Mayra Calvani
Multi-genre author, reviewer and animal advocate Mayra Calvani hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She's the National Latino Books Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a regular contributor to Blogcritics Magazine and Suite101.
Mayra keeps two blogs, Mayra's Secret Bookcase and The Dark Phantom Review.
Visit her newest, fun blog, Pets and Their Authors, where her golden retriever interviews authors' pets.
Contact Information
Articles by Mayra Calvani
June 21, 2009
A Deadly Habit is an unusual mystery as far as mysteries go. It is laugh-out-loud funny and features a feisty, willful heroine that will both test your patience and steal your heart.
May 19, 2009
Third-rate Hollywood actors and top NASA astronauts come together in this quirky, hilarious romp of a novel.
May 18, 2009
My guest today is Puerto Rican poet Luivette Resto. Although Luivette was born in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, she was raised in the Bronx. She graduated from Cornell University with a BA in English Literature and a minor in U.S. Latino Studies. Later, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Currently, she teaches English at Citrus College and Mt. San Antonio College. Her poems have been published in publications such as Latino Today, Mija Magazine, Harpur Palate, The Furnace Review, and Falling Star Magazine. She most recently published her first collection of poetry titled Unfinished Portrait.
May 18, 2009
I have some exciting news to share. There's a new hot spot for Latino authors to promote their work: Bronzeword Latino Authors. Run by award-winning author Jo Ann Hernandez, this new site is aimed at spreading the work and accomplishments of Hispanic authors worldwide. Jo Ann will be offering various promotional services, including virtual book tours. Here to talk about her new endeveour and the Latino book market is Jo Ann herself.
May 14, 2009
Rebeca Gomez Galindo talks about her books and writing life.
May 14, 2009
Mystery author Marta Stephens talks about her Sam Harper series.
May 14, 2009
Author Sandra Rodriguez Barron talks about her novel, The Heiress of Water.
May 14, 2009
Meet Latino cop, poet and editor Sarah Cortez.
May 14, 2009
South African horror author Joan de la Haye talks about her book and writing life.
May 14, 2009
When you hear the term ADD, hyperactive, badly behaved children who do poorly at school come to mind, but this condition doesn´t only affect children. Gina Pera´s book, Is It You, Me, or Your Adult A.D.D.? takes a look at an often ignored aspect of ADD, that of adult ADD.
May 14, 2009
Living the Vida Loca is a fun, entertaining novel.
May 14, 2009
Primarily, Hungry Woman in Paris is the story of a young woman trying to find herself in a foreign country. Yet it is so much more than that.
March 20, 2009
Lovely book about a young violinist.
March 17, 2009
A deftly crafted mystery novel written by Marta Stephens, a new author to watch out for.
March 07, 2009
100% of royalties from this book will be donated to dog rescues nationwide.
March 07, 2009
Disturbing, true story about drug addiction.
September 22, 2008
Rainbow Sheep is an original, sweet story about a little shepherdess called Genevieve and her flock of sheep.
September 17, 2008
A closer look at the art of book reviewing.
September 03, 2008
In Latin America and Europe combined, approximately 250,000 bulls die each year. Do these bulls fall prey to a deadly virus, perhaps? Far from it. The bulls are tortured and killed for the sake of entertainment. Have we evolved at all since the Roman times?
July 04, 2008
Fantasy author Christopher Hoare talks about his latest novel, The Wildcat's Victory.
June 30, 2008
Children's author Jeff Clineff talks about his book, TOO MANY KITTIES.
June 30, 2008
Award-winning author Mathias B. Freese discusses his latest literary short story collection.
June 27, 2008
Interview with Dena Jones, WSPA US
June 23, 2008
Children's book illustrator Kim Sponaugle talks about her work in the children's publishing industry.
June 23, 2008
Kim Sponaugle is the illustrator of 13 children's picture books. When she was 8 years old, her grandmom entered her picture in a "color the bunny" contest. She won. The prize was a paint-by-numbers set. But Kim soon got bored with the numbers and began painting on her own. With time, her love for dr...
June 16, 2008
Puppies are not toys. You hear that all the time. But you´d be surprised at the number of people who seem to ignore this. It´s sad, but many people buy a dog, only to return it to the store or breeder—or worse yet, a shelter!—a couple of weeks later because they ´couldn´t handle it´.
June 16, 2008
A dark, haunting collection of short stories.
