Congratulations Diane Gonzales Bertrand!

THIS JUST IN--Please join me in congratulating fellow member DIANE GONZALES BERTRAND on the selection of “The Ruiz Street Kids/Los Muchachos de la calle Ruiz” as the “Best Young Adult Fiction—Bilingual” by the International Latino Book Awards!!! The award ceremony just concluded in New York City.

International Latino Book Awards Winners Announced

Best Young Adult Fiction - BilingualThe Ruiz Street Kids/Los Muchachos de la calle Ruiz, Diane Gonzales Bertrand. Arte Publico Press
2ND Place: Graciela's Dream/El Sueño de Graciela, Max Benavidez & Katherine Del Monte. Lectura Books

Congratulations also go out to Laura Esquivel, who visited with our Society members a year ago!

Best Novel - Historical Fiction - SpanishMalinche, Laura Esquivel. Atria Books
2ND Place: El Pergamino de la Seduccion, Gioconda Belli. Rayo/HarperCollins
Honorable Mention: Inés del Alma Mia, Isabel Allende. Rayo/HarperCollins

Congratulations to all the winners. A complete listing of winners was sent to Society members via email.

International Latino Book Awards

From the Latino Literacy Now 2007 Update #1

Live From New York Latino Literacy Now Presents the 9th Annual International Latino Book Awards May 31, 2007 5:00pm (EST) Watch Online (www.LBFF.us)

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. Due to the dramatic increase in recent years in nominations of literary works from Mexico, Central and South America and Spain, the title of the awards was changed to the International Latino Book Awards in 2006.

Nominations for books with a 2006 publication date were opened earlier this year. A record number of entries were received and subsequently sent out to our distinguished judges. The results are in and will be announced on May 31. If you cannot be in New York City for the awards you can keep up with the excitement online. The web broadcast, to be produced by Diversity BroadbandTV, is made possible by a grant from the Darden Restaurant Foundation and will be presented on the homepage of the Latino Book & Family Festival - www.LBFF.us. The awards take place each year during BookExpo America, taking place this year at the Javits Center in New York City.

Awaken the Sleeping Poet

From Floyd (Michaud) L. Lamrouex, J.D., M.B.A. Attorney at Law

Awaken the Sleeping Poet Monthly Poetry Venue
Tomorrow: Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m.
Featured Speaker: MIM SCHARLACK
Even if you've seen performance poets in the past, Mim is truly one of the best. She will have her bongos and drums with her, and it is a treat to watch and hear her perform. I hope you'll make a special effort to come out to Barnes & Noble and enjoy a truly remarkable evening of poetry.
REMEMBER: Open Mic from 8:00 to 9:00 is open to everyone: all ages and skill levels!Northwoods Barnes and Noble (281 & 1604) Henderson Pass Exit and Street. Bring yourself; bring a friend; bring a poem!
See you there!

June Meeting Update

Fellow Writers,

Please join me in offering condolences to Candy Calvert on the loss of her father. Candy has served as a guest presenter in the past, and has always had a fond place in her heart for our Society. Candy, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Founding member Lupe Gonzalez has put together a new presentation for our June meeting. Judith Rochelle will lead a panel discussion on e-publishing. It promises to be an informative evening as Judith, Beckie Ugolini and others share with us their success stories with e-publishing.

June Guest Speakers

Our June guest speakers have confirmed their attendance! Candy Calvert, author of Dressed to Keel; Aye Do or Die; and Mai Tai to Murder will join soon-to-be published author Lupe Gonzalez to discuss their books and publishing houses, Midnight Ink and Wild Rose Press.

The next monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers is Monday, June 11 at the Barnes and Noble (San Pedro Crossing), and it begins at 7:30 p.m. Our meetings are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to attend!

SLHW Short Story Competition

The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers
1,500 Palabras Short Story Competition

Seeking fiction that touches upon the Latino/Hispanic heritage... in 1,500 palabras (words) or less.

Submission deadline is Friday, October 26, 2007.

PRIZES

First Place: $150

Second Place: $100

Third Place: $75

Fourth Place: $50 Fifth Place: $25

Entrants agree to have their submission included in an SLHW 2007 Anthology to be published in early 2008.

Las Reglas:

1. The competition is open to manuscripts of 1,500 palabras (words) or fewer. Entries exceeding the word limitation will be disregarded. Type the word count on the first page of your entry along with your name, address, phone number and email address.

2. The entry fee is $10 per manuscript. You may enter as many manuscripts as you wish. You may send one check (in U.S. funds) for all entries. Entries are only accepted via regular mail.

3. Entries may be in English, Spanish or Tex-Mex, original, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere until the winners are announced. The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers reserves the one-time publication rights to all entries to be published in an anthology.

