The 2009 National Latino Writers Conference in Albuquerque, NM: Part I

From May 21st through the 23rd of this year, I had the pleasure of participating in this wonderful yearly event as a guest faculty member. As such, I took part in a panel of editors, and provided attendees with one-on-one editorial consultations. I know that with the current speed of Internet news this probably seems like ages ago, but I wanted those who did not have the fortune of attending this conference to benefit from my participation, so I've decided to write about it, and to post interviews I conducted with some of its participants, as well as valuable writing tips from published Latino authors who directed workshops during the three-day event. Who knows, perhaps some of this information will entice some you to attend the conference next year! Since I intend to provide quite a bit of information, I will do so over a series of posts. So stay tuned, there is plenty more coming. And let me know what you think!

First, I want to acknowledge the wonderful people who put the conference together: Carlos Vázquez, Director of the History and Literary Arts Program at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, where the event is housed, Senior Librarian Greta Pullen who personifies poise and grace, and their dynamic Administrative Assistant, Kate Trujillo, without whom, I’ve been told, the conference may not happen at all! Thank you all for your warm hospitality; you really make this a special event for all involved.

As you might have already guessed, I really enjoyed participating in this conference. But this should come as no surprise, since, in just 7 short years, it has quickly become the most important writers conference in the country for aspiring Latino authors. And why wouldn’t it? Enrollment is limited to 50 registrants, and with 20 faculty members available on any given year, the personalized service provided by this conference is unmatched, particularly considering its rather low enrollment fee. The conference also confers two important awards: The annual Premio Aztlán founded by Rudolfo Anaya and his wife Patricia in 1993 in an effort to encourage and reward the work of Chicano/a authors, and the biannual National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Prize, or NHCC. The premio Aztlán was moved to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in 2008, and the ceremony became a part of the National Latino Writers Conference during that year as well.

But what makes this conference so wonderful is the caring people who put it together, and who make every effort to ensure that all in attendance get the most they can out of the experience. It is for this reason that I decided to take advantage of Carlos Vázquez’s generosity by asking him to sit down with me and tell me a bit more about what makes this event work. Here is what I learned:

Carlos Vásquez was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico from 1991 to 1999; from 1992 to 1997, he represented the university alongside historians, anthropologists, people in the arts such as musicians, authors, and others, on a design committee that worked together to conceive what would be then called the Research and Literary Arts Program: a documentation center for Hispanic culture consisting of video collections, publications, a library, and archives. Eventually, the center morphed into the current History and Literary Arts Program (HLA), charged with documenting and preserving Hispanic history, culture, and literature. The HLA permanent collection encompasses over 14,000 books, full text electronic databases, 2,000 rolls of microfilm, hundreds of video and audiotapes, and manuscript and photo archives—all concentrated on the history of Hispanics worldwide with a focus on the U.S. Southwest. The HLA programs include historical exhibits based on family and community histories, seasonal book signings, lectures, short courses (Cursillos), a World Book Day/ Día del Libro celebration, and of course, the National Latino Writers Conference.

Carlos Vásquez, Director of the History and Literary Arts program at the National Hispanic Cultural Center welcoming participants to the 2009 NLWC.

“We started this event with one ad in Poets and Writers,” say Carlos Vásquez, noting the preexisting need for a conference of this nature. “From that ad alone, registration filled up quickly, and we ended up with a waitlist of 13 authors from all over the country; at that point, we knew we were onto something.” Carlos is particularly proud of the conference’s famously warm environment: “The experience of being here alone is worth it, and is what has participants come time and time again; it is what has spread the word about the conference and filled it, year after year, along with the fabulous guest faculty we showcase.”

