November 22, 2010

Blog Tour for Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita


Writing Historical Fiction for Children

by Mara Price


Grandma’s Chocolate came about as a result of my childhood memories, and my curiosity about one of the great contributions of pre-Columbian America: delicious chocolate! I have many happy memories of being in my own grandmother’s kitchen, drinking chocolate and listening to stories about her childhood and the things she lived through. One of my passions has always been the history and archaeology of Mesoamerica. I wanted to know more about the origin and use of chocolate, and how it tied in with the ancient cultures. Thus, I started by giving myself the task of reading everything I could find on those subjects.


Looking back on my process, I think that the following questions might help new writers in the development of a work of historical fiction for children:


  • Can my story be entertaining, and at the same time, carry a valuable message for children?
  • Will historical elements in my story make it different from others conveying similar messages?
  • Is it feasible to frame the message within a historical context, or to provide bits of historical information throughout the narrative?
  • How much historical information is appropriate to include for the age range of the children who will read it?
  • Do I have enough sustaining passion for the concept to lead me through my research on the topic, and throughout the entire writing process?


On Research:

  • Read as much as you can, and your reading will show you the way the story can be developed.
  • Have several initial questions to pursue, but be open to letting the information and the connections guide you. There are many wonderful surprises to be found while doing this kind of research, and discoveries in archeology and history are continuously being made.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask. Primary sources are always the best. On several occasions, I contacted anthropologists and historians to get clarity on specific points. Some—though not all—were eager to help, and responded generously with new information.


Some challenges you might encounter during your research:

In my research on the pre-Columbian era, I was surprised to find how sparse the information, and how disparate the sources are on the topic. I also found large gaps of knowledge, frequent contradictions, and heated debates among scholars. An example of this is the seemingly easy question of why so many magnificent Mayan cities were abandoned virtually overnight, without clear indications of what happened, or where the people went. Researchers and academics still can’t agree on the answer.


On Writing:

I hope that your story is important enough to you to motivate you to get up every morning and start working; to look forward to your research and writing, and later, move you to keep up your blog and website, do book signings, presentations, workshops, and other promotional activities to give your book the best possible chance at success. The luckiest people have a job that doesn’t feel like work. This story has been that and more for me. —Mara.


This is the last stop of Mara Price's blog tour for Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita.


Please leave your comments below, as the author will give away a signed copy of the book to a reader of VOCES! At least four comments are needed within the next week to be eligible for Mara’s giveaway. One winner will be selected at random. Good luck, and we hope that you enjoyed the tour!


Check out Mara’s schedule or find more information about her at her website.


Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de abuelita is on sale now, so support Latino writing and go pick up your copy!

October 24, 2010

I WILL SAVE YOU by Matt de la Peña


One of my favorite Latino authors writing for young adults sent out a note a few days ago announcing the release of his latest novel, I Will Save You. Along with the note came what he called a "bizarre" letter that he wrote to potential readers and posted on his blog. Of course, I had to read the letter! Anyone who knows Matt will tell you that it is a good representation of who he is, and what he writes. I don't doubt that this actually happened to him, nor that he would be so thoughtful as to return the frog king to his rightful place in the world. I am sharing the letter with you in the hopes that it fulfills its intent and inspires you to pick up Matt's book. I can't wait to read it myself. If it's anything like his others, I know I won't be sorry. —Adriana

Dear Potential Reader:

This past Sunday I was playing ball in Brooklyn. A bunch of guys like me, older now, still trying to get to the rim or drain jumpers from the corner. At one point the ball rolled out of bounds and two dudes disagreed about who touched it last. Others joined in. Fingers were pointed. Things were said about people’s mothers. I stood back and watched the argument build and thought about the absurdity of our lives. All of us dressed up, dressed down, trying to be somebody, hoping they say good things when we’re not in the room. Like me, standing at half court all stressed out, wondering: Will anybody like my new book, I WILL SAVE YOU? It’s sad. Maybe people don’t like sad books. I like sad books, but I like sad everything – though technically I’m not a sad person.

Eventually the argument died down and we finished the game. But when I got home I was still stressed about my new book. And whether or not it would find a home. And then, for whatever reason, I thought back to a strange time in my life involving a porcelain frog . . .