June 16, 2008
Getting a new puppy is an exciting time for a family. It´s just like the arrival of a new baby! If there are kids in the family, then the event is even more thrilling. Hopefully, you have done your homework and read books on the subject and know all about the responsibilities of owning a new pet. There´s only one thing left to be done: finding the perfect name for your puppy.
June 16, 2008
I used to think writing children´s books was boring. Writing for those demanding, whining creatures? Are you kidding? Not for me. No thanks. That was a few years ago.
June 09, 2008
Interview with Sharanya Prasad, Marine Mammal Program Officer, WSPA USA.
June 02, 2008
A hilariously funny children´s picture book about an old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes.
June 02, 2008
Interview with children's author Shari Lyle-Soffe.
May 11, 2008
Author, speaker and imagist Melissa Zollo talks about the power of imagination.
May 11, 2008
Mary Jean Kelso is a journalist and a multi-genre author of adult, young adult, and children's books. In this interview she talks about her latest picture books, illustrated by reknown Oregon artist K.C. Snider.
May 14, 2008
The secret to work great with an illustrator is mutual respect and communication.
May 05, 2008
Children's book author Donna J. Shepherd talks about her two new picture books, Ouch! Sunburn! and No More Gunk! both under Guardian Angel Publishing's new Health and Hygiene imprint. Donna, who also writes devotionals, also talks about her working environment, book promotion, and her experience in looking for a publisher, among other things. She offers some sound, wise advice to aspiring authors.
April 28, 2008
Interview with Fantasy author R. Leigh.
April 27, 2008
Book review of BLACK MAGIC WOMAN, by Justin Gustainis.
April 25, 2008
Barbara Techel's first children's picture book is touching and inspirational. It is the true story of a miniature dachshund that falls ill to a paralyzing disease, and how she overcomes all the obstacles while remaining as sweet and gentle as before. The book carries a powerful and important message for children and adults alike.
April 23, 2008
Lee Denning is the pen name for father/daughter writing team Denning and Lee Powell.
April 19, 2008
Interview with Author Justin Gustainis.
April 15, 2008
SF author Phoebe Wray talks about her debut novel, JEMMA7729.
April 15, 2008
Wray's debut SF novel is thought provoking and action filled!
April 02, 2008
Illustrator K.C. Snider talks about inspiration and her collaboration with authors.
April 02, 2008
Two books by children's book author Shari Lyle-Soffe.
March 20, 2008
Interview with author and news director Don Miles
March 16, 2008
International thriller set in 2022 Brussels, Belgium.
March 16, 2008
Picture books aren't as easy to write as they seem. Learn why from children's book author Margot Finke.
March 11, 2008
Literary writing at its best.
March 07, 2008
Author Jennifer Gladen talks about her upcoming children's picture books.
February 19, 2008
Susan Berger is the author of Jamie's Dream, a children's picture book on which she collaborated with her son. I was happy to have a recent opportunity to talk with her about her new book, about writing, and where you can buy a dream.
February 13, 2008
A bizarre, spooky, and downright hilarious read.
February 08, 2008
Two great picture books young children will love.
February 06, 2008
Grandfather-granddaughter writing team collaborate on a book about friendship for this Valentine's Day.
February 04, 2008
Are you passionate about books? Do you dream of becoming a book reviewer? Are you curious about the influence reviews have on readers, booksellers, and librarians? The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing will teach you everything you´ll ever need to know about reviewing, from how to write them to understanding their influence over the wider spectrum of the publishing world.
February 03, 2008
Christian children's book author Cynthia Reeg talks about inspiration, her books, working habits, and the business of publishing.
December 18, 2007
Separate Worlds
By Nancy Minnis Damato
Wings e-Press, Inc.
Copyright 2007
General Fiction/Historical
Series (Book III)
Available on Amazon
The story of the Taylor family saga continues in this the third and final installment, Separate Worlds. Under the skillful pen of talented author Nanc...
December 17, 2007
Corinne Demas has written many books in a variety of genres. A violinist herself, music has influenced her work. She is a Professor of English at Holyoke College and Fiction Editor of The Massachussets Review.
Welcome to American Chronicle, Corinne. Let's start by talking a little about your vi...
December 16, 2007
Double Daggers is a fascinating story about a cursed coin and the four men who become affected by it across the ages. To read my review of this novel, visit The Slippery Book Review Blog. The author was kind enough to take time of out of his busy schedule to take part in this interview.Why don’t you...
