As promised, I plan on sharing all of my various writings and endeavors here, in the hopes that they will help authors, educators and readers find information on a variety of topics related to Latino literature. It's Hispanic Heritage Month! And I am personally celebrating by doing more of the same: promoting Latino literature and helping Latino authors get published! Here is my latest editorial for mamiverse, with my list of recommended titles to help you celebrate:
Children’s Books to Help You Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Each
year, from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month
offers all Americans the opportunity to celebrate the histories,
cultures and contributions of Latinos in the U.S. These dates were not
chosen randomly; September 15 is the anniversary of independence for
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and
Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18
respectively, and Columbus Day or El Día de la Raza, helps to close the festivities on October 12, as we celebrate Latinos with parades and events held throughout the country.
I can think of no better way
to share our culture than through books! Here are some of my personal
favorites to share Latino achievements with our children and their
friends, teachers and caregivers. I hope that you will make them part of
your own library!
And don't forget that this Saturday is our Second Annual Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference!
Last year, three of our attendees secured agents, and one has already signed a book deal! It is not too late to register!
Participants currently include: Erin Clarke, Executive Editor, Alfred A. Knopf
Books for Young Readers; Adriana Dominguez, Agent, Full Circle Literary; Sulay
Hernandez, Senior Editor, Other Press; Toni Kirkpatrick, Editor, Thomas Dunne
Books; Andrea Montejo,
Agent, Indent Literary Agency; Lukas Ortiz, Managing Agent, Philip G. Spitzer
Literary Agency, Inc.; Jeff Ourvan, Agent, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency;
Johnny Temple,
Publisher, Akashic; and Stacy Whitman, Publisher, Tu Books
This year’s keynote speaker is Reyna Grande, a National Book Circle Critics
Award finalist and winner of the American Book Award and International Latino
Book Award.
Take a look at some of our testimonials!
“I’m a huge fan of this conference! I went last year and
loved being able to connect with other Latina writers, and with local
editors who were seeking freelance work (as well as editors who
encouraged us to submit to their literary journals). I pitched my book
project to two agents, one of whom later offered me representation! The
book is still in the submission process, but I’m hoping to hear some
news very soon. Overall, it was a really inspiring, action-packed day,
and I would highly recommend it to any writer who wants to network and
learn more about the craft.”
“The conference was very well-organized, the location was
modern, close to major transportation, and tech-friendly. The
volunteers were enthusiastic and very willing to help in any way
possible. All of the attendees were genuinely excited and eager to
learn, which was refreshing. Kudos on a job well done and to many more
successful conferences!”
“It was wonderful seeing so many young people who want to
add to the chorus of Latino voices out there. I believe they got
inspiration, information, and a healthy dose of reality. Thank you to
Medgar Evers College and Las Comadres for creating a much-needed service
for our community of writers.”
—Dahlma Llanos Figueroa, author of Daughters of the Stone
Full disclosure: Reyna Grande is one of my clients! Having said that, I think that this writing workshop with this award-winning author—whom, I also happen to know is exacting in the way she approaches her craft, and extremely generous with others—represents a fantastic opportunity for aspiring authors. The fact that the tuition is so affordable only adds to this workshop's appeal in my mind, so I just had to share, which is why I asked Reyna to send me the details and here they are:
What: Creative Writing Workshop with Award-Winning Author, Reyna Grande. When: 4 Tuesdays, Nov. 1 to Nov. 22 @6:30pm Where: Private residence, East Whittier (Los Angeles County) Who: Anyone who is looking for a supportive environment, guidance, and encouragement. How Much: $100.00 for four sessions
Contact Reyna Grande at reynagrande@gmail.com for more information about the classes. If you are working on a fiction or creative non-fiction project and are looking for feedback on your work, and/or would like to learn more about the craft of writing, then this class is for you! Space is limited!
About the Author: Reyna Grande is the author of Across a Hundred Mountains (Atria), which received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and a Latino Books Into Movies Award. Her second novel, Dancing with Butterflies (Atria) was the recipient of a Latino Book Award. She is a sought-after speaker, educator, and event organizer. Visit her website at www.reynagrande.com
In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. The awards were presented during BookExpo America on May 25, 2010, at the Javits Center.
This year the committee introduced a new designation for those entries that swept the judges' 1st place ballots: Triple Crown Award Winners.
The Winners (Title - Author(s) or Illustrator (s) - Publisher):
CATEGORY A – CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
Best Educational Children’s Book - Spanish
Cambio Climático: Los Gases de Efecto Invernadero- Daniel R. Faust- Rosen Publishing
2ND Place: Andy Warhol - Patricia Geis - Combel Editorial
Honorable Mention: Sobre lo fantastico Mexicano - Cecilia Eudave - Letra Rosa Publisher
Best Cookbook - Spanish or Bilingual
Cocinando cuentos de hadas: Caperucita roja y el lobo glotón - Maria Villegas & Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.
2ND Place: Cocinando cuentos de hadas: Alicia en el pais de las delicias - Maria Villegas & Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.
2ND Place: Cocinando cuentos de hadas: Hansel y Gretel y la casita endulzado - Maria Villegas & Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.
