Author on the Airwaves: J.L. Torres

Torres chosen as October 2013’s “Author of the Month” on Houston Public Media Houston Public Media radio host Eric Ladau interviewed Torres for its website’s “Arte Público Press Author of the Month” feature, and along with the transcript, their conversation is available to listeners on the station’s interactive site through on-demand audio streaming here. Click here to see all Arte Público authors featured on Houston Public Media. About the Author: J.L. TORRES is the author of a short-story collection, The Family Terrorist and Other Stories (Arte Público Press, 2008). His stories and poetry have been published widely in anthologies and magazines. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the South Bronx, he currently lives with his family in upstate New York, where he teaches American literature and creative writing at SUNY, Plattsburgh. About his latest book, The Accidental Native When Rennie’s parents die in a freak accident, he does what they would have wanted and buries them …

Author on the Airwaves: Victor Villaseñor

Villaseñor chosen as September 2013’s “Author of the Month” on Houston Public Media Houston Public Media radio host Eric Ladau interviewed Villaseñor for its website’s “Arte Público Press Author of the Month” feature, and along with the transcript, their conversation is available to listeners on the station’s interactive site through on-demand audio streaming here. Click here to see all Arte Público authors featured on Houston Public Media. About the Author: VICTOR VILLASEÑOR is a novelist and screenwriter whose works have brought Mexican-American culture and literature to a wide audience.  The Los Angeles Times compared his first novel, Macho! (Arte Público Press, 1973 & 2003), to the best work of John Steinbeck. In addition to Rain of Gold (Arte Público Press, 1991), he is the author of Burrio Genius: A Memoir (Rayo, 2004), Thirteen Senses: A Memoir (Harper Collins, 2001), Wild Steps of Heaven (Delta Books, 1995), and a collection of stories for young adults, Walking …

Author on the Airwaves: Daniel Chacón

Chacón chosen as May 2013’s “Author of the Month” on Houston Public Media Houston Public Media radio host Eric Ladau interviewed Chacón for its website’s “Arte Público Press Author of the Month” feature, and along with the transcript, their conversation is available to listeners on the station’s interactive site through on-demand audio streaming here. Click here to see all Arte Público authors featured on Houston Public Media. About the Author: DANIEL CHACÓN is the author of Unending Rooms (Black Lawrence Press, 2008), winner of the Hudson Prize; and the shadows took him (Washington Square Press, 2005) and Chicano Chicanery (Arte Público Press, 2000). His fiction has appeared in the anthologies Lengua Fresca: Latinos Writing on the Edge (Mariner Books, 2006), Caliente: The Best Erotic Writing in Latin American Fiction (Berkley Trade, 2002) and Best of the West 2009: New Stories from the West Side of the Missouri (University of Texas Press, 2009). He is …

Inaugural Texas Book Festival San Antonio edition features several Arte Público authors

Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Daniel Chacón and Sarah Cortez among lineup of Latino/a writers The Texas Book Festival/San Antonio Edition takes place this Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown San Antonio at the Central Library and the Southwest School of Art. Click here for the schedule and here for more information about the Festival. The vibrant lineup of more than 50 authors includes María Antonietta Berriozábal, Esmeralda Santiago, Bob Thompson and Joe Nick Patoski. The author lineup features novelists, poets, biographers, politicians, chefs, journalists, environmentalists and more. Book-lovers of every age and interest will have a chance for up-close encounters with favorite Texas and national authors at presentations, panel discussions, and signings at this free day of literary happenings. Special areas will also feature live music, cooking demonstrations, and children’s authors and activities. “We are so pleased to be a part of this partnership with the …

One small patch of land, one giant leap for a community

In author Diane de Anda’s The Patchwork Garden / Pedacitos de huerto (Piñata Books, 2013), a young girl inspires her neighbors to create community gardens full of delicious vegetables. Toña loves to listen to her Abuela’s stories about when she was a young girl. When her grandmother remembers planting a vegetable garden “on my own little square patch of land,” Toña wishes she too could have her very own garden. Their apartment building is surrounded by cement, but Abuela reminds her that it only takes a small patch of land to grow tomatoes or squash and even carrots. And soon, they have a plan! First, they speak to Father Anselmo about a weed-filled lot behind the church. He likes the idea of beautiful green plants instead of weeds, and fresh vegetables sound delicious too! With help from her family, Toña yanks out the weeds and plants rows of vegetables. Each …

