Lupe Gonzalez Update

From Lupe Gonzalez:

Hello, I'm participating in a blog with my publisher, The Wild Rose Press with 20 authors. Stop by, make a comment at my blog and the other blogs, smell the roses and possibly win a prize.

The list of the othe blogs is on my blog.

Please go to: http://www.freewebs.com/lesmora/apps/blog
Thanks, Lupe M. Gonzalez
http://www.myspace.com/lesmora
Writing stories by and about Latinas and their lives and loves.
Coming Sep 2009 - A Love for Eternity, TWRP, Vintage Miniature Rose
Too Late For Romance? (Debut Book, Jun 2008, The Wild Rose Press)

Brook Hollow Library Presentation

Here are some photos from Gaby's book presentation at the Brook Hollow Library on Saturday. Please join me in congratulating Gaby on not only publishing a fine collection of stories, but also on her tireless efforts on promoting the book to the public.

SARA--Build A Book

BUILD-A-BOOK is San Antonio Romance Authors’ [SARA] uniquely designed 4-part series of hands-on workshops educating aspiring writers how to write, sell and promote fiction in the twenty-first century. This series of workshops, led by published authors, will help aspiring writers get their stories written—and published. The series is open to the general public and we invite anyone who has ever thought of putting pen to paper for publication to attend. Join us for information, fun, and a novel way to learn about writing, and the business of books!

Workshop #4 - PR for The Writer& Use of The MediaSaturday, July 11, 2009 from 8:30am - 12:30pm.

Speakers are: Judith Rochelle aka Desiree Holt presenting
Building a Presence in the E-world

Jo-Ann Power presenting7 PR Tools for Authors: Higher Profile & Higher Sales & How To Prosper in a Fluid Business

Workshop attendees should bring a pen and notebook to take notes. Laptops are allowed, but electrical outlets are not readily available.

Workshop Registration fees:

SARA members: $12.00 per workshop

Non-members: $20.00 per workshop

For Questions please contact: Joni Hahn, Workshop Chairperson, at: jhspursfan@gmail.com
Or visit: www.sararwa.net

Workshop held at:
Boerne Convention and Community Center
820 Adler Rd (Off IH 10 West, 20 miles north of Loop 1604, San Antonio)
Boerne, TX 78006
(830) 249-2811

Mole, Micheladas Y Mas!

Brook Hollow Library Features...Maria Gabriela Madrid

Brook Hollow Branch Library

Presenta...

Maria Gabriela Madrid

y su libro

"Entre los surcos del recuerdo"

Patroncinado por

el club literario

"La Tertulia"

Sabado, el 27 de Junio

10 a.m. to Noon

Brook Hollow Branch Library

530 Heimer Rd

Para mas informacion, llame al 210.496.6315

Upcoming Events

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS HAVE BEEN COMPILED BY OUR GOOD FRIEND, JIM STEWART:

San Antonio, I am calling out poets that would like to read or songwriters that would like to sing, Saturday June 27 at the Gevers Street Art Studio 6:00 pm Contact me Jim BRGGH@msn.com or 210-291-4012 More Info Below

Patricia Cisneros Young Author, "South Texas Tales: Stories My Father Told Me" is looking for a place to have a book signing
Saturday July 18. She is from Brownsville Contact payoung@bisd.us

The Gallista Art Gallery, 1913 South Flores Street, San Antonio ( The Gallista Host 2nd Saturdays) is Hosting a Golf Tournament, The First Annual Gallista Golf Tournament, Republic Golf Course of Texas, July 18th, Entry is $ 75.00, Golf plus a BBQ Bash at the Gallista after the tournament, Prizes and awards. Contact Joe Lopez joegallista@sbcglobal.net 210-861-3646 www.gallista.com

Carver Community Center San Antonio has an Art Show Going on Right Now Featuring, James Wyatt Hendricks and Jim Harter. It runs through June 30th
226 North Hackberry, San Antonio, Tx 78202

Thursday Nights (San Antonio)
The McNay Art Gallery on Austin Highway has Free admission for a limited time

