Diana López
Author of CONFETTI GIRL
Fall Events
Fall semester began with the ABR (American Book Review) Reading Series at the University of Houston in Victoria, where I am now teaching. I shared how my father’s fishing advice and my mother's sewing lessons helped me become a writer. After all, writing, like fishing and sewing, takes patience, attention to the environment, and imagination. The UHV audience had excellent questions, and having my students there was a special treat. In the evening, I visited young readers at Trinity Lutheran Church. A special thanks to Jeffrey DiLeo, Charles Alcorn, and Thomas Williams.
In November, I was the keynote speaker at the South Texas Writing Project Conference at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Professors Bernice Sanchez and Daniela Rodriguez did a fantastic job of organizing this event. Over 100 teachers and education majors attended. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the weekend with people committed to teaching our young people. I also had the privilege of visiting students at Cigarroa Middle School.
Thanking Readers
Every week, I get emails or letters from readers. Thank you so much for your encouragement. It’s been a wonderful pleasure to learn that both young people and adults are enjoying CONFETTI GIRL and that often mothers and daughters are reading it together. Here are some pics. Ashley and Christina from Garden City invented a CONFETTI GIRL game. As you know, I love board games, so I was thrilled to hear about their project. Also included are pics from a Chicas Book Club meeting. The members, Citlalli, Olivia, Katia, Magali, and Daniela, made beautiful cascarones. Thanks Ms. Mackenzie for hosting the club.
National Latino Writers Conference
I had the pleasure of being on the faculty for the 8th annual National Latino Writers Conference in Albuquerque. I hosted two workshops: one for writers interested in young adult fiction and another, along with my agent Stefanie Von Borstel, for writers who wanted a critique of their pitch. I even had time to attend the screenwriting workshop conducted by Marilyn Atlas. The best part of the conference was listening to all the Latino voices during the open-mike readings and visiting with the participants and with fellow writers like Lucha Corpi, Lydia Gil, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and Luis Alberto Urrea. As you can see from the pics below, even La Muerte loves CONFETTI GIRL.
Ben Bolt
April Showers
Yes, it showered rain, flowers, and books this month! April began with a visit to Orange Grove. What a beautiful drive with a Texan landscape full of bluebonnets, Mexican hats, and Indian paintbrush. The colorful day continued at Orange Grove high school where I saw lots of feet covered in stripes, polka dots, and swirls. Thanks to Georgia Witt for organizing the event and donating a book to everyone who wore crazy socks.
I also touched base with students at the Young Authors Conference sponsored by the Edgewood School District. I joined YA author, Diane Gonzalez Bertrand, as we conducted creative writing workshops. Diane focused on setting while I focused on creating memorable characters. One girl, for example, created an underwater palace that is revealed during low tide, the only time her heroine can walk upon dry land. I hope she finishes her story because it sounds intriguing. Lucky for me, this year’s TLA Conference was in San Antonio. I joined local authors and members of the SHLW (Society of Hispanic and Latino Writers) at Paloma Blanca for dinner with Sarah Cortez – editor, poet, and cop. To learn more about her, visit her website. Before my signing at the conference, I visited my dear author friends, Lupe Ruiz-Flores and Maritha Burmeister whose children’s book, The Twelve Dog Days of Christmas in New York City has just been released. Then it was time to sign books! Thanks to all the librarians and students who came by, and a special thanks to my editor Connie Hsu and agent Stefanie von Borstel for a wonderful lunch at Azuca.
March Madness!
My March festivities began on the 5th-6th in Rockdale for the Tejas Art and Book Festival. On Friday, I visited 6th graders at Rockdale Junior High. They were a wonderful group with lots of insightful questions. The next day, I went to the library for the Book Festival. For me, the highlight was meeting young readers and listening to the Matinee Music Club perform songs about literature and reading.
On March 13, I read at Luminaria, an arts-enriched block party held in downtown San Antonio each year. I joined the charming and talented Nepthalí de Leon in Maverick Plaza where we read right next to the Fish Taco Booth. Yes, where else can you eat fish tacos and hear me read? I want to give a special acknowledgment to Nepthalí who completely mesmerized the children with his paintings and stories.
On March 23-24, I went to the valley for the Reading Rock Stars program sponsored by the Texas Book Festival and UT Pan American. Thanks to Clay Smith and Blair Newberry for organizing a wonderful event. I met children’s authors Mac Barnett and José Lozano, and touched base with my dear writer friends René Saldaña and René Colato Laínez.