Defender of Civil Rights, Alonos S. Perales Subject of New Volume of Essays

In Defense of My People; Alonso S. Perales and The Development of Mexican-American Public Intellectuals is an engrossing collection of scholarly essays edited by Michael A. Olivas One of the most influential MexicanAmericans of his time, Alonso S. Perales (1898-1960) was a graduate of George Washington University School of Law and one of the earliest Mexican-American attorneys to practice law in Texas. Perales helped found the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), served his country in several diplomatic capacities and was a prolific writer. In Defense of My People sheds light on Perales’ activism and the history of Mexican-American and Latino civil rights movements. The essays, written by scholars representing a number of disciplines from the U.S. and Mexico, touch on a variety of topics, including the impact of religion on Latinos, the concept of “race” and individual versus community action to bring about social and political change. Edited …

New DESPERADO dives into Denver’s underworld

“As invigorating as a dip in a Rocky Mountain stream.” —MYSTERY SCENE Magazine Manuel Ramos returns to novel-length crime fiction with Desperado: A Mile High Noir and a down-on-his-luck protagonist, Gus Corral, who can’t believe it when an old high school buddy he hasn’t seen in years asks him for help. Artie Baca looks as cool as ever; the hippest guy in high school now looks like a GQ cover boy, Chicano style. And like always, Artie has women problems, even though he’s married. He’s being blackmailed because of an imprudent fling—caught on video, of course. Artie has a prosperous real estate business and can afford to pay off the young girl, but he’ll reward Gus handsomely for his help in convincing her that there won’t be any future payments. Gus’ life hasn’t been as successful, and he can really use the money Artie is offering. But before Gus can …

SING, FROGGIE, SING! New bilingual book for kids makes a splash

Based on a traditional folksong that has been sung by parents and children in Spanish-speaking countries for generations, Canta, Rana, canta / Sing, Froggie, Sing is a charming tale in which a “frog was sitting under the water, when she decided to croak out loud.” But a fly came along and “hushed her mouth.” When the fly decided to buzz out loud, “along came a spider and hushed her mouth.” In each verse, an insect or animal larger than the one in the previous stanza hushes the smaller one. So the fly hushes the frog, the spider hushes the fly, the mouse the spider, the cat the mouse and so on. The book’s cumulative structure encourages kids to practice their memorization skills while becoming familiar with animals and the sounds they make. This bilingual edition includes an updated version of the original Spanish, a first-ever English translation, and the musical …

Make Some Noise for 2nd Annual “Día at Discovery” in Houston, TX!

El día de los niños and libros celebration kicks off at library’s Discovery Green branch Do you know“bookjoy”? It’s a love of reading! And on Saturday, April 20, from noon – 2:00 at the Houston Public Library Express-Discovery Green branch, bookjoy and music will fill the air as “Día at Discovery,” a celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), gets underway with acclaimed children’s author Monica Brown—best known for her biographies on Latin greats such as Celia Cruz and Gabriel García Márquez—and director and founder of Arte Público Press Nicolás Kanellos, as they present stories and folk songs for families at Discovery Green park (1500 McKinney). Kanellos will also be on hand for remarks at a City of Houston City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 16, for a Mayoral Proclamation, sponsored by Council Member Melissa Noriega, honoring Houston Public Library and Arte Público’s …

Author on the Airwaves: Gwendolyn Zepeda

Zepeda chosen as April 2013’s “Author of the Month” on Houston Public Media Houston Public Media radio host Eric Ladau interviewed Zepeda for its website’s “Arte Público Press Author of the Month” feature, and along with the transcript, their conversation is available to listeners on the station’s interactive site through on-demand audio streaming here. Click here to see all Arte Público authors featured on Houston Public Media. About the Author: Gwendolyn Zepeda is the author of I Kick the Ball / Pateo el balón (Piñata Books, 2011); Growing Up with Tamales / Los tamales de Ana (Piñata Books, 2008), a 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title; and Sunflowers / Girasoles (Piñata Books, 2009), winner of the Texas Institute of Letters’ Austin Public Library Friends Foundation Award for Best Children’s Book. She lives and works in Houston, Texas. About her latest book, Level Up / Paso de nivel David is obsessed with reaching the next level …