The Witte Museum on Broadway has free admission on Thursday Nights

==================================================
San Antonio

Tuesday June 24 (Poetry)
Barnes and Nobles, Loop 410 and San Pedro, Sun Poet's Society, Host Rod Stryker, 7:00 pm, rodcarlosstryker@yahoo.com sunpoets@hotmail.com, 210-325-8122

Tuesday June 24 (Poetry)
Guadalupe Street Coffee, 1320 Guadalupe Street, Jazz Poet Society, Host Eduardo Garza, 7:00-9:00 210-212-6508

Tuesday June 24 (Poetry)
The Heights, Loop 410 and Broadway, Puro Slam, 9:30 pm

Thursday June 25 (Poetry)
Northwood Barnes and Nobles, 18030 Hwy 281 North at Loop 1604, "Awaken the Sleeping Poet", 7:00 pm Featured Anthony Michael Cooremans and Natalia Trevino,
Host Floyd Lamrouex, 210-656-3131 lamrouex@sbcglobal.net

Thursday June 25 (Poetry Workshop)
Barnes and Noble Loop 410 and San Pedro, Poetry Workshop Hosted By Booger Jack, 7:00 pm

Thursday JUne 25 (Poetry)
South Presa Grill, South Presa Street, 6:30 pm Host Andi

Saturday June 27 (Art and Poetry and Music)
Gevers Street Studio One Year Anniversary Party, "A Place to Meet New Friends", 718 S. Gevers, 6:00 pm, Art, Poetry, Music, food and libations. A Viewing of Mary Harders Indy Film. Then just good fun. I am looking for a few more Poets or Songwriters or story tellers to share the open Mike. If Interested please contact me Jim Stewart at BRGGH@msn.com Gevers Street Studio was featured last Weekend in The San Antonio Express Newspaper. SA Arts. This is a great co-op studio run by Hebron Chism and the other staff Artists geversstudio@yahoo.com


Saturday June 27 (Poetry)
Puroslam Fund Raiser, San Antonio Puro Slam Team,info Anthony Flores anthonythepoet@gmail.com

Consultation Summer Sale

From Marcela Landres:

Consultation Summer Sale

Hi--I'm delighted to announce a Summer Sale on all consultation services, including:
Manuscript
Edit
Story Edit
Manuscript Review
Proposal Critique
Phone Consultation
Quick Question

The Summer Sale will be available only through Monday, September 21, 2009. For more information, please visit:http://www.marcelal andres.com/ services. html

Wishing you a wondrous summer,
MarcelaMarcela Landres
Editorial Consultant
718-208-5810
marcelalandres@ yahoo.com
Web Site: http://www.marcelal andres.com/

Let's Help Victor Villasenor!

From my good friend and tequila drinking buddy, Victor Villasenor:

Help Me Thank HBO for the Rain of Gold Miniseries:

Dear Friends, Originally, HBO had projected to start shooting a ten-hour Rain of Gold miniseries this year. But due to various industry strikes and delays, it waspushed back. Now, once more we are in the process of getting the script written, so we can start shooting next year.

We need your help to congratulate and thank HBO. HBO is the best!

Please write a letter or an email to HBO telling them how much you appreciate the fact that they are making this series, based on the Rain of Gold trilogy, meaning Wild Steps of Heaven, Rain of Gold, Thirteen Senses. Tell them how these books have touched your hearts and helped unite generations of your family in an exciting, magical, and yet realistic positive way.

Please send your letters to: Richard Plepler, Co-President HBO 1100 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY 10036-6712 Re: Rain of Gold With a copy to: Kary Antholis, President, HBO Miniseries 2500 Broadway Suite 400, Santa Monica CA 90404 And a copy to: Michael Lombardo, President, Programming Group and West Coast Operations 2500 Broadway Suite 400, Santa Monica CA 90404 And copy me too: Victor Villaseñor, 1302 Stewart St., Ocenaside, CA 92054

Or send an email to: Richard Plepler's assistant Ashley.Covarrubias@hbo.com with Rain of Gold in the subject line And copy: Kary Antholis' assistant Nica.Ferguson@hbo.com Also copy: Michael Lombardo's assistant Amy.Hodge@hbo.com And copy me too: victor@victorvillasenor.com Make sure to tell all your friends and family to do the same so word will spread like hot salsa! Let's flood them with letters this week!

