REVIEW: CROSS OVER WATER: A NOVEL

 

CROSS OVER WATER: A NOVEL
By Richard Yañez
University of Nevada Press



“Success or failure do not matter for it is the journey that is important.”
                                               Raul Luis “Ruly” Cruz



Raul Luis “Ruly” Cruz is a new, unique voice in literature.

It was a pleasure to read his journey from childhood to manhood, and how he learned to navigate between two worlds, two cultures. Set in El Paso, Texas, this novel crosses borders in more ways than one. As Ruly goes back and forth between Mexico and the U.S. to visit relatives, he learns about his roots, his traditions, his culture. And back in the U.S., with his trusty Map Book at his side, Ruly learns to identify his place in American Society, the Chicano community and the world at large.

I laughed, I cried, I cheered as Ruly learned about girls, school, friendship, girls, romance, loyalty, girls, discrimination, girls, etc. (You can see that girls are a recurring theme.) This book is a fun and quick read, which is why it is a finalist in the International Latino Book Awards. Winners will be announced on June 5. My fingers are crossed for Ruly.###




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   Richard Yañez is a Chicano writer and associate professor of English at El Paso Community College. He was born and raised on the U.S.-Mexico border. CROSS OVER WATER: A NOVEL is his second book. Learn more about him by following him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crossoverwaternovel.



For information on the International Latino Book Awards, visit Latino Literacy Now at http://www.lbff.us/.

REVIEW: FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST by Sergio Troncoso

FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST
by Sergio Troncoso
The University of Arizona Press (2011)

  
  
Sergio Troncoso has written a wonderful, heart-warming, universal tale of a family. This story can be about any American family and their struggle to work, pay bills, raise children, save them from the streets, get them through college, and live long enough to see their grandchildren.

What’s fascinating about FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST is that we have not one hero, but a whole family’s worth – Pilar, the mother, who wants to get away from her past and start anew in America; Cuahtémoc, the father, who will do anything for his wife and children even embrace a new country; Julieta, the only daughter, an activist-turned-rebel; Pancho, the caretaker and handyman; Marco, the soldier and teacher; and Ismael, the baby and writer.

Often Pilar looks at her children and thinks: “this family seemed like leaves in the wind, from the same tree, yet floating to their own private destinies.” But that is the fate of all families, be they American, European, Asian, etc. Children grow up and move away to follow their dreams and create their own lives.

Ismael sums up Troncoso’s tale best of all: “I wrote a story. It’s about our family…. It’s about Ysleta. It’s about how we lived, how we tried. It’s about how we were together for a time. I, I didn’t know what else to do…. How else to remember us…. It’s just a story, just words. But it’s what I can do. Its how I can make sure no one ever forgets.”

And, this reader certainly will not forget. Bravo, Sergio, Bravo.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Sergio Troncoso is the son of Mexican immigrants, born in Ysleta on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas. His parents built their adobe house, and the family lived with kerosene lamps and stoves and an outhouse in the backyard during their first years in Texas, much like the family in his novel. Troncoso has written four books, including FROM THIS WICKED PATCH OF DUST, which was selected as a Notable Book by Southwest Books of the Year, and as one of the Best Books of 2011 by Dark Sky Magazine. To learn more about this author and his other books, visit http://www.sergiotroncoso.com/.
  
  

LATINO BOOKS INTO MOVIE AWARDS

The Latina Book Club congratulates ALL the winners.  We look forward to seeing you at the movies!

From Latino Literacy Now's press release: 

The second edition of the Latino Books Into Movies Awards were held on April 21st at the University of Southern California as part of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The awards were presented from the HOY Stage during the very active weekend of book related activities.

The judges for these awards are film industry professionals: Producers, Directors, Screenwriters, and Film Financiers. The judges were Ruben Arvizu, Kevin Bender, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Benjamin Esparza, Paul Espinosa, Evelina Fernandez, Jackie Gil, Marcos Gonzalez, Danny Haro, Bel Hernandez, Ruth Livier, Alma Martinez, Dave Mendez, Lymari Nadal, Luis Orozco, Gabriel Reyes, Baldemar Rodriguez, Carlina Rodriguez, Margarita de la Vega-Hurtado, and Richard Yñiguez. Kirk Whisler and Annie Perez oversaw the awards process.

The Latino Books into Movie Awards were created by Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler to help stories that could potentially be produced as movies or documentaries.  Winning books are presented to key networks, producers, talent agents and film financiers as one answer to the question they sometimes present: 'We don’t see enough Latino stories'.  While film making is a very slow business, one of the books from the first batch of winners has already gotten a production deal.



