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Dear Subscribers, A warm welcome to all and especially to those of you who are new to this list. This newsletter announces my dad's new book, my four (count 'em) new ebooks, one of which is free as in "free as the wind," plus four new podcasts, a short story, "Revillagigedo," revived, two questions for you, the best from ye olde blog Madam Mayo, and some nifty recommendations. Plus news about my reading from work in progress January 29 for PEN San Miguel de Allende. Hope to see many of you there! And finally, some news about workshops.

MY DAD'S BOOK Though he passed away in late 2010, my dad, Roger Mansell (1935 - 2010) has published his book! Captured: The Forgotten Men of Guam (edited by his good friend the noted POW historian Linda Goetz Holmes) is now available from Naval Institute Press. To read more, visit www.rogermansell.com >Kindle and hardcover from amazon.com >Order direct from Naval Institute Press “In the days of shock and horror that followed Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, another monumental event, occurring almost simultaneously, was largely overlooked: Japan's bloody seizure of the strategically critical island of Guam. For the American troops, civilians and native people captured in the invasion, so began an epic ordeal. The Americans were shipped off to be slaves for the Japanese, while the natives remained behind to endure four years of brutalities under their captors. Roger Mansell, the pre-eminent historian of Pacific POWs, devoted the last years of his life to unearthing and telling this forgotten story, and after his death, the work was completed by his colleague, the esteemed POW author Linda Goetz Holmes. Chronicling a lost chapter of World War II, Captured promises to be an authoritative, fastidiously researched and compelling read.” —Laura Hillenbrand, author of Unbroken

FOUR NEW EBOOKS Podcasting for Writers & Other Creative Entrepreneurs By C.M. Mayo (Dancing Chiva, Kindle) So you have something to say! There are many eager ears out there, in cars, on trains and planes, in waiting rooms, in kitchens, perhaps washing dishes… Audio podcasts, on-line digital files, not only serve as an important promotional tool for writers, but they can be storytelling vehicles in themselves, whether as stand-alone works or complements to text, and as such, a powerful way to reach new audiences. "What a charming little manual—and what a delightful way to learn about podcasting! With Podcasting for Writers, C.M. Mayo generously offers writers and other would-be podcasters a step-by-step guide to the process of creating an audio recording for the internet. Coming at it with full understanding of the hesitancy others may feel about attempting to podcast, she provides encouraging words, makes her instructions clear and straight-forward, and provides many tips that will help others head off glitches at the pass. In addition to her “easy peasy” ten steps, which are just that, readers are treated to the choice images, ingenious similes, and clever humor that are this writer’s hallmarks. Learn about podcasting while Mayo calls into your mind images of guitarists with mutton chops, Edith Wharton blogging, and kids at pond-side tiddlywinking peas. The book is packed with resources, and the collection of interviews with other writer-podcasters in the appendices are wonderful. If you have a yen to podcast, grab this book and your voice will be on line before the tiddlywink hits the pond." Sara Mansfield Taber "Very helpful and inspiring. And even more helpful if you read it online because it has lots of links to recommended podcasts, podcast hosting sites, and many references. Plus it's a fun read. Takes away all the mysterious mumb jumbo. I especially enjoyed the interviews with other podcasters. This book really opened my eyes to the possibilities in podcasting." A Reader in California (amazon.com review)

Read the introduction Listen to the introduction

My Recollections of Maximilian by Marie de la Fere Edited and Introduced by C.M. Mayo (Dancing Chiva, PDF) A rare English language circa 1910 eyewitness memoir of Maximilian published online by permission of the Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley. Free. Click to download it now. (No worries, it is a small, quick-loading file.) (Tip: If you're using an iPad, download this PDF and then click on the option, "open it in iBooks.")

Los Visitantes: Una vista a Todos Santos, Baja California Sur Por C.M. Mayo, Traducción de Bertha Ruiz de la Concha (Dancing Chiva, iBook) The Spanish translation of chapter 2 of Miraculous Air C.M. Mayo visita a Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, un pueblo único y mágico en la costa del Pacífico— y en la antesala de una gran transformación. Los visitantes es el segundo capítulo del libro Miraculous Air: Journey of a Thousand Miles through Baja California, the Other Mexico, obra que el Los Angeles Times califica como "luminosa" y el Instituto de Estudios Interamericanos llamó "uno de los mejores libros sobre México en muchos años".

From Mexico to Miramar or, Across the Lake of Oblivion By C.M. Mayo (Dancing Chiva, Kindle and iBook) Long in Kindle, now also in iBook format. A nonfiction novela about a fairytale: a visit to the Emperor of Mexico's Italian castle. Originally published in Massachusetts Review. Winner, Washington Prize for Best Personal Essay.

>More Books (The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, Miraculous Air, Mexico: TLC, Sky Over El Nido) >More Ebooks (From Mexico to Miramar, The Building of Quality, Spiritist Manual) >Descargar El último príncipe del Imperio Mexicano Kindle

FOUR NEW PODCASTS Listen online or download them to listen in anytime.