2ND Place: La cocina de los Estefan - Emilio Estefan y Gloria Estefan – Mosaico
Best Health Book – English
The Power of Your Metabolism - Frank Suarez - Metabolic Press – Triple Crown Award Winner
2ND Place: Fit Home Team: The Posada Family Guide to Health, Exercise and Nutrition the Inexpensive and Simple Way –
Laura Posada & Jorge Posada - Atria Books
Best Health Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Descubre Tu Estillo: Tu Guía Para Vestir Mejor - Martín Llorens - Random House Mondadori – Triple Crown Award Winner
2ND Place: El Derecho a la Sexualidad Masculina - Frank Suarez - Self Published
Best Parenting/Family Book - English
Parents Who Cheat. How Children and Adults Are Affected When Their parents Are Unfaithful - Ana Nogales - Health Communications, Inc.
2ND Place: Fit Home Team: The Posada Family Guide to Health, Exercise and Nutrition the Inexpensive and Simple Way –
Laura Posada & Jorge Posada - Atria Books
Best Parenting/Family Book - Spanish or Bilingual - Tie
Con el Alma Rota- Juan Carlos Martin Colea - Self Published
The Wooden Bowl - El bol de Madera - Ramona Moreno Winner - Brainstorm 3000
2ND Place: En busca de Emma - Armando Lucas Correa - Rayo/Harper Collins
Best Religious Book - Spanish or Bilingual
La Vírgen de Guadalupe - Antonía de Alva - Mosaico
2ND Place: Sólo Amor - Sri Daya Mata - Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: El Yoga de Jesús - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Toma Decisiones Que No lamentaras - T. D. Jakes - Atria Books
Best Self-help Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El Factor X - El poder de la acción en focada - Dr. Camilo Cruz - Editorial Taller Del Exito
2ND Place: Picos y Valles - Spencer Johnson - Atria Books
Honorable Mention: La Ley del Éxito - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Recetas Para Enriquecer tu Vida Sexuale Como Disfrutar de la Sexualidad en el Matrimonio –Hector y Clemencia Zorrilla – Living Mission Ministries, Inc
Best Spiritual/New Age Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El Yoga de Jesús- Paramahansa Yogananda- Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: La Sabiduria del Alma - Dr. Zhi Gang Sha- Atria Books
Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz - Belinda Acosta - Grand Central Publishing
2ND Place: Fit Home Team: The Posada Family Guide to Health, Exercise and Nutrition the Inexpensive and Simple Way -
Laura Posada & Jorge Posada - Atria Books
Honorable Mention: Aim High Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic & Latina Women - Laura Contreras-Rowe - Self Published
Best First Book – Spanish - Tie
Cuantos del norte, historias del solHemi -Garcia Linares - CasaTomada
La Estrella de David - Daniel De Cordova - Anura Group
2ND Place: Cautiva: Testimonio de us Secuestro - Clara Rojas - Atria Books
2ND Place: Descubre Tu Estillo: Tu Guía Para Vestir Mejor - Martín Llorens - Random House Mondadori
Honorable Mention: Clara…Reencuentro con la vida- Gabriela Garcia-Williams - Self Published
In addition to these book awards, Latino Literacy Now also awards the Latino Literacy Now Lifetime Achievement Award for publishing excellence and, in association with noted actor, director and community activist Edward James Olmos, hosts the Latino Book & Family Festival series held annually in Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Congratulations to all the winners! And I'd like to extend a special congratulations to Full Circle Literary's winners Carmen Tafolla, René Colato Laínez, and Reyna Grande. ¡Felicidades! —Adriana
New York City's newly renovated Museo del Barrio, in collaboration with La Casa Azul Bookstore, will host an exciting literary event, featuring Reyna Grande (Across A Hundred Mountains, Atria 2006; Dancing with Butterflies, Atria, 2009) and Sergio Troncoso (The Last Tortilla, University of Arizona Press, 1999) this Saturday, November 7th, at 2pm. The award-winning authors will join together at the museum's new Café to engage in a lively dialogue about their works.
This is part of Reyna's national book tour in support of her latest novel, Dancing with Butterflies, which uses the alternating voices of four very different women in a Los Angeles dance company called Alegría to weave a story of friendship and love: Yesenia, who founded Alegría, finds herself unable to dance and seeks a miracle from a plastic surgeon in Tijuana. Elena, grief stricken by the death of her child and the end of her marriage, falls dangerously in love with one of her under-age students. Elena’s sister Adriana, wears the wounds of abandonment by a dysfunctional family and becomes unable to discern love from abuse. Soledad, the sweet-tempered illegal immigrant who designs costumes for Alegría, must make the dangerous journey north after she returns to Mexico to see her dying grandmother.
Reyna's follow up to her critically-acclaimed Across A Hundred Mountains received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly®, which proclaimed that the novel [was] "well worth the wait." Kirkus Reviews® agrees, and praises the "fierce humanity" of its characters. You may visit Atria's blog to learn more about Reyna and her work, and to read a conversation with the author. For a full list of the author's appearances, which on the East Coast also include a visit to Philadelphia today, visit the events page on her website. I hope to see you Saturday!
Monica Brown’s Bilingual Biographies
