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I know I'm out of school and all, but some things have happened this summer to cause me to seriously investigate my family tree. Fortunately, there are simply floors of paintings here in Castle Nyx . . . dozens of dark, mysterious paintings of the Nyx ancestors with eyes that I swear move! Most of them are of people long dead -- great-great-great something-or-others, but there are a few that looked to me as if the paint were fresher. It was these I studied.

First, in the hall to the first floor dining room was an old portrait of a cat-eyed woman dressed for safari. According to the brass plate screwed into the frame, this was my wicked Auntie Fae, who disappeared somewhere in the Australian Outback in '89. With a little help (1-800-CUZFNDR) I discovered my Aunt had had a son some years ago whom she had abandoned on the steps of the Public Library of New South Wales in Sydney. Trooper Cordell.

Second, in the west wing, just below the servants quarters, hung a portrait all in greys -- a face I could barely distinguish beneath the strange cape and hood he wore. Coincidentally (dun-dun-dun) as I pondered, the door rang and there stood a hooded figure claiming to be a Nyx cousin thrice removed - an enigmatic shadow-boy with arms full of books who called himself the Velvet Pickle.

Third, in the observatory is a portrait of someone Grandmama calls "That cousin who lurks on the moors." Of course my ears perked up at the word cousin -- but it turned out he was dead 54 years past, or was he? I stowed away on the next ship to Cardiff to find my dark eyed cousin (or is it his descendant?) Gabriel Gethin, who was wandering the moors with a dog-eared paperback copy of Wuthering Heights clutched in his long fingers and looking not a day past 16.

By now I'm sure you're wondering, where are Twyla's dearest evil cousins, Avery and Aislinn? Sadly, oh so sadly for me, they have spread their wings and started their own blog of reviews called nineseveneight. Read them, I command it, for though they have broken my dark heart, they write the most fawesome of reviews.

Welcome my 3 long lost cousins, and fare thee well Avery and Aislinn. I pray you'll stop by for a visit, my dearest ones -- for you will always be my Evil Cousins!

Yours truly,
Twyla Lee

I spied this fabric at the Designer Fabric Outlet store on Queen West (1360 Queen St. W, between Dufferin and Landsdowne) recently. This store is amazing, they have, if anything, too much choice. My favourite part is that all the fabric is in small swatches on hangers, organized by fiber, colour and pattern, and so it's very easy to browse through. My friend Sarah and I spent ages in there. Don't forget to go upstairs for extra fabric on bolts - and even more choices.As promised I'm showcasing some of the things I'm making for my table at the Artisan's Gift Fair this Sunday. I thought this fabric was really gorgeous and perfect for a evening bag. I love the colour scheme of tan, grey, white, black and red. Also the black parts of the flowers are velvet and very soft. Since I'm not home I don't have all my fabric with me, so it's lined with some of the linen I bought. Usually linen is a bit pricey for a lining but since I don't have anything else with me, this bag is just that much more special. There's a pocket inside, and I'll be adding a snap or button clasp when I get home.

I have a dressy black dress that needs something just like this to go with it! Just one question, should the closure be a snap or button? A snap is more practical and easier to open and close but a button could be prettier. What do you think?

Hola desde Nueva York! Greetings from New York City!

Book Expo America began today. It was with great pleasure that I attended the 9th Annual International Latino Book Awards this evening. The awards ceremony was simultaneously broadcast live on the Latino Book and Family Festival website. Que cool, no? Edward James Olmos welcomed attendees via video. I met new people and ran into old friends like Ruben Martinez who had the honor of presenting the Mariposa Awards for Best First Book.

I'm told that this year there was a 50% increase in entries from last year and that this year there were more categories. The list of winners is extensive and our own Lisa Alvarado's book Sister Chicas won the second place Mariposa Award for Best First book. Congratulations Lisa and all the winners!

The list of winners:

Best Educational Children's Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Puberman, Maria Villegas - Jennie Kent. Villegas Editores S.A.
2nd Place - El Alfabeta de Hojalata, Dalia Nieves Albert, Ediciones Puerto Rico
Honorable Mention - Tesoro Infinito, Maria Villegas - Jennie Kent, Villegas Editores S.A.
Best Educational Children's Book - Bilingual
New Mexico/Nuevo Mexico, Jose Maria Obregon. Rosen Publishing Group
2nd Place - Puerto Rico, Jose Maria Obregon. Rosen Publishing Group
Honorable Mention - Teo and The Brick/Teo y El Ladrillo, Adam Del Rio. Lectura Books
Best Children's Picture Book - English
The Boy of Steel, Ray Negron, HarperCollins Publishers
2nd Place - Noelle's Treasure Tale: A New Magically Mysterious Adventure, Gloria Estefan. Rayo HarperCollins.

