Poetry Contest

Thanks to Jim Stewart for the following information:

Poetry Contest
UT Permian Basin, Odessa/Midland Texas
Connie Williams redsagewoman@hotmail.com

The permian Basin Chapter Poetry Contest, Deadline is October 1, 2009,
www.texaspoetryevents.info or 432-697-4205 Additional details kopycat@grandecom.net Or you can Email Me Jim Stewart and I will send you the Entry Form BRGGH@msn.com

2 Catagories 1. Cowboy Poetry 2. All other Poetry

1st Place $ 50.00, 2nd Place $ 35.00, 3rd Place $ 25.00 for both catagories.
Winning Poems will be read at Poetry in the Basin on November 14, 2009

Winning Poems and other selections will be published in this year's anthology.

Entry Fee and Rules. one poem limit (per category), $ 3.00 entry fee per poem. Minimum 18 years of age Post Marked by October 1, 2009 Original Work, No prepublished poems (including internet) or in the hands of an editor or entered into any other contest currently.
Poem and entry fee can be mailed to :
Contest Chair
The Permian Basin Poetry Society
4513 Anetta Drive
Midland Texas 79703-6906

Noche Mexicana

Hispanic Heritage Month

SAVE THE DATE

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KICK-OFF EVENT
Palo Alto College
Student Center Annex
Tuesday, Sept. 15
10 a.m.

Featuring: David Lida
Author of
First Stop in the New World:
Mexico City, the Capital of the 21st Century

Editorial Reviews

Review“Streetwise and up-to-date … a charmingly idiosyncratic, yet remarkably comprehensive portrait of one of the planet's most misinterpreted urban spaces.”—Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times

… To test the quality of a travel book, it helps to ask: Would you like to share a meal or a drink with the writer? On the evidence of his book, which reveals him to be an expansive soul with big eyes and an even bigger heart, Mr. Lida should expect calls from a lot of newly arrived strangers, including me.”—Richard B. Woodward, The New York Times

“A fast-paced account of daily life in a city that defies description… Lida finds far more to marvel over and enjoy than to fret about.”—Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Wall Street Journal

“Mexico City is a sprawling, throbbing stew of 20 million people, but David Lida, in his new book, cuts through the chaos with an array of verbal snapshots that aim to paint the city's soul.”—Chicago Tribune

“Lida offers a thought-provoking account of current-day Mexico City by letting its citizens, known as chilangos, tell their own stories of everyday struggles and triumphs.”—Vincent Bosquez, San Antonio Express News

OMNI Publishing Tips

OMNI Book Publishing
Hints to sell more books


Dear Author:

Another great way to connect with books that rank higher than yours and are in your genre is by writing "So you'd like to . . . Guides."

A "So you'd like to . . . Guide" is an article about a subject you are an expert in. For example, I might write an article titled, "So you'd like to be a published author guide." You may write "So you'd like to be a sky diver"... "So you'd like to raise baboons"... "So you'd like to be a ghostbuster."

When you write your article, link it to your book so the cover appears prompting anyone who reads your article to buy your book as well. But you also have to add another title as per Amazon's requirement.

So you will select some books that rank higher than yours and are in the same genre. Try not to select too many so your book will still stand out.

A key philosophy of social networking is to be social. We must collaborate with others - even competing books - to sell our own books. I have heard authors say that they don't want to belong to any networking site because there are too many authors going head to head. I suppose there are two ways of looking at this view - yes, there are many authors contending to sell their books, but they are probably selling if they are still in the site.

Try just one title, do your research well, and put it there and see what happens.

Here's looking at you!
Christina Coirolo
OMNI Book Publishing
888-541-2942 / fax 517-727-5959
www.omnibookpublishing.com

Marcela Landres Summer Sale!

