THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

   The Latina Book Club congratulates author Jon Marcantoni on his first Spanish-language novel, TRISTIANA.  We were happy to learn all about the novel and what is happening with La Casita Grande.     Darío: When you look at my body, what do you see? You see muscles, chest, arms and legs, my sex? Or do you see skin that is destined to decay? Bones destined to be picked apart by insects until what remains is grinded into dirt. Do you see a walking death that fights to stay within this body? You see my inevitable end, and the hole it will create in the lives of those who love me? What you see if a passing thing, like a memory. And I am alive, I live within your mind, because my destiny is to be buried, and in truth the ground is where this body desires to be above anywhere else. When I look at my children sleeping under the mosquitero, I see a piece of my Isabella and I, a piece which will suffer when we die. The time is coming. Even though in t...

The Latina Book Club congratulates Jonathan Marcantoni on the launch of La Casita Grande,  a new publishing house specializing in Latino and Caribbean literature. WRITING TIP :  If you want to stand out as an artist, be true to your visions and push yourself creatively, without worrying about the marketability of your stories. --- Jonathan Marcantoni Jonathan Marcantoni , Publisher LA CASITA GRANDE An imprint of Black Rose Writing Q: For years, we've been hearing the lament of editors and agents that they can't find any Latino authors.  And when one attends Book Expo America (BEA), all the editors keep asking for more diverse books, more Latino works.  Yet, the majority of the publishing booths at BEA this year had little to no diversity. It seems we have the editors' ears, but not the sales and marketing staff.  Did you see this too?  Where do you think Latinos are in publishing? JONATHAN MARCANTONI :  T...

   The Latina Book Club is happy to announce our new Book of the Month -- KINGS OF 7th AVENUE by Jonathan Marcantoni.   We had a chance to chat with the author and learn about the fear that drove him to write this book.   Plus, we are giving away a copy of the book to a lucky reader who shares with us their experience at a nightclub so leave a comment here or on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Thanks!  Black Rose Writing You really can’t reconcile, when you are in an abusive situation, this person you fell in love with and this monster who makes your life hell. Something just doesn’t connect and of course you blame yourself. They weren’t monsters before they met you, right?---Ana Rivera KINGS OF 7th AVENUE (Black Rose Writing) is Jonathan Marcantoni's finest novel yet. It's riveting, multi-faceted and totally engrossing.   The author boldly weaves fact and fiction that will draw readers in, and mesmerize them with realistic portraits of peo...

    The Latina Book Club welcomes authors Luigi A. Juarez and Jonathan Marcantoni.   We want to congratulate Luigi on the debut of his first book, COVERED PACES, from Editorial Trance, last month; and, many thanks to Jonathan for sharing this interview. Luigi A. Juarez Jonathan Marcantoni: How would you describe your style? What is the story behind this book?       Luigi A. Juarez: My writing style leans literary (that is, away from the style of most genre fiction). I teach and study canonical works of literature as a career so I think that makes me subconsciously prefer the freshness of language (phrases and descriptions) over making sure I hit all the watchwords that plot the perfect action scene.  It’s funny, I was at a point where I was writing three short stories at once. The first was a Hollywood satire, the second was a fantastical tale, and the third, a domestic dispute, visceral and ultra-realistic. There was a w...

by Jonathan Marcantoni Authors Jonathan Marcantoni and Chris Campanioni are the founders of YouNiversity.   Their first class is about to “graduate.”   It’s been a learning experience for both the students and the teachers.   The Latina Book Club congratulates Jon and Chris on their vision, and wish their graduating students much publishing success.---mcf Jonathan Marcantoni   I am a Puerto Rican writer. That is how I introduce myself. Puerto Rican first, writer second. Writing, not only the practice but my entire conceptualization of the artform, is filtered through that identity. I pride myself in being a storyteller of my people, of our struggles on and off the island, of our pan-Latino community. As co-founder of Aignos Publishing, I put such a heavy emphasis on Latino literature I would receive emails from non-Latino authors asking if we signed them as well. I felt bad when I received those emails, I never meant to be exclusive, and it plan...