December 16, 2007
http://www.bottlecapbooks.com
Hundreds of books on writing are available on the market these days. I try to get my hands on any new writing book that comes out, even though most of them end up being repetitive in one way or the other. I was pleasantly surprised by Bessler's book because, while it...
December 07, 2007
A Complete Guide to Promoting and Selling Your Self-Published Ebook
by Dorothy Thompson
http://www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com
With the rise of the internet, electronic book publishing has become extremely popular. It's relatively easy and inexpensive to create an ebook and sell it from a we...
December 06, 2007
Laurel, MD –— FIRE! You see it on the news, on the Internet, in the papers, but if it doesn't strike close to home it's easy to ignore. With one e-mail sent by publisher Karen Syed to 21 authors, "The Heat of the Moment" was developed. Each of the authors, the youngest being sixteen years old, invol...
December 05, 2007
Christmas time is a wonderful time for soulful violin music and children's picture books.
Join me this month as I tour the blogosphere to promote my first children's picture book, THE MAGIC VIOLIN. The tour begins on December 1st and will end on Christmas Day, when I'll be giving away a $20 Amazon ...
November 27, 2007
In the small town of Stillwater, the citizens are still haunted by the disappearance of their highly respected reverend twenty years ago. Despite what other people think, beautiful journalist Madeline Barker, the reverend's daughter, is sure the crime was not committed by her beloved stepbrother.
...
November 21, 2007
Who Killed Marcia Maynard? is a short, easily readable little mystery with a twist: written by a psychoanalyst, it is filled with clinical observations about the criminal mind.
A famous child psychologist called Marcia Maynard has been gruesomely killed in her Manhattan home, and psychoanalyst Ma...
November 21, 2007
A former violinist, Erica Miner is now an author, poet and screenwriter. The violin has always been an inspiration and important part of her life and her works are proof of that. In this interview Erica talks about how she first became and author, violin music, and her novels. Tell us...
September 24, 2007
Anne K. Edwards is an author with many hats. She writes in various genres - mystery, fantasy, children's, speculative, and nonfiction. In addition, she is editor of The Voice in the Dark Ezine. In this interview, Anne talks about her ezine and her books.
When did Voice in the Dark Ezine get start...
September 24, 2007
1. Please tell us about your book review site, Armchair Interviews. How and when did it get started?
My business partner and best friend, Connie Anderson and I reviewed books and interviewed authors on television. We had both retired, but mourned the loss of the richness that format brought to o...
September 24, 2007
The Christmas Angel By Mary Jean KelsoIllustrated by K.C. SniderGuardian Angel Publishingwww.guardianangelpublishing.com ISBN: 1933090588Copyright 2007Softcover, 32 pages, $11.95Children’s Picture Book
The Christmas Angel is a sweet, heart-warming Christmas story about a little girl who ends up f...
September 24, 2007
Author Max Anderson specializes in writing adventure/mystery novels for reluctant boy readers. In this interview, Max talks about his work, what goes on inside the mind of young boys who hate reading, and what parents can do to change this.I understand you were a very r...
September 21, 2007
Violin… The word brings such vivid images to my mind. A slender and graceful soloist performing on stage, her eyes closed with delirious ecstasy. The mysterious, dark, gaunt figure of Paganini, his long thin fingers racing up and down the fingerboard with demonic, preternatural speed. Tartini recl...
September 18, 2007
I recently had the chance to chat with Amy Moreno, whose illustrations for The Doll Violinist make her a finalist (together with the story) at the Children’s Picture Book Competition. Amy talks about the artistic temperament, the competitive world of children's book publishing, and offers advice to ...
September 10, 2007
Birthday Snow
by Kim Messinger & Michael LaLumiere
Illustrated by Angela Ursillo
Stagger Lee Books
ISBN: 978-0979100611
Hardcover, 32 pages
Picture Book
Freckled-faced Daniel has a dilemma. It’s his birthday today but there’s no snow. Up until now, it has ALWAYS snowed on his birthday.
...
September 10, 2007
Q:How and when did The Reading Tub get started? What’s its mission?
A:I have always loved to read and, when our daughter joined us in November 2001, I found sharing books with her to be great fun! One day I was talking with my sister-in-law about children's books (positives & negatives) and she ...