4. All entries must be typewritten and double-spaced on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Manuscripts will not be returned.

5. Entries must be postmarked by Friday, October 26, 2007.

6. Winners will be notified by November 19, 2007. If you have not been contacted by this date, you may assume that your entry is not a finalist. The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers reserves the one-time publication rights to all entries, even those not selected for a monetary prize, to be published in an anthology.

7. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your entry if you want to be notified of its receipt. We cannot notify you personally of your story's status before the winners are announced.

8. Winners will be invited to receive their prize during the December 10, 2007 Society meeting in San Antonio.

9. Ensure contact information is on your entry.

10. Mail your entry and check (payable to Vincent Bosquez) to:
Vincent Bosquez
PO Box 1040
San Antonio, TX 78294-1040

We wish you all the best with your contest submission.

Reyna and Malin at Lake View Terrace, Ca

Just in case you're in the San Fernando Valley area this Saturday, May 24:

Reyna Grande and Malin Alegria will read from thier newly released books at the Lake View Terrace, located at 10258 Foothill Blvd in Lake View Terrace, CA., at 3 p.m. Reyna will be reading from her book "Across a Hundred Mountains" while Malin will read from "Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico." For more information, please call (818) 896-1479.

PAC Hosts Mariachi Fiesta-val Today and Tomorrow

More than 300 students from area middle schools and high schools have converged upon Palo Alto College to participate in a “first-of-its-kind” musical event for community and family, which promises a learning and performance experience for mariachi aficionados: students, teachers, instructors, and the community, May 18-19.

Palo Alto College and the Mexican American Business and Professional Women’s Club of San Antonio, Inc. is hosting “Garibaldi at Palo Alto,” a Mariachi Fiesta-val. The festival is a scholarship fundraiser for the Mariachi Program at Palo Alto College.

A day-long music clinic is underway with workshops on technique, style, stage performance, music selection, and specialized topics running until 4 p.m. Additional workshops are scheduled for tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Instruction and workshops are designed for students in grades 6-12. Mariachi groups from area schools and individuals have been invited to participate.

The internationally renowned Campanas de América will provide instruction for event workshops. With nearly 30 years of experience, Campanas continues to prove they are one of the most sought after mariachi ensembles in performance and instruction. Other special guest artists and clinicians have been invited to participate as well.

In the evening on both days, the campus Courtyard will transform into “Garibaldi at Palo Alto” with strolling mariachis and a variety of food and novelty booths adding a fiesta flair to the event from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Garibaldi is a park in Mexico City that attracts strolling mariachis and other artisans that entertain visitors to the park.

The evening event is free and open to the public.

Alfredo Estrada at Barnes and Noble 5/24

From a good friend of the Society, Sasha Kodet, Community Relations Manager at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing:

Author Alfredo Estrada will be at the Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, on Thursday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Mr. Estrada will be signing his new book "Havana: Autobiography of a City." From fascinating historical insights to thoughtful portraits of the city and its inhabitants, this book reveals the author's passion for the city of his birth.

Hispanic Arts Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who attended last night's meeting! We discussed an open writing competition that I'm very excited about, and I'll be telling you all about it in the next day or two. At last night's meeting, Bertha Jacobson mentioned that her friend Patti Malcolm has just created a non-profit organization "ProArt" to foster Hispanic Arts in the area. The organization's first fund raiser is this Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Instituto de Mexico Auditorium. Tickets are $15.

Society Updates

I just read an email from Society member Jacqueline Mendez who is happily announcing that her book, Heart of the Jaguar, is now available through Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. She is still working diligently on having the book picked up by a U.S. publisher. Let's wish her luck!

On another note:

Mary Lou Barrera, a longtime member of the Society, wants to thank everyone for all their prayers and kind thoughts towards her daughter, Diana Barrera, a deputy sheriff. For those of you who don't know, Mary Lou's daughter was brutally attacked in her apartment in mid-April and spent two weeks in intensive care with severe neck and chest wounds. Diana is home now--although she had some 40 stitches removed which caused a lot of pain on Friday--and Mary Lou reports she can talk now since they took all the tubing out. While Diana's voice is raspy, Mary Lou wants the Society to know that her daughter is in good spirits and healing well, but will require more operations in the future.

Let's continue to keep Mary Lou and her daughter in our thoughts and prayers.

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Do you want to read your poetry? Try out a scene from a play you have written? Sing a Song you wrote or someone else wrote? Or take part in fun performance games?

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is looking for feature writers and artists for the 2007 season of its San Antonio Second Sundays series. If you're interested, contact Vincent Toro at vincentt@guadalupeculturalarts.org

Short Story Contest

I met with the Spanish Group last night at their monthly meeting at the Barnes and Noble on IH 10 and De Zavala, and within an hour we came up with a couple of great ideas for the Society! I will expand further at our monthly meeting next Monday, at the Barnes and Noble San Pedro Crossing, but in a nutshell, we are planning a citywide short story contest!

