Latinidad Newsletter – October 2003

You are receiving this newsletter because you have expressed an
interest in Marcela Landres and her work. If this newsletter has
been forwarded to you and you wish to receive it directly, please
visit http://www.marcelalandres.com/id51.htm. Past newsletters are
archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marcelalandres/

CONTENTS:
1. Saludos
2. FAQ
3. Success Stories
4. Recommendations
5. News to Use
6. Upcoming Workshops
7. Author Spotlight
8. Writing Opportunities

1. Saludos
Hispanic Heritage Month is the time of year when Latino culture and
accomplishments are in the spotlight. As such, it's the perfect time
to introduce a new section of this newsletter: the Author Spotlight,
in which I feature a writer whose work celebrates Latinos. I hope
you enjoy the Author Spotlight, and I welcome you to e-mail me at
marcelalandres@... with suggestions of writers to spotlight in
the future. As we celebrate Latino writers during Hispanic Heritage
Month, keep in mind that the best way to support them is to read and
recommend their books all year round.

2. FAQ
Q: I've submitted my work to countless agents, only to receive
countless rejections. What am I doing wrong? What is the right way
to find an agent?

A: Finding an agent can seem like a daunting task. Demystify the
process by using my top three tips below.
1. Make new friends – Most unpublished writers make the mistake of
hanging out with other unpublished writers. While you should cherish
your old friends, they are not in the best position to help you with
your writing career. Instead, create and nurture relationships with
happily published authors, because they have established
relationships with editors and agents. If you can impress these
writers with your work and persuade them to act as your mentors,
they may introduce you to their agents. Agents naturally respond
more readily to proposals submitted by writers referred to them by
people they know.
The best way to connect with published authors is to enroll
in writing classes, which are customarily taught by published
authors, especially at the more prestigious programs.
2. Bigger is not better – Many big, well-known agents are not
proactively seeking new writers. A successful agent, by definition,
has established a stable of clients who bring in a substantial,
reliable income. As a result, they can be very selective when taking
on new, unknown writers. Agents who represent bestselling mystery
writers, for instance, are in a position to attract other
bestselling mystery writers as clients, which is arguably a safer
investment of their time and energy than taking on unknown mystery
writers who may or may not ever reach bestsellerdom.
Include high profile agents in your submission mailings, as there's
always the possibility one will fall madly in love with your work.
But focus your efforts on less established, up-and-coming agents. A
hungry agent has a greater incentive to not only take you on, but to
work harder for you.
3. Be picky – Not every agent is right for you. Agents, like
editors, doctors, and lawyers, have specialties. One agent can
represent mainly psychology authors, while another can represent
mostly science-fiction writers. If you write cookbooks, neither of
these agents is necessarily a good fit for you. While agents
generally handle more than one category, it is unlikely that an
agent can represent all categories with the same level of expertise.
As such, it is to your advantage to submit your work to agents who
have experience representing writers whose work is similar to yours.
Two tools for determining what kind of authors agents have
represented in the past are: Publishers Weekly's web site
(http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?
publication=publishersweekly) and agent web sites. Agents usually
list authors they've represented on their web sites. If an agent
doesn't have a web site, seek information about him/her via a search
engine like http://www.google.com/.
Search Publishers Weekly's web site for articles about the category
in which you write. For instance, if you write romance novels, use
key words such as "romance author", "romance writer", and "women's
fiction". (Note that searching for the term "romance" alone calls up
too many articles that aren't directly related to romance.)
Invariably, the agents and editors who work with romance writers
will be mentioned.
As editors are interviewed more often than agents for these
articles, take the extra step of researching the editors with the
aim of determining which agents they work with. In particular, focus
on articles from the Hot Deals column
(http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?
layout=community&verticalid=127&industry=Hot+Deals&industryid=2977),
which covers noteworthy book deals, and includes the names of the
agents who brokered these deals.

Ask a question via marcelalandres@....
Find more FAQ http://www.marcelalandres.com/id54.htm

3. Success Stories
Many of the Latino authors I meet are multitalented artists who, in
addition to being writers, are also painters, dancers, singers,
comics, actors, photographers, etc. Some of these artists worry that
if they focus on their other creative endeavors they may impede
their writing careers. Not so. Actively and strategically raising
your profile in one arena can help raise your profile in the
literary arena. This is especially the case if your writing involves
your other areas of expertise. For instance, if you are a visual
artist, your connections in the art world may help you garner quotes
from artists, or attract attention from the media when you promote
your book, or your facility with color and shape may enrich the
language and landscape of your writing. One artist who is building
an impressive platform that will likely benefit her writing career
is poet and painter Pamela Carvajal Drapala. Congratulations to Pam
on having her artwork accepted at a gallery in New York City!

