Governor Corbett, Think Progress and the invisible Latinos

Yesterday the blog, Think Progress, picked up a video from our web site, and before we knew it, Salon, Philly.com, the Huffington Post, and a number of other web sites followed suit. It even spawned a few internet memes.


Perhaps you saw the stories about Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett not being able to find Latinos for his staff? Yes, that’s the one. It was prompted by a question Al Día posed to the governor when we had the opportunity to interview him for an hour on May 17.


Read the rest of this column:
http://www.pontealdia.com/columnists/governor-corbett-think-progress-and-the-invisible-latinos.html#.UZ5pqNC8pKc.facebook

Nuestras Voces, Our Voices: Emerging Latina writers talk about their work - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Editor's note: this is the fifth in monthly series of guest blog posts in which emerging Latina writers talk about their work, their process and what inspires them.

 Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination. Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes speculative fiction (from magic realism to horror). Her short stories have appeared in places such as Imaginarium 2012: The Best Canadian Speculative Writing. Her first collection, This Strange Way of Dying, is out this summer. She is raising funds to complete a novel, Young Blood, about vampires in Mexico City. Go to to find out more or visit http://igg.me/at/youngblood/x/166963 or her web site silviamoreno-garcia.com/.

Predisposed to lies and subterfuge

There are two sources of inspiration for my writing: my personal life and my great-grandmother. I know it sounds dull to admit that what I write about is what I see around me, but it’s true. Fragments of conversations, moments from my childhood, people I’ve met, they all filter into my stories.

My great-grandmother is the other big engine behind a lot of what I do. Born into poverty, she never learned to read beyond the second-grade level. She couldn’t write without copious mispellings. She also told stories. Stories of her childhood, of what it was like growing up in the Mexican countryside. The fantastic often mingled with reality. There were witches in the shape of fireballs cackling from the trees. There were nahuales and serpents with feathers.

Although she provided solid facts (I’m still surprised discovering that some of the things she said were very accurate, such as descriptions of life during the Mexican Revolution), she filled the cracks with fantasy.

I believed everything she said until I was a teenager, at which point the stories of ghosts and spirits just didn’t make sense.

To this day, I’m not sure who my great-grandmother was. Her story of her marriage to my great-grandfather was a tale of great love, but she failed to mention the man who had impregnated her when she was a maid working in a wealthy house. There were other omissions, fabrications, half-truths and question marks. My grandmother always complained her mother was a cold and distant woman, but great-grandmother was always warm to me, brushing my hair and telling me stories.

On the other side of the family, I also have liars and tall-tellers. My grandfather was, for lack of better words, a swindler and a cad. Also a radio announcer with a booming voice. He left his family one fine day, just vanishing into thin air with his mistress.

My father is also a liar. Also charming in his own way. Also an asshole.

I am genetically predisposed to lies and subterfuge. Rather than becoming a con artist, I prefer to tell stories.

I think every good story has a kernel of truth to it. That is what makes it beat and draws people to it. We connect with the truth and recognize it. You take that truth and swaddle it in a bunch of lies. That’s a story. A storytellers is nothing but a liar who allows you to see a fraction of her naked heart.

That’s pretty much what I am.

The Next Big Thing - Work in Progress

I was tagged in a chain blog called "The Next Big Thing - Work in Progress." It gives blog readers a bit of a glimpse into the writer's world and the upcoming novel/collection/book that writer is working on.

I'm delighted that speculative fiction writer Morgen Rich tagged me.

She was tagged by TS Gwilliams.

I've linked their blogs, and at the end of the post I'll link the blogs of the two writers I've tagged. So, here we go:

1. What is the working title of your next book? Walking Spanish

2. Where did the idea come from for the book? Midway through writing my first novel, INK, I took a break and wrote a novella that centered on a young Mexican-American woman in Philadelphia who was grappling with two horrifying things at once: one, that her brother — an undocumented immigrant — disappeared off a train platform as he was on his way to work. The other, that a childhood monster from Mexican tradition was alive and preying on people in the protagonist's city.... The narrative got me thinking about the way those of us who immigrate from elsewhere bring our monsters over the borders with us. What happens to them?  Do they prey only on those who know their stories? Do they want to slip their stories as they slip the border?  Do they *gasp* become acculturated? So I decided to write a series of linked stories exploring just that.