Thank you, gracias, and a big abrazo,
Victor Villaseñor

Cary Clack Book Signing

The San Antonio Express-News Offices
Avenue E. & 3rd Street

host

Cary Clack

signing his book

in the Express-News
Lobby

Tomorrow, THURSDAY
June 18
at
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.


CLOWNS AND RATS SCARE ME
Foreword by Naomi Shihab Nye

RE:CONNECT! At the Guadalupe Theater

Monday's Meeting

Rebeca Gomez Galindo

Thank you to Lupe Gonzalez for providing us with a synopsis of last week's meeting!

REBECA GOMEZ GALINDO
FEATURED SPEAKER AT SOCIETY

Rebeca Gomez Galindo was the featured speaker at the June meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers. She presented her new book, HABITANTES DE MI TIEMPO.

In a humorous and very passionate way, Rebeca informed the audience that she is a “great storyteller”. She also confessed that “reading is my passion”. She advised aspiring writers to read the classics.

Other advice the author had for writers:
Join a writers group.
Attend writers’ conferences.
Network.

Following her own advice, Rebeca joined the Society five years ago. She adheres to the belief that in order to do what you love, you have to join others who love to do what you love to do.

Networking Is Everything! The author emphasized this emphatically. In order to market and sell your book, you have to begin networking months in advance.

The road to publication is fraught with challenges. Rebeca shared her road. She first compiled her short stories. Then, she sent them to four publishers she’d targeted. Three of the four responded. One seemed to say no with a complicated yes; the other said no with a smile. The third one accepted her once they found out if she knew who her target market was and how she planned to promote the book.

Writing is a solitary profession. Rebeca well knows this, but publishing is another story. So, she gathered a team around her comprised of her graphic artist, Abram Alonso, who designed her book cover, Dr. Santiago Daydi-Tolson, who wrote the preface, Alfredo Avalos, who wrote the prologue, Becky Pinot, who designed her website and her book trailer and Julio Pinot, who juggled the finances.

The author read two short stories from the anthology: “Brote de Flores” and “Amor Cuantico”. Rebeca likes to write on contemporary social issues, however, she also likes to give hope, i.e., a guardian angel watches over us. In the end, we can find happiness, if not wealth.

For more information:
http://www.habitantesdemitiempo.com/Site/Habitantes_de_mi_tiempo.html

Thanks,Lupe M. Gonzalez
http://www.myspace.com/lesmora
Writing stories by and about Latinas and their lives and loves.
Coming Sep 2009 - A Love for Eternity, TWRP, Vintage Miniature Rose
Too Late For Romance? (Debut Book, Jun 2008, The Wild Rose Press)

Mayra Calvani interviews Lupe Gonzalez

Please take a moment to read Lupe Gonzalez's interview by Mayra Calvani. Lupe discusses her book "Too Late for Romance" and an upcoming short story, "A Love for Eternity."

OMNI Publishing Tips

Tips from OMNI Book Publishing:

Author Tip #7: Converting Your Audience to Book Buyers

We still have many book promotion tips coming your way, but before we inundate you with ways to promote your book, this is a good time to look into how to turn your audience into book buyers, a term known as Converting.

Selling books is a tricky business because books are not really price-driven. When deciding to buy a book, most customers are more concerned with the time they will invest in the book, and what they have heard about it.

For example, I like long novels because I want to become engrossed in the world the author has created. When it comes to non-fiction, I want short books that get the point across and I prefer to listen to non-fiction audio books.

As aspiring best-selling authors, we cannot just sit back and hope people will see the value in our books. So here are some concrete actions we can take to motivate people to buy our books:

--Get a strong conversation going about your book because nothing sells better than word-of-mouth. Tell people you are an author and talk about it. Don't go into a long conversation about it, just mention that (example) it's a gripping mystery, a dazzling romance, or a delightful childrens story. Sell yourself first - then sell the book.