From Marcela Landres:

Hi--Just a reminder that there's one month left on my Summer Sale. Fees are at least 30% off for all my consultation services, including:

* Manuscript Edit (I edit your ms, provide written feedback in aneditorial letter, and spend an hour on the phone with you)

* Manuscript Critique (I read--but don't edit--your ms, providewritten feedback in an editorial letter, and spend an hour on thephone with you)

* Manuscript Read (I read--but don't edit--your ms, and spend anhour on the phone with you providing verbal feedback)

* Story Edit

* Proposal Critique

* Query Letter Critique

* Phone Consultation

* Quick QuestionThe Summer Sale will be available only through Monday, September 21,2009.

For more information, including prices, please visit:http://www.marcelal andres.com/ services. html

Wishing you a wondrous summer,
MarcelaMarcela Landres
Editorial Consultant
718-208-5810

Raining Popcorm Media Online Store

Hi everyone!

Lisa and I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying your summer. We just want to let you know we have a new online store and a new look to our company website. The link is posted below. In the coming weeks, we’ll be adding more info to the website regarding new book titles and other products we’ll be publishing soon. We’ll also post info regarding the launch of some fun educational websites we’ve been developing for clients.

Right now, we’re having a 20% back to school sale on all our books so please forward the link below to anyone you know who might be interested, especially parents and teachers. All of our books are bilingual in a flip-style format… English on one side, flip the book, and you have the Spanish version on the other side. In essence, you get 2 books for 1! Here’s the link to our website: http://www.RainingPopcorn.com

Also, there’s some great buzz going around about our most recent book, The Miracle of Monterrey, which is based on a major motion picture called The Perfect Game. I’ve provided a link below so you can see the trailer. It’s a great movie and we’re proud to be a part of it. We’ll keep you posted on a release date. The Miracle of Monterrey is a beautifully illustrated 52-page picture book illustrated by San Antonio artist Alberto Ramirez and written by William Winokur who resides in Malibu, California. Winokur is the author of the Perfect Game novel and he also wrote the screenplay for the movie. You can buy the book directly from our website. We also offer volume discounts and wholesale pricing for all our books. Here’s the link to The Perfect Game movie: http://ThePerfectGameMovie.com/

Anyway, enjoy our new website and keep checking periodically… we’ll be providing more updates in the coming weeks. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook… the links are on the website.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sincerely,
Art and Lisa

---------------------------------------
Art Avila
210.325.2190 cell
210.320.0548 office
www.RainingPopcorn.com

Lupe Ruiz-Flores Interview

From Lupe Ruiz-Flores:

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Mayra Calvani of Examiner.com. This is a link to my recent interview with her.

Lupe Ruiz-Flores Interview

Have a great day.


Lupe Ruiz-Flores
Website: http://www.luperuiz-flores.com/
Blog: www.luperuiz-flores.blogspot.com/

Jackie Mendez Update

From Jackie Mendez:

Hello Everyone!

Hope you survived this hellish summer. I'm definitely ready for fall and winter to come back. I've had plenty to do working harder at my online business than ever before with this stinkin' economy and keeping up with my writing. I'm still working on that second book, that seems to be taking an eternity with researching and drafting.

As far as publishing news, Black Belt magazine accepted one of my articles titled, "Going Above and Beyond My Comfort Zone with Krav Maga." Yup, it's a personal experience piece that details my experience in that arena and encourages other women to take some form of self defense as well. It was a little intimidating doing the piece because they required pictures (definitely not my forte-- I'd rather kiss a dead fish than have my picture taken), but oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do. I dont know what issue it will be coming out in, but will be sure to send another email when it does. They have up to a year to publish it, so I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

Anyway, just wanted to share what's going on. Feel free to catch me on Facebook as "Jackie Mendez" or Myspace and Twitter as "writingjax", and drop in and read my pieces every once in awhile at Hangproud.com in the featured women writer's tab. God bless!

