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Libreria Martinez Grand Re-Opening!

We are pleased to inform you, your family and friends about our new address: 1200 N. Main Street Ste. 100D, Santa Ana, CA, formally the children’s bookstore.

In celebration of our new home we are having a Grand Re-Opening event this upcoming week. It will be Saturday, February 21st with Noche Bohemia featuring newly published author José E. Grijalva author of Vivencias Reflejadas: Una Colección de Poemas en Español, Poet Maricela Loeaza with her works "Poemas por Amor" and Claudia Carbonell with her book "Casa Magica." Also featured will be guitar-maker Monica Esparza, exhibiting her classical and Spanish guitars. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Tenemos el placer de anunciarles a todos nuestros amigos y colaboradores que nos hemos mudado a 1200 N. Main Street Ste. 100D, Santa Ana , CA, antes conocido como la Libreria de los niños.

Con motivo de nuestra Gran Re-Apertura le invitamos a un importante evento a realizarce el Sabado, 21 de Febrero: Noche Bohemia Con protagonista José E. Grijalva autor de Vivencias Reflejadas. Una Colección de Poemas en Español, Poeta Maricela Loeaza y su libro "Poemas por Amor" y Claudia Carbonell con su libro "Casa Magica". Tambien habra exposicion de guitarras clasicas de Monica Esparza. 5:00 - 8:00 pm Libreria Martinez 1200 N. Main St. Suite 100-D Santa Ana , CA, 714.973.7900.

Acevedo fangs again!

Authors' signing event: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 3:00 Denver Book Mall, 32 Broadway (between 1st and Ellsworth Aves), 303-733-3808.

Mario Acevedo will sign Jailbait Zombie, his latest novel about Felix, the vampire PI based in Colorado. Carrie Vaughn signs Kitty Raises Hell, her sixth book in her internationally loved series about a talk show host who was forced to “come out” as a werewolf. Pre-orders and mail orders always welcome.

Nina Else, Denver Book Mall, 303-733-3808 for any questions.

Free Nymphos!

Also from Mario comes word that "Through 2/24, my publisher is offering a free online read (not a download) of my first book Nymphos of Rocky Flats." Here's the link.


Su Teatro extends Bless Me, Ultima

Because of the excitement and outstanding response (phones are ringing off the hook!) about our new show based on Rudolfo Anaya's Ultima, it will bless us for a few more days.

Su Teatro announces Bless Me, Ultima, the extension! Added dates (all others sold out): Sunday, March 1 at 3pm Friday, March 13 at 8:05pm Saturday, March 14 at 8:05pm Friday, March 20 at 8:05pm Saturday, March 21 at 8:05pm

Don’t wait. Order your tickets today: 303.296.0219 $18, students/seniors $15, or 12 for $12
El Centro Su Teatro 4725 High Street, Denver
www.suteatro.org

René Colato Laínez

Do you have a favorite children’s book? Why?

La bloga asked these questions to these acclaimed authors. Here are their answers.


This is an impossible question! I have many favorite picture books and many favorite authors. Here are some of the best of the best--with my particular recommendations:
Kevin Henkes (Chrysanthemum), Pat Mora (Dona Flor), Yuyi Morales (Little Night), Amada Irma Perez (Nana's Big Surprise), and David Shannon(A Bad Case of the Stripes) and Jaqueline Woodson (Show Way).

Monica Brown, author of My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. www.monicabrown.net


My favorite picture book from childhood is one titled Wet Albert by Michael and Joanne Cole. It's a book about a boy who is followed by a grey cloud that rains on him non-stop so his daily costume is a rain slicker. No one wants to play with Albert, except for his baby sister, but only if it's on a seesaw, she on the one end (dry), Albert on the opposite. He learns to use this hardship for good. A man lends him a helicopter to travel the world in search of drought-ridden regions, where he stays until the drought is over. I guess I liked it so much, and still do, because he was my introduction to the super-power superhero. Someone who could do so much good when the odds were against him.

As for a contemporary title: I really like Just a Minute by Yuyi Morlales. The art is awesome, the story is so cool.

Bueno,
Abrazos,
René, el otro.