--Ask for the sale. This means you need to make it very easy for people to buy your book. Simple Amazon banners all over your blog makes it very easy for people to buy from a reliable source. BUT... remember that when you sell through Amazon or any other distributor your royalty is 15% paid every three months, and when you ask people to buy directly from OMNI Books your royalty is 30% and it's paid at the end of that month's sale. OMNI published by OMNI may be purchased by calling us directly at 888-541-2942 or by visiting our website www.omnibookpublishing.com

--Give incentives. Offer a free CD with 10 secrets to anyone who buys 5 or more copies. The content of your CD can be anything and CDs are inexpensive to produce. We have a very good source to produce CDs, please call us for rates.

--Always have books in your trunk, purse or briefcase. Don't be afraid to sell them. Too often we offer the books for free when people would be more than willing to pay for them.

These are just a few ideas. You need a big and growing audience first, but once you have an audience, it is important to find ways to convert that audience into book buyers.

Here's looking at you, kid!

Christina Coirolo
OMNI Book Publishing
888-541-2942
In Michigan 517-541-2942
www.omnibookpublishing.com

Gaby's Update

Martha Curcio (left) presents Gaby with a floral bouquet after Gaby's May presentation at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing.

MARIA GABRIELA MADRID
FEATURED SPEAKER AT SOCIETY IN MAY

Maria Gabriela Madrid, known to her fellow Society members as Gaby, presented her newly published book, ENTRE LOS SURCOS DEL RECUERDO, at the May meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers which meets at Barnes & Noble, San Pedro Crossing.

The author read “El Misterio de Escribir” (The Mystery of Writing):
Para escribir hay que leer, hay que saborear los libros sin lineamientos, hay que profundizar e interiorizar lo que el escritor trata de decirnos. Hay que buscar el mensaje detrás del relato.

In order to write, the writer must read. He must approach the books without any rule. The reader must go deeper and internalize what the writer wants to tell and look for the hidden message.

Among her favorite authors, she named Julio Cortazar, James Joyce and William Faulkner.

Maria Gabriela Madrid stated it took her four years to complete the stories in her anthology. The stories are ones of magic realism, dreams, with a “tona fantastica”, maybe something like the paranormal genre in the mainstream. The author’s stories have hidden messages and surprise meanings drawn from the headlines in the news.

The author’s book is available at the bookstore, Books & Books, Miami , Florida and in July, she’ll begin a promotion in Caracas , Venezuela .

You can also reach the author at: mariagmadrid@yahoo.com

Check out Maria's (Gaby's) upcoming events:

June 24 - Interview with Univision. The program will air on "Desde San Antonio" with Amparo Ortiz in July 2009

June 27, 10 a.m. - Presentation/reading of "Entre los surcos del recuerdo" at Brook Hollow Branch Library, 530 Heimer Road, San Antonio, Texas (If you need any directions, phone: 496-6315). Open to the public.

July 16, 7 p.m. - Presention/reading of "Entre los surcos del recuerdo" at El Buscón-Librería de Ocasión, Trasnocho, Caracas, Venezuela.

SLHW Monthly Meeting--Tonight!

SLHW Monthly Meeting

Monday, June 8

7:30 p.m.

Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing

321 NW Loop 410

Featuring

Rebeca Gomez Galindo

Author of

Habitantes de mi Tiempo

Monday's Meeting

Fellow Writer,

I would like to remind that the monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio will be tomorrow, Monday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble San Pedro Crossing. This month we are featuring Rebeca Gomez Galindo, who recently published "Habitantes de Mi Tiempo" and featured it at a multi-national book conference in Paris!

As usual, our event is free and open to the public and everyone is invited to attend and to invite family and friends to attend.

Also, if you would like to be considered for a September Hispanic Heritage Month panel co-sponsored by the Society and Barnes and Noble, and if selected, have the opportunity to have your book for sale at Barnes and Noble San Pedro Crossing (on consignment for those who self-publish, which is something that Barnes and Noble hasn't done in a while) please attend this meeting and bring a copy of your book. All entries will be collected and Barnes and Noble and I will come up with the finalists. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO POETS AND ANTHOLOGIES!

See you tomorrow. Keep Writing!

