Wednesday, January 1, 2025

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES BOOKS FOR JANUARY 2025

CELEBRATING 18 YEARS !


Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is proud to announce its January Books of the Month:

 

  

THE PRINCE AND THE COYOTE by David Knowles -- A Pura Belpré Award Winner, this book brings to life one of Mexico’s most treasured heroes, Nezahualcoyotl, in a story that will thrill readers far and wide.

 

EMBODY JOY: A WOMAN’S JOURNEY OF RECONNECTION WITH HER BODY by Beatriz Fritschler  -- This memoir is not just a personal account but a universal story of resilience, healing, and the power of embracing one's true self. 

 


For complete book summaries and author bios, visit our website at www.latinolit.com.

 

Shop for your books here:  https://bookshop.org/shop/lascomadresbookclub

 

Subscribe to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel for more author interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/@LasComadresParaLasAmericas/playlists

 



 

SAVE THE DATE! Monday, January 27, 8pm ET for the monthly Teleconference where we will get a chance to talk to the authors and ask them about their books.  

 

Register today for the teleconference and you may win a FREE BOOKhttps://latinolit.com/join-teleconference/

 

 

Happy Reading and Always Read Latino Lit!

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS -- DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025

 

Welcome 2025!   We open the new year with a heartfelt Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to Comadre Authors on their new books.   

 

 

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin (Pasadena, CA) -- Received the coveted PEN Nomination for her poem, The Many Faces of La Llorona, published in the Altadena Poetry Anthology Review 2024. I also read Spanish translations from her book, Mi Amor (September 2024) at Los Libros in Lincoln Heights. I recited Nopal, Muse, Medicine and Sustenance from my thrice winning International Latino Book awarded Chicana On Fire (December 2024) at the Xicana Exhibit, El Camino College.  AND!  She exhibited portraits (August-December 2024) at The CASA 0101 Art Gallery and an altar dedicated to recently deceased Gloria Molina, First Latina elected to the CA assembly.

 

Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Was a guest at art conferences and exhibitions in Italy and France last year. Her solo exhibition "Faces & Façades" at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum in Manhattan (https://morrisjumel.org/exhibitions/faces-facades/) was featured in the NY Amsterdam News and is on view through March 23, 2025. Please email me for a QR code that grants free entrance to the museum; email amae347@yahoo.com.

 

Julieta Corpus (Weslaco, TX) – Her book, Of Love And Departures/ De Amor Y Despedidas, is a bilingual poetry book available through Amazon. It is a collection of poems in English and in Spanish about love and loss and grief written during and after the death of her late husband Arturo Saldana, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014 and passed away in March 2016.

 

Yanelba Ferreira (Bronx, NY) – Happy to announce her recent acting roles!  (1.) Performed as Jury Foreperson (co-star role) in Law & Order, Season 23, Episode 4 which aired on February 8, 2024.  (2.)  Performed as Rosa Castillo (supporting role) in the short film “Hello Brooklyn!” directed by Dustin Prestige, premiered at Stuart Cinema in Brooklyn, NY on October 8, 2024 and is also available for viewing on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_wlJzVUmTU0.  (3.) Performed as Mami (supporting role) in the short film “Niña Linda” directed by Ashley Morales, premiered at Rider University on December 8, 2024. Film is currently not available for viewing online as it is being submitted to film festivals.

 

Lourdes Ortiz (North Attleboro & Massachusetts) -- Graduates with an MBA in May 2025. She has three small children – 6, 4 and 1.  She works a full-time job; cares for her three kids; and stays up many late nights, sometimes ‘til 3am, studying. Lourdes is very happy and very proud of herself.  [We are too!]

 

Mirtha Perez (Cedar Park, TX) -- The week before Christmas, Mirtha and her daughter went to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to kick off her gymnastics season with Acrotex Cedar Park.  She competed in the Puerto Rico Classic and got 1st in Bars, 3rd in Beam and 3rd All Around. She qualified for the Laurie Hernandez Champions Challenge the next day where she got 5th place All Around, and Laurie was there to give some pep talks to the gymnasts.  It was an amazing experience for both!

