The Real Mama Grande

Not only is Salma with child, but this mama is now tight with MGM.

Reuters reported yesterday that Salma Hayek and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Inc. have agreed to form Ventanazul, a film company that will "make or acquire independent movies, and hopes to distribute two to four films a year that draw on Latin themes, feature Latino or Latina actors and cross over to mainstream audiences for broad, box office appeal."

With Salma's track record (Frida and Ugly Betty), she's the woman who will get it done!

What I Did This Weekend

I cleaned, cooked and then wore bunny ears while herding five small children hopped up on chocolate and God knows what else through an Easter egg hunt.

No lives were lost in the hunt.

And we had a blast!

But before the weekend began I got this ... uh, if you haven't clicked on link, here's your second hint.

How do you know it's any good?

This week I've been in deep revision mode and I was on deadline for an article that will be published in the June/July issue of Tu Ciudad! Busy! Busy!

But the other day I was nosing around online and came across a message posted from a writer who asked when do we know a story is any good? How do you know if its worth pursuing?

For me, it's gut instinct. If the characters come to life and refuse to go away until I finish their story, then I know this is a journey I have to complete. I don't judge if the story is "good" or "bad." My agent does that for me. How I feel is that every story and character who has come into my life has done so for a reason.

Right after I turned in In Between Men (waaay back in September 2004), I wrote a drama about two sisters who never knew the other existed until their father was diagnosed with cancer. I loved the characters Dori and Sela, but the story was so so. I talked to my agent about it she asked me what I was doing writing a heavy-handed drama when I've been writing comedies? Unfortunately, she has a really annoying tendency to be right and that story has since become an organ donor.

But I missed those sisters. Five or six months later, I was at a wedding and while eavesdropping on a conversation, found the story for Sela and Dori. Next month, "Till Death Do Us Part" will be inflicted on the reading public in Names I Call My Sister.

I'm not sure if I successfully answered this question. For those of you writing out there, how do you know if your story is "good enough"?

Rereading Old Favorites

Before I start a new story or a major revision, I like to reread one of my favorite books. I read them because I want to be swept out of my world and into someone else's. I like discovering the small nuances that I might have missed or forgotten. A favorite book simply reminds me why I am a writer. It's not for the website or the publicity or smart business plans. A favorite book reminds me of the miracle in creating a whole world out of words, ink and paper.

So what am I reading? Diary of a Blues Goddess by Erica Orloff. Someone "borrowed" my copy, as in they'll stole it and I happened to find it when I went to their house the other day! Anyway, it has been years since I last read it and even though Erica has written many amazing books since this one, it holds a special place in my heart.

Do you have favorites you like to read over and over again?

Cheers,
Mary