When I was in grad school I was invited to a professor’s house to hear poet Tess Gallagher speak about her deceased husband, Raymond Carver. I was a first year MFA student in creative writing, and Carver was my favorite, so I was hyped. Before the event a few classmates and I stopped by the liquor store for bottles of wine and one of the girls called out to me from the passenger side window, “Hey Matt, grab a Pinot.”

“A what?” I said, turning around.

“A Pinot.” She frowned. “Pinot Noir?”

I waved her off and cruised in the store all ignorant. Back then there was no Pinot in my world. There was no Merlot or Chardonnay. There was simply red or white. I opted for the cheapest white, the cashier bagged it, I hopped back in the car and we zipped over to my prof’s house over an hour late.

The house was crowded, and when we walked in Mrs. Gallagher was already speaking so I snuck off to the back of the room, near the refreshments table. I listened to her talk for a few minutes, about Carver’s work space and his favorite writing jacket, but my mind quickly drifted. How did I get here? All the way to grad school. This fancy house listening to an actual published writer. I considered these things and drank the wine I brought. Cup after cup of it.

Halfway into the Q&A I realized I’d finished the entire bottle. And I was hammered. And I really had to pee. I put down my cup and made my way to the bathroom.

I locked the door behind me and then stood there, in front of the toilet, taking in the place: framed paintings on the walls, scented candles, fake tulips, potted cacti, and a small porcelain frog wearing a crown. Just what you’d expect to find in some stuffy professor’s bathroom. How predictable. No more than a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a bowl.

After I washed my hands I reached for the porcelain frog and spun it around in my fingers. I put it up to my nose and smelled it. What was with the crown? Why would anybody put this crazy thing on the back of their toilet? Was it some literary symbol I didn’t get? Without really thinking, I slipped the frog in my pocket, dried my hands and rejoined the party.

The rest of the night is a bit of a blur. I remember Mrs. Gallagher made her way around the room, talking to people – even me! I remember the professor offered to show one of the prettier female students his private art collection upstairs. I remember I discovered red wine. And then port. I remember feeling like an imposter as a group of us scanned the ceiling-high bookshelves in the dining room. My classmates commented on every author, their major works, the movement they fit into, the historical context in which they wrote. I was ignorant to almost all the names and said nothing.

Eventually I caught a ride home with my friend Rob who lived in a studio apartment directly underneath a busy flight path. My jeep was parked in front of his place, but I was in no position to drive, so I staggered up his stairs, watched him key open the door, then ducked into his nasty-ass bathroom where I was sick as a dog.

An hour or so later Rob knocked on the door to make sure I was still alive, but I was in no mood for his sympathy. “Go away,” I slurred. “Please. Just leave me alone.” I may have even cursed at him. The details are a bit murky now. I do know that I spent the majority of that night with my arms wrapped around another man’s toilet bowl – something I’m not super proud of.

The next morning I woke up disheveled, hung over and sickened by the thought of any color wine. I grabbed my backpack, flew out the front door, rumbled down the stairs, hopped in my jeep-with-no-top (it had literally blown off on the freeway a few months before) and headed for my apartment across town.

When I walked in the door, I threw the pack to the side and made a b-line for the bathroom. It was there, as I was preparing for a pivotal shower, that I discovered the porcelain frog still tucked deep inside my pocket. I pulled it out, spun it around in my fingers and placed it on the back of my own toilet.

I stared at it a few seconds. I’d never viewed myself as a porcelain frog type of guy, but here I was. I shrugged and stripped and hopped in the shower.

Days passed. Weeks. It was back to the old routine: fiction workshops, afternoon hoop in the gym, hours in the computer lab typing up my sad little stories.

The point is, life continued. The way it does. But every time I stepped foot in my bathroom, there was that regal frog, staring at me, pleading to me.

One morning it finally hit me. The back of my toilet was simply all wrong for this kind of frog. How long was I gonna try and keep up this charade? I scooped it up on my way out of the bathroom, shoved it back in my pocket and grabbed for the keys to my jeep. I drove to Rob’s house.