"I'm a subscriber of your e-mail newsletter and thank you for being
an outstanding role model and promoter of individuals who wish to
get their work recognized. Marcela, you are leading the way for
people like me, and I thank you for your words of encouragement that
I've received through your e-mails. I believe that because of
individuals like you I've continued to strive for my dreams.
Yesterday, one of my dreams came true.

I am a Hispanic painter and poet, and my artwork was accepted at the
Agora Gallery in New York City. Here's a comment that I received
from the Director at the Agora Gallery at Soho:

`The figurative oil on canvas paintings exhibit tonal charm of
composition, content and verve. Each image reverberates with
brilliant color eliciting a visceral response. This response is
primal and consistent throughout the body of work.'

Again, thank you for being there for people like myself. We
appreciate you.

With respects,
Pam"

See examples of Pam's art
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Tower/9556/Pamelaart.html
Share a success story via marcelalandres@...
Find more success stories http://www.marcelalandres.com/id57.htm

4. Recommendations
Literaryagents.org is an invaluable web site created by author Todd
James Pierce which is crammed with intelligent and useful advice on
how writers can find the right literary agent. Among other things,
Pierce shares hard-to-find mailing addresses for top agents, a list
of agents who represent bestselling or acclaimed authors, and
contact info for agents actively looking for writers (which, as
you've read in the FAQ section above, is not so common). I'm most
impressed by this site, and I include it in the handouts I
distribute at my workshops, and on the Resources section of my web
site http://www.marcelalandres.com/id40.htm. I highly recommend you
visit and bookmark this web site, and sign up for Pierce's free
Literary Agents Newsletter.

Visit literaryagents.org
Visit Todd James Pierce's home page
Offer a recommendation via marcelalandres@...
Find more recommendations http://www.marcelalandres.com/id25.htm

5. News to Use
While most agents are legitimate, there are admittedly a few alleged
agencies that do not meet the professional standards set by the AAR
(Association of Authors' Representatives). For instance, reputable
agents do not charge writers for reading their proposals. Below is a
link to an article which uncovers some of these disreputable
practices, as well as a link to the AAR's Canon of Ethics, which
outlines the standards of conduct for literary agents. Read them and
arm yourself against false agents.

Washington Post article "Publishing Schemes Prove to be Pure
Fiction" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
srv/style/features/daily/scam092899.htm
AAR's Canon of Ethics http://www.aar-online.org/canon.html
Find more news to use http://www.marcelalandres.com/id41.htm

6. Upcoming Workshops
On October 23 – 24, I will participate in an "Editors Speak" panel
regarding Spanish language publishing in the U.S., as well as
present my "What Latino Writers Need to Know About Getting
Published" workshop.

Location: 2nd Annual Latino Artist Round Table (LART) Conference,
The King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, New York University, 53
Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012
Panel: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 23, Auditorium, 1st floor
Workshop: 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 24, Rm. 404, 4th floor
To Register: Visit LART's web site http://www.lartny.org/.
Registration is strongly recommended for workshops and evening
events. A complete program for the conference is also available
online.

Request a workshop http://www.marcelalandres.com/id49.htm
Find a list of upcoming workshops
http://www.marcelalandres.com/id22.htm

7. Author Spotlight
Psychologist, activist, and author Ana Nogales's latest book Latina
Power: Using 7 Strengths You Already Have to Create the Success You
Deserve pubs this month in both English and Spanish editions. I've
edited many books in my career, and Latina Power is the book of
which I'm most proud. Representations of Latinas, whether in film,
television, journalism, art, or books, often seem to focus on the
negative aspects of our experience. Latina Power is groundbreaking
in that it instead highlights the inherently positive attributes.
Nogales and co-writer Laura Golden Bellotti do an excellent job of
shattering, instead of perpetuating, stereotypes.
I welcome you to support Latina Power and thereby show the
publishing industry that Latinas seek books which inspire rather
than typecast us. Here is a list of upcoming book signings:
Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at 8:00PM