Mary Baxter came to Marfa years ago for the horses and cattle business and stayed to paint the sky-haunted landscapes. Recently returned to Marfa after a decade in (relatively nearby) Marathon, Texas, Mary Baxter talked to C.M. Mayo in her sun-filled studio in October 2012. >>View some of Mary Baxter's works at www.baxtergallery.com >>Read her biography and view more works at Hunt Gallery

Elvis. The private art gallery. Lithium. And even better: no email. C.M. Mayo recounts a visit to this remote Chihuahuan Desert oasis in May of 2012.

Listen in to the many other "Marfa Mondays" podcasts anytime at www.cmmayo.com/marfa

A Conversation with Sergio Troncoso, author of the novel From This Wicked Patch of Dust and Crossing Borders: Personal Essays Troncoso on writing his novel From This Wicked Patch of Dust; El Paso, family, reading and visual culture, writing literary novels, blogging, New York publishing, Chicano literature, US-Mexico border history, and 9/11. Recorded by Skype, summer 2012 *Approx 1 hour. News flash: Sergio Troncoso's novel has won the Southwest Book Award!

Listen in anytime to all the other conversations: Sara Mansfield Taber Michael K. Schuessler Edward Swift Solveig Eggerz Rosemary Sullivan

C.M. Mayo introduces her new ebook, Podcasting for Writers "Naples Dave" and others from fiverr.com are the big voices, along with music clips from istockaudio.com uniquetracks.com, plus silly sound effects, and more. C.M. Mayo recorded her portion at ye olde writing desk (any snoring sounds are from the dog) and edited the whole shebang on her laptop using Apple's GarageBand. As Mayo says, "If I can podcast, so can you."

A SHORT STORY REVIVED Revillagigedo by C.M. Mayo Originally published in Turnrow, recently reprinted in Redux. Thanks to editor Leslie Pietrzyk.

TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU 1. What are your favorite podcasts? 2. Do you podcast and if so, what is your URL? I'll be blogging about podcasts at Madam Mayo and preparing a second edition of Podcasting for Writers over the next six months. I'd love to hear from you!

THE BEST FROM THE BLOG, "MADAM MAYO" Top 10 Books Read 2012 Cyberflanerie: Giselva Silva, Palo Alto Creepiness, Beniamino Bufano, Kevin Kelly Helios 6 and Francisco I. Madero's Spiritist Manual The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece Author and Ghost Expert John B. Kachuba on 5 Literary Ghosts Table Tipping a la Mexicana with the Metaphysical Traveler

>>Get the tweets @madammayo

RECOMMENDED

For reading and listening Araceli Ardón, "Las apariencias engañen" Margaret Dulaney's Listen Well Kevin Kelly Judy Leaver Literal Magazine Seth Godin's The Lynchpin Sessions La Sombra del Sabino Swiss Miss Turtle Light Press For writers Debra Ecklerling's Write On! Giant Bolden Buddha Gold Rush Writers Conference Nancy Zafris at The Porches Work in Progress blog by Leslie Pietryzk The Writer's Center

MY READING FOR PEN SAN MIGUEL ON JANUARY 29, 2013 6 pm Teatro Angela Peralta San Miguel de Allende C.M. Mayo talks about the radical change in travel writing in the digital age and reads from her memoir-in-progress, tentatively titled World Waiting for a Dream: Travels in Far West Texas

WORKSHOP I am not giving any workshops this winter, alas, but I thought you might be interested in this one offered by my friend Ann McLaughlin. It promises to be very helpful for anyone who has been at this for a while and is thinking about the shape of their novel and how to brighten it up with detail. It's a wonderful opportunity to study with one of the Writer Center's best and most experienced instructors. FICTION II @ THE WRITER'S CENTER Feb 2 to March 30 / 8 Saturdays /10:00 to 12:30 / Walsh St., Bethesda In this workshop, we will focus on shape and the telling detail. Every member will have a chance to submit her or his work at least twice and we will also discuss one published work. Ann McLaughlin, Instructor Ann McLaughlin has taught at the Writer's Center for 25 years. She is on the Board and has published seven novels. Her newest novel will be out in September. >To register online, go to https://www.writer.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=353&nccsm=21&__nccspID=2837 P.S. Explore the conucopia of Resources for Writers on my workshop page, including: >Giant Golden Buddha & 364 More 5 Minute Writing Exercises >Recommended Reading (Craft, Process, Literary Travel Memoir) >Podcasts for Writers >Articles

If you haven't already, click on the cover to download this 50+ page cornucopia of the tips from my writing workshops. It is a fully formatted PDF which you can read on any computer and also open in iBooks. [This download is for subscribers only. Subscribers receive the passwords for free e-books in the next newsletter e-mail. If you want your copy of this book immediately, before my next newsletter goes out, sign up for the Dancing Chiva newsletter here.]

Through narrative we become more human. Truth is beauty. Exploration is infinite. Please feel free to forward this to friends.

Approximately 3 - 5 times a year subscribers receive a free, brief, and informative update by e-mail covering my booksignings, lectures, podcasts, videos, writing workshops, any new publications, plus a compendium of the best from my blogs. I value your privacy; for this reason I do not share my mailing list. I use mailchimp, a leading e-mail list management service, which allows you to instantly opt in or opt out or, porquois pas, opt back in again, at any time.