Before I said a word to him, I slipped into the bathroom and placed the porcelain frog on the back of his toilet. Positioned it dead center and wiped down the dusty space around him.

I pulled Rob into the bathroom and pointed.

We stood there in silence for a few seconds, both of us staring, arms folded.

Finally he spoke: “That the frog from the party?”

“That’s the one.”

He picked the frog up and looked at it. He spun it around in his fingers, then put it back down. “Dude, you hungry?” he said.

“Starving.”

We grabbed our stuff and set off for the local Rubio’s.

More time spiraled by. Months this time. (Isn’t it strange how time is forever moving? In Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, one of the main characters, Dunbar, explains it like this to his buddy: “‘Do you know how long a year takes when it’s going away? This long.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘A second ago you were stepping into college with your lungs full of fresh air. Today you’re an old man.’”) I wrote a twenty page research paper on Carver for my 700-level lit class. I saved enough money to book a flight to Spain to visit my girlfriend at the time. I had a small mass removed from under my left arm which proved benign. I believe I even learned how to play the game of chess, and whenever I lost I fought the powerful urge to flip over the board in frustration. All this stuff. It happened. But eventually I found myself standing in Rob’s bathroom, once again staring at the porcelain frog with the crown.

I had told myself, again and again, that the back of Rob’s toilet was perfect, it added some class to the joint, but I had it all wrong. Look at the poor thing, I thought. It’s all but naked without the framed paintings and potted plants of its past. Who was I kidding?

I snatched up the frog and shoved it back in my pocket, flew out of Rob’s house without a word, rumbled down his steps and hopped in my jeep-with-no-top.

Minutes later I was tiptoeing up my professor’s long driveway. I crept onto his porch, pulled the frog from my pocket and set it down in front of the expensive-looking welcome mat.

I stood there staring at it for a couple minutes (occasionally checking my back for Neighborhood Watch scouts). That’s when it came to me. This little porcelain frog may not have meant much in the context of most of our lives -- it was small, insignificant, a bit tacky -- but it belonged on the back of this professor’s toilet. That much was clear now. It had ventured out into this great big world, it had seen the insides of other bathrooms, stood guard while utter strangers brushed their teeth and combed their hair – and it was better off for those experiences – but at the end of the day, it belonged here, as the centerpiece of a scholar’s high-class bathroom. The crowning jewel. Who could appreciate it more than the man who had reached for this particular porcelain frog, plucked it off a shelf in some arts and craft store, while it was surrounded by what may have been hundreds, even thousands, of other tacky porcelain animals?

I waved goodbye to the frog, then got the hell out of there before somebody called the cops.

I don’t know. This probably has nothing to do with my new novel. I just felt like revisiting the short time I spent with the porcelain frog I stole from my professor’s house, then gave back.

Or maybe there’s a small connection somewhere in there. Maybe my main character, Kidd, is the frog, and when you (the reader) pick up the book and read Kidd’s story, you’re temporarily putting a roof over his head. Which would be a really nice thing to do because technically Kidd’s homeless. And alone. And sad. He needs all the help he can get.

Or maybe the novel is the frog and bookstores are the bathrooms, and I WILL SAVE YOU only gets a certain amount of shelf time (back-of-the-toilet time) before the store manager ships all unclaimed copies back to the publisher, which is basically like sending somebody to the hole in prison – an interesting connection considering that in the second chapter of I WILL SAVE YOU Kidd wakes up in solitary confinement and spends a good bit of time trying to figure out whether or not he deserves it.

Or maybe the connection is a more personal one. Maybe when you read one of my books you’re coming into my home, drunk on my wine, and sticking a small piece of me in your pocket (so much of these stories are pulled from my past). And maybe when you move me all around – from the table by your bed, to your office desk, to your padded computer bag – you’re giving me a small peek into your world. And maybe after you turn the last page you’ll even lend me to a friend, and I’ll get even farther in my travels. And ultimately you may even come to an epiphany similar to mine, and you’ll sneak up onto my front lawn, months from now, years even, and set that borrowed piece of me back on my welcome mat in the form of a letter, or an email, or a Facebook message, telling me what you think. That’s easily my favorite thing in the world. Just a week ago I received an instant classic from a kid in Oakland. His email read: “Yo! I ain’t a nerd or some shit. But I read all yer books. We Were Here is probably my all time best book. Even though you had that chick Flaca steal all Miguel’s money! LOL! Nah but I just wanted to say thanks for writing yer books. Peace!”