And with workshops ranging from poetry to children’s literature, and panels of editors, agents, and publishers, this conference’s popularity shows no sign of fading. Not to mention that it has borne fruit: participating writers have found agents and publishers for their work, in part because the industry folk who attend it are really interested in finding Latino talent; in part because of the great pains the organizers go through to make sure that everyone gets to know everyone else, and to showcase the writers in attendance. (This year saw the launch of new “Open Mic” sessions that enabled writers to read before all those in attendance, providing them an opportunity not only to share their work, but also to exhibit their presentation skills, and many authors took full advantage of that opportunity.)

This new feature is but one of many planned in a conference that is ever evolving to better adapt itself to the needs of its attendees, and the market. “Plans are already underway for next year to include new workshops for illustrators, travel writers, and in Spanish, for Latin American writers who have moved to the U.S.,” says Carlos, who, when discussing the current state of the U.S. publishing industry is quick to note: “writing is as important as ever.” What can one add to that? Maybe just that it’s nice to know that this conference has its priorities straight.

For more information on the National Latino Writers Conference, and the rest of the programs at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, click here.

Críticas is Back!

It was about four months ago that I first reported on Reed Elsevier’s highly criticized decision to cease publication of Críticas magazine due to insufficient ad revenue. I am now happy to report that the company that owns Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal has made good on its promise to continue coverage of the Spanish language book market by continuing to provide English language reviews of Spanish language titles to the librarians who so desperately need them, as openly expressed in this letter from REFORMA member and former Criticas blogger Loida García-Febo: http://www.criticasmagazine.com/blog/820000482/post/290040029.html

In a letter from the magazine's editor, Aída Bardales, Library Journal announced today that it will “resume reviewing Spanish-language books for adults and children,” adding that “adult books will be reviewed monthly, and children's titles every other month.” Freda Mosquera, youth services outreach librarian for Broward County Library, FL, is the newest addition to the Críticas team, replacing Noel Baca-Castex, the former Children Reviews Editor. Aída's letter goes on to thank all of those who have supported the magazine over the years, particularly those who, in one way or another, contributed to its return. A short message on Criticas’ old website acknowledges the role of those individuals as well, stating that they have resumed reviews of Spanish language titles “in response to reader demand following [the magazine's] suspension.” The first set of reviews of Spanish language and bilingual titles has already been uploaded to its new location in Library Journal’s website. Enjoy!

And the Winners Are… (Part II)

Latino Book Month Giveaway

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who entered the contest, especially the new “followers.” It was wonderful to hear from you. I was pleased to learn that publishers, authors, and readers are following this blog. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that librarians are following it as well, since I know from personal experience that they are often some of the best advocates for Latino literature.

I received many wonderful suggestions through this contest, many of which I plan to put into practice, so stay tuned. Although the contest is over, the dialogue should not be; feel free to continue to send me emails with ideas and/or suggestions for the blog, and please subscribe to let other folks know just how important Latino literature is to you. I look forward to continuing the conversation.

And now, the winners of the May Latino Book Month Giveaway!

Aaron Martin
Brooke Bahnsen
Edi Campbell
Natalya Martinez
Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Each will receive a set of the five books featured in the giveaway. Books will ship directly from the publisher. Congratulations to all!

And the Winners Are… (Part I)

The 11th Annual International Latino Book Awards

For me, one of the highlights of Book Expo America, year after year, is the Latino Book Awards presented during the conference. The awards, which honor literary excellence in a variety of categories, are bestowed by Latino Literacy Now, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community. In 2009, awards were given in four new categories: Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation, Best Gift Book, Best Popular Fiction, and Best Graphic Novel. See below for a complete list of winners, and visit http://lbff.us/latino-book-awards for more information on the awards, and to see lists of previous recipients. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!

The Winners (Title - Author(s) - Publisher):

CATEGORY A – CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Best Educational Children’s Book - English
The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía - Cholita Prints & Publishing Co.