COSA & Gemini Ink's WIC Performance

From Gemini Ink:

WHAT: Life Letters Selected Readings Performance

WHO: City of San Antonio Department of Community Initiatives
Gemini Ink Writers in Communities (WIC)

WHEN: 1:00 p.m. – June 6, 2009

WHERE: Bob Ross Senior Multi-Service Health & Resource Center
2219 Babcock Road, 78229

DETAILS: The Department of Community Initiatives and Gemini Ink’s
Writers in Communities will host a performance of selected
readings from senior (ages 65+) and high school youth writers
who participated in the Life Letters intergenerational writing
workshop series held in April and May. The event is free and
open to the public. Parking will be available.

Life Letters enables both senior and youth participants to draw
upon their own life experience and imagination to craft memoir,
stories, poems, and personal nonfiction in the form of letters.
The project is the first of its kind for Gemini Ink and is supported
by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Initiative on Creativity and Aging and the Orsinger Foundation.

WEBSITE: www.geminiink.org

Encuentros de Mujeres Release Celebration

Voces de Mujeres

Women's Voices

The Encuentros de Mujeres Writing Group

Sponsored by the Center for Women in Church & Society at

Our Lady of the Lake University

Invite you to the release of its latest publication

Saturday, June 6

6 p.m.

Our Lady of the Lake University

At the Center for Women

Elliott House

Some Members and Friends of the

Society of Latino & Hispanic Writers of San Antonio

who will be at the event:

Sandy Garcia (a contributor to the anthology plus the cover's artist), Belza Ramos, Janie Alonso, Teri Flores, Cynthia Kee, Edna Kitchen, Maria Gabriela Madrid, Bertha Jacobson y Martha Curcio.

The Mujeres will read selected stories and autograph the anthology. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit future projects of the Encuentros de Mujeres Writing Group.

Gwendolyn Zepeda's New Book

Sunflowers / Girasoles

by
Gwendolyn Zepeda
Illustrations by Alisha Gambino
Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza
Ventura

“My name is Marisol. I’m seven years old. This spring, I helped my grandfather make a garden.”
First, Marisol and her grandfather had to prepare the ground. They pulled out the old plants and weeds. They mixed up all the dirt “to make it soft.”

Then it was time to plant the seeds. They planted seeds to grow the vegetables Mamá uses in soup—squash, onions, carrots, and cabbage. They planted seeds to grow the things she needs to make salsa—garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, and chili peppers. They planted mint for Abuela’s tea. They planted watermelon seeds for Marisol and her brother. And for Grandad, they planted sunflower seeds because their “big black eyes with long yellow eyelashes” make him happy. And he likes to eat the seeds!

One day, Marisol’s grandfather gives her a small bag of sunflower seeds, but instead of eating them she plants them here and there—one in the corner of Mrs. Sosa’s yard, another in Mr. Binh’s yard. In fact, as she walks to school, she plants seeds in the corners of all the yards she passes. And she plants the last three seeds in the playground at school.

As the days pass, sometimes it’s rainy and sometimes it’s sunny. Finally, one bright day, Marisol’s sunflower surprise shines a bit of happiness all around.

The tender relationship between grandparent and grandchild is illuminated in this children’s book by author Gwendolyn Zepeda with warm illustrations by Alisha Gambino. Children ages 3-7 will sow and reap ideas of their own about ways to share a little joy, just as Marisol does with sunflowers.

Title: Sunflowers / Girasoles
Publication Date: May 31, 2009
To order call toll free 1-800-633-ARTE

Price: $15.95 Ages: 3-7

GWENDOLYN ZEPEDA is the author of a picture book for children, Growing Up with Tamales / Los tamales de Ana (Piñata Books, 2008); a collection of short prose for adults, To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him (Arte Público Press, 2004); and a novel, Houston, We Have a Problema (Solana, 2009). She has written and illustrated her award-winning Web site, www.gwenworld.com, since 1997. She currently resides in Houston with her three sons.

Gaby's Interview

Please click on the link to read a wonderful interview with Society member Maria Gabriela Madrid conducted by Mayra Calvani: Gaby's Interview

James Munoz at The Twig--Thursday