Hey all,
With school and readings, it's been a bit busy but I'm back on the blog and first want to thank dear Belinda Acosta for her visit here to Lincoln. Her reading on September 16 reminded me of what writer Julia Alvarez said about Belinda's novel: honest and rich. Belinda's family was there too which made the experience all the more intimate and poignant. If you don't have your copy yet, run out and get Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz!
Amelia Montes, Belinda Acosta, Joy Castro--
in Omaha for the Omaha Lit Fest!
I also want to thank Joy Castro for her mention of my Penguin edition of Who Would Have Thought It on her blog. I gave a reading at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Union Bookstore and I also read at the downtown public library last Sunday--saw many of you there! What I love most about reading are the questions and discussions that happen afterwards. I'm always interested in why a person chooses to come to a talk or reading and what their thoughts are afterwards. So thank you to all (and you know who you are!) who attended these readings You enrich my writing life as well as my personal life with your presence!
A special shout out and thanks to Professor Susan Belasco who made the initial contact to the Executive Editor of Penguin Classics, Elda Rotor. It is because of Susan that I was able to meet with Elda and present my ideas for a new edition. This is what it's all about: appreciating and supporting each other's work. Thanks!
It was also wonderful attending the Omaha Lit Fest last Saturday. Thank you Tim Schaffert for organizing yet another wonderful gathering of writers! It was an honor to be on the panel regarding publishing with Belinda Acosta and Joy Castro.
Now I am about to take off for a California Book Tour. First stop is Loyola Marymount University (LMU)! I'll be there this Thursday (October 1) for a 5:30p.m. reading at their new William H. Hannon Library that overlooks the ocean. LMU is my alma mater--but when I was there, the Chicano Studies did not exist. It was Dr. Graciela Limon (now well-known Chicana author) in the Spanish department who was my guide to Mexican and Chicana/Chicano literature and who set plans in motion for Chicano Studies. Today at LMU, Chicano Studies is a Department. Thanks to Professor Karen Mary Davalos (Chicano Studies Chair) for arranging this reading.
I look forward to continuing a discussion here on Ruiz de Burton as I embark and journey through this book tour. If you're in California--check out my schedule (on my "appearances" link). I'd love to see you and hear your thoughts on this fascinating and complex Mexican American novelist from the nineteenth century.
See you on the tour!
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