The other idea is that we are going to attempt filing paperwork as a non-profit! Becky's husband has indicated he would like to help us with the process and I'm very eager to take him up on his offer!

I spoke with Jose Cancela this afternoon, and we have scheduled to meet for breakfast on Tuesday, May 22 to discuss his book and other endeavors. Mr. Cancela is "Principal of Hispanic USA Inc, a full service Hispanic Market Communications Firm with offices in Miami and San Antonio." His recent book is "The Power of Business en Espanol."

CPS "Invest in Every Mind" Campaign

I received my bill from CPS last week and in the envelope was a blue envelope regarding the CPS Energy Campaign for the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. CPS is asking for your consideration in "Investment in Every Mind" by donating $10, $20 or more to help fund the Library Foundation's work to add new books, urgently needed materials and updated technology for the entire Library system.

Shakespeare en Espanol

Did anyone read the article in Saturday's Express-News entitled "Shakespeare play's marquee banner no habla Espanol" written by Michelle Koidin Jaffee?

Wagner High School was hosting a Spanish-language version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "Un Sueno en Una Noche de Verano" last Thursday through Saturday. They advertised the event--in Spanish--on the school's marquee. Unfortunately, there were several complaints about the Spanish on the marquee, so Wagner's principal had the sign changed to announce the play in English.

Read the complete story at this link: Shakespeare en Espanol.

National Writers' Workshop--San Antonio

The National Writers' Workshop--San Antonio will be held at:
La Quinta Inn and Suites
San Antonio Convention Center
303 Blum
San Antonio, Tx 78205
(210) 222-9181

May 19-20, 2007

Sponsored by the San Antonio Express-News and the Poynter Institute, the upcoming 2007 National Writers' Workshop in San Antonio is open to students, educators and journalists. Among the speakers are two-time Pulitzer winner Eric Nalder, political reporter Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, and Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute.

For more information, and cost, please go to the following website:
http://www.newsu.org/angel/content/nww/registration.php?location=sanantonio

According to the website, the following Scheduled keynote speakers include:

Roy Peter Clark of Poynter, founding director of the National Writers' Workshops and author of more than a dozen books on the craft and values of journalism
Wayne Slater, author of "The Architect: Karl Rove and the Dream of Absolute Power"
Eric Nalder, investigative reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligence and two-time Pulitzer winner, and author of "Tankers Full of Trouble"
Michael Quintanilla, a senior features writer for the San Antonio Express-News who for years was on the staff of the Los Angeles Times where he was also a pop culture writer and a fixture on the red carpet and Hollywood scene

Breakout sessions will include:
Investigative Reporting
Loosening Lips: The Art of the Interview
Covering Muslims in America
Staying on top of Immigration Issues
Profile Writing
Writing for the Alternative Press
Covering the Border and Online and Multimedia: The New Frontier of Journalism

Session speakers include:
Donna Gehrke-White, Miami Herald reporter and author of "The Face Behind the Veil"
Bill Minutaglio, award-winning journalist and author of "The Rise to Power of Alberto Gonzales"
Bill Celis, former New York Times reporter and author
Robert Bryce, author and freelancer
Tom Robbins, investigative reporter for the Village Voice
Amjed Baghdadi, San Antonio Islamic Center
Susan Carroll, Houston Chronicle
Manny Garcia, Miami Herald
John Dougherty, award-winning investigative reporter, formerly of the Phoenix New Times
Alfredo Corchado, Dallas Morning News
Mariano Castillo, San Antonio Express-News
David Ryan, Lawrence World.com (Lawrence, Kansas)
Ben Olivo, MySA.com

Marcela Landres Newsletter

Marcela Landres' latest newsletter has just "hit the streets" and it's loaded with lots of information. Here are two notices from her newsletter that I wanted to share with you:

LATINO NOVEL AWARD
Deadline: June 1
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California, Irvine invites submissions of an unpublished full-length novel written in Spanish or English. For more information, visit http://www.hnet. uci.edu/spanisha ndportuguese/ contest.html.

SHORT STORY COLLECTION AWARD
Deadline: May 31
The Flannery O'Connor Awards offer two prizes of $1000 each and publication by the University of Georgia Press for short story collections. Both published and unpublished writers are eligible. For guidelines and more information, visit http://www.ugapress.org/info_aup_submitfoc.html


Marcela Landres' website:
http://www.marcelalandres.com/Welcome.html

Direct link to newsletter:
http://www.marcelalandres.com/Newsletter.html