[politics and prose washington, september 2007]
Book Launch Cafe exists:
- To inspire excitement around books and reading.
- To encourage creativity through writing short stories.
- To be the fuel to feed the fire for fellow bibliophiles.
- To enlighten our lives through story.
- To open our hearts, minds and eyes.
- To set us free. Let go. Open up.
- To Believe. Think different.
- To put the spotlight on lesser known authors through "Meet the Author", Book Reviews, and Excerpts.
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” - Victor Hugo
Book Launch Cafe is a blog created and written by Maria Carbonell Elliott aka MiLETTE who resides in Santa Barbara, California. She shares her reading journey, writings, book musings, book experiences, inspirations, ideas and the reading life with other passionate readers in this blog.
Book Launch Cafe was created 1 1.5 years ago as the space for authors seeking an alternative to the pricey & posh launch parties. It's a community for authors and readers. Consider it as the perfect complement to the author book tour and a promotional tool for those "hidden gem" books. The spotlight is on the lesser known authors for "Meet the Author" Feature.
Books have always transported me to another place. It's
one of many life's tools I use to design my life. Each word has the potential
to expand my mind, entertain my imagination, let my heart dance, and my spirit
soar. BLC could not exist without the adventurous writers and their
curious readers.
This blog is for all the people who were ever brave enough to let the spirit of flow work through them and audacious enough to get it published.
"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you."
-
Mortimer Adler
A self Q&A. Yes, I interviewed myself!
Are you a published author yourself?
Not yet. I don't rule anything out in life.
Who are your favorite authors?
They're scattered around BLC.
Name one book you've read that people wouldn't
ever think of you reading?
'Taste of a Man' by Slavenka Drakulic. I was lucky enough to
meet her at Politics & Prose and get into her head a little. It's really a
beautiful story of absolute union... cannibalistic love. Exquisitely written. I devoured it.
What genre do you gravitate to the most?
When I'm in the mood, the Classics. Business and Spirituality at the moment. I finally
stumbled upon a book that covers both - The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael
Roach. I really enjoy a human interest story, someone who has overcome great
obstacles. I was moved by Ama Adhe in her book 'The Voice that Remembers'.
If you were to write your story, what would the
title be?
Still
stirring in me. It could be about growing up as a Filipina-American and
illuminating the best of our traditions and highlighting the food. Food
is CENTRAL in our culture.
Name some authors you'd like to invite over for books and dinner? Paulo Coelho, Carlos Bulosan, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. Interesting, they're all men!
What books did you read as a teenager?
Almost embarrassed to admit but
books like 'Flowers in the Attic' and 'Hell Raiser'. I was going through
complicated dark phases in my youth. I gravitated towards
taboo controversial themes. It comforted me in an unusual way.
What would you say defines who you are?
My thoughts and actions, definitely. The
decisions I make on a daily basis and the doors I choose to open (and close!)
leave imprints and shape who I am. Books feed my soul and imagination so I'm
always careful what goes inside. Just like my body has certain cravings for
certain food, my soul has cravings for certain books.
Paperback or hardback? Both. I love the portability of a paperback in my bag. I love reading the classics in hardback though.
Describe
yourself in 3 words.
Curious,
evolving, compassionate.
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Elsewhere
Grad to Great asks Maria for her Top 10 Reading list for college graduates.
Coastal Woman Blog on The Nature of Business: My top 7 for looking to nature to launch your business.
Santa Barbara harbor
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