Though I usually post on Mondays, I wanted to remind readers of La Bloga that the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held at UCLA this Saturday and Sunday. Visit the above link for details as to author events, obtaining free tickets to panels, parking, etc. Many of La Bloga's favorite writers will be there such as Mario Acevedo, Luis Rodriguez, Yxta Maya Murray, Al Martinez, and many more. Just visit the list of authors to see who will be reading and signing books. I'll be hanging out at the Swink literatry magazine booth on Sunday, 11:00 to noon. The Swink booth will be co-hosted by that remarkable reading series, Vermin on the Mount. I will be handing out some information on the book I'm editing, Latinos in Lotus Land: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature, which will be published by Bilingual Press in 2007. The Swink/Vermin booth is number 147. See the campus map for directions or ask any of the kind volunteers when you get there. Note that Saturday night, Swink/Vermin will host a spectacular literary tag team event including such literary stars as Salvador Plascencia, author of The People of Paper (McSweeney's). -- Daniel Olivas
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Though I usually post on Mondays, I wanted to remind readers of La Bloga that the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held at UCLA this Saturday and Sunday. Visit the above link for details as to author events, obtaining free tickets to panels, parking, etc. Many of La Bloga's favorite writers will be there such as Mario Acevedo, Luis Rodriguez, Yxta Maya Murray, Al Martinez, and many more. Just visit the list of authors to see who will be reading and signing books. I'll be hanging out at the Swink literatry magazine booth on Sunday, 11:00 to noon. The Swink booth will be co-hosted by that remarkable reading series, Vermin on the Mount. I will be handing out some information on the book I'm editing, Latinos in Lotus Land: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature, which will be published by Bilingual Press in 2007. The Swink/Vermin booth is number 147. See the campus map for directions or ask any of the kind volunteers when you get there. Note that Saturday night, Swink/Vermin will host a spectacular literary tag team event including such literary stars as Salvador Plascencia, author of The People of Paper (McSweeney's). -- Daniel Olivas
While I'm pleased to see a few familiar names (and happy to know you'll be there, Daniel), I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed by this year's roster and schedule in general, and with the slate of Latino authors in particular. No Luis Alberto Urrea (who is, I believe, at another festival that weekend). No Salvador Plascencia (a local author, mind you) on the official roster. No Latinos on the L.A. Lit Panel, where Michael Jaime-Becerra did such a great job last year. Latino poets are also woefully underrepresented among the 28 poets reading on the Poetry Stage.
ReplyDeleteI was also sorry to see that Libreria Martinez is not among the exhibitors this year -- in years past, their booth has always been well attended, well placed, and a good spot to catch a lot of Latina/o writers (including ones not even on panels). Nor is Cultura Latina Bookstore, sadly. On the brighter side, this may give Imix Books, who will be among the exhibitors, some well-deserved attention.
Still, the LAT Festival of Books is always worth a visit. I just hope next year, with the number of forthcoming debut and established writers in store for the rest of 2006 and early 2007, there's a bit more Latino representation at the book festival as well.
This event is always fun. It's huge, of course, but worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of good books coming out this year that should be highlighted: Across A Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande; Make Him Look Good by Alisa Valdes Rodriguez; Tomorrow They Will Kiss by Eduardo Santiago.
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