<![CDATA[THE INTOXICATING JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT... - Blog]]>Wed, 26 Apr 2023 20:01:16 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Macalino Authors - Complete Catalog]]>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/crystal-mosaic-books-complete-catalogFor your convenience, I put together this quick catalog of everything The Macalino Authors (a.k.a. my family) has published, so that you could access all of our books from one page. Thanks so much for staying in touch and supporting our work!

*The family pictures are from the early days of our author adventures--a little nostalgia on my part. 🙂
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Tonya Macalino

The Shades of Venice

Faces in the Water
Stealing Lucifer's Dreams
Portrait in Veronese Green

Adult StandAlones

Spectre of Intention
The Ghost & the Cigarette: An Anthology

 The Gates of Aurona Chapter Books

Into the Hare Wood
The Anguana's Tale
Spinwatch
Spirits of the Silver Screen
The Curse of the Children
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The Gates of Aurona
The Battle at Five Oaks
Bridget's Diary: Heroes and Legends of Hillsboro

folklore art Books

The Left Behinds

Nonfiction

Twilight Dance: Recipes for Bath and Body

Raymond Macalino

Picture Books

Damien and the Dragon Kite
Percy's Planetary Surprise

Damien Macalino

Picture Books

What if an Alligator Ate an Avalanche

Super Moo Graphic Novels for Emergent Readers

Boom, Boom, Splat!
Um, What's That?
BONUS ISSUE: Ion Bear vs. The Cloaked Cat

Helena Macalino

Picture Books

The Reflection

The Wish Fish Early Reader Series

The Mouse Bird
The Chipmunk King
The Winter Magpie

Nonfiction

The Book of Slime: 33 Recipes for Stretchy, Twisty, Squishy Fun!
]]><![CDATA[Washington County Authors Holiday Book Fair]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:15:12 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/washington-county-authors-holiday-book-fair
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Thank you so much for supporting local artists this holiday!

When you support local authors like these, you aren't just buying a book. You are helping boost creativity and connection in our community. These writers give back in the best ways:
  • writing mentorship,
  • community panelists,
  • speakers for libraries, museums, and other organization,
  • coaching local creative entrepreneurs, 
  • signings and literary events to boost local businesses,
  • and so much more!

Buying (and reviewing!) their books is powerful way to support these efforts. Not only do you give them the financial means to keep writing, but you lift them up and give them the energy to keep on giving back in all the ways that mean so much!

Picture Books

The stunning beauty of Oregon's four seasons!
Ages 0 - 8
Learning your ABCs has never been so hysterical!
Ages 0 - 5
You tell the story of Damien and his dragon!
Age 0 - 5
A lonesome pig with a heart big enough for all of us!
​Ages 0 - 6
A new toy. A distracted duck. A lesson in friendship.
Story & coloring book in one!
Ages 3 - 9
A boy  brought to his family by magic and loving wishes.
Ages 4 and up
Befriending someone new and different can be out of this world!
Ages 3 - 8

Children's fiction

Meet Super Moo, the superhero with hooves!
(Graphic Novel)
​Ages 6 - 10
Be careful what you wish for!
(Early Reader)
​Ages 5 - 9
Cats are cute...until they foretell your doom!
Packed with Hillsboro history.
(Chapter Book)
​Ages 8 - 12
Can Nicholas & Sabina save Christmas from Krampus? 
(Graphic Novel)
​​Ages 4 and up

children's nonfiction

Stretch your arts and science brain with this bestseller!
​Ages 6 and up
Explore the world through the fast friendships in one Oregon suburb!
Ages 6 and up

Middle Readers

Charlie rolls her wheelchair back into Ancient Greece - into the middle of a myth!
Daisy plays Mary Poppins to a magical inventor with a dangerous secret...
All legends have a beginning...even Santa Claus.