September 10, 2007
Q:As I can see, you have many hats. Why don't you start by putting on your publicist hat and telling our readers what a publicist can do for an author that the author cannot do himself?
A:Hi, Mayra, and thanks for asking me to be here! First let me begin by saying that I’m an advocate for learni...
September 10, 2007
There’s a Spider in my Sink!
By Bill Kirk
Illustrated by Suzy Brown
www.Ebooks4Tots.com
Copyright 2005
Ebook
Ages 2-6
"There’s a spider in my sink!
Did he drop in from the brink?
Does he want a little drink?
There’s a spider in my sink!"
Thus begins this very cute picture ebook youn...
September 10, 2007
The Missing Locket
Book I, Cynthia’s Attic series
By Mary Cunningham
Quake (Echelon Press imprint)
ISBN: 1-59080-441-4
Copyright 2005
Trade Paperback, 152 pages, $9.99
Mystery/Paranormal, Middle Reader
The Missing Locket is a paranormal mystery featuring two lovable young sleuths that gi...
September 10, 2007
The Ghost Mirror
By Jamieson Wolf
eTreasures Publishing
www.etreasurespublishing.com
ISBN:978-0974053-776
Copyright 2007
Paperback, $7.99, 120 pages
YA/Dark Fantasy
Thirteen-year old Mave is no ordinary girl. For one thing, she happens to be a black-eyed, redheaded powerful witch, ...
August 08, 2007
The Frugal Editor
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Red Engine Press
Copyright 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9785158-7-4
Paperback, 208 pages, $18.95
The publishing world is so incredibly competitive nowadays, both aspiring and experienced authors who wish to succeed need to make sure that their submissions—be ...
August 08, 2007
Death Game
By Cheryl Swanson
Zumaya Publications
www.zumayapublications.com
ISBN: 1-554110-326-6
Copyright 2006
Trade Paperback, 300 pages, $14.99
Thriller
CG expert Cooper O’Brian’s life turns upside down when her younger brother, a troubled teenager, is accused of murdering another boy i...
August 08, 2007
Q:How long have you been writing?
A:I started writing stories when I was around seven. When I was thirteen, Arizona Highways Magazine sent me a check for $50 for a short story about riding a mule down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Getting that check hooked me, but I must say it was the las...
July 09, 2007
When Sam Hunter lands a summer job in 1975 as a seasonal maintenance worker at Crater Lake National Park in order to make some money for next year’s college tuition, little did he imagine the unusual events which would take place there, events that ultimately would defy his moral beliefs and put to ...
June 18, 2007
Q:What’s an online conference?
A:The Muse Online Writers Conference is an opportunity for writers to meet, mingle, and network with some of the professionals in the publishing industry. It’s an area where you don’t have to worry what you’re going to wear, travel and hotel expenses, or who will m...
June 18, 2007
Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers
By Shel Horowitz
AWM Books
ISBN: 0-9614666-3-3
Copyright 2007
Paperback, $24.95
Book Promotion
If you’re serious about book promotion, this work by marketing guru Shel Horowitz is one you’ll want to add to your permanent reference shelf.
T...
June 18, 2007
Getting celebrity testimonials or endorsements is an effective way to boost sales, add publicity and credibility to your book, and attract attention from booksellers and libraries. As a small press author, I don’t think I would have any trouble getting reviews from Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly or Li...
June 14, 2007
Journeys of Hope: A Star Shall Lead Them
Written & illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier
Guardian Angel Publishing
www.guardianangelpublishing.com
ISBN: 1-933090-28-6
Copyright 2005
Ebook, 26 pages, $6.00
Children’s Picture Book/Christian
Journeys of Hope is a delightful picture ebook that in...
June 13, 2007
That’s right. Talk about living with the competition!
Guardian Angel Publishing (www.guardianangelpublishing.com), a company specializing in children’s picture ebooks and paperbacks, has started an imprint of books written and illustrated by children under twelve years of age. These books will ...
June 12, 2007
Starting your own book club is a great way to share your love of books with other book lovers. Chances are many book lovers would love to start a club but simply don’t know how, or for some reason think it is difficult. Starting your own book club can be easy, inexpensive, fun, and rewarding. The ma...
June 11, 2007
Audio interviews are in rising popularity as a tool of book promotion among authors. After all, all you need are a phone, a witty personality, and a talent for public speaking. The first one is easy—everybody has a phone these days. The second is a gift you may be born with if you’re lucky. The thir...