3. What genre does your book fall under? I write across genres, but I think dark fantasy or magical realism are probably the easiest fit for most of my work.

4. What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?  Since it is a collection of linked stories it is tough to say. But I write Latino protagonists and characters in a fairly wide range of ages .... I quite like Rachel Ticotin for the sexy older protagonist of “The Emporium of Crossings;” Elpidia Carrillo for the artist-witch in “Bad Blood;” and Tyler Posey as the young lead in “With Syringe and Four Reales.” Edgar Ramirez and Gina Rodriguez would be a pretty terrific pairing as Elvis and Kat in "69th Street" (the novella that started it all). There's more, of course. Like, who would I cast as El Cucuy? Or, La Siguanaba? Lots of fun to be had casting monsters. ;)

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Do monsters cross borders with the immigrants who believe in them?

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I’ll probably shop it around when it’s a little closer to finished. Story collections are a tough sell, I’m told. But there are some amazing small presses out there, so maybe one of them will be interested.

7. How long did/will it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript? I’m a slow writer, so if I finish a first draft by this winter I’ll be really pleased.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? That’s the thing about genre-hopping, it doesn’t really give you an easy basis for comparison. Maybe if you took the stories of Augusto Monterroso, Angela Carter, Geoff Ryman, Ana Castillo and Demetria Martinez and put them in a blender together ....

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book? The folktales of Guatemala and Mexico are, of course, my first inspiration for these stories. But it’s also a book of stories about immigrants. So the experiences of my parents, my family, my friends and some of the people I’ve interviewed in my newspaper work all inform the narratives in both big and small ways.

10.What else about the book might pique the reader's interest? There's creepy, grotesque, sexy and bittersweet in this book. And lots and lots of teeth.

Time for tag.

I'm tagging Shay Darrach to post on May 2. I think Shay's a wonderful storyteller with a distinctive voice and beautifully textured prose. Also just a really fine human being. (Fun to hang out with at Arisia, too.) I have it on good authority that one of Shay's upcoming publications is a truly award-worthy piece of short fiction. I can't wait to read about it and his other writing projects.

I'm tagging Kay Holt to post on May 9. I fell in love with Kay's characters in the short story "Parent Hack" in Crossed Genres' anthology Subversion, and later found out it was part of a novel in progress. Like Shay, Kay is a sweetheart. But she's also a terrific editor and publisher and writer. When I was studying fiction with Allan Gurganus, one of the pieces of advice he gave us was: honor everyone in your story. It turns out to be a horribly difficult thing to do, and some writers don't even try. But that is one of the salient features in Kay's work — she honors every character and so produces some of the most nuanced and deeply compassionate SFF I've read.

Be sure to check out their "Next Big Thing" blog postings, and Morgen Rich's, and come check back here and tell me what you think of all the upcoming book projects (yes, mine too)!

Nuestras Voces, Our Voices: Emerging Latina writers talk about their work - Sujeiry Gonzalez

Editor's note: this is the fourth in monthly series of guest blog posts in which emerging Latina writers talk about their work, their process and what inspires them.

 Sujeiry Gonzalez is a relationship expert, coach, author, and freelance writer and editor. Get relationship advice and view coaching packages on LoveSujeiry.com.

Writing as therapy

Writing is my therapy. Instead of giving thousands of dollars to a therapist to dissect my innermost fears, I lay them out on the page. This is why my writing is so raw and honest. This is why many readers of Love Trips: A Collection of Relationship Stumbles — my first published book where I reveal my relationship woes — ask me in awe, "How can you share so much?"

I do put it all out there. Read a few pages of Love Trips and you’ll learn about the bad sex that I've had, that I've willingly participated in drunk dialing sessions, and that I have severe abandonment issues stemming from my philandering, Dominican papi.

Yet, I don't ever feel exposed.

I write as if I were writing in a journal, as if the words and stories I create are just for me. I write without guilt or shame because I am not guilt-ridden or ashamed of the many mistakes that I have made and repeated. I write with candidness, openness, and humor because I am candid, open, and humorous.

