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Category: Mexico

Sheltering in Place – Day 3

I have become The Accidental Hoarder. I thought I’d order 6 rolls of TP on Amazon but somehow ordered 60. When this huge box arrived, I was shocked! We already had 7 on hand so now the total is 67. I have no idea where to put all these rolls. After all, we do live in a condo. Have let the neighbors know in case they are running low. An I-can’t-believe-this message from Instagramer, Vanessa Hudgens: “Til July sounds like a bunch of bulls**t. I’m sorry,” Vanessa says. “But like, it’s a virus. I get it. Like, I respect it, but at the same time, like, even if everybody gets it… like, yea, people are going to die, which is terrible, but like inevitable. I don’t know, maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now.” Gee, ya think, Vanessa?   And on another note, getting yet another bottle of vodka for a neighbor while on a shopping run. Seems to be a lot of self-medicating right now. I know I have become extremely fond of my martinis. Hubby has always been attached to his margaritas. Of course, he makes the best in the world, the way the Mexicans do for themselves, which is fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and 1800 tequila. Recipe given on request.     Stay safe. Wash your hands. And read a lot of books. Now is the perfect time!

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STARTING THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT, ANA MANWARING VISITS

Welcome, everyone! And Happy New Year. Today my guest is Ana Manwaring, a talented author talking about her debut book, Set Up: Secrets and Lies in Zihuatanejo. Set Up is the first of The JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures and after reading the first book, I am glad to know there will be many more in the series.  I’ve asked Ana a few questions about herself and her answers are entertaining, informative, and charming! 1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Before I could read, I knew I would write stories. Dad read to me every night. It was the best time of day. I had vivid, exciting dreams and liked to re-tell them later, filling -in what I couldn’t remember with fiction. When I was eleven I had my palm read and the reader said I’d be a best-seller when I was fifty. I’ll go with that! Seventy, the new fifty, right? 2. How did you pick the genre you write in? I think suspense /thriller picked me. I’d always read mysteries and cold war thrillers, but when I considered writing, my ideas tended more toward commercial literature: family sagas, historical and poetry. Then the narco-thug pointed his rifle at me as I trundled south down the Pan American Highway through Michoacán in my VW pop-top camper. The story started writing itself as soon as I could take a breath and stop shaking. 3. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants? I wrote the first draft of Set Up (under a different title and in the 3rd person) during NaNoWriMo, which I “won.” I started with a first chapter written and no plan whatsoever. The process of high intensity writing and letting the characters lead the way was heady and exhilarating. I truly experienced “writer’s…

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Viva Mexico!

Some of the books I write are humorous mysteries involving a Mexican/America Family called the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, which I am proud to say have won several awards. Our visits to Mexico in the early nineties, often had us staying with Mexican families during the language immersion courses we were taking. I’m here to tell you, the Mexicans won my heart. These are warm, generous souls, who were grateful if you even tried to learn their language, a  language of great beauty, I might add. My husband and I found them to also be a hard-working society, filled with love and humor. How they deal with their own families and the world at large is only a part of what inspired me to write my series in celebration of the Mexican contribution to the good old USA. I am so very proud, in my small way, to have added to what they give us as a culture, and I’m not just talking about their food. So to Guillermo del Toro, born in the historic city of Guadalajara, congratulations on your Oscars. You represent the world of cinema and Mexico in such a classy fashion. And you come across as one nice hombre. To Coco, which won Best Animated film,  I don’t usually go to animated films, but can’t wait to see you. And  to the Best Song, Remember Me, Kristen and Robert Lopez, Ole! I’m humming it now!

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