Pedazos y Pedacitos

Manuel Ramos

Another Call For Latino Writers
Fall Books From Arte Público
What Do Latinos Know About Jazz?

Another Call For Latino Writers
There seem to be more of these lately. I picked up from LatinoLA that an outfit called Urbano Publishing is looking for "Urban Fiction with Chicano or Latino main characters written in English or Spanglish. Dramas, comedies, erotica, action, gay/lesbian, science fiction, true life stories and graphic novels, etc. are all welcome if they have an urban Chicano or Latino theme. Emotional roller coasters are a major plus. However, short stories, and poetry are not welcome." The rest of the announcement is on the LatinoLA site here. The named guy behind this venture is Jeff Rivera, who has a website at www.jeffrivera.com. This sounds like a very new project without any track record - but it may be worth checking out.

Fall Books from Arte Público
Just received the new Fall 2005 Trade Catalog from Arte Público Press. Here are a few previews.

In September, the Press will publish a new novel from Graciela Limón, Left Alive, described as a "psychological thriller." The catalog blurb says, "Rafael lives under the dark shadow of a violent crime, and he also lives with the knowledge that his mother was accused and convicted of the murder of his three older siblings. But Rafael's a survivor and all his life he's been prepared to fight with his anger, his energy, and even his sanity to defend his family. ... Limón explores Rafael's mental anguish within the greater context of such myths as Medea and La Llorona (the Crying Woman). Her deft, humane touch alternates between the poetic and the dramatic, as Rafael recounts his search for the truth that defines his very existence."

The Skyscraper That Flew and Other Stories, by Jesús Salvador Treviño. "A whimsical collection of interrelated magically real stories by an acclaimed filmmaker." This is a sequel to Treviño's first short story collection, The Fabulous Sinkhole and Other Stories, and the setting is once again Arroyo Grande, Texas, "an ordinary town where unusual things sometimes happen." The author was Executive Producer of the PBS series Chicano! and Co-Executive Producer of Resurrection Boulevard.

The Press will reprint The Kill Price by José Yglesias, first published in 1976. "An unabashed skeptic and maverick in society, Yglesias explores the relationship of art and writing to commerce and politics in this savvy novel [that] ... still speaks poignantly to our times. Chock full of references to international politics, the arts scene, and intimate relationships, Yglesias dissects the end of a powerful relationship and the remaking of a man."

Arte Público also will publish several bilingual young adult and children's books such as My Parents: Heroes of the Harvest by Samuel Carabello, illustrated by Obed Gómez; Little Crow to the Rescue by Victor Villaseñor, illustrated by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara; and Pepita Packs Up by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman, illustrated by Alex Prado DeLange.

What Do Latinos Know About Jazz?
I have to mention that KUVO radio, 89.3 FM in Denver, was selected as the Major Market Jazz Station of the Year by Jazz Week magazine at the annual Jazz Week Summit, recently held in Syracuse, NY. This is a big deal in the radio industry and the folks at KUVO have every right to stand proud. The station is a public radio station, supported by the community, and this year the station celebrates its twentieth anniversary. The staff and volunteers are diverse and extremely knowledgeable about the music. Many of the on-air staff are volunteers. In addition to jazz the station plays a dynamite cultural mix on the weekends, including AlterNative Voices, La Nueva Voz, Cancion Mexicana, La Raza Rocks, Salsa Con Jazz, and the Brazilian Fantasy. These people are committed to the music and to presenting a refreshing sound in the Rocky Mountain region. Latinas/os play a central role in the management of this station - Florence Hernández Ramos is CEO and General Manager; Carlos Lando is the Program Director; Arturo Gómez is the Music Director (Arturo was selected by Jazz Week for the second year in a row as Major Market Music Director of the Year); Tina Cartagena is Director of Development; and Frank White is the Business Manager. Felicidades a todos.

Don't you like to have cool sounds in the background when you read, or write?