Made my day.

Failed analogy aside, I would be honored if you gave I WILL SAVE YOU a read. It really is kind of a sad book. But it’s hopeful, too. And it’s my heart.

Your friend,

Matt de la Peña


October 1, 2010

Guest Blogger: Award-Winning Children's Author René Colato Laínez

This guest post by René Colato Laínez is part of his blog tour in support of his latest book, From North to South. He offered to write on a topic that I know will be very useful to my readers: the dos and don'ts of writing a multicultural (or Latino-themed) children's book. I hope you find it helpful. Children's Book Press is giving away copies of the book at the end of the blog tour, so make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win your copy!

WRITING AUTHENTIC MULTICULTURAL BOOKS
By Award-Winning Author, René Colato Laínez



From North to South is my seventh book. In this story, José and his father travel from North to South to visit José’s mother in Tijuana, Mexico. Like José and his father, I have also traveled from north to south and east to west within the publishing world. During my journey, I have made many stops to help me learn the craft of writing at conferences, book festivals, critique groups, libraries, and bookstores. I have also met many people who have thanked me for writing multicultural books. Often, some of those same people ask me for tips on writing a multicultural story. This is my attempt at answering some of their questions:

What is a multicultural book?
A multicultural book reflects the experiences of diverse groups of people and promotes a greater understanding among cultures. These books authentically and realistically portray themes, characters, and customs unique to the group about which they are written, and give readers an opportunity to develop an understanding of others, as they affirm the important role that people of diverse backgrounds play in society.

How can I write a multicultural book?
Here are three of the most common mistakes made when attempting to write a multicultural picture book:

1. Relaying solely on a main character that is from the barrio, or who has Latin American roots.

Example:
A Latino child named Pedro lives in the barrio. He speaks Spanish and can draw beautiful cats. Pedro’s teacher gives him a sticker for his efforts.

What is multicultural about this story?
Pedro is a Latino child from the barrio and speaks Spanish. There might even be Spanish words in the story. But, ask yourself: What is the reader’s learning about Pedro’s culture?

This writing exercise never fails:
Change Pedro’s name. Maybe his name is now Joshua. Joshua lives in a non-ethnic neighborhood. He speaks English. And of course, he draws beautiful cats.

We have changed the name of the character and eliminated the Spanish words in the text. Does the story still work? Yes, it really has not changed at all! A multicultural story is more than a Hispanic character and a few Spanish words. The story must be unique and authentic. A foreign name, or dark skin color on a page are not enough to make a multicultural story.

2. My character eats beans and wears a sombrero. He also likes to break piñatas. Do I now have a multicultural book?

When writing a multicultural book, avoid stereotypes. Readers want to read stories that represent cultures in positive and respectful ways. Mexicans don’t generally go around wearing sombreros, and Caribbean women generally don’t dance with a bowl of fruit on their heads. On the other hand, Mexico is a country with a very rich history, wonderful traditions, and delicious food. The Caribbean has beautiful beaches, great music, and fantastic folktales. There are so many great things to tell about our cultures, why concentrate on stereotypes? Let’s write wonderful stories!

3. The other extreme: culture, culture, and more culture.

In order to create a multicultural story, authors often describe the cultural aspects of a story so much that they forget to create a plot! The result is a dry, boring story. An editor will definitely reject this type of story because it will not inspire readers to turn the page to read it. A story needs strong characters, a great plot, an extraordinary beginning, a great climax, and a convincing ending, as it exhibits aspects of the culture in question. Readers want an entertaining story first and foremost, regardless of its cultural elements. (Note: For Rene’s tips on writing picture books, see his previous post on VOCES.