My writing is an extension of me.

And so I utilize my voice, my experiences, my imagination, and my personality in my work.

It is what makes my writing mine.

It's not brain surgery. I don't have a magical writing process that leads me to create entertaining and well-received content. Although, I do have a knack for remembering the annoying details of every man I've ever dated. I am also very skilled in the art of introspection, which allows me to reflect when writing. Being introspective means that I can search within for ideas. That I can educate readers on all things relating to love, relationships, and self-awareness. Or as I often say, to be "self-first."

Much like myself, my writing has developed. Although writing is still my therapy, it has become much more than an escape from a shrink's leather couch. My purpose has evolved. My inspiration now stems from a desire to heal...others. I write to help women, if only to save them a world of heartache and thousands of dollars.

Miércoles Mudo, Wordless Wednesday: El Hielo

“Miércoles Mudo” es un carnaval de blogs o blog hop iniciado por Maybelline de Naturalmente Mamá y participar es muy fácil, solo debes publicar los miércoles una foto (s) sin escribir nada para explicarla (s) (de ahí viene lo mudo). Luego no olvides enlazar en el linky que está debajo y dejar un comentario en cada uno de los blogs que decidas visitar. Para conocer como nació el Miércoles mudo y sus reglas, puedes hacer click aquí.

¡Feliz Miércoles!

1.	Naturalmente Mamá	49.	El pequeño Nicolás
2.	Soy Mama Blog	50.	La libreta de mamá
3.	Adriana-Hogar-Mujer	51.	Pequeña Fashionista
4.	Una Mamá Diseñadora	52.	The Diary of My Dreams
5.	Mamá Moderna	53.	Subida en mis tacones, mamá en prácticas
6.	Mamá y maestra	54.	Sra Díaz
7.	Chica Perika	55.	Diario de una Madre
8.	Una mujer, una historia.	56.	Alba de Ya estoy Aqui Mama!
9.	Bebés de Pecho	57.	La estrella de Gael
10.	Mamá Merlin	58.	Una boticaria enredada
11.	En paro biologico	59.	El armario de mis princesas
12.	Tremenda Aventura Ser Madre	60.	La mamá de Joan Petit
13.	Mami Talks - From Hispanicize	61.	La Mami en Apuros
14.	Los Angeles de la Sierra	62.	La Felicidad de las cosas Insignificantes
15.	Shhhh...hoy es MM	63.	El blog de Ami
16.	Diario de Mujer	64.	SER MAMÁ DE UNA FLORETA
17.	By Terenya con mis ojos y mis manos	65.	No sin mis hijos
18.	Cuestión de madres	66.	Apaga la tele que vamos a...
19.	Simplemente yo misma	67.	Diario de una endorfina
20.	Trimadre a los treinta	68.	La agenda de mamá
21.	Mamá y las Redes Sociales	69.	Kiti Loves
22.	El horno de mami	70.	El horno de Lucía
23.	El blog de Bebemon	71.	El Perro de Papel
24.	Mà a mà, pell a pell, cor amb cor	72.	Ludoteca
25.	Diario de Algo Especial	73.	vinividivinvi
26.	Experiencias de una madre primeriza	74.	El rei de la casa
27.	sofico & mum	75.	Mamirami
28.	Acompañame	76.	Ser psicóloga educativa hoy
29.	Lo veo y me gusta	77.	Dollys
30.	*La Sonrisa de Pepa	78.	Alokawa
31.	La Orquidea Dichosa, ahora Mamá	79.	Mamá Holística ॐ
32.	Contras y pros	80.	El Gris de los Colores
33.	La Nave de V	81.	Elisa - CJ
34.	Babbupi's Mumm	82.	un millon dr silencios (Maria)
35.	a quien pueda interesar	83.	Labrando un HOGAR- ¡Mi ombligo exploto!
36.	My Points Of View	84.	NUTRICAMPEONES
37.	Menuda Manada	85.	Casigata en el zaguan
38.	Llamemosla Hache	86.	De Color Azul Lila
39.	La Alcobadeblanca	87.	La Familia Cool
40.	Cuando los sueños despiertan	88.	Itaca buscando a Ulises
41.	Aidixy y sus Cosas	89.	Bulalaica
42.	Blog Para Escribir	90.	Mi gordito relleno
43.	NoEsPaísParaMadres	91.	Princesa Miel Blog
44.	1MamaPara2	92.	MamáCachorro
45.	felizenbrazos	93.	Lianxio- Triciclos Vela
46.	¿Tú eres Pitipín?	94.	mami&baby
47.	la jungla de tus hijos	95.	El blog de la casita de algodonales
48.	Sindara Mum	96.	El Pahuichi de Julissa