Young Adult

The Norse gods are back and Zeke has their deadly attention.
And he thought the only thing he had to fight at his new school was the bullies...
You were told you didn't have the gift of magic...
Bullies were bad enough before they had hundreds of razor sharp teeth...
Aine flees Faery, but the fire of her magic and its secrets will not be ignored...
Orphaned by murder, two sisters learn to survive in the Oregon wilderness.

Adult thrillers

When arson turns to murder, can two sisters uncover the truth?
A chilling serial killer, a damaged cop. Who will make it out alive?
Venice crumbles; dark, dystopian legends rise.

Adult speculative fiction

Can alien-interbred humanity unite to defeat a common enemy?
A drug runner holds the fate of his species in his hands. 
The Santaman came reeking of love into this place and we did not know him...
An ancient weapon fells Windwir. War descends with magick and machine.

Adult Urban Fantasy / paranormal

A costume shop transforms a woman from lost to finally found!
A story of sisterhood, of magick, and of a town that just won't let go.
Baylee has the gift of touch, but knowing other people's secrets can be murder...
Liz has one night to clean up a gremlin outbreak or lose her hardwon career...
They give Mat a choice: life in jail or return to life she just escaped as their agent.

Adult Romance

Terrorists threaten  Greece. His ex is the only shifter powerful enough to stop them...
Chloe's footloose plans in France are knocked to the ground by a certain rugby player...

Adult anthologies

One hundred authors. One hundred stories. A box of literary chocolates...

Poetry

Welcome to the world of the shelled and surprisingly smart!

local history

The strange and historic cases that gave rise to Oregon's justice system.
The unlikely pioneer town at the intersection of mountain man grit and missionary compassion.
The photographic tale of a town that grew up around an orphanage turned university.
Watch a critical early pioneer town evolve into the Silicon Forest of today!
From lumber to high tech: a visual history of one of the most sought-after places to live in the U.S.!
Timber, agriculture, travel. The rails connected  Hillsboro to the heartbeat of early Oregon.

Adult Nonfiction
A oracle of essays exploring creativity and intuition.
A soulful tool for guidance and growth.
Guidance for depicting animals responsibly.

Participating authors

Ken & Kris Bilderback
Brad
​Cameron
Pamela
​Cowan
Brigette
​Harrington
Damien
​Macalino
Helena
​Macalino
Raymond
​Macalino
Tonya
​Macalino
Erika
Bracken Probst
Jason
Brick
Maquel A.
Jacob
Linda
Mercury
Steve
Davala
Roslyn
McFarland
Gwendalyn
Belle
Kate
Ristau
Nicole
Phoenix
April
​Aasheim
Brian
​Parker
Josie
​Parker
Ken
​Scholes
Dale Ivan
Smith
Mary Jo
Morelli
Arthur
Sommers
Deborah
Raber
Emily
Barnes
Elka
Eastly Vera
Rosemary Lombard
Theresa Verboort
D.C. Jesse
Burkhardt
All links are affiliate links.
]]><![CDATA[Coffee break money: Supporting my community during covid]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2020 17:54:40 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/coffee-break-money-supporting-my-community-during-covidIn a pre-apocalyptic world, I set aside a bit of money to get out of the house each week. I wrote in a coffee shop just to reconnect with humanity for a little while. And I met a friend for lunch to shake the rust off the ol' social skills. I doubt my $20 was a make-it-or-break-it investment in my community, but my $20 along with everyone else's kept our social centers thriving and supported more jobs than I think any of us realized at the time.

That was February 2020.

​This is now:
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Now, friends whose sole income was based off of conventions, book signings, school & library talks, food service, gift shopping, entertainment, and other socially interactive portions of the economy are looking at their bank accounts with genuine fear.

Paycheck-to-paycheck just ended for a good many people.
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To that end, I've put together this list of things I'm doing to support folks who are staring down some rough times ahead. I'm transferring that $20/week that once went to maintaining my sanity to contributing $20/week to prop up my neighbors and friends.