Best Educational Children’s Book - Spanish
Quiero ser poeta - Rafael Garcia Jolly, José Carbonell Pla, Antonia Moreno, María D. Torres Bañuls - LetraRoja
2ND Place: El secreto del dorado - Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent - Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: Figúrate: Animales, fantasía y mundo - María Villegas y Jennie Kent - Villegas Asociados

Best Educational Children’s Book - Bilingual
Dealing With Insults - Qué hacer con los insultos - Marianne Johnson - Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras
2ND Place: Teo in Palo Verde - Adam Del Rio - Lectura Books
2ND Place: Ronaldinho - José María Obregón - Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras
Honorable Mention: Las abejas - Katie Franks - Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras

Best Children’s Picture Book – English
Abuelos - Pat Mora - Groundwood Books
2ND Place: The Secret Legacy - Rigoberta Menchú - Groundwood Books
Honorable Mention: Kitchen Dance - Maurie J. Manning - Clarion Books

Best Children’s Picture Book – Spanish
Los tres reyes de Oriente - Lluis Farre - Bambú
2ND Place: El mejor mariachi del mundo - J. D. Smith - Raven Tree Press
Honorable Mention: Mira, mira - Angels Navarro - Bambú

Best Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual
Rachel and the Lion - Stephanie Lainez - Story House Books
2ND Place: Colors! ¡Colores! - Jorge Luján - Groundwood Books
Honorable Mention: The Storyteller's Candle - Lucia Gonzalez - Children's Book Press

Best Young Adult Fiction – English
Dark Dude - Oscar Hijuelos - Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
2ND Place: Amor and Summer Secrets - Diana Rodriguez Wallach - Kensington Publishers
Honorable Mention: Mr. Clean and the Barrio - David Bueno-Hill - Urbano Books

Best Young Adult Fiction – Spanish or Bilingual
El asunto galindo - Fernando Lalana - Bambú
2ND Place: Odisea - Albert Jané - Combel Editorial, S. A
Honorable Mention: Carlito's Story - Max Benavidez & Katherine Del Monte – Lectura Books
Honorable Mention: No sapiens - Ariel González - Libros en Red

Best Young Adult Nonfiction - English
The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy - Al Rivera - Author House

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – English
Soccer's Story & A Fútbol Fable - Gil Sperry - Amigo del Mar Press

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – Spanish or Bilingual
Go Milka Go! ¡Corre, Milka, Corre!- Raquel Benatar - Renaissance House


CATEGORY B – NONFICTION

Best Arts Book - English
The Journey of Frederic Edwin Church - Through Colombia and Ecuador - Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaria - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Line: 7 Elements of Art - Jane Castillo - Crystal Productions
Honorable Mention: Yolanda M. López - Karen Mary Dávalos - Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)

Best Arts Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Manuel Hernández - Manuel Hernández - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Alicia Viteri: Memoria digital - Alicia Viteri - Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: Herman the Jester and the ABC's of Art - Rafael Filion - Author House

Best Biography - English
Crazy Loco Love - Victor Villaseñor - Arte Público Press
2ND Place: The Last Supper of Chicano Heroes - José Antonio Burciaga - University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Paths to Discovery - Norma E. Cantú - Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)
Honorable Mention: Take Me With You: A Memoir - Carlos Frias - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Biography - Spanish or Bilingual
Bolívar, delirio y epopeya - Víctor Paz - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Llorando en la oscuridad- Pablo Chapoy - Ediciones Del Ermitaño
Honorable Mention: Yagruma: Amores prohibidos en épocas de tiranía - Francisco Calderon Vallejo - Conceptos Editoriales
Honorable Mention: Un sueño americano - Oscar de la Hoya - Rayo
Honorable Mention: De ciertas damas - Carlos Lleras Restrepo - Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Business Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El latino más rico en los Estados Unidos - Rubén Ruiz - Wealth and Millionaire Publishing
2ND Place: Hablidades para el trato personal en los negocios - Dr. Camilo Cruz - Taller Del Éxito

Best Gift Book - English
Colombia by Color - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Holywood - Se Habla Español - Rafael J. Rivera-Viruet & Max Resto - Terramax Entertainment Publishing