 

Susana Sandoval (Denver /Chicago/Los Angeles) – Won a Scholarship for her annual grantsmanship training (recertification).

 

Leonor Vargas (Austin, TX) -- This year, Wisdom En Familias LLC, was honored to collaborate with the Community Advancement Network to design and lead outreach for the bilingual mobile Mental Health Outreach Toolkit (Pathways to Mental Health Healing). This initiative was created to uplift and serve Spanish-speaking communities, addressing the urgent need for accessible mental health resources. With the steadfast support of our incredible partners—Southwest Key Programs, NAMI, our advisory group, and funders—we worked passionately to empower individuals and families. Through this effort, Wisdom En Familias delivered 53 presentations and reached 725 participants, offering knowledge, tools, and hope for healing.  (From Leonor: Mil gracias to everyone who contributed to this transformative work. Together, we are fostering stronger, healthier communities. Here’s to building on this important mission in 2025 and beyond!)

 

 

 

****************************

  

 

COMADRE AUTHORS

 

Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications.

 

 











 

 


NOVEMBER 2024

 

Nimia Maria Ramos Beauchamp (Bayamon, PR) –  Nimia and Kimia Shahrokhi, known for a series of coloring books as Drs. Kimia & Nimia, have new book available, AyurPermaVerse Coloring Book, based on Ayurveda, Permaculture, Botany principles for children from 5-14 but all ages can color!   

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2024

  

Anjanette Delgado (Florida) -- published a book this month with a small independent publisher in Puerto Rico. It's called El sexilio, mostly in Spanish, and talks about us women and how sometimes we are forced to exile because of the violence against the feminine. 

 

 


JANUARY 2025

 

Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio (San Antonio, TX) – her memoir, WHERE I AM FROM, will be published by Storyworth.

 

Las Comadres Para Las Americas (Austin, TX) – published COOKING WITH LAS COMADRES cookbook.  60 Comadres contributed 130+ recipes from main dishes to soups to pastelones to surrollitos to carne guisada to flan to sangria to coquito.  This cookbook is a fundraiser for Las Comadres, all proceeds go to fund 2025 programs.  Order your copy here.  

 

  


Congratulations to all !  

Sunday, October 13, 2024

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES BOOKS FOR OCTOBER

 



Las Comadres & Friends Book Club is pleased to announce its October books:


 

 CRAFT: STORIES I WROTE FOR THE DEVIL by Ananda Lima (Tor Books) – intoxicating, imaginative and surreal fiction debut by award winning author.

 

CHICANO FRANKENSTEIN by Daniel A. Olivas (Forest Avenue Press) – a modern retelling of the Mary Shelley classic that addresses issues of belonging and assimilation.


For complete book summaries and author bios, visit our website at www.latinolit.com.

 


 

Save the date of Monday, October 28, 8pm ET, for the monthly teleconference with live interviews with the authors.   Register now and you may win a FREE BOOK:  https://latinolit.com/join-teleconference/

 


Subscribe to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel for more author interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/c/lascomadresparalasamericas

 

 


Happy Reading and Always Read Latino Lit!

 

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS - AUG & SEPT

 



Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to 

Comadre Authors on their new books.   

 


 ACCOMPLISHMENTS


Cecilia Aragon (Seattle, WA) – Appeared on the CBS show MISSION UNSTOPPABLE, filmed in September 2024. Plus, Cecilia celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary in June! Cheers! 


Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO.  Ileana is working on new novels and is looking for literary representation.


Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Returned from exhibitions in Italy and France, and she invites Comadres to join her for the opening of her next solo show in NYC, "Faces & Façades," featuring a new series of paintings inspired by the women and architecture of Northern Manhattan. Please join her on October 19, 3-4:30pm, at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum. Free and open to all, no Rsvp needed: https://morrisjumel.org/exhibitions/faces-facades/


Gloria Chin (New York, NY) – Launched Synergy Strategy Group, a Strategic Communications and Public Relations Consultancy focused on uplifting minority and women owned businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs. With nearly 10 years of television news experience in the #1 media market and 17 years of public relations counsel to c-suite leaders, city leaders, and 2 U.S. Mayors, I am looking to put this experience to use for my community. Adelante!


Diana Diaz (Hackensack, NJ) – After an impressive 25-year tenure of a prominent Bankruptcy Law Firm, serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the last 10- years, Diana took a bold step forward and resigned to pursue her passion for helping others. Shortly after, she founded her own Legal Research Bankruptcy Consultant Firm, and she is pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney, laying the foundation for her future law firm. Reflecting on her journey, Diana realized that fear was once her greatest adversary, holding her back from seizing opportunities. However, she has now conquered that fear, emerging more confident and determined than ever to continue her mission of uplifting the Hispanic community. This journey is not just a professional milestone; it’s a profound personal transformation that inspires her to forge ahead and make a lasting difference.


Nylda Dieppa (Orlando, FL) – Her book, ALBORADA /DAWN: A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry has received an Honorable Mention award from the International Latino Book Awards in the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award category. Nylda is proud to be in the company of Emanuel Xavier, one of three finalists in the same category and author of LOVE(LY) CHILD.  She interviewed him for the Las Comadres Book Club recently.


Laura Esparza (Austin, TX) – After retiring in March 2024, Laura founded a new foundation called A3, devoted to raising and distributing funding to individual artists, musicians, performers and other arts related contractors who offer their work to the Austin public for free.


Eris Garriga (New York, NY) – Has a new Spanish language book coming soon, AGUADILLA EN IMAGENES Y VERSOS.


Ana Gonzalez, OP (Boston, MA) – Is rocking Graduate School at Boston College and on track to graduate with her MA in Theology and Ministry with an emphasis in Latino Pastoral Ministry.


Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (Pharr, TX) – Won a Goodwill Scholarship from the Texas Association Court Administration (TACA) for continuing in Certification of Court Administration in the State of Texas for Certified Court Management.


Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) -- Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.


Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – The company she works for, League of Kitchens, is publishing a cookbook that showcases her recipes, along with the recipes of her peers. We are proud and excited to introduce this collaborative book that allows us to share a little bit of our culture and favorite family recipes. We will have a book tour through the end of the year with a big launch event at the Invisible Dog Art Gallery in Cobble Hill on November 13th, 7pm, here in NYC. All Comadres and friends are welcomed to celebrate our book and taste eight of our instructors’ food!


Madeline Vega (Austin, TX) – Was interviewed by the University of Texas Austin Electrical and Computer Engineering department for Hispanic Heritage Month: https://www.ece.utexas.edu/news/alumni-profile-madeline-vega  


Desiree Zamorano (Altadena, CA) – Her book launch and profile appeared in Latinitas Magazine: https://latinitasmagazine.org/author-desiree-zamorano-releases-new-novel-dispossessed/


****************************


COMADRE AUTHORS

 

Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications.

 

AUGUST


Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO from New Trends Press.


Sarah Bonamino (San Antonio, TX) – her book THE BORDER BETWEEN US, fiction, was published by Blackstone Publishing.  The book is also available in Spanish, LA FRONTERA ENTRE NOSOTROS.


Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) -- Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.


SEPTEMBER


Desiree Zamorano (Los Angeles, CA) – her book, DISPOSSESSED, a historical fiction novel, was published by Running Wild Press.


OCTOBER


Julia Amante (Inland Empire, CA) – her romance book, CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU, was published by Wise Writer Publishing.