What can we do for the price of a coffee break and a lunch?
​

community support checklist: $20/week

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March 2, 2020: Supporting Elders
Our elder population faces the biggest threat from covid. To that end, I donated one coffee break to Meals on Wheels to help support folks who most need to stay isolated during this epidemic.
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March 9, 2020: Supporting Those Already Threatened by Hunger
Those facing poverty are also greatly threatened by a lack of income during this epidemic. Therefore, I sent one coffee break to Oregon Food Bank.  
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March 16, 2020: Supporting Authors
This week's coffee break went to my fellow authors, especially the independents. Many of these folks rely on speaking fees, signings, and teaching at schools/ conventions to supplement their online sales. (Very folks I know could survive solely off royalties.) I will list a few folks below, but please know that the creative community is vast and desperately in need of your support right now. Most ebooks are $5 or less. I purchased 4 with my coffee break money.
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March  23, 2020: Supporting Hillsboro's Relief Organizations
​A new week, a newer stay-home order from the governor's office. Our local government has been trying to create programs to support local residents. The Hillsboro Community Relief Fund is managed by the Hillsboro Community Foundation, the same foundation which manages the arts endowment for the Hillsboro Cultural Arts Council which I serve on. This money will go to local relief organizations. A brief search will bring up a similar fund in your area.
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March 30, 2020: Supporting Local Artists
During these suppression efforts many local artists have lost their income. Performing artists, visual artists, literary artists, and more. Beyond losing access to their audiences, the supplemental income sources such as supporting schools and libraries in creative learning opportunities are also no longer available. The Regional Arts and Culture Council--which provided grants to support the publication and audio production of books 5, 6, and 8 of my THE GATES OF AURONA series (THANK YOU AGAIN!)--has now created The RACC Relief Fund to offset the almost $9 million in lost arts revenue in our region. Artists can apply for up to $500 in support money. This week's coffee money goes to with a huge heart to my many arts friends. Thank you for all that you do to make our lives more meaningful and to keep our economy thriving.
I will continue to add to this checklist as the weeks pass. I hope you will share in the comments ways you've worked to support your community during these frightening times.

Love to you all,
Tonya

PS - Yes, the books are affiliate links and I may make a few pennies (literally) if you use my link to support one of those authors.
]]><![CDATA[The Ghost and the cigarette]]>Thu, 16 Jan 2020 18:48:36 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/the-ghost-and-the-cigarette​Normally, when asked to contribute a short story to a collection, my first response is to scramble for a polite way to decline. So, when Maya asked if I would be interested in putting together an illustrated anthology about a cigarette ghost, no one was more surprised than I to find myself saying yes.
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​And I wasn’t the only one. Everyone I approached about the project found themselves immediately intrigued. The ghost and the cigarette. It is a collection of symbols that pulls at the creative subconscious…
​Smoke, the gateway to otherworld, the conduit to communication with the gods or the dead or our own deepest fears. Not just a conduit, but also a conductor, deadly in its own right, leaching the animate from our very lungs, blackening them, corrupting the core of our bodies until we can no longer draw in life from the air itself, smothering us.
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​And yet smoke is also a telltale sign that at least once here there was life. For there was something to burn; there was fire. Fire that threatens, but also makes the complexity of human life possible. Fire gave us safety and community. Some even believe fire gave us language and story itself.
​And then there’s cigarettes. A symbol of humankind’s suicidal obsession with dancing on boundary between exhilaration and death. We have always flirted with the edge of existence, grinning victoriously down at the licking fires of the afterlife we believe cannot reach us. Though somewhere deep inside, we know we are lying to ourselves. Whether we push our bodies and minds nearly too far with our quest for career or for physical achievement or for artistic fulfillment, we taunt the Reaper. Until we slip, and he doesn’t.
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​This is where the ghost haunts us. The reminder that there is no escape from that Reaper’s final blow. The ghost slips through the veil of smoke, no longer seduced by that tightrope walk mortals crave. The ghost reminds us of the eternal suffering that awaits after a life lived for selfishness alone. Or, too, it can tell of the love that can survive beyond the confines of the mortal coil, beyond the simplicity of feeble human logic. 
The ghost and the cigarette: that shifting, twisting place, just obscured from our vision. That place we know is there, though we try so hard not to acknowledge it. That place where death touches life…and life touches death.
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Each author Maya and I have invited touched on this place in a different way. I invite you to join us by candlelight, by flashlight, or by firelight—a safe distance from stark reality. Sit down and part the pages. Let the dark narrow your vision.  Take my hand, or Maya’s, or Theodore’s, or another. Take that hand that reaches to you from beyond the smoke of one last cigarette, and let’s see for ourselves what lies beyond.
THE GHOST AND THE CIGARETTE is available now.
]]><![CDATA[The Masks of venice - Traditional]]>Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:41:43 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/the-masks-of-venice-traditionalDark designs, midnight trysts.

