L. M. GONZALEZ, Writer
Women's Fiction - Latina - Romance - Motherhood
Blog
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Posted by lesmora
at 06:31 PM on September 14, 2008
|
Hello,
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries?Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile, on September 18.
I understand that in San Antonio, TX, they have a gathering by the Municipal Auditorium where people celebrate "El Grito", Father Hidalgo's yell, by ringing the church bell of his church calling everyone in Mexico to fight for liberty from Spanish rule.
In keeping with this year's theme which is "Getting Involved: Our Families, Our Community, Our Nation", I've invited several authors who have Hispanics/ Latinos as primary or secondary characters to join me in this celebration. I will feature one author and his/ her book individually from September 15 through October 15 which is the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.
You will see the book cover and a blurb about each book. The author will also include a short excerpt and/ or include their answers to the following questions:
Why did you include a Hispanic/ Latino character in your story?
Do you think books should reflect the diversity of communities and the country?
What do you think makes for a compelling story?
Depending on how many responses I get I will also feature a few authors on the blog for the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio at www.slhwnotes.blogspot.com
All genres will be featured - from historical to contemporary. From YA to Last Rose of Summer, as my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, refers to romances which include a more mature heroine.
Please check back during Hispanic Heritage Month. Pick out books you'd like to read. Throughout the month, I'll have a few surprises.
To begin, I will introduce you to my debut book, TOO LATE FOR ROMANCE? which was released in print on June 27, 2008.
ROSES BLOOM
Gloria Amaya wants her rose garden to flourish. She hires a gardener to help her. When she meets Matt, thoughts of her dying rose bushes wilt to the ground. Immediately attracted to him, she kisses him and melts.
LOVE BLOSSOMS
Matt Cerda knows everything about gardens as he has been working with plants, flowers and other green living things since he was a little boy. However, when he meets Gloria, he realizes that hers is one garden that needs more than a little tender loving care. And the lady could use it, too.
Matters are complicated when her sons and his daughters get in an uproar with Matt and Gloria in the middle of it. Health issues, job insecurities and phobias cause more difficulties for the couple. Can Gloria and Matt weed through all this baggage and allow their love to blossom?
Why did you include a Hispanic/ Latino character in your story?
I'm an American of Mexican descent and I've read books, especially romances, since I was a teenager. The more I read, the more frustrated I became that books didn't include Hispanic/ Latino characters as primary or secondary characters. Oh, they were there! As maids or gardeners who could barely speak English. My story's hero is a gardener, however, he owns his business, he can speak English, and most important of all, he's a hunk!
Do you think books should reflect the diversity of communities and the country? Yes, absolutely! Here is another area where I feel frustration. How can a story be told, which is set in California or Texas, especially, and not include Hispanic/ Latino characters? Our differences make us unique, well-rounded communities.
What do you think makes for a compelling story? A true story. As authors of stories for present and future readers, we have an obligation to write books that truly reflect our families, our communities and our nation.
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