Events - Clue and Otherwise

From Arte Público Press:

Edited by Sarah Cortez, You Don't Have a Clue: Latino Mystery Stories for Teens features young adults dealing with typical angst, but they also deal with every kind of thrilling situation imaginable--from missing girls to dismembered bodies. With a foreword by young adult literature expert, Dr. James Blasingame of Arizona State University, this collection is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last page is turned.

Catch the Authors at a City Near You!

Contributors will present and sign copies of the book

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May 6, 2011 Murder By The Book, featuring Sarah Cortez, Diana López and Gwendolyn Zepeda, 2342 Bissonnet, Houston, TX - 6:30 p.m.

May 7, 2011 Houston Writers Guild Conference "The Writer's Toolkit," featuring Sarah Cortez at 1:00 p.m., Sugarland First Baptist Church, 16755 Southwest Freeway, Sugarland, TX, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm (Registration required.)

May 13, 2011 Let's READ Conference, Edgewood ISD, San Antonio,TX, (Not open to the public)

May 14, 2011 The Twig Bookstore, 200 E. Grayson, San Antonio, TX with contributors Diana Lopez, Bertha Jacobson, Nanette Guardiano, Manuel Ramos and editor, Sarah Cortez at 1:00 pm. For more info, call 210-826-6411.

May 20, 2011 The Tattered Cover Bookstore, 2526 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO hosts contributors Manuel Ramos and Mario Acevedo along with area teen writers at 7:00 pm. For more info, call 303-436-9219, ext 2736.

May 21, 2011 Annual Celebrating Words Festival sponsored by Tia Chucha Central Cultural, 1:00-7:00 pm, Sylmar, CA, Los Angeles Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Avenue, featuring Sarah Cortez moderating a panel "Writing the Crime/Mystery Novel" at 2:30 pm with contributor Alicia Gaspar de Alba as a panelist. Contributors L.M. Quinn and Chema Guijarro will be featured at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm respectively reading and signing books in the Childrens and Teens Tent. For more info, call 818-939-3433.

May 24, 2011 BookExpo America (BEA), Javits Center, 655 W. 34th, New York City, Sarah Cortez autographs books from 9:30-10:30 am. (Registration required.)

June 1, 2011 Weiss Center for Children's and Young Adult Literature, New Jersey City University, 2029 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ hosts Sarah Cortez and contributors Carlos Hernandez, R. Narvaez, and Sergio Troncoso from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Call 201-200-3548 for more info.

June 27, 2011 American Library Association's annual conference, New Orleans, hosts editor Sarah Cortez presenting and signing books at the LIVE@ Your Library Reading Stage at 11:00 p.m. (Registration required.)

The reviews for You Don't Have a Clue have been great. This sounds like an impressive read, and I can't wait to get my copy.

Booklist says: A police whisperer, a girl with no memory, a boy who hears voices in his head-- welcome to this generous collection of 18 mystery stories written by and featuring Latino authors and characters. Notable for the diversity of their vividly realized setting that range from Southern California's Venice Beach to the mean streets of the Bronx, and for the authenticity of their Spanish-studded language (a glossary is included), the stories range from noirish to whimsical but all have in common teenage protagonists who find themselves in danger and often desperate trouble...This excellent collection--enriched by a thoughtful foreword by YA scholar James Blasingame--gives faces to Latino teens in a most original way.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books says: The mix of realistic and fantastic mysteries, combined with the wide range of tone and mood, guarantees broad reader appeal for this impressive collection.

Kirkus Reviews says: Cortez complements her adult level "Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery" (2009) with 18 new tales (from a largely different set of Latino/Latina authors) featuring teen characters and concerns...Overall, a consistent, well crafted collection.

Celebrate Lena Archuleta's commitment to literacy, community and the Denver Public Library. Ten years ago, the Denver Public Library Commission established the Lena Archuleta Community Service Award in honor of Lena, a longtime educator, civic leader and former Denver Public Library Commissioner. Her hard work and dedication to the community created a strong bond between the Hispanic Community and the Denver Public Library. The evening will feature guest readers, including Lena's friends, community leaders and students from the Lena Lovato Archuleta School, sharing passages that influenced their lives and celebrate the joy of reading. I'm proud to say that I am one of the readers.

Lena created a fund to support the Library's Latino Awards program, which honors leaders in the Hispanic Community who have made a positive and lasting impact. Proceeds from the Celebration, along with donations, will be added to the fund with a goal of endowing it to ensure that the Awards program, and Lena's legacy, will continue for many years to come.

TICKET PRICES
General: $50
Lena Leaders: $100
Lena's Legacy: $250
To purchase tickets visit dplfriends.org or call 720.865.2045

New West Denver Library

Also happening at a library is this community meeting to discuss plans for the new West Denver Library. Click on the image for a better view.

Daniel Valdez to Serenade Your Madrelinda this Sunday!

Serenata Madrelinda

Mother's Day Brunch and Concert

Fundraiser for the Angelica Martinez and Vera Ramirez Scholarship Funds (for students of our arts and education programs!)

Sunday, May 8 - 11 a.m.

Su Teatro @ The Denver Civic Theater

721 Santa Fe Dr.

Denver, Co 80204

Join us for a beautiful event honoring your mother! A delicious brunch followed by Daniel Valdez in concert. A memorable once in a lifetime opportunity.

$35 each - $120 for a family pack of 4.

Please purchase in advance! 303-296-0219

INTERVIEW

KUHF radio host Eric Ladau recently interviewed me for its website's Arte Público Press Author of the Month feature. Along with the transcript, our conversation is available to listeners on the station's interactive site through on-demand audio streaming here. Eric was very thorough in his preparation and questions. We talked about such diverse topics as symbolism and meaning in The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz, my recent short stories, ongoing issues that Latino/a writers deal with or use as context for their writing, and writing plans for the future. If you can spare a few minutes, check it out. Well done, Eric.