Best Children's Picture Book - Bilingual
Super Oscar - Oscar de la Hoya, Paula Wise Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2nd Place - Pio Peep! Alma Flor Ada, Rayo HarperCollins
2nd Place - Talking With Mother Earth/Hablando con Madre Tierra, Jorge Argueta - Groundwood Books/House of Ansansi Press
Honorable Mention - Lupe Vargas and her Super Best Friend - Amy Costales. Luna Rising
Best Children's Picture Book - Spanish
La primera luna llena de Gatita - Kevin Henkes - Greenwillow Books/Rayo
2nd Place - Napi va a la montana - Antonio Ramirez - Groundwood Books/House of Ansansi Press
Honorable Mention - Benny - sieb Posthuma - Kane/Miller Book Publishers


Best Young Adult Fiction - English
Ribbons of the Sun - Harriet Hamilton - Brown Barn Books
2nd Place - Getting It - Alex Sanchez - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Honorable Mention - Ay Mija! Why do You Want To Be An Engineer? Edna Campos Gravenhorst - AHETEMS (Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math & Science)

Best Young Adult Fiction - Spanish
La Chica de Mendiburo - Andalucia - Cholita Prints & Publishing Company
2nd Place - Septimus Heap, Libro Uno: Magyk - Angie Sage - Rayo HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Cartas a mi mama - Teresa Cardenas - Groundwood Books/House of Ansansi Press
Best Young Adult Fiction - Bilingual
The Ruiz Street Kids/Los Muchachos de la calle Ruiz - Diane Gonzales Bertrand - Arte Publico Press
2nd Place - Graciela's Dream/El Sueno de Graciela - Max Benavidez & Katherine Del Monte - Lectura Books

Best Young Adult Nonfiction - English
When I Was a Boy Neruda Called Me Policarpo - Poli Delano - Groundwood Books/House of Ansansi Press
2nd Place - Mesoamerican Mythology - Graham Faiella - Rosen Publishing Group
Honorable Mention - letter to My Granddaughter - Eva S. Molina - AuthorHouse
Best Young Adult Nonfiction - Spanish
El primer año del bebe - Jeanne Warren Lindsay - Morning Glory Press
2nd Place - Puberman, Maria Villegas - Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.
Honorable Mention - Animales Atals con Pegatinas - Ruth Brockelhurst - EDC Publishing/Usborne
Best Arts Book - English
Bogata 360 Inside the City - Enrique Santos Molano - Villegas Editores S.A.
2nd Place - Guatemala (Ingles) Harris Whitbeck, Villegas Editores S.A.
Honorable Mention - Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul, Kathy Cano Murillo - Rayo/HarperCollins
Best Biography - English
Raul Salinas and the Jail Machine: My Weapon is My Pen, Raul Salinas - University of Texas Press
2nd Place - I Am My Father's Daughter - Maria Elena Salinas - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends - John Leguizamo - Ecco/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa - Rigoberto Gonzalez - University of Wisconsin Press
Best Business Book
The Salsa Solution - Rafael Colon & Alesa Lightbourne - VI Publishing
2nd Place - The Money in You! Julie Stav - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Latino Advantage in the Workplace - Mariela Dabbah & Arturo Poire - Sourcebooks, Inc.