Borders Carolina, Plaza Escorial, 65th Infantry and Esq. Carr. #8,
Carolina, PR
Thursday, October 23, 2003 at 7:00PM

Borders Plaza Las Americas, 1st Level, 525 F.F. Roosevelt Avenue,
Hato Rey, PR 00918
Friday, October 24, 2003 at 7:00PM

ALA, Sheraton Hotel 601 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona, Ca 91768
Saturday, October 25, 2003 at 7:00PM

Tia Chucha, 12737 Glenoaks Blvd., #22 Sylmar, CA 91342
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at 7:00PM

Martinez Books, Plaza de Mexico, 3100 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood,
Ca 90262
Thursday, October 30, 2003 at 7PM

La Casa Del Libro, 921 South First Street San Francisco, CA 95110
Saturday, November 8, 2003 at 12:00PM

Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library, 973 Valencia Street, San
Jose, CA
Saturday, November 8, 2003 at 3:00PM

Look out for Ana the week of 10/6 in Tucson, and she'll soon visit
Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Antonio, New York, Washington DC, and
southern California. Visit Ana Nogales's web site for updates
http://www.drnogales.com/english/main.htm

Obtain the English edition of Latina Power by clicking here.
Obtain the Spanish edition of Latina Power by clicking here
Suggest an author to spotlight via marcelalandres@...

8. Writing Opportunities
_______________________________________________________________
SEEKING YOUNG ADULT NOVELIST
Razorbill Books is seeking a commercially minded author to write a
comical yet poignant coming of age story for teens. Main character
would be Latina--though story should appeal to a broad range of
teens from other ethnicities (in much the same way that My Big Fat
Greek Wedding appeals to people of all ethnicities). Narrative
struggle would center on main character's attempt to reconcile her
Hispanic heritage with the ways of the modern world.
Razorbill is a new imprint at Penguin Group (USA) dedicated
to publishing into the explosively growing category of teen books.
Unique amongst the distinguished imprints at Penguin Group,
Razorbill will strive to serve a constituency neither child nor
adult, a constituency too often saddled with the outdated
descriptor "young adult."
The imprint will publish between 30 and 40 new titles a
year, the majority of them contemporary commercial fiction. The
formats will range from paperback to hardcover, with an emphasis on
alternative formats like the 5 x 7 "MTVBooks" paperback trim and
paper-over-board hardcover. Hardcovers and trade paperbacks will
appear in mass-market formats 12 to 18 months after initial
publication.
Please submit concepts and writing samples to:

Senior Editor
Razorbill Books
Penguin Young Reader's Group
345 Hudson Street, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10014
__________________________________________________________
SMOKING LOVELY BOOK LAUNCH PARTY
Monday, October 13 at 7:00 pm. 13 Bar/Lounge, 35 E. 13th St., Union
Square, NYC. Co-sponsored by LouderARTS.com. FREE. Willie Perdomo
will read with guests John Rodriguez, Rich Villar, Jai Kumar and
Jayme del Rosario and DJ Center from the OPEN THOUGHT CREW will be
on the one and twos.
http://www.rattapallax.com/perdomo.htm
_______________________________________________________________
$25,000 JOHN T. LUPTON "NEW VOICES IN LITERATURE" AWARDS
Mission: Encourage writers to complete professionally written Query
Letters and Book Proposals for submission to literary agents and
publishers to maximize their opportunity to become published authors
through traditional means. Sponsored by the Books For Life
Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping
aspiring authors and poets help themselves. The awards are named in
honor of John T. Lupton, founding benefactor of Books For Life
Foundation.
For more info and guidelines visit
http://www.booksforlifefoundation.com/php/luptonawards.php
_________________________________________________________________
MISSOURI REVIEW EDITORS' PRIZE IN FICTION AND ESSAY AND LARRY LEVIS
EDITORS' PRIZE IN POETRY
$2000 Fiction, $2000 Essay, $2000 Poetry
The Missouri Review, founded in 1978, is one of the most highly-
regarded literary magazines in the United States and for the past
twenty-five years we've upheld a reputation for finding and
publishing the very best writers first. Each issue contains new
fiction, poetry and essays. We also run interviews with famous
authors and found-text features where we print never before
published works such as a short story by William Faulkner or one of
Tennessee William's plays.
Page restrictions: 25 typed, doubled-spaced, for fiction and
essay.
Poetry entries can include any number of poems up to 10 pgs. Each
story, essay, or group of poems constitutes one entry.
Entry fee: $15 for each entry (checks payable to Missouri
Review) Each fee entitles entrant to a one-year subscription.
For additional guidelines and online entry submissions:
http://www.missourireview.com/info/contestguidelines.php