Writing from Outside of the Culture
If you are writing outside of your culture, don’t ever write off the top of your head. If you have never lived in Mexico, China, or Morocco and want to write a story about those cultures, you will have to do extensive research in libraries, archives, and museums. But, by far, the best way to do this research is to meet the people you want to write about. Talk to them, participate in their games, visit their country, eat their food, become one of them while you are writing your story. Remember that it is always better to overdo your research. Later, you can choose the elements that will be most important to your story. Once you have finished your manuscript, show it to organizations and the people it is written about, and ask them to look for stereotypes and misconceptions. This will help you to avoid some of the pitfalls described above. Those who are the most passionate and involved with a culture are typically the best ones to write an authentic multicultural tale. With passion, comes the desire to spend hours and hours at the library, and with the people you are writing about. If there is no passion, there will be no truly authentic story to tell.

Good luck, and have fun writing a multicultural story!

Saludos,
René Colato Laínez

September 11, 2010

Latino Authors at New York’s Brooklyn Book Festival

Now in its fifth year, the Brooklyn Book Festival is one of the top book festivals in the nation with a hip, huge and free all-star literary lineup. The festival will be held tomorrow, September 12th, at BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

This year, Las Comadres para las Américas has teamed up with La Caza Azul Bookstore for their participation in the festival. The two will be sharing booth 131, and hosting book signings, making it easier for you to find many of your favorite Latino authors participating in the festival in one place! Check out some of the big names that will be signing at their booth:

AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING SCHEDULE

11:30 a.m. Cristina Garcia

11:50 a.m. Torrey Maldonado

12:10 p.m. Lemon Andersen

12:30 p.m. Alberto Ferreras

12:50 p.m. Ada Limon

1:10 p.m. Ana Galan

1:30 p.m. Daisy Martinez

1:50 p.m. Brando Skyhorse

2:10 p.m. Michelle Herrera Mulligan and Sofia Quintero

2:30 p.m. Esmeralda Santiago

3:00 p.m. Sandra Rodriguez Barron

3:20 p.m. Daniel Serrano

3:40 p.m. Dahlma Llanos Figueroa

4:00 p.m. Sergio Troncoso

For more information, visit Las Comadres' website.

Have fun at the festival, and say hello to folks for me! (Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this year, but I can guarantee that you will LOVE this event. It’s not to be missed!)

June 28, 2010

Pelé, The King of Soccer/ El rey del fútbol

If you are anything like me, you are suffering from a serious case of soccer fever at the moment, which makes this the absolute best time to enjoy this book with your kids!



Check out my previous post about the book for more information: http://adrianadominguez.blogspot.com/2009/01/update-and-some-shameless-promotion.html
Enjoy!

June 1, 2010

Latino Books Month Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. I received some wonderful suggestions for future posts and was glad to get to know some of you through the emails you sent and the thoughts you shared.

And now, the winner of the Latino Books Month Giveaway!

Esteemarlu Muniz

Esteemarlu will receive a copy of the three books she requested:

Try to Remember by Iris Gomez
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
Amigoland by Oscar Casares

Books will ship directly from the publisher. Enjoy!

For those who did not win this time around, stay tuned, there will be more giveaways in the future, and keep those comments and suggestions coming! I take every single one of them into account as I plan my posts. Thanks again. —Adriana

May 27, 2010

12TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

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: Mitología Mesoamericana: Quetzalcóatl - Tom Danish - Rosen Publishing


Best Educational Children’s Book - Bilingual

Chiles- Inés Vaughn - Rosen Publishing

2ND Place: Fun With ABC's - Loteria Style - Luciano Martinez - Lectura Books

Honorable Mention: Chocolate - Inés Vaughn - Rosen Publishing

Honorable Mention: Corn/Maiz- Inés Vaughn - Rosen Publishing


Best Children’s Picture Book – English

What Can You Do With A Paleta? - Carmen Tafolla - Trycycle Press

2ND Place: Diego: Bigger Than Life - Carmen T. Bernier-Grand - Marshall Cavendish

Honorable Mention: Lom and the Gnatters – Kurusa - Groundwood Books


Best Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

¡Al Galope! - Rufus Butler Seder - Workman Publishing

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.

Honorable Mention: Cocinando cuentos de hadas: Caperucita roja y el lobo glotón - Maria Villegas & Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.


