Tuesday, June 30, 2009

EVENTS CALENDAR--check back often

August 25
Reading
BookPeople - 6th & Lamar - Austin, Texas
7pm

August 29
Brunch with the Author
Viva! Book Store, 8407 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 11am
Reading
Barnes & Noble - 321 NW Loop 410 - San Antonio, Texas 3pm

September 16
Classroom appearances, lecture, reading

University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska

September 18
Reading & appearance
Nebraska Literary Festival –Omaha, Nebraska

September 20
Reception, reading, and special
Mother + Daughter Workshop (details TBA)
BookWoman Book Store - 5501 N. Lamar Blvd. - Austin, Texas

September 26, 27
Appearance
Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Trade Show
Greenville, South Carolina

*October 16, 17
Reading/Performance
Myrna Cabello Show Long Performance Center – Austin, Texas

October 31, November 1
Reading & Appearance
Texas Book Festival – Austin, Texas

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Writers' League of Texas Conference

I'm speaking at the Writers' League of Texas Conference in sizzling hot Austin, Texas, today. (At 7am, it was 81 degrees! We've had a heat wave.) Sunblock, purple horn rims, and cowboy boots—check! Actually, I'm wearing my most fabulous sea green blue, sequined, kitten heel slides. Meow!

Will also meet my editor at Grand Central Publishing, Selina McLemore, face-to-face today. Looking forward to it. I think. I'm going to get notes on the second book of the series I turned in on June 1. I always plan for the worse and hope for the best. Worst case: "I love it! Change everything!" Best case: "I love it! Everything is perfect! Look, it's snowing!"

The comments will probably fall somewhere in the middle. :-D

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Viva Las Comadres!

Is there a Las Comadres group in your city? More specifically, is there a Las Comadres Book Club near you?

Thanks to the diligence, faith, and inspiration of Austin-based Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Las Comadres groups have formed all over the nation. The basic purpose of the group is to provide a monthly meeting space for Latinas to network and support each other. Notices about jobs, conferences, events, and other information of special note to Latinas arrives in members' email daily. But Nora has pushed the group beyond a networking organization to include a variety of projects from professional development to gardening (check out the website).

Near to my heart is the Las Comadres Book Clubs. They meet all over the country once a month to read and discuss works by Latin@ writers. The book club I attend meets at Borders in the Westgate Shopping Center here in Austin. I have to say, our discussions are always eye-opening. I've learned a lot about what readers want to see in the books they read for pleasure, and what they expect from Latin@ writers in general. And being around women who are hungry for a good book? As a writer, that thrills me.

When I told Nora some friends and I were planning a book release party for Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, she immediately launched into "Nora mode," asking: how can Las Comadres help? Before I knew it, she lined up some damas (recent quinces who will be at the release party to direct visitors) and asked the North Austin Las Comadres Book Club to change their regular meeting date and time so they could all attend my book release party! Knowing Las Comadres will be there to celebrate and support me, fills me with enormous—I don't even have the words. Once again, I am touched.

Viva Las Comadres!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Floored, honored, and touched

I have been answering questions from two, enormously talented blog queens: Marcela Landres and Joy Castro. Marcela has an e-zine called Latinidad and Joy—a talented writer and academic hailing from my home state of Nebraska (yes, Nebraska--Latin@s are EVERYWHERE, esa!). But back to La Joy: she writes about Latinas and literature, crossing back and forth over that boundary between popular and literary fiction—just like we Latin@s do as part of everyday life!

The thoughtful questions Marcela and Joy have come up with, the care with which they are assembling their pieces about me and Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, and ultimately, the corazón each of them brings, not only to my work, but to their everyday practice, working with, reading, devouring, and loving words....it's simply amazing.

I am honored to be included in their work.

I'll share links to their articles when they're posted.

Still collecting quinceañera fotos!!!

Old, new, funny, sweet, funky, elegant. No, you don't have to have been the quince. You don't even have to be in the pic! I'm collecting for a slide show to show prior to readings and book signings. We can even blur out faces, if you want to get technical about it.

Send me what you have: nuevob@gmail. com

Yay!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Finishing touches

Almost done responding to questions sent by Marcela Landres for her e-zine, LATINIDAD. Will send word when it's posted. Other blog interviews in the works.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

The book drops August 11, 2009

Until then, planning a big book release party here in Austin. Getting ready to meet with editor about book two, speaking at the Writers' League of Texas Conference next week.