you are coming to the workshop, or even thinking about coming to spend a fun-filled day with us, here’s the homework assignment.  NOT REQUIRED but will certainly help you think about the subject and perhaps do a little writing.  You can do one or two, even three.  Or — gasp — ALL FOUR!  It’s up to you.  Hope to see some of you there.  It’s a great way to kick start the old brain on any writing exercise.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN’T MAKE IT: I’d love to see what you come up with.  Feel free to paste it in the Comment Section of this Blog entry to share here.  That would be fabulous!

B.S. (no, not that, BEFORE SCRIPT)  If you have an organization, club, family reunion, church group, writers’ group, conferences, genealogy, history, or whatever kind of group you think might be interested in  this All-Day Family Folklore Workshop: contact me.  I hold workshops all over the U.S.  Heck, if the money’s right, I’ll go most anywhere!   LOL.  WRITE ME: Laurawrite@aol.com or lcastoro@cablelynx.com

NOW THE EASY PART:

Writing Exercises for the FAMILY FOLKLORE Workshop

by LAURA PARKER CASTORO

If you would like to enjoy an enhanced workshop experience, I encourage you to try one or all the exercises below.  We will use them in class to talk about writing.

DIRECTIONS: Choose One Sample from each of the Three Categories below and write at least One-Paragraph about the Memory that this sample triggers for you. Write at most ONE SAMPLE FROM EACH CATEGORY.  There are no rules.  It can be prose, dialogue, reflection, or the beginning of a short article using factual information about you, a family member, a friend, or a relative. Category Four is your choice!

I. Incorporate as written one (1) of the following examples of dialogue below into a memory of being a child in the summer time.

1. “Be sure to refill the ice trays, we’re going to have company.”
2. “Watch for the mailman, I want to get this letter to _____in the mail today.”
3. “You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on.”
4. “Open the back door and see if we can get a breeze through here, it is getting hot.”

II. Choose one (1) of the attitudes in the sentences below as a prompt to a memoir about eating, cooking, or obtaining food in your family when you were a child: i.e. who cooked, who went to the store, what food you liked or disliked, who was the pickiest eater in your family and what your family did about that?  NOW, contrast that with what happens in your family today.

1. Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you open the new bottle.
2. I have a cake in the oven.  You are going to make it fall if you …!
3. Eat those turnips (or some other vegetable you hated).  They’ll make you big and strong like your daddy.
4. Run (bike) down to the corner store and buy me_______.

III. Choose one (1) of the attitudes in the sentences below as a prompt for a memoir about how glad you are you aren’t, or wish you were, young again.

1. Hush your mouth! I don’t want to hear words like that! I’ll wash your mouth out with soap!
2. If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you’ll get another one when you get home.
3. It’s: ‘Yes Ma’am!’ and ‘No Ma’am!’ to me, young man, and don’t you forget it!
4. Sit still! I’m trying to cut your hair straight and you keep moving and it is all messed up.

IV. Write a story about a relative you never met but you have heard so much about you feel you know him or her.  This could be someone who died before you were born or lived in another place.  Why was this person important to you?

March 4th, 2010 | Tags: "Cougar" Anthology, African American fiction, Family Folklore workshop, Family Forklore, Icing On The Cake, Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, Love On The Line, research for writing, Writing Tips | Category: Speaking Engagement, The Writing Life, Writing Tips, inspiration | Leave a comment

A reminder that I will be leading an all-day workshop in Hot Springs Village March 20th.  It’s open to all.  It’s a great price, if you check the cost of conferences these days.  I will post the ‘homework assignment’ at the end of the week.  Don’t forget the early bird special!

The Village Writers’ Club of Hot Springs Village, AR
presents, a day with …

Laura Parker Castoro

Seminar Title: FAMILY FOLKLORE — Writing memoirs that capture life for fun and profit.

Writers, from scribblers to experienced, will gain insight from this prolific author with more than  three-dozen titles in print.

Who is your family historian? Most families don’t have one. Yet we all know stories that family and friends love to tell when they get together; be it for the holidays, for family reunions, at church functions, school reunions, social organizations, weddings, funerals, or births. We must save our stories. If you don’t tell your family’s story, who will?

About Laura: Laura has thirty-nine published books in print in such genres as contemporary romance, westerns, sagas, and romantic suspense.  She is past president of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs, AR. She is on the Board of the Pine Bluff Symphony and was named recipient of the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame Award for 2005. Laura is much in demand as a mentor for emerging writers. We are thrilled to have her as our workshop leader for the second time. Complete details about Laura are available at: http://www.lauracastoro.com

Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010 — Registration 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Location: Auditorium, Coronado Center (150 Ponderosa Lane) Hot Springs Village, AR 71909
(a map to Coronado Center is available below)

Investment: Pre-registration is $30 (workshop only); lunch will be available for $10.00. Registrations will be accepted at the door if space permits; however there will be no guarantee of lunch for late registrants. Due to the lack of eating venues nearby, registrants are encouraged to either reserve lunch or bring a sack lunch from home.

