Let's visit with Mayra Calvani, author of The Magic Violin

Mayra has written many books for children as well as for adults and has won awards for her writing. Let's pay her a visit in this interview.

Q. When did you start writing?
I started writing stories when I was about 12 years old. I used to write in a 'secret' notebook during history or ethics class and cover up what I was doing with a big textbook. Of course, I got caught a few times! But the teachers soon realized, I guess, that I was a consummate storyteller, and that those stories I had in my head had to come out somehow.

Q. Did you write stories for children at that point in time?
No. It was not until I had children and I was in my thirties that I began to fall in love with children's literature.

Q. How did you do with your first book?
My first try at a picture book earned me a Honorable Mention Award at the 78th Writer's Digest Writing Competition and a Finalist place at the ABC's Children's Picture Book Competition. I've been continuously writing children's books since then.

Q. Did you ever get into writing adult stories or nonfiction?
Yes, my Muse also takes me into the world of nonfiction, women's fiction and paranormal thrillers for adults. For these books, I have a separate website at www.MayraCalvani.com.

Q. What other activities have you done besides write?
I've been a book reviewer for the past 12 years and my nonfiction book, co-authored with Anne K. Edwards, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing,just won a Foreword Best Book of the Year Award under the Writing Category.

In addition, once in a while I enjoy doing freelance journalism for various publications such as Suite101 and Blogcritics Magazine, and I'm also the National Latino Books Examiner for Examiner.com. Together with Anne K. Edwards, I also co-edit Voice in the Dark newsletter.

Q. How do you find the time to write?
I never sleep! No, seriously, it takes a lot of organization, persistence and commitment (as well as a certain kind of madness!).

Q. Do you belong to any writing clubs or organizations?
I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Children's Writing Coaching Club, and the Children's Book Insider Clubhouse.

Q. What do you do when you're not writing?
When I'm not writing, I love reading (duh!), listening to audio writing workshops, watching old series like I Dream of Jeannie and Charlie's Angels, traveling, walking with my golden retriever, Amigo, and just sharing and spending time with my family.

Sounds like you have a very interesting life, Mayra. Thank you for visiting with us.

I am curious about her book, The Magic Violin. How about you? So here is a peek into the book.

The Magic Violin is set in the late 1800’s in Brussels, Belgium and combines elements of reality and magic. It is the story of a young girl who is learning the violin and who suffers a lack of self confidence along the way. But with the help of her Romanian teacher (who happens to be a good witch!), a virtuoso Russian hamster and a shooting Christmas star, she’s able to regain her self trust and succeed.

Reviews:

"... The Magic Violin is an inspiring and uplifting book about a young girl and her realization that believing in oneself can have a very magical outcome... Mayra’s book definitely has a strong message, one that is important and everlasting. For children and jaded adults alike, The Magic Violin will lift spirits and just may give you and your child the boost to believe in your power to reach your goals."
--Mama Divas

"This is a lovely tale to snuggle with family and hot cocoa, in front of a cozy fire, on Christmas Eve." ---Beverly Stowe McClure, YA novelist

You can get her book and hop on Mayra's blog here.

My website: www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com
My blog: www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com

Find out about another fabulous author

On November 15th I will be hosting another wonderful author, Mayra Calvani. Be sure to come back to read about the author of The Magic Violin. This author has won awards for her writing. How does she do it? Come back and find out.

Let's get to know more about Gayle Trent!

If you read my last post, you will undoubtedly be interested in learning more about this author. Thus I have posted an interview with her that I think will catch your eye.


Q: What inspired you to write Dead Pan?
Gayle: "I was reading an article in Wired magazine about clinical drug tests. I did some further investigation, and I came across some fascinating stuff."