Best of love and blessings to all,
Jackie

Mayra Calvani Interviews Gaby

From Gaby:

Some news from Mayra Calvani
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-6309-Latino-Books-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Author--Maria-Gabriela-Madrid-presents-her-book-in-Caracas
Take care,and all the best,
Gaby

Barbara Renaud Gonzalez

From Barbara Renaud Gonzalez:

Gracias a Antonia Castaneda and Deena Gonzalez, Chicana Matters Series Editors, and the University of Texas Press, I will get to read at the Texas Book Festival on October 31st, 2009. Don't tell anybody, gonna try to read accompanied by accordion or guitarra. Gotta give'm a Chicana reading they won't soon forget. For all the years we haven't been invited to the party.....For more information about my novela, please see my website http://www.barbararenaud.com/

Barbara will be the featured author of the monthly meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio, on Monday, Sept. 14 at Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, at 7:30 p.m.

Monthly Meeting Re-cap

CINCO MINUTOS WITH YOU

The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio had their quarterly CINCO MINUTOS WITH YOU event Monday, August 10. As usual, the poems and stories shared were, by turn, funny and inspiring.

The following were presented:

“La Hija Del Sepulturero” by Bertha Jacobson
Bertha can always make her audience laugh with her stories.

Jose Caraballo read two poems: “Amor De Una Vida” and “Es Fria” (She’s Cold)
Jose’ poems reflect the passion of love or unrequited love.

Rebeca Gomez read a short story, “The Devil’s Breath”, from her recently published collection, HABITANTES DE MI TIEMPO. The book was published in Spanish, but she is working with a translator to have her stories available in English.

Joseph Casanova read Chapter 4 of his novel targeted for middle grade readers, THE ADVENTURES OF COLE Y LOS MONSTORS. Joseph stated that the hero, Cole, stays with his Uncle Joe in the summer. His uncle is a curandero. In this chapter, Cole has to clean his room and gets some unexpected guests – duendas – which are the ghosts of ancestors. This sounds like a novel, which promises to be funny and at the same time educate today’s youth about the Hispanic and Latino culture.

“Ay Cecilia” was Martha Curcio’s contribution as well as emceeing the event. Martha admonished Cecilia to never lend her books – “Es pendejo prestar un libro!”

Maria Gabriella Madrid, who recently returned from Venezuela where she promoted her short story collection ENTRE LOS SURCOS DEL RECUERDO, stated she sold quite a few books and enjoyed herself tremendously. She read “Salome”, a short story about the manifestation of the old belief that opposites attract. [Gracias, Andre!]

Mary Lou Barrera, who was greeted with warmth since she’d been absent for awhile, read an excerpt from her working novel, ANGEL LIGHT. This book started at 500 pages. What she read tonight was a chapter that had been pared down to 5 pages from 37 pages. Good luck, Mary Lou! She’s meeting with an editor soon.

Robert Garcia likes to journal. In this entry, which could be titled, ORGULLOSO”, he writes about his daughter.

Nicolas Moreno is working with a fellow member, Enrique, on twenty short stories. Twelve are written. Nicolas will write them in English; Enrique will translate them to Spanish. The story Nicolas read was “Azalea’s Spring Time”.

Andre Csihas read “Palimar”, from Rebeca Gomez’ short story collection, HABITANTES DE MI TIEMPO, translated to English.

Please join us. Our reading event is every quarter. The next one will be in December for our Holiday Extravaganza, which the Society has been hosting since 2004.

Elizabeth White Highlights SARA Meeting

Join San Antonio Romance Authors Wednesday, August 19, for its monthly meeting featuring Elizabeth White. Elizabeth will speak about, "Self Promotion and Effective Public Presentation." Meeting place is Wah Kee Chinese restaurant @ 18360 Blanco Road. SARA business meeting starts @ 6:30 pm., presentation will began @ 7pm.
Visit www.sararwa.net for more details.

Cinco Minutos with You

Want to listen to some new stories by up and coming writers in San Antonio? You are cordially invited to attend the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio's quarterly "Cinco Minutos with You" meeting where aspiring and published authors will read up to 5 minutes of a work in progress.

