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

For my second installment in my series of posts following up the conference, I would like to print some of Dr. Felipe Ortego y Gasca’s enlightening comments during his opening keynote address. For those of you who may not know, Dr. Ortego y Gasca has long been considered the founder of Chicano Literary Studies. His seminal work, entitled Backgrounds of Mexican American Literature (Univ. of NM, 1971), was the first study published in the field. He is also credited for being the first to write on the subject of Chicano literature for a major publisher with his We Are Chicanos: Anthology of Mexican American Literature (Washington Square Press, 1973). It was truly an honor for me to get an opportunity to see him speak at this conference, and I would like to pass some of that honor on to you.

Ortego y Gasca addressing the participants of the 2009 National Latino Writers Conference.

During his talk, Ortega y Gasca offered these encouraging words to the Latino authors in attendance: “We are still in our gestation period, 1973 is not that long ago”—referring to the date of publication of We Are Chicanos— and adding: “We have to recover the U.S. Latino saga; my family’s history in the U.S. dates back to 1731, before 1776”—obviously pointing to his own Mexican roots, and maybe alluding to that old Southwestern saying: “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.”

He went on to make a distinction between Latin American writers living in the U.S.—who are very much connected to the literary tradition of their homelands—, and Latino Writers— whom, he pointed out, should be identified as U.S.-based Latino authors, such as Sandra Cisneros. I wanted to print this remark in particular because he went on to state that “this distinction is seldom made (by publishers, readers, and the general public), exhibiting a basic misunderstanding and ignorance of the work of U.S. Latino writers, which dates back to the roots of this country—and has a long future ahead.”

Ortega y Gasca also mentioned the demographics with which my readers are already very well acquainted, putting them into perspective, and within the literary context. He said: “By 2040, 1 in 3 Americans will be Latino, and this demographic is changing from the inside, not through immigration.” (Referring to the fact that 1 out of 2 babies now born in the U.S. is of Latino heritage.) “Every county in the US now has Latinos in it.” (A fact that I, for one, was not aware of, and which I found fascinating, since it has endless implications.) Finally, referring to what he dubbed the “tsunamic demographic change” that we are about to face, Ortego y Gasca offered these very simple, wise words to present and future Latino writers: “We should not waste it.”

I hope you are enjoying these posts on the NLWC. Check back at the end of this week, when I will be posting the first of a series of writing tips by some of the published authors who attended the conference.

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

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

Mario y Uruguay

It's been a interesting time to be Uruguayan this year; Eduardo Galeano made his way into the world's spotlight—and the #1 spot on best sellers lists— after Hugo Chávez handed a copy of his Open Veins of Latin America to President Obama. Uruguayan-American Carolina de Robertis' debut novel The Invisible Mountain, is said to be positioned as a lead title when Knopf releases it in 8/09. And it's only May. Uruguayans are just not used to this much attention.

Being born in a country wedged between two Latin American giants, with a total population of just over 3 million,  generally makes you feel like a drop in the bucket. Uruguayans often resign themselves to a certain degree of anonymity, especially abroad. Not much is known about us; there aren't many "Uruguayan" stereotypes to pull out of a hat to enable others to jump to conclusions, and many people can't locate us on a world map. There's always our famous beef, but that is something that we share with Argentina, so it doesn't do much toward identifying us as a singular people. To be fair, we have ourselves struggled with our national identity, but that is a different matter. The fact is, Uruguayans are a quiet bunch in many ways. 

But we could always count on Benedetti to speak for us. Mario Benedetti was probably Uruguay's best-known writer. More than the pivotal Onetti, more than the fiery and controversial Galeano, despite the latter's resurgence. Because Benedetti's readers truly love him. They cherish the nostalgic quality of his prose, and yearn for his evocative poetry. The magic of Benedetti has always been the simplicity and universality of his message. In a way, Benedetti personified what it is to be Uruguayan on a world scale, which is probably why I always brought him up in conversations with non-Uruguayans. And it never failed; those who knew him, always loved him.  

Benedetti had been ill for over a year, and on May 17th, his body finally gave out and he passed away at the age of 88. I encourage you to take a look at the video below, and to celebrate the life of a simple man who, with the help of words, his only tools, carried out a very important duty: He reminded us how to be human.

 Chau Mario, gracias por salvarnos. 

ADDENDUM: To hear my interview with Mario Hinojosa of Latino USA on the life of this iconic Latin American author, and see more video of Benedetti reading, go to: http://latinousa.kut.org/842/

New Translation Guide Released

Some of you have requested coverage on the topic of translation, and, as a translator myself, I am happy to oblige: I just received word that the University of Illinois’ Dalkey Archive Press, in partnership with the Society of Authors, the British Council, Arts Council England, and the British Centre for Literary Translation, announced the publication of Translation in Practice: A Symposium, edited by Gill Paul.

Based on a conference held at the British Council in London in February 2008, Translation in Practice is part debate and part handbook, an attempt to establish best practices for writers, editors, translators, and anyone else involved in the business of literary translation. With a preface by Amanda Hopkinson, Director of the British Centre for Literary Translation, this volume brings together the experiences, opinions, and ideas of top editors and translators from both the U.S. and UK. Participants include:

Ros Schwartz, translator, chair of the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations Euan Cameron, translator, former publisher and editor Hanan Al Shaykh, author Rebecca Carter, editor, Random House UK Christina Thomas, freelance editor Martin Riker, associate director, Dalkey Archive Press.


Translation in Practice is the first of a series of books Dalkey Archive Press will publish on the art of translation. It will be followed by a new edition of Suzanne Jill Levine’s The Subversive Scribe, forthcoming in October 2009. Suzanne Jill Levine has translated a number of Latin American greats into English, including Jorge Luis Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Julio Cortazar, Jose Donoso, Carlos Fuentes, Silvina Ocampo, Alejandra Pizarnik, Julian Rios and Severo Sarduy. I plan on getting a copy Translation in Practice to evaluate its usefulness for myself and to read about the ideas it exposes on the subject. I highly recommend Levine’s book to all translators and those interested in translation. It will make you think about the art of translating in an entirely new way. If you have read either of these books, I invite you to comment and share your thoughts on them.

To enter my Latino Book Month giveaway, click here

Latino Book Month Giveaway!

Hachette Book Group has generously provided copies of 5 of their new books by Latino authors to give away to readers of VOCES in honor of Latino Books Month.

Five winners will received the whole set of five books! 

To win your copies, do the following:

1. Become a follower of VOCES by clicking on the appropriate box on the side bar. 
   
2. Once you have become a VOCES follower, send me an email to adrianasblog@gmail.com confirming that you have done so, and include the following information: 

• Your name and shipping address, so that we can know where to send the books. 
• An idea for a future post for VOCES, a feature that you'd like to see added to the blog, or feedback on what you like and may not have liked so much about my posts so far. As I stated in my first post, I want this to be a place for dialogue among those interested in Latino lit, so this information will benefit all! 
  

*Those who are already followers of the blog also qualify for the giveaway. If you are a follower, please let me know in your email message, and include the rest of the information requested. 

Five winners will be chosen randomly on the last day of Latino Book Month, May 31st. Winners will be announced on the site on JUNE 1ST, 2009. Good luck! 

To find out more about the books, click on their titles below:

1.       B as in Beauty By Alberto Ferreras ISBN: 0446697893

2.       Into the Beautiful North By Luis Urrea ISBN: 0316025275

3.       Hungry Woman in Paris By Josefina Lopez ISBN: 0446699411

4.       The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos By Margaret Mascarenhas ISBN: 0446541109

5.       Houston, We Have a Problema By Gwendolyn Zepeda ISBN: 0446698520

**Books will be delivered by publisher, so contest is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Books will not be delivered to P.O. boxes.

Celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) on April 30th, and Every Other Day of the Year!

By now, most of us know that 1 out of every 2 children born in the US is of Latino heritage, and that by 2050 nearly 30% of this country’s population will be Latino. What some of you may not know, is that studies have revealed that children who are read to from an early age (preferably before they begin school), do better once they get to school. And a child who does better in school is more likely to stay in it, and go on to college, and become a contributing member of society. So if we want to ensure a bright future for our Latino children as their numbers continue to grow, we should make an effort to read to them as much as we can, and to make that a priority in our lives. El día de los niños/El día de los libros provides us with a perfect opportunity to celebrate children, books, and the act of reading!

Founded in 1996 by author Pat Mora, “Día” as it is commonly called, is “a daily commitment to link all children to books, languages and cultures.” Día is housed at the American Library Association, and there are Día celebrations held at libraries all across the country on or near April 30th. To learn more about Día and its celebrations, get a brochure of recommended books, and much more, visit Día’s official website.

This is particularly exciting year for Día, because its founder, Pat Mora, has released her first ever Día themed bilingual picture book, entitled Book Fiesta!, illustrated by the amazing Rafael López. LibreríaLectorum.com recently interviewed the author about Día and her new book. Click here to read that interview. To learn more about Pat Mora, Día, and the book, visit the author’s website.

I have listed some Día events in my calendar. That, along with the information and resources found in the websites mentioned above, should provide you with many options for celebrating Día today, this week, this month, and this year. So tell your friends and family to celebrate, read to their kids, and buy books by Latino authors! That is the best investment we can all make in our future!

The titles below belong to a list of Día recommended titles put together by The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) - a division of the American Library Association (ALA), REFORMA - the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, and the Association of American Publishers’ Publishing Latino Voices for America (PLVA) Task Force. It includes books in English and Spanish, as well as in the popular bilingual format. I think that it provides a nice variety of titles to help you begin to build your library. Enjoy!

¡Feliz día de los niños y los libros!

Tell Your Story to NPR!

Hello everyone! I know that I've been a little MIA lately (busy, busy!), but I have been updating the calendar of events, so I hope that you are taking a look every so often, since it is updated very, very often. Check it out, or you may miss out on a writing workshop by Liliana Valenzuela, or a memoir workshop by Ana Castillo, to name only a couple! I get announcements about events from many sources, and I am making every effort to let you in on those through the calendar, as part of this blog's promise to provide you with "an insider's perspective" on the Latino market, so take advantage of it, and support Latino literature by attending the events whenever possible.

And here is an exciting opportunity for those of you who want to share your stories:

To any and all book lovers who have a good story to tell about how a book or librarian infused a child's life with joy or purpose. NPR's Latino USA is planning a feature to air before El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/ Book Day) in April that will share some of these stories about the power of books. Do you have a story or can you help us find one? We are in search of all voices: young, old, in Spanish, Somali or any language. Write to us and tell us the story, and we may call you up for an interview. Others will be included on our web site. We are especially interested in stories about Latino and immigrant children. Or the kids themselves if they'd like! Please send them to Katie Davis: KDavisDC@aol.com. Good luck!