Publishers, Again, Real Women and Dr. Loco

Manuel Ramos

PUBLISHERS - PART II
My post last week listed a few publishers who specialize in Latino or Chicano literature. This week I mention publishers who, although not devoted to ChicLit, have provided special opportunities for raza writers and readers.

Akashic Books - This independent NY press is committed to the "reverse-gentrification of the literary world." It has published some intriguing books including several crime fiction and noir titles, as well as short story anthologies like The Cocaine Chronicles. La Bloga readers should be aware of Akashic's Cuban Noir series, publications of dark fiction written by writers while they were living in Cuba. So far this series includes Cold Havana Ground and Spy's Fate by Arnaldo Correa; Adios Muchachos and The Eye of Cybele by Daniel Chavarrí­a; and Outcast by José Latour.

Alexander Street Press - I reported two weeks ago about this press's Latino Literature Collection, a database of dozens of Latino writers and their works available to universities, students, subscribers, etc. The collection contains approximately 299 plays and over 51,000 pages of prose (200 novels) and poetry by Chicano, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican and other Latino writers working in the United States. The list of included authors is very impressive.

Northwestern University Press - NWUP features a Latino Voices series. Here you will find Kathleen Alcalá's Treasures in Heaven; Manuel Muñoz's Zigzagger; Bernardo and the Virgin by Silvio Sirias; Ilan Stavans' Bandido; Sergio Troncoso's The Nature of Truth; and my first four books in the Luis Móntez series.

Rayo (HarperCollins) - According to the HarperCollins website, this imprint "will publish books that embody the diversity within the Latino community, in both English and Spanish-language editions, connecting culture with thought, and invigorating tradition with spirit." Rayo's list of authors includes Yxta Maya Murray, Jorge Ramos, Luis J. Rodriguez, Victor Villaseñor and Alberto Fuguet.

Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) - S&S announced in January, 2005, that its imprint, Atria Books, was launching a "Hispanic and Latino publishing program" and that Johanna Castillo, a "leading Latina literary agent" had been selected as Senior Editor of Atria Books. Ms. Castillo was expected to specialize in acquiring titles for the "Hispanic-Latino and Spanish language market." The list will debut in Spring, 2006, and "will include fiction, non-fiction and lifestyle titles, some of which will simultaneously be published in English and Spanish."

University of New Mexico Press - UNM Press has long published works by and about Chicanos. Included in the more than 60 titles that relate to Chicanas/os are Rudolfo Anaya with three new titles in 2005; Caní­cula: Snapshots of a Girlhood en la Frontera by Norma Elia Cantú; Heroes and Saints and Other Plays: Giving Up the Ghost, Shadow of a Man, Heroes and Saints by Cherrí­e L. Moraga; La Mollie and the King of Tears by Arturo Islas; and Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing by Eliseo "Cheo" Torres. UNM Press also is the publisher of Brown-on-Brown and Moony's Road to Hell.

JOSEFINA LOPEZ
The Latina Safehouse Initiative (Denver) is"proud to announce the Latinas Honoring Latinas 2005 event to honor Josefina Lopez, author of Real Women Have Curves. Award winning actress, screenwriter, filmmaker, playwright, activist and poet, Josefina Lopez has devoted her life to empowering women. She co-wrote the screenplay for the critically-acclaimed film Real Women Have Curves, based on her play, which won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. One of the country's preeminent Latina artists, she also teaches playwriting and screenwriting to local youth and Latino adults. The event will also honor local survivors of violence."

Here's some info about Ms. Lopez that I pulled from her website:

"Having had over 80 professional productions of her plays throughout the United States, Josefina Lopez is one of today's preeminent Chicana writers. She has written such plays as Simply Maria, Or the American Dream, Confessions of Women From East L.A., Boyle Heights, Lola Goes To Roma, Food For The Dead, Unconquered Spirits, and Real Women Have Curves. ... Josefina has a screenplay at HBO titled Loteria for Juarez about the mysterious murders of women in Juarez. ... Josefina has won several awards including a Gabriel Garcia Marquez award from the L.A. Mayor in 2003. ... She has an MFA in screenwriting from the prestigious UCLA Film and Television school. Josefina was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico ... and lives in Paris."

Tickets are $50.00 per person and include entrance to the Botanic Gardens for the day, buffet, and beverage. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Latina Safehouse Initiative.

Friday, July 29, 2005
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Denver Botanic Gardens
1005 York Street
Contact Ana Soler at 720-913-9260 if you would like to receive more information or to purchase your tickets.

CHICANO MUSIC FESTIVAL

August 3 - 7, 2005

Summer Pachanga. Dr. Loco And The Rockin' Jalapeño Band. Great Chicano music, Colorado style. Mariachi Tardeada. Art Auction. Inductions into the Chicano Music Hall of Fame including the posthumous honoring of our friend Chico Martinez. Go to El Centro Su Teatro for complete schedule.