The meeting is Monday, August 10, at the Barnes and Noble--San Pedro Crossing at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Report from Venezuela

Member Gaby Madrid has provided us with a link to a news report describing the success she is having promoting her book in Caracas, Venezuela. She reports it is on sale at many locations and responses to her readings having been great!

http://www.marthacolmenares.com/2009/08/02/maria-gabriela-madrid-y-su-libro-entre-los-surcos-del-recuerdo/

Meet Adriana Dominguez

The following post is provided by Jo Ann Hernandez:


Read her interview about her new career move at BronzeWord Latino Authors
http://authorslatino.com/wordpress

Adriana Domínguez, Former HarperCollins Executive Editor,
Joins Full Circle Literary

Adriana Domínguez has joined Full Circle Literary as its newest agent, effective immediately. Ms. Domínguez has over ten years of experience in publishing, most recently as Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, where she managed the children’s division of the Latino imprint, Rayo.

Prior to her work at HarperCollins, Ms. Domínguez was Children’s Reviews Editor at Críticas magazine, published by Library Journal. She is also a professional translator, and has worked on a number of Spanish-language translations of best-selling children’s books.

At Full Circle Literary, Ms. Domínguez will continue her strong list of children’s picture books, middle grade novels, and literary young adult novels. She will also represent authors writing for adults in the following genres: literary fiction, women’s fiction, and historical fiction. For her adult nonfiction list, she will seek women’s interest, multicultural, pop culture, and how-to books.

Full Circle Literary founder Stefanie Von Borstel says, “We are very excited to have Adriana on board. Her eye for spotting and developing authors is unparalleled and we feel her taste is very much in tune with our global interests. Adriana and I met while working on Latino-interest projects at Rayo. I was impressed by her detail-oriented editing and her strength as an advocate for authors throughout the publishing process. I am certain that those skills, among others, will make her an excellent agent.”

“I am very much looking forward to helping published and unpublished authors develop their work and navigate the complex world of publishing from concept through publication, and beyond,” adds Ms. Domínguez. “I am particularly excited about having joined an agency that shares my interest in publishing the work of Latino authors, and that has the awards and recognition to prove that it does it well.”

Ms. Domínguez will be based in New York City and will serve as Full Circle Literary’s
East Coast representative. She can be contacted by e-mail at Adriana@fullcircleliterary.com

Full Circle Literary is a California-based literary agency. Founded in 2004 by Stefanie Von Borstel and Lilly Ghahremani, the agency represents a wide range of children’s and adult authors. For more information, visit their website: www.fullcircleliterary.com.
###
Jo Ann Hernandez (210) 274-0691
BronzeWord1@yahoo.com

BronzeWord Latino Authors
http://authorslatino.com/wordpress
AUTHOR OFWhite Bread CompetitionThe Throwaway Piece
Read an Interview about me on http://thedarkphantom.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/interview-with-jo-ann-hernandez-author-of-the-throaway-piece/

Buying a book IS buying art!

Must See Clip!

From Janie Alonso:

Hello everyone, Here I am stepping way outside of my comfort zone. I ended up having a great time. This is only a small snippet of the event, hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. And go out and buy Barbara's book, you can by it on line at UT Press, author Barbara Renaud Gonzales, Golondria Why did you leave me?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddxmC_jDu6w

Janie Alonso

Note: Barbara Renauld Gonzales will be the featured author appearing at the September 14 meeting of the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio. Location is the Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing at 7:30 p.m.

"Mujeres" at Viva Bookstore

The Encuentros de Mujeres Writing Group: Janie Alonzo, Marta Curcio, Teresa (Teri) Flores, Sandy Garcia, Edna Kitchen, Gabriela (Gaby) Madrid and Belza Ramos will debut their new anthology, their third, with readings which will include stories of their experiences which are spiritual, heartbreaking, cheerful and even comical, reflecting the personalities of each "Mujer."

Their new anthology will be avaiable for purchase @ $10. It can be bought along with thier prior book @ $12 for both as long as supplies last.

Saturday August 8th
1 - 3 PM

Viva! Bookstore and Viva! Arts Gallery
8407 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209
826-1143
1-800-826-1143