Nimia Maria Ramos Beauchamp (Bayamon, PR) – self-published a games and puzzle book, COMBO X-WORD PUZZLE ALTERNATIVE HEALTH 2024.  Find out more here:  www.APYArte.com.


NOVEMBER


Deborah Nevarez-Vivolo (Placerville, CA) – her poetry appears in the INLANDIA: A LITERARY JOURNEY, published by Inlandia Institute.  Her flash fiction was published in last year’s WRITING FROM INLANDIA anthology.


Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – her recipes appear in THE LEAGUE OF KITCHENS COOKBOOK from Harper Collins.



CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.

www.lascomadres.com

 

Sunday, August 4, 2024

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES BOOK FOR AUGUST 2024

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is pleased to announce its books for August:



   

LITANY OF SAINTS: A TRIPTYCH by Diana Rojas  -- three novellas about immigrant families from Costa Rica struggling with a divided sense of identity.  Are they Americans or are they Ticos?

 

THE THINGS WE DIDN’T KNOW by Elba Iris Perez – a coming-of-age novel about two siblings whisk away from their Massachusetts hometown to the mountain villages of Puerto Rico and back again.  Kids are confused about where they belong and who they’re supposed to be.

 

 

For complete book summaries and author bios, visit our website at www.latinolit.com.

 

 


Save the date of Monday, August 26, 8pm ET, for the monthly teleconference with live interviews with the authors.  

 

Register now for the August teleconference and you may win a FREE BOOK:  https://latinolit.com/join-teleconference/

 

Subscribe to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel for more author interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/c/lascomadresparalasamericas

 

Check out our 10th Annual Summer Reading List here: https://latinolit.com/summer-reading-list-2024/

 

 

 

Happy Reading, and always Read Latino Lit!

 

  

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS !

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to 

Comadre Authors on their new books.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) -- was awarded a grant for her exhibition “Faces and Facades”, to be presented at the Morris-Jumel Museum, opening on October 18, in New York City.

 Raesha Cartagena (New York, NY) – will be honored with the Music, Arts and Literature Award by The New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. on August 8.

 Lynette Correa-Velez (Chicago, IL) -- Starting mid-August, Lynette will be the inaugural Vice President of Leadership Programs at the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) which is an over 40-year-old national non-profit headquartered in Chicago that provides Hispanic/Latine'-identified individuals and groups with online and in-person career & leadership development coaching and programs. Learn more about HACE here: https://haceonline.org/

 Beatriz Fritschler (New York, NY) -- Launched a new company, Executive Losers -- an online platform dedicated to empowering executive women in achieving their health and wellness goals through a supportive online community.  Learn more about the platform here:  https://www.executivelosers.com/

 Erica Gallardo (Kyle, TX) -- Celebrated 15 years with Communities In Schools of Central Texas (January) and moving into a new position as the Senior Director of Campus Based Services (July).

 Eris Garriga (New York, NY) – best known for her vegetarian and Puerto Rican cookbooks, has a coffee table book coming out soon in Spanish entitled:   AGUADILLA EN IMÁGENES Y VERSOS.

 Yolanda Nava (Chicago, IL) – her quadruple award-winning inspirational memoir, THROUGH THE DARK, is a Finalist for a Global Book Award.  Winners announced on August 15.  Fingers crossed.  And, Yolanda will be a presenter at the World InterFaith Network Global Conference on August 17.

 Raquel V. Reyes (Miami, FL) – was interviewed by the Latino Book Chat podcast about her latest novel, Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal, in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series. https://www.podpage.com/latino-book-chat/50-raquel-reyes-a-culinary-sleuths-recipe-for-danger/

 Martha Tavera (San Antonio, TX) – aka Priestess Pampamissayuq shares her knowledge of Ancient Shamanic Medicine through her therapies and Initiation workshops, as well as Drum Journey Workshops, in person and online, in English, también en Español.

 Rhina Valentin (New York, NY) – aka La Reina del Barrio will be honored with the Creative Arts Award from The New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. on August 8.


