What is Latinidad®? A free e-zine designed to help Latino writers get published; it was chosen as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine and as Best Writer’s Resource by the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Poll. The most recent issue is below.
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Latinidad® – October 2008: Johanna Castillo
Contents:
1. Saludos
2. Q&A: Johanna Castillo
3. Upcoming Workshops: Wisconsin Book Festival
4. Writing Opportunities: $50,000 Gift of Freedom Award
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BEFORE YOU SEND IT OUT
“As a writer of fiction and for theater, I had the opportunity a few years ago, with the award of a Pen USA West Emerging Voices Rosenthal Fellowship, to work on my first book. I thought I had written a novel of interrelated short stories. I shared it with friends trusting they would give honest feedback, which they did. I participated in writing groups and finally felt somewhat ready to submit it for publication. Although offered a few ‘almosts’ to publish, in the end, I got many rejections.
I made the decision to find a professional editor, someone whose special skills include a sensibility toward the culture and language represented in my writing, work that sometimes mingles English with Spanish. I was introduced to Marcela Landres. I found that, with her wealth of editing experience, she was the person for my work. She returned my manuscript edited to the last detail. She refers to her work as sculpting. Although I had sculpted a piece of art, she took away the excess clay, freeing me as an artist to use the remaining clay to create a new sculpture, to rework and recreate my art.
In addition to her editing skills, Marcela Landres offers many excellent suggestions about how to nurture one’s writing career. Part of the contract includes a sixty-minute phone call I found both enjoyable and productive. I am very satisfied with her work on my book and am reworking it based on her detailed suggestions. It is easy to implement her feedback. She was able to bring forward each story as unique, while still linking them nicely together. Her patient, detailed editing was just what I needed. I recommend Marcela Landres for writers ready for a professionally critical eye.”
--Carolina Rivera, author of “Stories From America's Backyard”
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1. Saludos
Johanna Castillo joined Simon & Schuster in 2005 and has been instrumental in building a formidable Latino publishing program. Johanna is one of those rare commodities that the book business sorely needs: an astute businessperson who is also a staunch bibliophile. Hailing from Ecuador, she brings a much-needed international perspective to an industry that is not receptive enough to talent beyond our borders. To learn more, including how to submit your work to Johanna, read this month’s Q&A.
Helping Latino writers get published,
Marcela Landres
2. Q&A
Johanna is a native Latina from Ecuador. She is a Senior Editor at Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, developing a list of authors for the Latino-Hispanic market. Johanna specializes in bringing the Latino culture together and representing the voices of all those Latinos who have a success story to share. Her passion for this area of the market originates from her firm belief in the great impact Latinos have on the U.S. Atria books launched the line with Laura Esquivel’s novel Malinche and The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra, which became an instant New York Times bestseller.
Prior to joining Atria Books she was a literary agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc. where she developed a list of Latino clients. Johanna is a graduate from The City University of New York, Baruch College. She is interested in publishing Latino literary fiction and commercial fiction in both Spanish and English.
Why is Atria a great home for Latino writers?
One of Atria’s goals is to create an environment where our authors can flourish. We also publish our Latino authors under the same umbrella as all of our other authors because we believe that Latino voices should be read by everyone. We are very dedicated to our authors and always look at their long term writing careers. But what makes Atria even more special is that we are committed to transmitting messages from national and international voices that will entertain and also enlighten the lives of our readers by celebrating different cultures.
Which Latino authors have you published?
Laura Esquivel, Javier Sierra, Fabiola Santiago, Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Anjanette Delgado and many other wonderful Latino writers.
What kinds of manuscripts do you seek?
In fiction, I am interested in historical fiction and smart commercial women’s fiction. In non-fiction, I’m seeking self-help and inspirational memoirs.
How can writers avoid your “Reject” pile and get into your “Pursue” pile?
I used to be an agent and a great pitch letter and a well-done proposal always makes me want to read the entire manuscript. When I receive fiction under submission it really helps if the manuscript comes with praise from a well-known author. My best advice, though, is to make sure that the manuscript is in perfect shape before it’s submitted to publishers. The writer should also try to get feedback about their manuscript from other writers, or participate in a writing class where the other attendees will critique their manuscript.
Other than honing their craft, what is the smartest step writers can take to become successfully published?
Networking is a key factor. They should try to meet other writers, blog, have a great website. If the person writes fiction, he or she should try to write a short story and submit it to different publications. If he or she is writing non-fiction, it’s important to have an established media platform before submitting the proposal. I strongly suggest taking a writing class. Most of the time, the instructors are editors or know editors. I have received recommendations from instructors about new writers.
To what address should authors forward queries to you?
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor
NY, NY 10020
Attention: Johanna Castillo
3. Workshops
WHAT: Agents, Publishers, and Editors Panel
Writers trying to break into the publishing world get tips from Marcela Landres, a former editor at Simon & Schuster who is looking for the next great Latin writer, Marlene Connor Lynch, Nichole Shields and Deborah Coker from Conner Literary Agency in Minnesota, and J.L. Powers and Ken Waldman from Catalyst Book Press in California. This will include a pitching session before the presentation and breakout small groups afterwards.
WHEN: 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday, October 18th
WHERE: Wisconsin Book Festival, