I'm Back! (and) Our 2nd Annual Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference!

Dear VOCES Readers:

I  know that I've been on a bit of a hiatus from this blog for a while, okay a long while! During that time, I have been mostly working for my clients (many of whom are fabulous Latino authors), and writing for various other folks. I have been working on a Book Reviews section I launched last summer for mamiverse.com, where I post regularly on all things related to Latino children's books. I also blog for the agency where I work, mostly about happenings related to my clients. I've contributed posts to many other sites as well, such as the CBC Diversity Blog, where I shared my story of how I got into publishing, and others. So, although it may seem as though I don't blog very much anymore, the opposite is in fact true! I blog all the time, just not here! 

Because I do so many different things, I do think that it is high time that I return to this, my original blog—the only one that actually belongs to me—and share some of what I do with the readers who so often reach out to me from here. 

Over the coming weeks and months, I will make an attempt to double post everything I post elsewhere, making this the main contact and source of news from me, as it was meant to be from the beginning. On occasion, I may also write blogs that are exclusive to this site and offer my unfiltered personal perspective. 

On this last point, I want to express exactly how proud I am to announce our second Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference in New York City, coming up this October 5th. If you are Latino and serious about writing, please join us, registration is still open. I can truly say that everyone who participates—not just the organizers, but also all of the agents, editors and authors joining us—truly care about helping Latinos writers navigate the complex and sometimes baffling world of publishing, and to give them the tools necessary to become successfully published authors. Our biggest endorsements this year are coming from last year's attendees! What more can I say? 

Here is more detailed information about this not-to-be-missed event:

Las Comadres to Host 2nd Annual Latino Writers Conference
Day-Long Event to Offer Access and Guidance from Publishing Insiders

Las Comadres Para Las Americas, the national Latina organization, will present a day-long conference on October 5 for Latino writers seeking book publication.

The Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference will be held at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn. Joining La Comadres as collaborators are AT&T, Scholastic, the National Black Writers Conference, the Center for Black Literature, the Foreign Language Department and the Latino American Association, Adriana Dominguez, and Marcela Landres, with support from the Association of American Publishers.

The conference will help attendees navigate the challenges and opportunities specific to Latino writers. Scheduled panels will focus on poetry, marketing/publicity, children’s/young adult writing, self-publishing, fiction, and non-fiction as well as craft workshops for adult and children’s books. Two of the more popular sessions are a pitch slam and an agents/editors panel. In addition, writers will have the option to meet one-on-one with agents and editors.

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; Nancy Mercado, Executive Editor, Roaring Brook Press; Andrea Montejo, Agent, Indent Literary Agency; Lukas Ortiz, Managing Agent, Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency, Inc.; Jeff Ourvan, Agent, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency; Diane Stockwell, Agent, Globo Libros Literary Management; 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.

Registration is now open for the conference at http://lascomadres.com/countonme/latino-writers-conference/ The conference twitter hash tag is #LCWC

I hope to see you in NYC!—Adriana