René Saldaña Jr. , Author of The Jumping Tree. http://renesaldanajr.blogspot.com


MY FAVORITE BOOK? I HAVE TOO MANY ...But when I was little it was The Wizard of Oz...
thanks.
love and peace,
aip

Amada Irma Pérez, Author of Big Nana’s Surprise/ Nana, ¡Qué Sorpresa! . www.amadairmaperez.com


My favorite book is La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol / The Woman Who Outshone the Sun. When I became a teacher, I found this book in the classroom. I felt in love with the magical Lucia Zenteno, the main character. I read the story many times. This book inspired me to write my own stories. That day I said, “I want to write a book like this.”

René Colato Lainez, Author of Playing Loteria/ El juego de la lotería. www.renecolatolainez.com

Manuel Ramos



LATINO WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS
Jamie Martinez Wood
Facts on File, 2007

This book profiles more than 150 writers and journalists, beginning with Oscar Zeta Acosta and ending with Val Zavala. It has been nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, which honors the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States. The purpose of this award is to encourage the writing, publishing, and dissemination of outstanding social science books for young readers that treat topics related to ethnic minorities and relations sensitively and accurately.

Designed for grades 9 and up, the book is an intriguing collection of interview answers (the author interviewed more than 50 writers for this project), research results, and the author's personal opinions about the writers, their works, and their impact on Latino culture and sociology. Several photographs are sprinkled through the book, including pictures of literary icons such as José Martí, Jovita González, María Amparo Ruiz de Burton, and Fray Angélico Chávez. The writers are poets, playwrights, screenwriters, children's book authors, journalists, editors, publishers, and novelists.

The essentials of a good reference work are here: biographical details, lists of published works, additional sources for further information, and a chronological explanation of each writer's role in Latino literature or journalism. The book is a good place to start when digging into the background of a particular writer, and it will lead to other sources and much more information.

Some of Wood's comments surprised me. These zingers are not in every profile (short essay, really) but periodically she writes something totally unexpected from a book of this type. For example, she notes that Oscar Acosta's "roller coaster, insatiable hunt for acceptance in life from others and through his writings points to the need to bridge alliances rather than to focus on what separates ethnicities and people." Or, how about this regarding Geraldo Rivera: "Widely misunderstood and often criticized for overt emotions and sensational tendencies, Rivera is a passionate, tenacious journalist who has been honored with more than 150 awards, including 10 Emmys."

Wood's other books include titles such as The Wicca Cookbook (Celestial Arts, 2000), The Teen Spell Book: Magick for Young Witches (Celestial Arts, 2001), and The Hispanic Baby Name Book (Berkley, 2001). Now, doesn't that make you curious?

LIBRERIA MARTINEZ
The friendly folks over at Librería Martínez are having a great September with several signings and author events at the Santa Ana (CA) store. They are Celebrando Septiembre, according to a note from Ruebén Martínez. Ruebén's message ends with this announcement, which happens to deal with the book I just reviewed:

"And finally, on Thursday, September 27 at 6:30 PM, we're culminating the month with a Latino writer extravaganza! Jamie Martinez Wood will be presenting Latino Writers and Journalists and there will be 10 distinguished writers and journalists joining the celebration: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Ana Nogales, Ph.D., Josefina Lopez, Julio Moran, Pat Mora, Ruben Martinez, Yasmin Davidds, Yvette Cabrera, the legendary newscaster/journalist Frank Cruz will be the MC for the evening and we are pleased to have our very special guest, Magdalena Beltran-del Olmo. Fijate no mas! Can you believe it? This is sure to be an unforgettable event!"

I agree, wish I could be there. Find out more about the bookstore and this month's activities at this link.

Librería Martínez, 1110 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-973-7900

THE LITTLE ROCK NINE
On October 2 (5:30 PM - 7:30 PM), at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library of the Denver Public Library, Iliff School of Theology will introduce the Heroes and Sheroes: the Story of the Little Rock Nine exhibit. As part of the 50th Anniversary of the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, this exhibit is an interactive journey through the history and achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit captures the heritage of the Little Rock Nine in three stages: The Need for Change; The Courage to Take a Stand; and The Cost and the Prize. The exhibit includes memorabilia that children can touch and feel. More about this important exhibit here.

Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St., Denver. Contact: Greta Gloven, 303-229-8042

Later.

Manuel Ramos

AWARDS
A recent press release announced the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association 2007 Regional Book Awards.

The Awards will be presented and the authors will speak at a banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin, TX on March 30, 2007. The banquet is open to the public.

The 2007 Regional Book Award for Adult Fiction is Cottonwood Saints, Gene Guerin, UNM Press. This book recently also was awarded the Premio Aztlán.

The Spirit of the West Literary Achievement Award will also be presented at the banquet. This Award is given to an author whose body of work captures the unique spirit of the Mountains & Plains region. This year's winner is Linda Hogan, a Chickasaw poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and activist. Ms. Hogan is widely considered to be one of the most provocative and influential Native American figures in the contemporary American literary landscape. She is the author and editor of numerous books including The Woman Who Watches Over the World: A Native Memoir; Power; Solar Storms; Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals; The Sweet Breathing of Plants: Women Writing on the Green World. Mean Spirit was the recipient of the 1991 MPIBA Regional Book Award in the category of Fiction. Ms. Hogan has also been the recipient of an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, an NEA grant, a Lannan Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among many others. She is currently a professor of Native American studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association is a non-profit association formed over 40 years ago with the primary purpose of supporting independent bookstores and raising awareness of the value of independent businesses within our communities. The Regional Book Awards were instituted in 1990. For more information or to order tickets for the banquet in Austin, TX, visit the website at www.mountainsplains.org or call 1-800-752-0249.

As noted by UNM Press, Cottonwood Saints "chronicles the lives of a New Mexico woman and her son, Michael. Margarita Juana Galvan was born in a lumber camp in 1913 and is brought up like a little princess in her grandparents' hacienda. In contrast, Margarita's adult life is spent in depression-ridden Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Told through Michael, Margarita's story embodies the challenges faced by an intelligent, independent-minded girl maturing in a man's world. Margarita and her family's lives intersect with the prominent events of the century: the influenza pandemic of 1918, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the Great Depression, and World War II.

Based on the life of Guerin's mother, Cottonwood Saints connects the lives of the poorest citizens of New Mexico to the local power structure."

EVENTS
Tia Chucha's 5 Year Anniversary Celebration
The website for Tia Chucha's Cafe & Cultural Center includes a message from Luis J. Rodriguez about the ongoing struggle to preserve the center and all that it stands for. Here's some of that message:

"This is a time to come together, strategize, and work to keep Tia Chucha's viable as a cultural center while we explore our options. We will not give up. We will find a temporary space; we will also curtail our retail operations while we concentrate on our programming, events, outreach, fundraising, and growth."

Part of the fundraising strategy includes an upcoming anniversary party. The details:

February 17
12737 Glenoaks Blvd., #22Sylmar, CA 91342
Live Performances, Presentations, Guest Speakers, Food, Raffles, Vendors, Book Sale

12 - 5pm
*Children's Author Reading w/ René Colato Laínez
* Teatro
*Shadow Puppet Show
*Children Songs

5-11pm
Performances by:
*Big Joe Hurt
*Alfredo Hidalgo
*Noxdiei
*El Vuh
*Mezklah
*Very Be Careful
*Aztlan Unearthed
*Hijos De La Tierra

Come and celebrate -- and help out at the same time.

Líbrería Martínez February Schedule
This from Rueben Martínez of Líbrería Martínez:
"Greetings,
We are very excited to start February off with two fantastic events for our young adult audience and our teachers. Michele Dominguez Greene will present Chasing the Jaguar, the first book in a series featuring a modern day Mexican-American teenaged sleuth. We will also be hosting a reading of the book Bridge to Terabithia. The Walt Disney movie - with the same name - will be released on February 16th. Parents, bring your children and teachers, recommend these events to your students. - Rueben Martínez"

Presentation/Workshop and Book Signing
Michele Dominguez Greene Chasing the Jaguar
Santa Ana Location
1110 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
714 973 7900
Thursday, February 8, 2007 6:30 PM

Lynwood - Plaza Mexico Location
11221 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 102 Lynwood, CA 90262
310 637 9484
Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:30 PM

Bridge To Terabithia Reading
Santa Ana Location
February 10, 2007 1:00 PM
Featuring Radio Univision personality Marcela Luevanos, narrating the book. There will be a raffle for books, posters and screening passes for children to watch the movie.