Entry submissions by mail:
Missouri Review Editors' Prize
1507 Hillcrest Hall
UMC
Columbia, MO 65211

Deadline: 10/15/03 postmark
_____________________________________________________________________
__
MELVILLE NOVELLA CONTEST
$1000 First Prize and possible publication
Final Judges: M. Mark, Barbara Chepaitis, Jedediah Berry
DEADLINE: Postmarked by October 30, 2003
Entry Fee: $20
GUIDELINES: We only accept submissions from authors who have not yet
had a book-length publication. Submissions must be previously
unpublished novellas 50-125 pages in length, typed and double-spaced
with one-inch margins. Each page must have the title of the novella
in the upper right-hand corner along with the page number.
Submissions must have two title pages, one with the title, author's
name and contact information and another with only the title of the
novella. All genres are accepted. Submissions must be accompanied by
a check for $20 payable to the Inconundrum Press, a postcard with
entrant's return address that will be used for confirmation of
entry, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for notification of
results. Authors retain all rights.

Novellas should be sent to:
INCONUNDRUM PRESS
92 WILLETT STREET, SUITE 2C
ALBANY, NY 12210

JUDGES: M. Mark founded the Village Voice Literary Supplement in
1981. During the groundbreaking thirteen years she served as VLS
Editor, she strove to locate the cutting edge, rethink the canon,
and promote unknown but talented writers. She has advanced the
careers of countless authors, including Kathy Acker, Lynne Tillman,
Jane Mendelsohn and Colson Whitehead. After VLS, she founded PEN
America: A Journal for Writers and Readers, which continues to
cultivate the idea of intelligent discussions of literature for a
reading public. Barbara Chepaitis has written numerous novels,
stories and screenplays. Endlessly versatile, she has published work
ranging from post-apocalyptic science fiction to contemporary family
dramas. Throughout her work she continues to examine the genuinely
human elements of life through strong female characters. Her novels
include the critically acclaimed Fear series, Feeding Christine,
These Dreams, and the recently released Something Unpredictable.
Jedediah Berry is the Managing Editor of jubilat, the noted poetry
and prose journal housed at the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst. He also serves as an Associate Editor for the literary
journal / anthology series, Conjunctions. A founding editor of PEN
America, he has edited the work of Umberto Eco, Joyce Carol Oates,
Salman Rushdie, Susan Sontag, among others.
_____________________________________________________________________
__
SEEK LATINO AUTHORS TO INTERVIEW
Hola, I am the Book Editor for the Arizona Hispanic, a new thought
provoking newspaper in Phoenix, AZ, aimed at the educated middle
class Latina/os. I would like to contact as many Latina/o authors as
possible. Please share this message and contact information with
Latina/o authors who may wish to be interviewed. I've included the
list of questions below the signature that I will ask the authors.
I've included my snail address for any brochures, books or catalogs
anyone can send me. Also I would like to be kept up to date on all
new books, fiction and non fiction, currently being published by
Latina/os. If you have a name of an author or a book that you want
me to review or profile, please contact me or pass this information
along. I want to be alerted to any new book by a U.S. Latina/o or
give me the information on how I can find out about new books being
published.
Thank you for any assistance you can give me on this project.
Keep the ink flowing,
Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez
9919 E Main Street Suite N
Mesa AZ 85207
Ph: 480.358.1264
Cell: 480.650.2838
President, BronzeWord
Book Editor, Arizona Hispanic
Author, "White Bread Competition"

