THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY ! The Latina Book Club is doing mini interviews with Latino / Latinx authors about Latin Lovers, favorite couples, and best presents to give this week.    We are pleased to welcome International Latino Book Awards winner Theresa Varela.    She’s a Puerto Rican author from Brooklyn, NY.   Photo by Patricia Dorelles   LBC:   Welcome, Theresa.   Valentine’s Day is upon us, and nothing says romance more than a Latin Lover, or does it?  What do you think of the Latin Lover— is he a Macho Man, Eye Candy or other?   THERESA:   The terms Latin lover, Eye Candy, and Macho Man bring forth the vision of grainy black and white cinema. A rose between a swashbuckler’s teeth or the heaving cleavage of a voluptuous barmaid evoke fantasy and passion.   Rudolph Valentino did much in his day for the construction of the female ideology that escape of the doldrums of a dull life could only be accomplished by a man who strides in on a magnificent

Happy Valentine’s Week!   The Latina Book Club is doing mini interviews with Latino / Latinx authors about Latin Lovers, favorite couples, and best presents to give this week.    We are pleased to welcome award-winning author, model, poet, editor, and teacher Chris Campanioni. LBC:   Welcome, Chris.   Valentine’s Day is upon us, and nothing says romance more than a Latin Lover, or does it?  What do you think of the Latin Lover— is he a Macho Man, Eye Candy or other?   CHRIS:   I feel uncomfortable about prescribing to or even reproducing that cultural stereotype; however, when I think about romance, and about my background and experience, I tend to often equate love with food--the way to your loved one's heart, then, is through their mouth, the tongue, and into the belly.  LBC:       Describe the ideal Lover— Latino or otherwise.   CHRIS:   Someone curious and willing; someone open and considerate--they don't hesitate to take great leap

Happy Valentine’s Week!   The Latina Book Club is doing mini interviews with Latino / Latinx authors about Latin Lovers, favorite couples, and best presents to give this week.    We are pleased to welcome USA Today Bestselling Author Priscilla Oliveras.   She is a double RITA Finalist.   The RITA is the Oscar for the romance industry.   (Congrats, Congrats, Priscilla!!)    Her novel, THEIR PERFECT MELODY, is book three in her Matched to Perfection series, about three sexy, sassy Puerto Rican sisters.  And we are looking forward to her new series from Kensington in 2020. Photo by Michael A. Eaddy LBC:   Welcome, Priscilla.   Valentine’s Day is upon us, and nothing says romance more than a Latin Lover, or does it?  What do you think of the Latin Lover— is he a Macho Man, Eye Candy or other?   PRISCILLA:   Honestly, I tend to shy away from the idea of the “Latin Lover” because often it becomes more of a caricature. For me, the ideal Latino is a guy who sp

Happy Valentine’s Week!    The Latina Book Club is doing mini interviews with Latino / Latinx authors about Latin Lovers, favorite couples, and best presents to give this week.     We start with author Jasminne Mendez .   Her book, NIGHT-BLOOMING JASMIN(N)E: PERSONAL ESSAYS & POEMS, was released by Arte Publico Press last Spring, but it’s worth reading in every season. LBC:   Welcome, Jasminne.   Valentine’s Day is upon us, and nothing says romance more than a Latin Lover, or does it?  What do you think of the Latin Lover— is he a Macho Man, Eye Candy or other?   Jasminne:   I think the "Latin Lover" is kind of a myth and a stereotype. I think that Latin men have been shown on TV and the media as a passionate "lover" who can woo any woman and often has several lovers himself. I think that Latin men CAN be this but they can also be so much more or not this at all and still be wonderful, caring partners. While I think the stereot

            I write to find out what I’m thinking. I write to find out who I am. I write to understand things.             ---Julia Alvarez We read to understand things as well.   Every month, The Latina Book Club will do a Books Roundup to highlight books by Latino Authors or books with Latino themes.   We will include as many books and genres as we can.   We invite all readers to check out the books listed below, and share them with other readers. This month, we recognize and congratulate Debut Authors Aida Salazar and Thelor Kay Mejia on their new releases.   We look forward to reading more from them. If we have missed books, we apologize.   We would be happy to expand the list; just send us your book release information.   Email us at latinabookclub@aol.com . Happy Reading!     And as always, #ReadLatinoLit ! FEBRUARY RELEASES DEBUT AUTHOR THE MOON WITHIN By Aida Salazar Arthur A. Levine Books Children’s Books **A lov