Best Health Book
Gordito Doesn't Mean Healthy - Claudia Gonzalez & Lourdes Alcaniz - Berkely (Penguin)
2nd Place - The Checklist - Manny Alvarez - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best History Book
Enriqueta Vasquez & the Chicano Movement - Enriqueta Vasquez - Arte Publico Press
2nd Place - A Home on the Field - Paul Cuadros - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - The Holy Vote - Ray Suarez Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Chicana Lives and Criminal Justice: Voices From El Barrio - Juanita Diaz-Cotto - University of Texas Press
Best New Age Book - English
Nostradamus - Gonzaol Echevarry Uruburu - Villegas Editores S.A.
Best Religious Book - English
The Holy Vote - Ray Suarez - Rayo/HarperCollins
Best Self-Help Book - English
Once Upon a Cow - Dr. Camilo Cruz - Brainstorm Press, Inc.
2nd Place - The Money in You! - Julie Stav - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Real Life, Real Love - Father Alberto Cutie - Penguin Group, USA Inc.
Honorable Mention - The Love Diet - Mabel Iam - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Travel Book - English
The World Cup - Fernando Fiore - Rayo/HarperCollins Publishers
2nd Place - Colombia 360, Cities and Towns - Enrique Santos Molano - Villegas Editores S.A.
Honorable Mention - Es Cuba: Life and Love on an Illegal Island - Lea Aschkenas
Best Reference - English
Columbia Natural Parks - Laura Sesana - Villegas Editores S.A.
2nd Place - Chicano and Chicana Literature - Charles M. Tatum - University of Arizona Press
Honorable Mention - Enigmas of the English Alphabet - Alvaro Alves-Milho - AuthorHouse
Honorable Mention - How to Buy a Home - Louis Cortes - Atria Books

Best Arts Books - Spanish or Bilingual
Eyes to Fly With: Portraits, self-Portraits and Other Photographers - Graciela Iturbide - University of Texas Press
2nd Place - Omar Rayo Homanaje - Omar Rayo - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best Biography - Spanish or Bilingual
Clemente - David Maraniss - Atria Books
2nd Place - La Hija del Ganges - Asha Miro - Atria Books
Honorable Mention - Yo Soy la Hija de mi Padre - Maria Elena Salinas - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Business Book - Spanish or Bilingual
El Dinero que Hay en Ti! - Julie Stav - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Como Comunicarnos en Publico con Poder, Entusiasmo y Efectividad - Dr. Camilo Cruz

Best Cookbook - Spanish or English
Larousse De La Cocina Mexicana - Alicia Grionella de Angeli, Giorgio De Angeli, Ediciones Larousse
2nd Place - Primicias de Cocina Peruana - Rodolfo Hinostioza - Editorial Everest
Honorable Mention - Sabrosuras boricuas - Erisbelia Garriaga
Best Health Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Tu: El Manual de Instrucciones - Mehmet Oz & Michael F. Roizen - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - El Cuidado de su Hijo Pequeno Desde Que Nace Hasta Los cincos Anos - Steven P. Shelow, MD and Robert E. Hannemann, MD - American Bantam Books

Best History/Political Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Breve Historia de Cuba - Jaime Suchlicki - Pureplay Press
2nd Place - El Asesor del Presidente - Bill Minutaglio - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - La politica, el amor y otros textos - Alberto Dangond Uribe - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best New Age Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Mas Alla de la Reencarnacion - Dr. Joe Slate - Llewellyn Espanol
2nd Place - La Magia de las Piedreas y los Cristales - Migene Gonzalez-Wippler - Llewellyn Espanol
Honorable Mention - Astrologia - Brenda Valentin - Llwellyn Espanol


Por que Dios permite el mal y como superarlo - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention - Cautivado por la Alegria - C.S. Lewis Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Autobiografia de un Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda - Self Realization Fellowship

Best Self-Help Book - Spanish or Bilingual (tie for first)
Ama De Verdad, Vive De Verdad - Padre Alberto Cutie - Penguin Group, USA, Inc.
Como Llegue Aca? - Barbara De Angelis - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - claves para ser propietario - 2da Edicion - National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Honorable Mention - Marte y Venus en el Dormitoria - John Gray - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Travel Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Colombia 360 Ciudades y Pueblos - Enrique Santos Molano - Villegas Editores S.A.
2nd Place - Vamos al Mundial! - Fernando Fiore - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Reference Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Ayde a sys hijos a Tener Exito en la Escuela - Mariela Dabbah - Sourcebooks, Inc.
2nd Place - Parques Naturales - Laura Sesana - Villegas Editores S.A.
Honorable Mention - La Guia Completa de Vitaminas, Hierbas y Suplementos - Winifred Conkling - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Novel - Adventure or Drama - English
Ines of My Soul - Isabel Allende - HarperCollins Publishers
2nd Place - Our Lives Are the Rivers - Jamie Manrique - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - The Last Cato - Matilde Asensi - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Poetry Book - English
Adobe Odes - Pat Mora - University of Arizona Press
2nd Place - DRIVE: The First Quartet - Lorna Dee Cervantes - Wings Press
Honorable Mention - How Long She'll Last in This World - Maria Melendez - University of Arizona Press