Best Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papa Diego y yo - Guadalupe Rivera Marin - Children's Book Press

2ND Place: I Know the River Loves Me/Yo se que el rio me ama - Maya Christina Gonzalez - Children's Book Press

Honorable Mention: Rene Has Two Last Names/René tiene dos apellidos - René Colato Laiñez - Arte Público Press

Honorable Mention: What Can You Do With A Paleta?/¿Que puedes hacer con una paleta? - Carmen Tafolla - Trycycle Press


Best Young Adult Fiction – English

Clara…Reencuentro con la vida - Gabriela Garcia-Williams – Self Published

2ND Place: Who's Buried in the Garden - Ray Villareal - Arte Público Press

Honorable Mention: Mr. Clean’s Familia - David Bueno-Hill - Urbano Books


Best Young Adult Fiction – Spanish or Bilingual

La Canción de Shao Li - Marisol Ortiz de Zárate - Bambú

2ND Place: Dark Dude - Oscar Hijuelos - Editorial Everest

Honorable Mention: The Case of the Pen Gone Missing/El caso de la pluma perdida - René Saldaña, Jr. - Arte Público Press


Best Young Adult Nonfiction - English

Memories of My Colombia - Valentina Arango - Ediciones El Pozo


Best Young Adult Nonfiction - Spanish or Bilingual

Yes, You Can Too! The Life of Barack Obama/¡Tú También Puedes! La Vida de Barack Obama - Raquel Benatar - Laredo Publishing

2ND Place: Alegria - Kilina Vela - Trafford

Honorable Mention: Penny, Caída Del Cielo - Jennifer L. Holm - Bambú


Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – Spanish or Bilingual

Cuahutemoc Blanco - José María Obregón - Rosen Publishing – Triple Crown Award Winner

2ND Place: Amor a la Colombiana - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: Colorombia Animal - Camilo Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.


CATEGORY B – NONFICTION


Best Arts Book - English

Maria Brito - Juan Martinez - UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center - Triple Crown Award Winner.

2ND Place: Celia Alvarez Muñoz - Robert Tejada - UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center

Honorable Mention: Con Safo: The Chicano Art Group and the Battle of South Texas - Ruben C. Cordova - UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center


Best Arts Book - Spanish or Bilingual

Hugo Zapata - Hugo Zapata y Juan Luís Mejía - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Arte Internacional, Colección del Banco de la República - Beatriz González - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: Grabados Antiguos de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Germán Rubiano Caballero - Villegas Editores S.A.


Best Biography - English

Of Earth & Sea - Marjorie Agosín - University of Arizona Press

2ND Place: The Essays - Rudolfo Anaya - University of Oklahoma Press

Honorable Mention: The Ladies' Gallery - Irene Vilar - Other Press


Best Biography - Spanish or Bilingual

Cautiva: Testimonio de us Secuestro - Clara Rojas - Atria Books

2ND Place: Las Penumbras del General. Vida y muerte de Francisco de Paula Santander - Victor Paz Otero - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: Vive tu Vida al Rojo Vivo: Secretos Para Triunfar en Todo - Maria Celeste Arranas - Atria Books

Honorable Mention: Frank Pais y la Revolucion Cubana - José Alvarez - Outskirts Press


Best Gift Book - English

Aim High Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic & Latina Women - Laura Contreras-Rowe - Self Published

2ND Place: Hot. Passionate. And Illegal? Why (Almost) Everything You Thought About Latinos Just May Be True - Christián de la Fuente –

Celebra, an Imprint of Penguin Group


Best Gift Book - Spanish or Bilingual

Colombia en Flor - Hugo Zapata y Juan Luís Mejía - Villegas Editores S.A. – Triple Crown Award Winner

2ND Place: Amor a la Colombiana - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: El Manuscripto de Dios - Cesar Lacayo - Ediciones Internacionales


Best History/Political Book - English

Hero Street U.S.A. - Marc Wilson - University of Oklahoma Press

2ND Place: Latinos and the Nation's Future - Henry Cisneros, Editor - Arte Público Press

2ND Place: Day of the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon - Regina M. Marchi - Rutgers University