Best Gift Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Secreto: El libro de la gratitud (The Secret Gratitude Book) - Rhonda Byrne - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Quiero ser poeta - Rafael Garcia Jolly, José Carbonell Pla, Antonia Moreno, María D. Torres Bañuls - LetraRoja
2ND Place: Pardon My Spanglish ¡Porque Because! - Bill Santiago - Qwirk Books
Honorable Mention: Gringosincrasias - Emma Sepúlveda - Asterión

Best History/Political Book - English
No Greater Love: The Lives and Times of Hispanic Soldiers - Major General Freddie Valenzuela, with Jason Lemons - Ovation Books

Best History/Political Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Principio y fin del mito Fidelista - José Alvarez - Trafford Publishing
2ND Place: Alberto Lleras - Alberto Lleras - Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Reference Book - English
A Simple Guide to U.S. Immigration and Citizenship - Luis Cortes - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Reference Book - Spanish or Bilingual
De inmigrante a ciudadano - Luis Cortes - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: El latino más rico en los Estados Unidos - Rubén Ruiz - Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Cookbook - English
Latin Evolution - Jose Garces - Lake Isle Press, Inc.

Best Cookbook - Spanish or Bilingual
Larousse de los postres - Paulina Abascal - Ediciones Larousse
2ND Place: Y hoy ¿qué les doy? - Lourdes Al cñiz y Lourdes March - Grijalbo - Random House Mondadori
Honorable Mention: La comida de Italia - Un viaje para los amantes de la cocina - María Villegas & Sophie Braimbridge - Villegas Asociados

Best Health Book - English
The Art of Healing Latinos - David E. Hayes-Bautista & Roberto Chiprut - Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)

Best Health Book - Spanish or Bilingual
¡Mami, tengo hambre! - Jeamme Warren Lindsay, Jean Brunelli, Sally McCullough - Morning Glory Press
2ND Place: Y hoy ¿qué les doy? - Lourdes Al Cñiz y Lourdes March - Grijalbo - Random House Mondadori

Best Religious Book - English
Misa, mesa y musa Vol 2 - Kenneth G. Davis - World Library Publications
2ND Place: Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage: Unlocking the Secrets to Life, Love and Marriage - Mark Gungor – Atria Books


Best Religious Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Autobiografia de un Yogui (revised) - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: Susurros de la eternidad- Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Reconstruye tu vida: El Camino a la Felicidad Sin Limites - T.D. Jakes – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Self-help Book - English
The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy - Al Rivera – Author House
2ND Place: I Love You. Now What? Falling in Love is a Mystery. Keeping it Isn't - Mabel Iam – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Family Activism: Empowering Your Community Beginning with Family and Friends - Roberto Vargas – Bennett-Koehler Publishers
Honorable Mention: The Latino's Guide to Parenting - Suzanne Moreno - Ed-Ventures Publishing Co.

Best Self-help Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Triunfar en la vida - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: ¿Se Habla Dinero? The Everyday Guide to Financial Success - Lynn Jimenez - John Wiley & Sons

Best Spiritual/New Age Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El viaje - Siete pasos para diseñar y dusfrutar una vida con propósito - Lic. Rafael Ayala - Taller Del Éxito
2ND Place: Secreto: El libro de la gratitud (The Secret Gratitude Book) - Rhonda Byrne - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Autobiografía de un Yogui (revised) - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: El latino más rico en los Estados Unidos - Rubén Ruiz - Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Travel Book - English
Winter in Kandahar - Life in Afghanistan Before the Taliban - Ana M. Briongos - Trotamundas Press

Best Travel Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El viaje de Frederic Edwin Church - por Colombia y Ecuador - Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaria - Villegas Asociados S.A.