Best Novel - Adventure or Drama - Spanish
El Corrido de Dante = Eduardo Gonzales Viana - Arte Publico Press
2nd Place - El Pergamino de la Seduccion - Giaconda Belli - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - Ines del Alma Mia - Isabel Allende - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - McQuinn, la impostura - Julio Castellanos - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best Novel - Historical Fiction - English
Our Lives Are the Rivers - Jamie Manrique - Rayo/HarperCollins
2nd Place - Tomorrow They Will Kiss - Eduardo Santiago - Little, Brown & Company
2nd Place - The Scroll of Seduction - Giaconda Belli - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - The Song of the Golden Cocks - Margaret Donnelly - Trafford Publishing

Best Novel - Romance - English
Do Not Pass Go - Beatriz Rivera - Arte Publico Press
2nd Place - The Mystics of Reyesville - Corinne Chacon - iUniverse, Inc.

Best Novel - Mystery - English
The Last Cato - Matilde Asensi - Rayo/HarperCollins Publishers
2nd Place - Statute of Limitations - Steven F. Havill - St. Martin's Press
Honorable Mention - The Mystics of Reyesville - Corinne Chacon - iUniverse, Inc.
Honorable Mention - The Nymphos of Rocky Flats - Mario Acevedo - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Missing in Precinct Puerto Rico - Steven Torres - St. Martin's Press

Best Novel - Historical Fiction - Spanish
Malinche - Laura Esquivel - Atria Books
2nd Place - El Pergamino de la Seduccion - Giaconda Belli - Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention - Ines del Alma Mia - Isabel Allenda - Rayo/HarperCollins

Best Novel Romance - Spanish
Lo Que Le Falta Al Tiempo - Angela Becerra - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best Poetry Book - Spanish
Among the Angeles of Memory/Entre los angeles de la memoria - Marjorie Agosin - Wings Press
2nd Place - Connecting Lines: New Poetry from Mexico - Luis Cortes Bargallo - Sarabande Books
Honorable Mention - La Ventana/The Window - Marie Delgado Travis

Best Cover Design - Hard Cover
Guatemala Inedita - Cristobal Von Rothkirch, Illustrator - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best Cover Design - Soft Cover
The Mystics of Reyesville - Corinne Chacon - iUniverse, Inc.
2nd Place - La Chica de Mendiburo - Adalucia, Illustrator - Cholita Prints & Publishing Co
Honorable Mention - La furia de los elementos - Luis Fernando Charry - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best Interior
Omar Rayo - Oscar Monsalve, Illustrator - Villegas Editores S.A.
2nd Place - Las Ultimas Siete Palabras de Cristo - Oscar Romero, Illustrator - World Library Publications
Honorable Mention - La Chica de Mendiburo - Adalucia, Illustrator - Cholita Prints & Publishing

Best Cover Illustration
The Mystics of Reyesville - Corinne Chacon - iUniverse, Inc.
2nd Place - Puberman - Ivan Chacon, Ilustrator - Villegas Editoes S.A.
Honorable Mention - La Chica de Mendiburo - Adalucia, Illustrator - Cholita Prints & Publishing

Best Children's Audio Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Leah Ann adopta un perico - Connie Reza - yo puedo! Publishing

Best Fiction Audio Book - Spanish or Bilingual
Malinche - Laura Esquivel - Fonolibro, Inc.

Best Non Fiction Audio Book - Spanish or Bilingual
La Vaca - Dr. Camilo Cruz - Brainstorm Press, Inc.
2nd Place - Los 7 Pasos Para Ser Mas Feliz - Dra. Isabel - Fonolibro Inc.

THE MARIPOSA AWARDS

Best First Book - Spanish
Leah Ann adopta un perico - Connie Reza - yo puedo! Publishing
2nd Place - Lupe Vargas and Her Super Best Friend - Amy Costales - Luna Rising
2nd Place - Padres de Hoy - Iris Yankelevich - Llewellyn Espanol
2nd Place - Puberman - Maria Villegas, Jennie Kent - Villegas Editores S.A.
Honorable Mention - La dificultad e las cosas - Mauricio Bernal - Villegas Editores S.A.

Best First Book - English
The Heiress of Water - Sandra Rodriguez Barron - Rayo/HarperCollins Publishers
2nd Place - Sister Chicas - Lisa Alvarado, Ann Hagman Cardinal, Jane Alberdeston Coralin
Honorable Mention - Tomorrow They Will Kiss - Eduardo Santiago - Little, Brown & Company