Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing: A Crafty Chica Novel
"...With wit and sass reminiscent of Fannie Flagg, Cano-Murillo manages to extract much mirth from her cast of craftsters, each striving to transcend restrictive patterns in life (as well as dressmaking) and to defeat family expectations that are squelching self-expression." (Kirkus Reviews)
Release date: March 8, 2011
*
Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel
Reviews:
"Cano-Murillo, known as the 'Crafty Chica' and for her line of craft products, has delved into the writing world to create one of the most lively, imaginative novels I've run across lately. Full of humor, love, friendship and some pretty cool art projects, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter will have readers howling one minute, sobbing the next, and reaching for their trusty glue guns to create their very own 'love shrines' before the end of the book. This novel was just a delightful glittery, shiny, light-hearted treat." (Las Vegas Review-Journal )
"A fun read about stumbling into love, honoring friendship, and celebrating the power of craft. Full of good cheer!" (Kate Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Friday Night Knitting Club )
"Every word in this hilarious, fun read sparkles. Kathy Cano-Murillo is certainly an author to watch. I woke up in the land of happy reading!" (Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author )
"Waking Up in the Land of Glitter is wildly addictive! Funny, sweet, and slyly wicked, it draws you in so deeply that you're not even remotely mad you've spent the night on the couch, reading, and missed all of your shows on Bravo." (Laurie Notaro, New York Times bestselling author )
"Clever character building and a fun storyline will leave readers with a case of the warm fuzzies. Just the thing to curl up with on a cold stormy day or take to the beach." (MonstersandCritics.com )
"Cano-Murillo celebrates friendship and crafting in her fun, fabulous Crafty Chica novel. You'll want to get out your glue gun and invite your best friends over after reading this one." (RT Book Reviews )
Reviews
WAKING UP IN THE LAND OF GLITTER
- Along the Way
People know me as The Crafty Chica, always ready to sprinkle glitter on anything and everything.
But you know what? I've been writing longer than I've been crafting!
Inspired by Judy Blume and Erma Bombeck, I caught the literary bug in grade school. I really owe it to Erma. I read her book, If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?, over and over. I thought that title was just so dang clever. I remember reading an Erma essay out loud to my mom on the way to the grocery store and both of us were in tears from laughter. Erma's kooky storytelling inspired me to draw pictures and write colorful stories to match. As a sixth-grader, I knew I wanted to grow up to be the Mexican version of Erma. When high school rolled around, I immediately signed up for journalism and yearbook.
Years later, I became a full-time features reporter and craft columnist for the The Arizona Republic. I loved that job. I covered arts and entertainment. After launching CraftyChica.com in 2001, I began blogging in 2003. Diary of a Crafty Chica was an outlet to share the joys and tribulations of "crafts, drama and glitter." I juggled a full-time job, college, an art business and a family. At that time, I already had two books out and felt accomplished. One day, my agent called me to chat with an editor at Simon & Schuster (Marcela Landres!). She asked if I would consider writing a novel based on my blog. I laughed off the request on the ouside, but inside, my heart pounded as if I had just sucked down a quad mocha! But when a second editor, Rene Alegria from HarperCollins, asked the same question, I took the idea serious.
Sort of.
There I was, working in the Features newsroom of one of the largest newspapers in the country, but I still lacked confidence. I sat by a team of talented wordsmiths and compared myself to them. I spent one year outlining an idea. That is totally stalling for me - usually when I want to complete a task, I'll do it in one night! I just couldn't work up the courage to write the opening sentence. I eventually joined a local writing group, and signed up for National Novel Writing Month. I cranked out the first draft of my novel, then-titled, The Crafty Chica Chronicles. I spent the next year editing it. My schedule was tight - the only time I could work on it was after 10 p.m. when my husband and kids hit the sack. I stayed up until 2 a.m., four days a week to finish.
In May 2005, I submitted the manuscript to my agent, who sent it back with major revisions. "This book needs a plot! It has so many directions, it is exhausting! Back to the drawing board!" I cried at the other end of the phone as I scribbled on the manuscript pages. I doubted my skills. I put the project away and decided to devote more time to my family - and sleep!
Here is where the universe came into play - in May 2006, I taught a writer's shrine workshop at Alisa Valdes-Rodriquez's inaugural Chica Lit Fiesta in Miami, FL. After listening to dozens of amazing writers share their publishing stories and book excerpts, I came home ready to kick some keyboard booty. I pulled out that manuscript and kissed it. I read my agent's notes and got back to work - again from 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
In early 2007, I submitted the revisions again to my agent. I'll never forget her words: "I love this, I can sell this!" - followed by 11 pages of single spaced notes of changes. I happily made them. She then sent me seven pages of double spaced notes. I made those revisions, sent them in and she responded with minor margin notes. By the end of June, we were ready to submit the manuscript to editors!
The second week of July 2007, the book went out to 11 editors. In the first few days, the declines came in. "All it takes is one," my agent reassured. By Wednesday, an editor made an offer! Within 24 hours, two more editors followed suit! By the end of the week, I accepted a two-book deal from Grand Central Publishing. But the revisions didn't stop there. I worked with my editor to re-craft the plot of my debut novel, WAKING UP IN THE LAND OF GLITTER. My second novel comes out March 8, 2011.
Guess what I'm doing these days? Working on my third novel!
I love contemporary women's fiction. I love cheering for the underdog. I love happy endings. I love pop culture. I love being Mexican-American. I love being a mom and a wife. I love arts and crafts. You can expect all of those in my new Crafty Chica novel series from Grand Central Publishing!
Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter
by Kathy Cano-Murillo
I wrote this book for crafters who are chicken to sew. It offers all kinds of projects and encouragement to embrace fabric!
Click to View on Amazon
Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life
by Kathy Cano Murillo
This book is half projects to make and half essays and self-empowerment features. Glittery ideas to liven up your life!
Click to View on Amazon
The Crafty Chica Collection: Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style (Quarry Books)
by Kathy Cano Murillo
This book is jam packed with about 60 projects to make!
Click to View on Amazon
Crafty Diva's D. I. Y. Stylebook
by Kathy Cano-Murillo
The first of two books I wrote for tween crafters. LOVE this book!
Click to View on Amazon
The Crafty Diva's Lifestyle Makeover
by Kathy Cano/ Wheeler, Carrie (ILT)/ Samora, John (ILT)/ Cano-Murillo, Kathy Murillo
The first crafty diva book did so well, I was invited to do a follow up!
Click to View on Amazon
La Casa Loca: Latino Style Comes Home 45 Funky Craft Projects for Decorating & Entertaining
by Kathy Cano-Murillo
Click to View on Amazon
Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines
by Kathy Cano-Murillo
Click to View on Amazon
Collage for the Soul: Expressing Hopes and Dreams Through Art
by Holly Harrison, Paula Grasdal
I contributed two projects to this book.
Click to View on Amazon
Making Angels, Ornaments, and Dolls by Hand: Step-by-Step Instructions for 47 Projects
by Holly Harrison
I made two angel projects for this!
Click to View on Amazon
Gifts from the Southwest Kitchen
by Judy Walker
My first published crafts that appeared in a book! I worked onthe projects with my sister-in-law, Michelle Cano.
Click to View on Amazon
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul: Celebrating La Comunidad Latina
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Susan Sanchez-Casal
I wrote an essay about my dad and it was selected to be included in this book. It is very special to me, because my dad passed away.
Click to View on Amazon
