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/

   

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 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!

 

LAS COMADRES PARA LAS AMERICAS LAUNCHES COMADRE AUTHORS BOOK LIST

   

June 1, 2024

 

Las Comadres Para Las Americas  launches Comadre Authors Book List.  

This list feature books from Authors who are members of Las Comadres, in all genres.  

* designates debut author.

 

 

JANUARY

 

*PERSEVERANCE: The Bridge to a Latina Mother's Dream by Iris V. Fernández (NY) – a personal memoir of a Latina teen mom and high school dropout juggling motherhood, nursing school and life.  Published by Rosales Mavericks Publishing Studio. Visit her at www.irislablanca.com.

 

WHERE AM I FROM by Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio (TX) – a personal memoir available in English and Spanish. She doesn’t have a website, but you can find her on Facebook.  (book cover not available)

 

 

 FEBRUARY

 

*AVICI SAGGA by Mary Romasanta (TX) – a psychological thriller about a woman fighting personal demons trapped in waking nightmares published by Sagga Publishing House. Visit her at www.maryromasanta.com.

 

*GRACIE LEARNS HUEVOS by Grace Ibanez Friedman (FL) – a children’s book about four-year old Gracie who only speaks Spanish enrolled in an English school. Book published by Archway Publishing.

 

 

      MARCH

 

*Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service by Dr. Antonia Coello Novello (CO) – is a memoir of the first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General published by Fulcrum Publishing.

 

PROPHECY OF MY UNDOING by Amparo Garcia-Crow (TX) – it’s a memoir published by BioGraph. Visit her at www.amparogarciacrow.com.

 

 

APRIL

 

*THE MERCHANT OF VENUS: THE LIFE OF WALTER THORNTON by Nancy Navarro (TX) – a loving memoir of her father, a famous model and Hollywood agent in the 1920s. Published by Tile House Publishing. Visit her website:  www.themerchantofvenus.com.

 

 

    MAY

 

*HURDLES IN THE DARK by Elvira K. Gonzalez (CA) – a young adult memoir, a story of survival, resilience and triumph published by Macmillian  Roaring Brook Press. Also available as an audiobook.  Visit her website at www.elvirakgonzalez.com.

 

¡Ojalá! Wishes in the Wind by Jennese Alicia Torres (PA) – a children’s book about two sisters trying to figure out how their Grandma seems to have Wifi powers.  Published by La Diva Latina. Visit her at www.ladivalatina.com.

 

 

  

 

 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AUTHORS! 

 

STARTING A GRATITUDE JOURNAL

By Maria Ferrer

 

There is no right or wrong time to start a Gratitude Journal or just journaling. The start of a new year, a new month, even a new week is a good time to start.

 Comadres are journaling from coast to coast.  From New York to California, from Illinois to Texas.

We did a poll of how long Comadres were journaling and found that more than 65% of you have been journaling for 5 years or more.  10% just started recently, less than a year ago.

 For many, journaling brings clarity, peace, and grounding. 

 For Aida Perez (TX) journaling helps her reflect on her day, her week, her life.

 For Lucy Recio (MD) journaling helps ground and heal her.  It allows her to author her life’s story.

 For Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa (NY) journaling centers her. Puts her experiences into words, cements it in her mind and records it so she can revisit at a later date.

 Others like Julie Aponte (NY) journaling is meditative. She writes down what she is grateful for to reshift her energy and perspective in positive ways. For Lydia Galvan (TX) it  is a cognitive behavioral therapy tool.

 For Elsa Prado (IL) journaling is more spiritual.  She uses it to talk to God. Many Comadres do a Gratitude Journal specifically to list what they are grateful for and to keep track of their many blessings. For example, Comadre Leonor Mendoza (TX) journals regardless of the day she’s had for there is always something to be grateful for. Same with Mirna Merced-Reyes (MA), journaling keeps her hopeful about overcoming Life’s challenges. For Amparo Garcia-Crow (TX) it’s her mindfulness meditation practice.

For some it’s about the positive. Veronica Hawkins (TX) likes to start her day on a positive note. Julie Anna Alvarez Rivera (NY) believes you attract to your life what you focus on and she focuses on the good in her life. She has also read studies that have found gratitude journaling linked to improved mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

 For others like Silvia Patricia Solis (TX) journaling helps preserve memories. Same with Christina Guerra (TX), it helps chronicle her life.  While Hilda Rivas (TX) and Elsie Santana (CT) like to have a record of what was going on in their life so they can go back and read it.

 Journals come in all colors, sizes and shapes. Some have pretty graphics, some are metallic, some are leather bound with clouds and feathers. Their key feature is that they are blank notebooks. Journals are personal so choose one that speaks to you.  And if you can’t find a journal with a cover you like, find a photo, postcard, quote or drawing that you like and paste that to your new journal.

 And sometimes blank notebooks are best. Comadre Jacquelyn Leon (NJ) is a blank notebook kind of journaler, and Bertha Magaňa (IL) uses any blank book to record her life.  

 The Big Question is how to start. Ana Gonzalez (CT) recommends starting slow, just write for 15 or 30 minutes. 

 How often should you write in your journal? 

Again, there is no right or wrong answer.  Amy Cobb (TX) and Anna Reynoso (CA) journal as often as they can.   While others like Mona Chavez (TX) journals once a week, or like Julie Aponte (NY) who journals every other night. You choose a time at your convenience.

 How to keep the momentum of journaling going?

 Many Comadres like Hilda Rivas (TX) recommend starting with  “Today, I am grateful for….” Or “I am ….”  Lydia Galvan (TX) likes to think of something beautiful that held her in awe that day or something someone did for her. Johanna Moya Fabregas (TX) starts with listing the fun things her daughter did that day that made her happy. The top favorite way to start is by listing three things you are thankful/grateful for today. Or try:  “Today, I honor myself by ….”.

Below are some recommended books on journaling.  Good luck and Happy Journaling. #

 

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

●        THE MINDFULNESS JOURNAL by Scott & Davenport

●        THE HAPPINESS PROJECT by Gretchen Rubin

●        CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD by Neale Donald Walsch

●        FIND A QUIET CORNER: INNER PEACE: ANYTIME, ANYWHERE by Nancy O’Hara

●        BULLET JOURNALING by Ryder Caroll

●        GOOD DAYS TO START WITH GRATITUDE by Pretty Simple Press

●        WRITING FOR SELF-DISCOVERY, PERSONAL APPROACH TO CREATIVE WRITING by Mayra Schneider & John Killick

●        THE ARTIST WAY by Julia Cameron

 

**This article first appeared in the Winter/ Spring Comadres Connect Newsletter.**