 COMADRE AUTHORS

 Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications.

 

AUGUST

 Beatriz Fritschler (New York, NY) – wrote and self-published her memoir, Embody Joy: A Woman’s Journey of Reconnection with Her Body

Learn more about Beatriz’ life’s journey and harrowing experience with a ruptured brain aneurysm that nearly claimed her life here: LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatriz-fritschler-mpa-09784b42/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatriz_healthjourney/

 

OCTOBER

 Glenda Galvan-Garcia (Garden Grove, CA) – wrote THE WHOLE ENCHILADA:  MEXICAN RECIPES FULL OF HISTORY AND FUN (Grupo Planeta). 

It’s a bilingual children’s book available in English and Spanish.  Visit Glenda’s websites here:  https://wholeenchilada.co/ and https://www.instagram.com/missmamachef/

   

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 NOTE:  these listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.  

 

 Congratulations to all our Comadres!

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB RELEASES 10TH ANNUAL SUMMER READING LIST

  


The Las Comadres & Friends Book Club’s 10th Annual Summer Reading List includes something for everyone in a variety of genres.  The List includes a 40-year-old classical novel; a Pulitzer Prize winner; a celebrity memoir; a dazzling anthology with intergenerational voices of Latine women; mysteries; historical fiction; young adult books; adorable children’s book, a mouth-watering cookbook and a gardening craft book.  


1.       A DELICATE MARRIAGE by Margarita Barresi (Atmosphere Press) – fiction

2.       A HAUNTING IN HIALEAH GARDENS by Raul Palma (Dutton) – suspense

3.       AN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT by Johanna Rojas Vann (WaterBrook) – fiction

4.       ARRIBADA by Estela González (Cynren Press) – fiction, LGBTQ+

5.       DAUGHTERS OF LATIN AMERICA: AN INTERNATIONAL ANTHOLOGY OF 

          WRITING BY LATINE WOMEN edited by Sandra Guzmán (Amistad) – anthology

6.       DEATH’S COUNTRY by R.M. Romero (Peachtree Teen) – young adult, LGBTQ+

7.       FAMILY LORE by Elizabeth Acevedo (Ecco) – fiction

8.       I’LL GIVE YOU A REASON by Annell López (The Feminist Press/CUNY) -- fiction

9.       IN MY EYES, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL by David Unger (Mosaic Press) – fiction

10.     LEGENDARIOS: WRATH OF THE RAIN GOD by Karla Arenas Valenti (Aladdin) –

          children’s books

11.     LILIANA’S INVINCIBLE SUMMER: A SISTER’S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE by

          Cristina Rivera Garza (Hogarth) – Pulitzer Prize winner, non-fiction

12.     RELENTLESS: MY STORY OF THE LATINO SPIRIT THAT IS TRANSFORMING

          AMERICA by Luis A. Miranda Jr. (Hachette Books) – biography

13.     SYLVIA’S SECOND ACT by Hillary Yablon (Pamela Dorman Books) – fiction

14.    THE DOMINICAN KITCHEN by Vanessa Mota (Rock Point) -- cookbook

15.    THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET by Sandra Cisneros (Vintage) – classic, fiction

16.    THE PRINCE AND THE COYOTE by David Bowles (Levine Querido) – young adult

17.    THE ROARING DAYS OF ZORA LILY by Noelle Salazar (MIRA) – historical fiction

18.    THESE HOLLOWED BONES: POEMS by Amelia Díaz Ettinger (Sea Crow Press) --               poetry

19.    ¡VERDURA! LIVING A GARDEN LIFE by Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago 

         (Cool Springs Press) – craft, gardening

20.   WILD DREAMERS by Margarita Engle (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) –

        young adult, fiction

 

Join the book club here:  https://latinolit.com/join-book-club/

  #ReadLatinoLit


Some photos of our Summer Reading List