Alyse's Venice seethes with shadows and not-quite-forgotten demons ready to rise from the crumbling mortar of the great city's ruin. And the Venetian's themselves? There is no more need of masks. There is no one left to spy them slipping through collapsed hall on their way to satiate their darker desires.

The Venice we know today lost its masks once, too. Carnivale was outlawed in the 1700s. In 1979, Venice decided use the ancient festival as a locus for its cultural revival. The arts of mask making and costumery saw a resurgence, not as a way to disguise guilty parties, but a way to celebrate the traditions of one of the worlds great city-states.​
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photo credit: Stefano Montagner
Mocking propriety, scorning modesty.

But how did the ​famed custom of Venetian disguise arise? The traditional masks enter the history books in the 13th century as a cover for young men tossing perfume or rose water-filled eggs at ladies—something that had to be prohibited by law. As anything with such a long history, the masks have taken on symbolic traditions of their own.
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​The Bauta
Possibly derived from the Veneto-Italian bogeyman the “bau-bao” (although there are other theories), the traditional Bauta was a white full-coverage mask with a protruding lower half for ease of eating and drinking. It was typically worn by both genders with a tricorne hat and a black cloak.
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​The Moretta
Known also as the Mute Maid Servant, the Moretta “Dark” mask was an oval mask of black velvet with eye holes, but no mouth, worn with a wide brimmed hat and/or a veil. The “silent” aspect arose from the fact that the wearer held the mask to her face by grasping a button between her teeth. The mask was often used by upper class women visiting convents.
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​The Gnaga
The Gnaga comprised of a small mask sometimes mimicking a woman’s features coupled with women’s dress and was most popularly used by young men seeking homosexual encounters. Some claim the name comes from the term “gnao” comparing the exaggerated falsettos employed with the costume to a cat’s meow.
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​The Mattaccino
This was the mask favored by those men with their egg-launching slingshots. It is a clown-like mask and the costume generally included a pouch for carrying said eggs.
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​The Volto or Larva
The most typical Venetian mask, the “Larva” name may derive from the Latin for ghost. Volto simply means “face.” Originally, a partial mask, it now refers to the ubiquitous full-coverage mask.
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​Mecio Della Peste
The Plague Doctor mask is a costume derived from the original sanitary mask of the plague doctors developed by Charles de Lorme in the 17th century. The original masks had crystal disks in the eye holes as well, causing them to look like they sported spectacles. The costume version usually includes the long black cloak and hat and the white stick used for handling patients.
Masks of the Commedia Dell’arte
Commedia Dell’arte contributed heavily to the look of Carnival, contributing the masks of its stock characters to the cast of revelers. You can find these masks in an earlier post on my blog.
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​If you love all things Venice, or simply need a good escape into a dark cobblestone alleyway, check out my series THE SHADES OF VENICE on Amazon!
​
Members of my Reader Group get free books, recipes, videos, and more. Join the fun and get a taste of surreal adventure at www.tonyamacalino.com.
**This post was originally published on Fangtastic Books, May 10, 2012
]]><![CDATA[The Masks of Venice - Commedia Dell’arte]]>Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:05:01 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/the-masks-of-venice-commedia-dellarteHidden identities, secret intrigues.
 