CATEGORY C – FICTION

Best Popular Fiction - English
Gunmetal Black - Daniel Serrano - Grand Central Publishing
2ND Place: Ghosts of El Grullo - Patricia Santana - University of New Mexico Press

Best Popular Fiction - Spanish or Bilingual
No sapiens - Ariel González - Libros en Red

Best Novel – Adventure or Drama - English
Brida - Paulo Coelho - Harper Collins
2ND Place: The Flowers - Dagoberto Gilb - Grove Press
Honorable Mention: If I Die In Juárez - Stella Pope Duarte - University of Arizona Press

Best Novel – Adventure or Drama – Spanish or Bilingual
Por la vida de mi hermana (My Sister's Keeper) - Jodi Picoult - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: El infinito en la palma de la mano - Gioconda Belli - Rayo
Honorable Mention: Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas - Carmela Escobar - Libros en Red
Honorable Mention: Nada importa - Alvaro Robledo - Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Novel – Historical Fiction - English
Alejandro and the Fishermen of Tancay - Braulio Muñoz - University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Valfierno: The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa - Martin Caparros - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Novel – Mystery - English
The Case Runner - Carlos Cisneros - Arte Público Press
2ND Place: The Paris Enigma - Pablo de Santos - Harper Collins
Honorable Mention: Gunmetal Black - Daniel Serrano - Grand Central Publishing

Best Novel – Mystery - Spanish or Bilingual
Sangre en el desierto - Alicia Gaspar de Alba - Arte Público Press
2ND Place: Tácticas contra el tedio - Mauricio Bernal - Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Novel – Romance - English
The Heartbreak Pill - Anjanette Delgado - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: More Than This - Margo Candela
Honorable Mention: Tarnished Beauty - Cecilia Samartin - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Novel – Romance - Spanish or Bilingual
Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas - Carmela Escobar - Libros en Red

Best Graphic Novel – Spanish or Bilingual
Aleida x años - Vladdo (Vladimir Flórez) - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Ellos/Ellas - Silvia Vallejo - Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Poetry Book - English
Half of the World in Light - Juan Felipe Herrera - University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland - Latino Writers Collective - Scapegoat Press
Honorable Mention: The Buried Sea - Rane Arroyo - University of Arizona Press

Best Poetry Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Lugar de Origen - Place of Origin - Elena Lafert & Melina Draper - Oyster River Press
2ND Place: Susurros de la eternidad - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Secretos - Chuyin Rocha - Createspace

CATEGORY D – DESIGN (Title – Illustrator/Designer(s) - Publisher):

Best Cover Design
Take Me With You: A Memoir - James Perales - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Alicia Viteri: Memoria digital - Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: The Richest Latino in America - Rubén and Richard Ruiz - Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Cover Illustration
El secreto del dorado - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía - Cholita Prints & Publiching Co.

Best Interior Design
Manuel Hernández - Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía - Cholita Prints & Publiching Co.

Best Use of Photos
Colombia es Color - Villegas Asociados S.A.

CATEGORY E – AUDIO

Best Children’s Audio Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Animals at the farm/Animales de la granja - Gladys Rosa-Mendoza - Me + Mi Publishing
2ND Place: My Family and I/Mi familia y yo - Gladys Rosa-Mendoza - Me + Mi Publishing

Best Non-Fiction Audio Book – Spanish or Bilingual
La ley de la atracción - Dr. Camilo Cruz

CATEGORY F - THE MARIPOSA AWARDS

Best First Book - English
Take Me With You: A Memoir - Carlos Frias - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Reclaiming Paris - Fabiola Santiago - Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
Honorable Mention: The Seamstress - Frances de Pontes-Peebles - Harper Collins
Honorable Mention: Carnival of Memories - Yocasta Fareri - iUniverse

Best First Book - Spanish
Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas - Carmela Escobar - Libros en Red
2ND Place: Pardon My Spanglish ¡Porque Because! - Bill Santiago - Qwirk Books
Honorable Mention: Herman the Jester and the ABC's of Art - Rafael Filion - Author House
Honorable Mention: Secretos - Chuyin Rocha - Createspace