Q: What would you like to overhear people saying about your book?
Gayle: "'I laughed so hard when--.' A local book club selected Murder Takes the Cake as one of their books; and when I attended the meeting, I was delighted to hear that they thought this or that part was funny. I also love it when people say, 'I never guessed ______ was the villain.' Also, there was a review where a woman said she loved the main character's relationships with various members of her family--that they were beautifully or realistically drawn. I felt like, 'Oooh, she got it!' Actually, I'll take anything that's not negative. :-)"

Q: What do you advise new writers to do?
Gayle: "Read the genre they're interested in writing. For instance, when my agent pitched my first three chapters of the embroidery mystery to the editor, the editor said she liked it but didn't love it. I needed to revise it to make her love it in order for her to buy the book. I asked my agent who the editor had published recently. With two names in hand, I went to the bookstore and bought two books. I read them and found they were more descriptive than my own books. I went back, added more description and gave the heroine a bit more spunk, and the book sold. Sometimes you have to be flexible."

Q: Tell us three interesting/crazy things about you.
Gayle: "One, There is a feral cat who comes to visit us on holidays. We’re pretty sure he belongs to somebody because he’s always well fed. We think we’re his 'other family.' We first realized his penchant for visiting on holidays when he came and cried at our door on Mother’s Day. He came back for Memorial Day and Father’s Day, and so on. Sometimes, he’ll drop by for a visit, and we have to check the calendar to see what holiday it is.
"Two, I have an adorable cartoon Debbie Ridpath Ohi did of me with a cake (for 'Murder Takes the Cake') when her blog InkyGirl hosted me on my blog tour. The cartoon is framed and hanging above my desk. I figure I’ll never look that good in a picture again!
"Three, I once got to interview the famous criminalist Dr. Henry Lee via telephone for an article which appeared in Law and Order Magazine."

Q: What is your Favorite quote?

Gayle: "It’s not enough to stare up the steps. You must step up the stairs." – Vance Havner

Q: Do you have any funny writing stories to share?
Gayle: "I once tried to 'write' using my laptop's voice recognition feature while baking brownies and peeling potatoes. Great multi-tasking, right? BUT, there is a drawback to using voice technology gadgets when you have a Southern drawl. Although, the exercise helped me get unblocked and continue on through the chapter I was struggling with, the computer misunderstood most of what I said. AND, to add insult to injury, when I read back over what it said and laughed, the computer translated that as 'a a a a a a a a.'"

Q: The books you wrote are called cozy mysteries. What exactly is a cozy mystery?
Gayle: "Cozy mysteries usually take place in a small community and involve a relatively small number of people. The reader knows that someone within the intimate group will turn out to be the killer. Think Desperate Housewives with one of the cast turning out to be the killer as opposed to Criminal Minds or CSI. Cozy mysteries also feature an amateur sleuth as opposed to a professional detective, and the heroine has an interesting profession or hobby."


Thank you, Gayle for letting us get to know you better.


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I also include a biography of Gayle that makes her more real to most of us.

Gayle Trent is a full-time author. She is currently at work on a new cozy mystery series involving her hobby, cake decorating. The series features Daphne Martin, a 40-year-old divorcee who has begun the second phase of her life with a new home and a new business venture—Daphne’s Delectable Cakes. Gayle lives in Bristol, Virginia with her husband, daughter and son.

She previously worked in the accounting and legal fields, and her last such job was as secretary to a Deputy Commissioner in the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Though she enjoyed the work, it was a long daily commute and she felt she wasn’t spending enough time with her family. Now she writes while her children are at school; and thanks to a crock pot and a bread machine, can often have dinner ready when everyone gets home.

"I think it’s important to be here for my children…to take part in school functions and to be an active part of their lives," Gayle says. "I can certainly sympathize with moms who work outside the home—been there, done that—but I would encourage everyone to make time to visit their children’s schools, to have lunch with them [at school] occasionally, to get a feel for who their friends are…little things like that."

Gayle loves to hear from readers who can contact her:

e-mail: gd830@hotmail.com


Web sites: http://www.gayletrent.com/

http://gayle24202.tripod.com/.


If you share an interest in cake decorating, please visit Daphne’s Web site, available via click-through from either of Gayle’s sites or at http://www.gayle24202.tripod.com/id9.html .