Venice, once the golden seat for the conspiracies of an Adriatic empire, slowly declined into the European center of debauchery for generations of disillusioned wastrels flaunting the strictures of the world beyond its waters. By the time Alyse Kate Bryant steps into the island’s ruins in FACES IN THE WATER, Venice has little more left than the legends of what she once was. But those legends grow restless and unwitting accomplices breathe life into those ruthless, hungry elemental powers ready to live again.
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photo credit: Stefano Montagner
Shadowy assignations, sinister bargains.
 
The masks of Venice have become a symbol of the city, a metaphor for her once darkly glittering splendor. Although associated with Carnival, Venetians clung to their masks, not just for that wild celebration, but to cast a veil of mystery over any number of machinations from gambling to dabbling with nuns to courting across class boundaries.
 
Commedia Dell’arte contributed heavily to the look of Carnival, contributing the masks of its stock characters to the cast of revelers. What follows are among the most popular.
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Arlecchino (The Harlequin)
This character’s mask come in a variety of shapes but tend to be characterized the diamond-pattern decoration.
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Patalone (The Miserly Merchant)
Named after St. Pantaleone a favored saint of the city, the merchants were those who “planted lions,” aka trade and commerce in newly conquered countries. The mask is generally a ¾ mask of an old man with a beakish nose.
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Colombina (The Maidservant)
A highly decorated half mask held either on a baton or tied on by ribbons. (Many who choose the Colombina character wear no mask at all.)
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Il Dottore/Balanzone (The Scholar)
A rotund, pompous character loaded with misinformation, Balanzone sports an upper brow mask with a rounded nose. The rest of the costume traditionally consists of a black academic cloak with a wide ruffled collar and cuffs.
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The Capitano (The Captain)
A flesh-colored, or ruddy half mask with a prominent nose and often a moustache, the character portrayed a swaggering bravado, but was pure coward at heart.
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The Paglianccio (The Joker-Clown)
Also known by some as the Jolly Venetian mask, this mask is often characterized by the curling tapers, often bearing bells at their tips.
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Pulcinella (The Crooked-Nosed Hunchback)
A brown or black wrinkled half mask with a hooked nose, this character takes after its name “little chicken” with puckish manner and shrill dialog.
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​Zanni (The Threadbare Old Servant)
One of the iconic masks of Venice, the Zanni is a half mask with a very long, pointed nose. The character is subservient and put upon, hard of hearing, clumsy, and possessed of poor eyesight…often leading to comedic outcomes. 
​Masks from Venetian Tradition
The traditional Venetian masks enter the official history books in the 13th century as a cover for young men tossing perfume or rose water-filled eggs at ladies—something that had to be prohibited by law. I'll cover these masks in a later post.
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If you love all things Venice, or simply need a good escape into a dark cobblestone alleyway, check out my series THE SHADES OF VENICE on Amazon!

Members of my Reader Group get free books, recipes, videos, and more. Join the fun and get a taste of surreal adventure at www.tonyamacalino.com.
]]><![CDATA[Interview with illustrator Maya lilova]]>Tue, 08 May 2018 03:42:41 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/interview-with-illustrator-maya-lilovaWonderfully talented illustrator (and recently also turned author) Maya Lilova and I have been working together for nearly three years now. Together we've created the world of The Gates of Aurona and we now have two collaborative projects coming up: THE LEFT BEHINDS and THE GHOST AND THE CIGARETTE. She's also helped me redesign THE SHADES OF VENICE series and SPECTRE OF INTENTION. I thought it was long past time to give her a proper introduction!
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Hi Maya! Some of our readers don’t know that you live on the opposite side of the world from me, in Bulgaria! Can you tell our readers a little about what makes Bulgaria such a unique and amazing place to live?
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Bulgaria is interesting, as it offers a blend of Europe, the Orient, the Mediterranean, and of course the good old Balkans. I live in Sofia, which is just like any big city, although it does have a richer history than many. But the smaller towns and the nature parks offer an ever-charming experience indeed.
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​The Left Behinds is set in rural Bulgaria. Can you tell us about your ties to rural Bulgaria and what your best memories of this magical place are?