Best Reference Book – English - Tie

Chicana and Chicano Art - Carlos Francisco Jackson - University of Arizona Press

Latinos In College: Your Guide to Success - Mariela Dabbah - Consultare

2ND Place: The Fire of Life: The Robert Legorreta-Cyclona Collection 1962-2002 - Robb Hernandez - UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center


Best Reference Book - Spanish or Bilingual

MUTIS. La Real expedición Botánica del Nuevo Reyno de Granada - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Cafés de Colombia - Lilianna Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

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

Honorable Mention: Meditaciones Metafisicas (revised) - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self-Realization Fellowship


Best Travel Book - Spanish or Bilingual

Amazonia Perdida. La odisea fotográfica en Colombia de Richard Evans Shultes - Wade Davis - Villegas Editores S.A. –

Triple Crown Award Winner

2ND Place: Medellin 360º, Cordial, Pujante y Bella - Cristina Abad y Carolina Jaramillo - Villegas Editores S.A.


Best Women’s Issues Book - English

Dancing with Butterflies - Reyna Grande - Atria Books

2ND Place: Impossible Motherhood - Irene Vilar - Other Press


Best Women’s Issues Book - Spanish or Bilingual

Cómo ahorrar sin perder la cabeza - Ana Galán - Mosaico

2ND Place: La Niña Adentro Del Closet - Benoni Coaud - Wekann Publishing Co.

Honorable Mention: Descubre Tu Estillo: Tu Guía Para Vestir Mejor - Martín Llorens - Random House Mondadori


CATEGORY C – FICTION

Best Popular Fiction - English

B As In Beauty - Alberto Ferreras - Grand Central Publishing

2ND Place: Hungry Woman in Paris - Josefina López - Grand Central Publishing

2ND Place: Golondrina, Why Did You Leave Me? A Novel - Barbara Renaud Gonzalez - University of Texas Press

Honorable Mention: Dancing with Butterflies - Reyna Grande - Atria Books


Best Popular Fiction - Spanish or Bilingual

Diecinueve Minutos - Jodi Picoult - Atria Books

2ND Place: Amor a la Colombiana - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: Nos Vemos en Purgatorio - Ani Palacios McBride - Outskirts Press


Best Novel – Adventure or Drama - English

Sweet Mary - Liz Balmaseda - Atria Books

2ND Place: The River Flows North - Graciela Limón - Arte Público Press

Honorable Mention: A Glass of Water - Jimmy Santiago Baca - Grove/Atlantic, Inc.


Best Novel – Adventure or Drama – Spanish or Bilingual

Nos Vemos en Purgatorio - Ani Palacios McBride - Outskirts Press

2ND Place: El Vencedor Está Solo - Paulo Coelho - Rayo

Honorable Mention: El monte Orígo - Rosario Barros, José A. Carbonell, Carlos A. Dueñas, Rafael G. Jolly, Juan R. Martos,

Vicente A. Vásquez - Letra Rosa Publisher


Best Novel – Historical Fiction - English

Death and the American Dream - Daniel Cano - Bilingual Review Press

2ND Place: Forgetting the Alamo, or, Blood memory: A Novel - Emma Perez - University of Texas Press

Honorable Mention: The Invisible Mountain - Carolina de Robertis - Alfred A. Knopf


Best Novel – Historical Fiction - Spanish or Bilingual

Las Penumbras del General. Vida y muerte de Francisco de Paula Santander - Victor Paz Otero - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: La Estrella de David - Daniel De Cordova - Anura Group


Best Novel – Mystery - English

Death at Solstice: A Gloria Damasco Mystery - Lucha Corpi - Arte Público Press


Best Novel – Romance - English

Vigil - Cecilia Samartin - Atria Books

2ND Place: Clara…Encountering Life - Gabriela Garcia-Williams - Self Published


Best Novel – Romance - Spanish or Bilingual

La Pildora del mal Amor - Anjanette Delgado - Atria Books – Triple Crown Award Winner

2ND Place: Clara…Reencuentro con la vida - Gabriela Garcia-Williams - Self Published