MOVIE AWARDS

Action & Adventure
First Place, I Wasn't Born A Teacher, David Bueno-Hill, Broken Wing Press
Second Place, Timely Conquest, Jerry P. Martinez, Tate Publishing


Animation
First Place, Kiki Koki - The Enchanted Legend Of The Coqui Frogs, Ed Rodriguez, Idearworks

Comedy
First Place, Sophomoric Philosophy, Victor David Giron, Curbside Splendor
Honorable Mention, Wow!, David Perez , 11B Press


Documentary
First Place, Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them, Graciela Tiscareno-Sato, Gracefully Global Group LLC
Second Place, Puerto Rico: An Oral History 1898-2008, Barbara Tasch Ezratty, Read Street Publishing


Drama
First Place, The Name Partner, Carlos Cisneros, Arte Publico Press
Second Place, Loving Pedro Infante, Denise Chavez, Farrar Straus Giroux
Second Place, Samba Dreamers, Kathleen de Azevedo, University of Arizona Press
Honorable Mention, Abuse Hidden Behind The Badge, Rosaura Torres, Torres Publishing Group, LLC
Honorable Mention, Barrio Bushido, Benjamin Bac Sierra, El Leon Literary Arts
Honorable Mention, Randy Lopez Goes Home, Rudolfo Anaya, University of Olahoma Press

Kids & Family
First Place, Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, Belinda Acosta, Grand Central Publishing
Second Place, Milagro of the Spanish Bean Pot, Emerita Romero-Anderson, Texas Tech University Press


Romantic Comedy
First Place, The Book of Want, Daniel A. Olivas, University of Arizona Press
Second Place, Getting Rid of Stupid: Culprit of Their Depression, Lisa Lynn Ramos, iUniverse


Suspense or Mystery
First Place, Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over, Belinda Acosta, Grand Central Publishing
Second Place, The Guadalupe Saints, Michael M. Pacheco, Paraguas Books
Honorable Mention, Strictly A Family Matter, Ramon L. Quezada, iUniverse


Biography
First Place, No Such Thing As Impossible: From Adversity To Triumph, Jairo Alvarez-Botero, Alvarez Construction Co.
First Place, Running Toward the Light: The George Mendoza Story, William J. Buchanan, University of New Mexico Press
Honorable Mention, East Side Dreams, Art Rodriguez, Dream House Press



For more information, please contact Kirk Whisler, Latino Print Network, 760-434-1223.  Also visit Latino Literacy Now at http://www.lbff.us/. 
 
 

BOOK OF THE MONTH: TO SELENA, WITH LOVE by Chris Perez

 
“There were plenty of reasons for me to fall in love with Selena. She was a talented, sensual dancer and singer, and a compelling entertainer….I was attracted to that woman I saw onstage. But I fell in love with the real Selena, the woman who laughed hysterically while riding speedboats, was determined to beat every guy in the band at video games, and wore jeans and sneakers and a baseball hat on the bus.

“Selena had a huge talent and sang like an angel. But she also worked tirelessly; doing every promotional opportunity that came her way. She made fans and reporters feel like they’d been friends forever. She had a rare gift with people, because she was always true to herself and with everyone she met. She trusted everyone and thought the best of most.”
                                                       ---Chris Perez



If you are a Selena fan, this is a must-read book for you. 

It’s been more than ten years since Selena Quintanilla Perez’s unforgivable death. Now her husband, Chris Perez, is finally able to open up and share their story.

Don’t expect a kiss-and-tell book, some sexy expose or a damn-then-all-to-hell book. This book is a love story written by a distraught husband, who shut himself up with his grief and his memories, and now after a decade of silence, Chris has finally come to realize that life does go on, and so must he.

TO SELENA, WITH LOVE is his homage to his late wife, and a gift to the dedicated fans around the world who continue to keep her memory alive.

The book is bittersweet since Selena and Chris never get their happy-ever-after story or the kids they wanted. Selena was only 23 when she was killed, three days before her and Chris’ third wedding anniversary.

But Chris doesn’t dwell on the pain and the loss; instead he has given readers a picture of the real Selena—the Selena off stage, the Selena at home. Chris has painted a beautiful portrait of a warm, kind, humble, daring, loving, trusting, hard-working, professional, fashionista, whom everyone was and still would be proud to call friend.

Unfortunately for all, no one saw the Judas that dwelled among them until it was too late to save Selena. Now all we have is her music and our memories of this vibrant young woman.

To paraphrase Chris: Selena, we’re still dreaming of you.♥



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Chris Perez is a Grammy-winning recording artist and leader of the Chris Perez Band. Prior to that, he was the lead guitarist for his wife’s band, Selena y Los Dinos. Visit him at http://www.chrisperezmusic.com/.

NOTE:  This book is available in English, Spanish and audio tape.

Chris and Selena celebrating their first anniversary.

Chris and Selena before a concert.

TO SELENA, WITH LOVE

by Chris Perez

Celebra Books

March 2012