When I was a kid, my sister and I spent the whole summers with my grandmothers at their villages and so did many other children from the cities. This is because many families migrated to the cities during the 20th century, but kept their rural residences and roots, where the elders eventually to moved again in retirement. We spent a lot of time playing, exploring the surrounding fields, and hanging out with the animals. Until dark!
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How did you hear about the spooky creatures in this book? Did you ever go looking for spooks when you visited your grandma?
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Actually, my grandmas, due to Communism, did not have the folksiest upbringing! It was a very pragmatic ideology and all things religious and occult were frowned upon. I got into the folklore when I was a teenager and an adult, reading some fantastical literature. I am catching up on the looking now!
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What is your favorite spook and why?
​
I think that would be the plutenik! Discussing it with my Mom kind of kick-started this project. The interesting thing about the plutenik is that it has a vast amount of regional variations - from nearly a traditional vampire, to a helpful house sprite!
​

​GATES fans always tell me how much they love your illustrations. Can you tell us how you got into art, what you love about it, and what inspires you most?

I have been doing it as long as I remember! It's just a thing I do. I have a lot of fun with it! I like to see the nice or interesting things in the surrounding world, whether it be humans, animals, plants, or technology. And I've curated my social media feed, so I see a lot of cool digital, ink, and watercolor art, which are some of my favorite styles!
For those future illustrators out there, can you share what it is like to work as an illustrator?

My favorite thing about the profession is that we get to learn many things doing research for an illustration. All kinds of sciences and humanities, and of course art styles play a role! So you get to stay curious and keep experimenting. And as a book illustrator in particular, you have the privilege of reading many cool books. Rewarding work!​
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And last, but not least, our readers are curious: How did we meet and what is it like to work with a writer in a time zone completely upside down from your own?

We met through a freelancing platform. I do believe that for most jobs, remote work is the future. As long as a task is completed, the participants can freely manage their time and even travel around. And hey, nearly all timezones have a time window where everyone is awake and active! Except the Australians...
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Thank you so much, Maya, for sharing some of your experiences with us! I can't wait to learn more about Bulgaria in our future projects. You always know how to keep the work fun and I think it shows in our books. 

From the upside down timezone: here's to many more amazing creations!
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]]><![CDATA[The Desperation and the Joy - Holiday Book Shopping List]]>Sun, 03 Dec 2017 03:06:32 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/the-desperation-and-the-joy-holiday-book-shopping-listThe desperation and the joy: endless hour of the last minute is up on us! I've put together this quick list of my favorite books from this year. Perhaps you will find a bit of inspiration within these digital stacks for your own shopping. If you have suggestions of your own, please leave the titles and authors in the comments section!
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All images link to Amazon.

Graphic Novels

Some of these my kids introduced me to. Some I stumbled onto at comic cons. Each of them showed a flair for storytelling that I found endearing and just a little bewitching. There's some amazing work being done out there. My graphic novel TBR pile is gargantuan! (PS - MOnstress is not intended for children.)

Kids / Young Adult Books

The first two my son passed along to me from Oregon Battle of the Books. The others I got from author talks. THE HONEST TRUTH  is a book I will probably remember for the rest of my life. All of them, however, stayed with me for a long time after I finished them.

Folklore

My day wouldn't be complete without a couple articles from Archeology Magazine and a couple of hits of folklore. The Russian book has some gorgeous paintings for the illustrations. And the Norse book is, of course, by Neil Gaiman and I could swim in it for days!

Nonfiction

I read a ton of business-related material every day, but most of it isn't in book format. These two by Mike Michalowicz are brilliant, though. (Even if he does get a little slap-happy with his chosen metaphor in book one...)

Grown Up Books

This summer I loaded up on the all the classic books in my genre that I've never gotten around to reading, but really want to. But above even those, these two book are coming with my on my holiday vacation. I dearly love both of these authors and have heard awesome things about their books. I can't wait!
Hope that helps with your shopping! If you have any suggestions for me or the rest of the reader group, please share them in the comments section! Have a great holiday!