Best Poetry Book - English

The Art of Exile - William Archila - Bilingual Review Press

2ND Place: Poema - Maurice Kilwein Guevara - University of Arizona Press

2ND Place: The Strange House Testifies - Ruth Irupé Sanabria - Bilingual Review Press

Honorable Mention: Faith Run - Ray Gonzalez - University of Arizona Press


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

Best Cover Design

Colombia en Flor - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Hugo Zapata - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Aim High Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic & Latina Women - Laura Contreras-Rowe - Self Published

Honorable Mention: Boy of the Border - Antonio Castro L. - Sweet Earth Flying Press LLC


Best Cover Illustration

Amor a la Colombiana - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Cuentos del Centro: Stories from the Latino Heartland - Maria Vasquez Boyd - Scapegoat Press

Honorable Mention: Cocinando cuentos de hadas: Caperucita roja y el lobo glotón - Helena Landínez - Villegas Editores S.A.


Best Interior Design

Colombia en Flor - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Arte Internacional, Colección del Banco de la República - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Descubre Tu Estillo: Tu Guía Para Vestir Mejor - Armando Alvarez - Random House Mondadori


Best Use of Photos

Apalaanchi, pescadores Wayuu - Santiago Harker - Villegas Editores S.A.

2ND Place: Medellin 360º, Cordial, Pujante y Bella - Benjamin Villegas - Villegas Editores S.A.

Honorable Mention: Shine Boy - José Galvez - Shine Boy Media


CATEGORY E – AUDIO

Best Children’s Audio Book – Spanish or Bilingual

Frédéric Chopin - Catherine Weill - Combel Editorial – Triple Crown Award Winner

2ND Place: Aesop's Fables/Las Fabulas de Esopo - Georgette Baker - Cantemos

Honorable Mention: Mulitcultural Stories/Cuentos Multiculturales - Georgette Baker - Cantemos


CATEGORY F - THE MARIPOSA AWARDS

Best First Book - English

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 sol Hemi - 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

May 21, 2010

Lee and Low Books Announces the 2010 New Voices Award


LEE & LOW BOOKS, award-winning publisher of children's books, is pleased to announce the eleventh annual NEW VOICES AWARD. The Award will be given for a children's picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500.

Established in 2000, the New Voices Award encourages writers of color to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent. Past New Voices Award submissions that we have published include Ghosts for Breakfast, a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Children's Book; Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and a Texas Bluebonnet Masterlist selection; and Bird, an ALA Notable Children's Book.

Eligibility

The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children's picture book published.

Writers who have published other work in venues such as children's magazines, young adult, or adult fiction or nonfiction, are eligible. Only unagented submissions will be accepted. Work that has been published in any format is not eligible for this award. Manuscripts previously submitted for this award or to LEE & LOW BOOKS are not eligible.

Submissions

Manuscripts should address the needs of children of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another.

Submissions may be FICTION, NONFICTION, or POETRY for children ages 5 to 12. Folklore and animal stories will not be considered.

Manuscripts should be no more than 1500 words in length and accompanied by a cover letter that includes the author's name, address, phone number, email address, brief biographical note, relevant cultural and ethnic information, how the author heard about the award, and publication history, if any.

Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced on 8-1/2" x 11" paper. A self-addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage must be included if you wish to have the manuscript returned.

Up to two submissions per entrant. Each submission should be submitted separately.

Submissions should be clearly addressed to:

LEE & LOW BOOKS
95 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
ATTN: New Voices Award

Manuscripts may not be submitted to other publishers or to LEE & LOW BOOKS general submissions while under consideration for this Award. LEE & LOW BOOKS is not responsible for late, lost, or incorrectly addressed or delivered submissions.

Dates for Submission

Manuscripts will be accepted from May 1, 2010, through September 31, 2010 and must be postmarked within that period.

Announcement of the Award

The Award and Honor Award winners will be selected no later than December 31, 2010. All entrants who include an SASE will be notified in writing of our decision by January 31, 2011. The judges are the editors of LEE & LOW BOOKS. The decision of the judges is final. At least one Honor Award will be given each year, but LEE & LOW BOOKS reserves the right not to choose an Award winner.

For information about previous winners, click here.

Good luck to everyone! —Adriana