YOU'RE NOT INDIAN, YOU'RE NOT MEXICAN
You're Not Indian, You're Not Mexican is the title of a new book by Vivian Delgado, who will speak Tuesday, February 13, at the Word Is Out Women's Bookstore, 2015 10th Street in Boulder, CO. The book, whose author is of Yaqui descent, discusses various indigenous identities, common stereotypes, legal status and other factors impacting the lives of indigenous and immigrant populations. No time noted in the announcement I saw -- call the bookstore at 303-449-1415.

ALTAR GIRLS
February 16, 2007 – June 10, 2007
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday February 16, 5pm-9pm
Museo de las Americas

861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204
HOURS: 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday, 12-5pm Saturday-Sunday

CLOSED MONDAYS Phone: 303.571.4401

Altar Girls examines women’s complicated attributes of sanctity and strength viewed from historic legends and traditional media to post-modern insights and materials. The juxtaposition of women saints with contemporary views of coming-of-age girls conveys the fundamental female aspects of purity and courage. Whether they are inspired by the women of the heavens or the young women of this world, the artists of Altar Girls offer stunning depictions of the miracle of the feminine.

Artists in this amazing exhibit include:
Charles M. Carrillo (New Mexico), Marie Romero Cash (New Mexico), Alex Chavez (New Mexico), Gloria Lopez Cordova (New Mexico), James M. Cordova (New Mexico), Lawrence Cordova (New Mexico), Flavia Da Rin (Argentina), Meggan DeAnza (Colorado), Monica Dower (Mexico), Teresa Duran (Colorado), José Raul Esquibel (Colorado), Martha Varoz Ewing (New Mexico), Roxanne Shaw Galindo (Colorado), Goldie Garcia-Star (New Mexico), Gustavo Victor Goler (New Mexico), Roberto Gonzales (New Mexico), Grupo Mondongo (Argentina), Nicholas Herrera (New Mexico), Estela Izuel (Argentina), Sylvia Martinez Johnson (New Mexico), Cristina Kahlo (Mexico), Judy Varoz Long (New Mexico), Felix Lopez (New Mexico), Mario Prieto Lopez (Colorado), Marion C. Martinez, (New Mexico), Ronnald Miera (Colorado), Christina Miller (New Mexico), Judy Miranda (Colorado), Carolina Rodríguez (Colombia), Carlos Santisteven (Colorado), Catherine Robles Shaw (Colorado) and Jerry Vigil (Colorado)

21st ANNUAL VALENTINE'S DAY OLDIES DANCE - TRIBUTE TO RANDY GARIBABY
February 11, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM at the Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio. Tickets are $20 pre-sale and $25 at the door. MC is Wild Bill Riley and the music includes Ernie Garibay & Cats Don't Sleep; Sauce Gonzales & the Westside Horns; Michelle Garibay-Carey & Planet Soul; Rocky Hernandez & the OBG Band; Stone Groove with Randy Garibay, Jr.; and more.

DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECT - WESTSIDE RHYTHM & BLUES
Chicano filmaker Efraín Gutiérrez is making a documentary of the origins and history (30s through the 90s) of the San Antonio Westside Rhythm & Blues sound, with a focus on Chicano Bluesman Randy Garibay. Efrain is looking for photos, video or film and he is willing to make copies of these items for his project at the Guadalupe Theater on February 10 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM or February 11 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

OPPORTUNITIES
Oceanview Publishing is currently accepting submissions of book-length adult fiction and non-fiction from new and established authors. Send a 750-word synopsis and the first 30 pages of the manuscript by email and follow the guidelines on the publisher's website. Reviews take 90 days.

Authors Ink Books will accept email queries but sample chapters will be accepted only in hard copy. By mail, send a query letter with the first three chapters, or 50 pages of printed text plus a chapter by chapter summary. Six weeks turnaround. Check the website for more details.

Finally, in the spirit of this little guy:


Later.