PS - All links are Amazon affiliate links.
]]><![CDATA[A thank you ...The Macalino Guide to gifts for readers of all ages]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2016 20:28:19 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/a-thank-you-the-macalino-guide-to-gifts-for-readers-of-all-agesSignings and reading events bring my family of authors together with readers from all over the globe. We have such a great time chatting about our shared love of books and learning people's stories! What an amazing community to be a part of.

In thanks for all of you sharing your thoughts and passions with us--and for your support of our own writing endeavors--we have put together this shopping guide of six books for every reader age group represented by our works. Hope it is helpful! 

​Here's to another year of inspiring one another!

(Want to continue the sharing? Add your reading suggestions down in the comments box. Be sure to mark the appropriate age group!)
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Picture Books
Reading Level: 0-6 years

The Macalinos

Damien and the Dragon Kite
​(Raymond Macalino and Andras Balogh)
Percy’s Planetary Surprise
​(Raymond Macalino and Andras Balogh)
​What If an Alligator Ate an Avalanche
​(Damien Macalino and Eduardo Paj)
The Reflection
​(Hélena Macalino and Justyna Pawluczuk)

Our Favorites

Tuesday
​(David Wiesner)
Fifty Degrees Below Zero
​(Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko)
Lady in the Water
​(M. Night Shyamalan)
Waking Beauty
​(Leah Wilcox and Lydia Monks)
Instructions
​(Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess)
When a Monster is Born
​(Sean Taylor and Nick Sharratt)

Children’s Graphic Novels
Reading Level: 6 – 10 year

The Macalinos

Super Moo #1: Boom, Boom, Splat
(Damien Macalino and Eduardo Paj)

Our Favorites

Babymouse (Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm)
Squish
(Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm)
Ghosts
(Raina Telgemeier)
El Deafo
(Cece Bell)
Phoebe and her Unicorn
(Dana Simpson)
The Silver Six​
(A.J. Lieberman and Darren Rawlings)

Early Readers
Reading Level: 5 – 9 year

The Macalinos

The Wish Fish #1: The Mouse Bird
(Heléna Macalino and Milena Radeva)
The Wish Fish #2: The Chipmunk King 
(Heléna Macalino and Milena Radeva)

Our Favorites

Mouse Tales
(Arnold Lobel)
The Shy Creatures
David Mack)
Lionel and the Book of Beasts
E. Nesbit and Michael Hague)
Space Cat
(Doug Cushman)
Leo the Lop
(Stephen Cosgrove and Robin James)
Lulu and the Brontosaurus
(Judith Viorst and Lane Smith)

Chapter Books
Reading Level: 8 – 12 years

The Macalinos

The Gates of Auròna #1: Into the Hare Wood
(Tonya Macalino and Maya Lilova)
The Gates of Auròna #2: The Anguana's Tale
(Tonya Macalino and Maya Lilova)

Our Favorites

The Spiderwick Chronicles #1: The Field Guide
(Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black)
The Dark Is Rising #1: Over Sea, Under Stone
(Susan Cooper)
The Guardians of Childhood #1: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King
(William Joyce and Laura Geringer)
The BFG
(Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake)
Odd and the Frost Giants
(Neil Gaiman and Brett Helquist)
I Funny
(James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, and Laura Park)

Adult Books

The Macalinos

Spectre of Intention
(Tonya Macalino)
The Shades of Venice #1: Faces in the Water
(Tonya Macalino)
The Shades of Venice #2: Stealing Lucifer’s Dreams
(Tonya Macalino)

Our Favorites

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
(Robin Sloan)
Solstice Wood
(Patricia McKillip)
The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
(Galen Beckett)
A Southern Vampire Mystery #1: Dead Until Dark
(Charlaine Harris)
Ocean at the End of the Lane
​(Neil Gaiman)
Ready Player One
(Ernest Cline)