DEADLINE

Registrations with checks must be postmarked by March 8, 2010

March 1st, 2010 | Tags: Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, The Writing Life, Writing memoirs, writing workshop | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A special thanks to all of you who read me and follow my blog.  I know I haven’t been blogging much lately but the good news behind that is that I’m writing, working on a new book and it’s coming so well I hesitate to annoy She-Who-Shall-Not-Be Named (Da Muse, for first timers!  Shhh!)

Hope you have a wonderful, cozy, day!

February 14th, 2010 | Tags: ETC, Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, Love On The Line, The Writing Life | Category: Etc. | Comments (1)

Like you, I get so many emails from friends about one thing and another.  Many humorous, some serious, some a bit out there.  Some I pass on, others I think, hm.  This one made me smile at its cleverness.  Enjoy!  Don’t know who wrote it so I can’t cite the contribution. If you find out, let me know.

Recently in a large city in France , a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid

or a whale?”

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia . Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.

They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them … where is IT? Therefore, they don’t have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends. With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ?Good grief, look how smart I am!?

After reading this I thought this person would make a great character for a story!

January 31st, 2010 | Tags: characters, inspiration, Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, Love On The Line, mermaid or whale, The Writing Life, Writing Tips | Category: Etc., The Writing Life, inspiration | Comments (1)

I’ve been squirreled away all January, writing.  And, yes, fighting a nasty virus.  So Da Muse decided that as long as I was housebound she’d make a mercy visit.  Bless her!

Please keep fingers and toes crossed that my editor is as happy as I am with the DELTA RIVER SERIES first book:  DELTA BLUE.  Oh, and a contract will follow, soon.

Family Folklore–Writing memoirs that capture life for fun and profit

On another note, I’m holding an all-day writing workshop in Hot Springs Village, AR Saturday March, 20.  It’s about writing memoirs, yours and your family’s experiences.  I coined the term FAMILY FOLKLORE because I think it best describes those stories we know that are handed down through the generations.  They may absolutely be the truth, or have been embellished in the retelling, or the details may have been confused over the years but they are the stories tell us about our place in the world as gleaned from ancestors, our families, and our friends.  And, of course, ourselves.

Psychologists say that every healthy family has a handed-down family history of usually oral stories: the good, the bad, and the hilarious.  It makes us feel connected.  Look, there are people out there like me:  Great Uncle Henry stole a horse?  Really?  Oh, to save the baby boy who’d fallen down the well.  Whew!  I thought I was about to learn why I keep having these brushes with the law. (I’m joking!  Unless you know better. LOL)

In this workshop I will explain how to write, what approaches to take, writing exercises to tickle those long-forgotten memories, and how to expand the particular into a broader interest piece in order to sell.  Intimate writing for public consumption.

Hope some of you will join me.  If you need to come in and spend the night the Hot Springs Village crew can offer accommodation advice.  My favorite spot is a B&B owned by friends Mike & Rhonda Hicks:  http://www.mountainthyme.com

Below the photos there’s a site to go to for more information  and to register.  Hope to see you there!

Psst! I’ve lost weight since photos were taken!  LOL  Laura Castoro

The deadline to register for the March 20 annual writing workshop sponsored by the Hot Springs Village Writers’ Club is March 8. (If you’re a little bit late that’s okay but you may not have a chance to do the pre-workshop homework!!)

Entitled “Family Folklore–Writing memoirs that capture life for fun and profit,” the workshop will be conducted by Laura Parker Castoro.

Registration and details here. or here: http://www.johnachor.com/beejay/

January 28th, 2010 | Tags: Appearances, Family Forklore, inspiration, Laura Castoro, Laura Parker, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, muse, The Writing Life, work in progress, writing workshop | Category: Book News, Speaking Engagement, The Writing Life | Comments (2)

Seems as if every year-end I think, “Boy, I’m glad that one’s over.  Next year has got to be better.”   But I’m not sure that’s true.  Last year wasn’t really better than the year the before.  In many ways the previous years’ indulgences, greed, and wishful thinking just finally all caught up with us at the same time in 2009.  So, instead of being glad to see 2009 go, I’m going to rethink the year 2009 as having been better than it started out to be, bad as it was.  And I’m still here.  My family is all here.  We are alive and mostly healthy, and moving on.

About New Year’s Resolutions: hate them!  They seem, to me, to burden the new year before it’s begun with “Have Tos”, “Should Dos”, “Do Nots”, and other general admonishments that really just call attention to whatever I think is wrong or deficient with myself in the first place.  NOT a good way to clear the decks and begin with renewed vigor.  So I’m going to start with Happy Tos:

1. Happy to have lost weight this year.  Will repeat with even better results next year.  If not better then more of the same.

