THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

The Latina Book Club congratulates actress-writer-comedian Jonisha Rios , whose book, CURSE OF THE BLUE VAGINA AND OTHER STORIES, was just released. Jonisha  shares with us a funny story of a Mom at a supermarket short on funds who ends us with more than she bargain for.  Welcome! “WE’RE ALL LIVING TELENOVELA LIVES….” by Jonisha Rios I’m in line at Winn Dixie here in Orlando, in one hand is a box of no frills pull-up pampers, in the other a basket with a half gallon of milk, cereal for the baby, an iced tea- and my guilty pleasure - an “US weekly magazine”.  I’m a sucker for those mags, especially when my life sucks.  I just look at the photos of the rich and famous and realize we aren’t all that different.  They’re just as screwed up as poor people are. As I inch up to the cash register, I’m suddenly filled with dread “Will I have enough? Did my husband remember to refill the prepaid card? I look over at my child...

   TELENOVELA, Outskirts Press, January 2009 Q:   Tell us about yourself. What is your job when you are not writing? I was born in Kingsville, Texas, but was raised in my hometown of Pasadena, California. I was actually born in the same hospital as my mother, author Thelma T. Reyna. I’m a sixth-generation American of Hispanic descent. My cultural heritage includes Spanish, Irish, Scotch, Mexican and Native American roots. My ancestors include a New Yorker in General Zachary Taylor’s army who married a Mexican war bride, and a Spanish immigrant who fought for the Mexican Army on the opposing side during the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48. When I am not writing, I serve the citizens of Pasadena as a 17-year-veteran police officer of the Pasadena Police Department. For the last 3 ½ years I have been on the Homeless Outreach-Psychiatric Evaluation (HOPE) Team, a law enforcement mental health crisis team. I am also the founder and chairman of the Pasadena Mental Healt...