Crafting/Cooking

The Macalinos

Twilight Dance: Recipes for Bath and Body
(Tonya Macalino)

Our Favorites

20 Ways to Draw a Tree
(Eloise Renouf)
Draw 500 Faces and Features
(Carol Bean)
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
(Scott McCloud)
Paleo Takeout: Restaurant Favorites Without the Junk
(Russ Crandall)
The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook
(Dinah Bucholz)
Flash Bang Pop Fizz: Exciting Science for Curious Minds
​(Janet Parks Chahrour and Ann Humphrey Williams

Writing / Publishing

The Macalinos

Publishing Your Picture Book Webinar (Raymond Macalino)

Our Favorites

Hanging Out with the Dream King: Conversations with Neil Gaiman and His Collaborators
(Joe McCabe, Sophia Quach, and Neil Gaiman)
Steering the Craft: A 21st-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
(Ursula K. Le Guin)
Story Engineering
(Larry Brooks)
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print
(Renni Browne and Dave King)
The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
(Christopoher Vogler)
Reader Magnets: Get Readers to Come to You
(Nick Stephenson)
]]><![CDATA[Farewell Jacobsen's Books]]>Tue, 12 Jan 2016 21:37:42 GMThttp://tonyamacalino.com/blog/farewell-jacobsens-books​Once upon a time…
 
Because isn’t that how all the best stories start? With once upon a time?
 
Once upon a time, two young mothers took gambles on their dreams. They created businesses in a quaint little downtown in a quaint little city called Hillsboro. One of these young ladies—we’ll call her Tonya—opened a soap and lotion business (Rustling Sage) and sold her wares in a charming boutique aptly named The Artfull Garden. The other young lady—we’ll call her Tina—opened a bookstore from the inventory she had amassed in her online bookselling.
 
This legendary bookstore was known as Jacobsen’s Books & More.
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​Kay, the owner of The Artfull Garden, suggested to Tonya that she would be wonderful friends with Tina as they were both in the same time of life and both loved books. Tonya dug in her heels. Tonya did not like being told who she might and might not get on with. (Tonya was much feistier in those days!)
 
“You will really love her!”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
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​But finally it came to pass that Tonya accomplished her dream: she published her first book. Blushing and stuttering, she approached Tina about carrying this little blue tome in her shop. Tina was gracious and kind and welcomed Tonya and her little blue tome with open arms. With help from Kay, she and Tonya planned out the book launch for this book, SPECTRE OF INTENTION, and hosted it in Kay’s shop.
 
It was a wonderful success.
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​This was not the only wild scheme that Tina would agree to over the years. (Tonya is full of those. But to be fair, so is Tina!) As Tina grew and developed her business and her outreach into the community, Tonya closed down Rustling Sage and turned her focus to book publishing, issuing three more tomes with Tina as her home bookstore for book launches, writing classes, literacy fundraisers, and a two-year author reading series. Tina even gave Tonya a key to the shop, she was there so often!
 
When it became apparent that Jacobsen’s had truly become a part of the Hillsboro community and needed more event space, Tonya and her family (along with their friend Brad Cameron) came down after hours and moved bookshelves, furniture, and books – lots of them. Tonya and Tina even snuck out of the motherly duties one night and redecorated the front end of the bookstore!
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Overall, it is estimated that together Tonya and Tina coordinated nearly fifty events together in their five-year run as partners in crime. (Pictures below.) Running your own business, whether publishing or bookselling, is always an emotional rollercoaster. It was invaluable to have someone with whom to share the ride. But the bookselling industry has been in a tough place these last few years and it looks like that ride has finally come to an end. Tonya-and-Tina will now become Tonya and Tina (even though no one is quite sure which name belongs to whom).
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​So farewell to my partner-in-crime.
 
And hello to my dear, dear friend and hello to the endless possibilities that lay before a brilliant, ambitious woman with dreams enough to build a community on!
 
“You will really love her!”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Yeah, Kay. You are right. I really, really will.”
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