2. Happy to have had a book out this year.  Will repeat the effort next year even if the results don’t turn up until 2011.  One must begin.

3.  Thrilled to have seen all my immediate family at least twice each last year, particularly since everyone lives at least one state, some more, away.  Repeat at will in the new year.  And maybe I can add other family members.

4. Grateful to have so many good friends.  Some I haven’t seen in a long time but thank goodness for email, Facebook, YouTube, Skype, and so forth.  I feel in touch even when I can’t touch.  For the new year I will try to learn to be a better texter.  Tweet?  Probably not!

5. Grateful and honored to have so many readers of my novels. It’s been mostly a pleasure to write and its always and continuously an honor to hear from anyone who spent the money to buy a book and then thought enough of it to write me about it.  Those make my day, the Icing On The Cake. (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Who knows what the future holds?  Mostly more than we can imagine and a few things we wouldn’t want to face if we knew about them in advance.  Yet here we are, again, on the precipice.  And the view goes on forever, for all we know.

December 31st, 2009 | Tags: ETC, Happy New Year from Laura Castoro, Icing On The Cake, Laura Castoro, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, The Writing Life | Category: Etc., The Writing Life | Leave a comment

Since my last blog was about how things sometimes don’t go so smoothly in publishing I thought I’d tell you about the better-late-than-never Christmas Present I just received:

“Bake It! Good Housekeeping Favorite Recipes: Cakes, Cookies, Bars, Pies, and More (Favorite Good Housekeeping Recipes)”

My grandmother’s recipe is on Page 174.

Of course, there’s a back story.

December 13th, 2009 | Tags: African American fiction, characters, Christmas and Coconut Cake, Good Housekeeping, inspiration, new releases, research for writing, Writing Tips | Category: Book News, Once Upon A Time, The Writing Life, inspiration | Comments (1)

For anyone who thinks that once a book is on the shelves they are home free, think again.

BUT FIRST:  I found out last week that the anthology I wrote a novella for last January – the 3 week, 110 pages Do-Or-Die marathon for those of you who follow my blogs — is finally out in book form.  Yes, it’s been available as an ebook since late summer.  But I have to admit to being a Luddite.  I don’t download novels.  For those who prefer a solid chip of wood to read, this is your opportunity!  Let’s get the prelims over first.  It will make a heck of a great stocking stuff for any woman.  Appropriate as an office gift, Secret Pal, Hanukkah gift, birthday, any and every occasion.

“Is forty really the new thirty, or is it just an excuse for an older woman to date a younger man? Perhaps it is another chance at love? In Cougar Tales, three short stories give us a little insight into what it is like to want love and find it in a place and with someone younger than expected…” Sharel Love.

Here is the cover and two easy access ways to by it.  I’m told Borders and Waldenbooks should have it and/or can order it.  It’s three stories by two of my favorite authors:  Sandra Kitt and Evelyn Palfrey.  Oh, and me.  As the title implies, they are romances that tell stories about older women and younger men.  Yes, they are fun and sexy and very romantic!

Peruse the cover.  Read the opening of my story here: “Stormy Weather.” Buy it if it intrigues.  And then read on for the tale of the story that became  ’now you see it, now you don’t.’

TO BUY: Click

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Now for the story behind the story.

The first thing I know you are wondering is:  Why is Laura’s name smaller than the others?  It’s a question I asked myself.  And then the editor.  They told me it would be fixed, as we say in the South.  It hasn’t been so far.

Now for the Bookseller sites:

Problems at Amazon site has the author attributions correct but didn’t review MY STORY but one that’s not even in the book!!!  MY story is called STORMY WEATHER! Then they go on to give the WRONG AUTHOR BIO. And you thought you had issues.

What’s no better are the Problems at Barnes and Noble Site: There they have the WRONG author’s name in the byline! My name is on the book cover but not in the credits.  And to that. Only one author is featured in the write up and only One Storyline (not mine) is in the Description.  Da Muse was going to get bent out of shape about it until I told her to read the reviews:

“Out of the 3 stories, the one by Laura Castoro was my favorite.”

I thought the stories were great especially “Stormy Weather” by Laura Castoro.”

Yes, evidently there were copy-edit issues in the un-edited versions that went to reviewers.  MY HUMBLE APOLOGIES.  Da Muse is thinking about being un-infuriated.  I’m easier.  I just hope readers enjoy it once they get their hands on it.  Let me know.

December 6th, 2009 | Tags: "Cougar" Anthology, African American fiction, anthology, Cougar Tales, cover art, Laura Castoro, lauracastoro.com, Laurawrites.com, Love On The Line, new releases, Parker Publishing, reviews, Stormy Weather | Category: Book News, Once Upon A Time, Uncategorized, reviews | Leave a comment