1) Where were you born?
2) A little bit background on your parents: where born, occupation,
influence on you
3) What elementary and high school did you go to?
4) Any event impress you most in school? What was it?
5) Did you go to college? Where? How was it?
6) Why did you start writing? How did you get into writing?
7) What is your latest book or play? any cover art?
8) What is in your future?
9) What is your advice to new and emerging writers?
10) What is your pearl of wisdom you have learned in life?
____________________________________________________________
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA LATINA: HISTORY, CULTURE, SOCIETY will be a
multidisciplinary, one-million word set on Latinos in America,
covering history, literature, art, popular and folk cultures,
science, politics, religion, business, demographics and law. This
Encyclopedia brings together the work of many scholars in a
reference work designed both to introduce the field to non-
specialists and to indicate the state of current scholarship to the
following groups: upper high school and undergraduate students;
librarians; academics; and the general public.
Each of the approximately 700 entries will be thorough, informative
and objective. There are four length categories: 500 word; 1000
word; 2000 word; and 4,000 word. All entries will be signed and will
include bibliographies and cross-references. Some illustrations will
be used, as well as reproductions of primary source material in
appendices.
Currently we are inviting authors for a range of subjects. If you
are interested in participating, please contact me at the email
address below with a brief writing sample (does not have to be
published).
Jennifer Acker
Project Manager
encyclopedialatina@...
_____________________________________________________________________
__
RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS & WRITERS
In an extraordinary natural setting, Caldera offers residencies of
up to five weeks to artists and writers during the fall, winter and
spring. Artists and writers accepted for residency are given a
private cottage and the time to concentrate on their art. People who
stay more than 14 days are strongly encouraged to give an informal
presentation about their work during or after their residency. For
more information please contact: Miriam Feuerle, Caldera, 224 NW
13th Av, Portland OR 97209 OR 503-937-7563 or
http://www.calderaarts.org or miriam.feuerle@...
Deadline for spring 2004 residency: November 1, 2003
_____________________________________________________________________
__
CASTING CALL FOR LATINO ACTORS
Champawat Pictures is looking to cast an unknown in the lead role of
Willy Diaz, an undercover NYC cop, in the upcoming film The Mercy
Man based on the comic book series. For information on how to
audition, visit http://www.mercyman.com.
_____________________________________________________________________
__
P/T POSITIONS AS ADJUNCT FACULTY teaching courses in the following
areas - Economics, Geography, Systems of Society, and American
Literature available. Also full-time positions as Educational
Facilitators are available. If you know of professionals interested
in the above, please have them contact me directly, or Mr. Jose
Hernandez, Associate Dean, at the following address: Boricua
College, 3755 Broadway, NYC 10032 (corner of 155th St & Bway);
212/694-1000, ext. 622 or my extension, 625. Thank you for your
referrals or recommendations.
Best, Jose Angel Figueroa, Educational Facilitator
_____________________________________________________________________
__
LATINO MANAGEMENT TRAINING SERIES PRESENTED BY AHA
AHA will select twenty Latino arts organizations to participate in
LMTS, a program designed to build and increase organizational
capacity and strengthen infrastructure by providing "hard core"
management skills and systems necessary to survive in an
increasingly competitive arts field. Training in the following
categories will be offered: Strategic Business Planning, Financial
Management, Resource Development and Marketing. Funding for LMTS has
been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York
State Council on the Arts, Special Arts Services Program and The New
York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Applicants must be:
- an arts organization with an organizational budget of $50,000+;
- based in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut);
- a 501c3 / not-for-profit organization;
- established for a minimum of three years;
- at least one paid staff member.

Applications will be distributed early October. For an application
please contact Rebeca Ramirez at rebecaramirez@...
Application Deadline: TBD
_____________________________________________________________________
__
SEEKING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS FOR VIDEO
I am researching African -American writers with fun writing jobs who
we can profile for an educational video. We're working on a series
of two minute educational video segments that will be used by
elementary students in American schools worldwide. In the interest
of diversity and to present a good role model, we are specifically
looking for African-American writers who would make a fun story for
the students. Ideally, someone who writes about travel, food, or the
arts would be great. This could make for a colorful, lively segment
about a fun writing job. This writer could also be a television,
news or film writer (as long as we could use clips of their work in
the educational video). Would anyone on the list meet the above
description--and be interested? Could anyone suggest a writer who
would fit the above description? I'll be happy to provide more
details about our project. Thank you very much. Please email me
directly at: debmcclutchy@...
_____________________________________________________________________
__

Share a writing opportunity via marcelalandres@...
Find past writing opportunities
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marcelalandres/

Changing the world one e-mail at a time,
Marcela Landres
http://www.marcelalandres.com/
Please share this newsletter with interested friends and colleagues.

"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan."—Eleanor
Roosevelt

Latinidad Newsletter © 2003