Links: Comadres, Radio Times and Astrogator's Logs

Superficial Darkness and Luminous Ink

Scientist, writer and editor Athena Andreadis reviews my novel INK on her always fascinating blog Astrogator's Log:

"If Ink had been written in any language but English, it would have become a bestseller with reviews in the equivalent of the NY Times...."

Read in full by clicking here.

Talk about it with your comadres

In the March teleconference of Las Comadres para las Américas March teleconference, Nora Comstock  asks everything about INK, from nahuales to characters' voices. Listen to the half-hour interview by clicking here.

These are still radio times

I'm interviewed on the renowned Philadelphia NPR/PBS/WHYY  show Radio Times about the book I edited for Al Día, 200 Years of Latino History in Philadelphia, along with fellow guests: Erika Almirón of Juntos, and historian Victor Vasquez. Listen to the hour-long interview by clicking here.

Also from WHYY's Newsworks, Elisabeth Perez-Luna's short piece on the same subject. To hear it, click here.

Nuestras Voces, Our Voices: Emerging Latina writers talk about their work - Elianne Ramos

Editor's note: this is the third in monthly series of guest blog posts in which emerging Latina writers talk about their work, their process and what inspires them.

Elianne Ramos is principal and founder of Speak Hispanic, a marketing and PR consultancy focused on non-profits. She's also vice-chair of LATISM. She is the winner of the 2012 Game Changers Award from Politic365, and was recently nominated to the 2012 Yahoo Women Who Shine. She's also a columnist at Huffington Post, NBC Latino and Mamiverse. Her website is http://www.elianneramos.com. You can follow her on Twitter @ergeekgoddess.

Writing: Your heart on display

If I were to give it some thought, I’d say there must be something really wrong with all of us who decide to write for a living. Why else would you decide to put your heart and innermost thoughts on public display? And yet, we continue plodding on, one word at a time, in the hopes that transcribing the crazy thoughts swirling in our head can somehow orient us, help us find meaning, validate us.

The act of writing, in my case, serves many purposes. It’s a chance to understand life. To reimagine. To reminisce. To calm down or get fired up. To battle on. To BE. Inspiration, capricious goddess that it is, tends to show up unannounced, at odd times, always unwilling to give in to humanly-imposed timelines or expectations. Many a times, she’s triggered by completely random things: A phone call. A line from a forgotten poem. A tweet. My daughter’s laughter. A starry night. Trova music. Mandelbrot fractals. Justice.

Yet in my experience, she’s always willing to come along with me while interacting with people. Which is ironic, to say the least, coming from someone who grew up as a geeky, awkward girl with her nose in a book. I was never what you would call a social butterfly. Yet somehow, immersing myself in the fictional worlds of Allende and Marquez and Benedetti awakened my curiosity for the gazillion stories that surround us, everyday, everywhere, in every person we meet. Stories of challenges met, of travails overcome, of hopes crushed and regained…

There is something I find absolutely fascinating about the kaleidoscopic and relentless nature of the human spirit: People who aren’t afraid to claim their birthright to be awesome, magnificent, creative; who don’t wait for life circumstances to be perfect; who dare to rewrite their own roles and become the heroes in their own life.

As we step into the private chambers of someone’s story, we are given permission to flip through the pages of their life, to become a character in their stories of escapism, of turmoil, of redemption. We get a glimpse at the core of their very self. And at that magical moment, our souls recognize and embrace each other, like friends reuniting at long last. It is then that we realize that all our stories are really but one story: the story of humankind. And that glorious realization, to a writer, is what makes it all worthwhile.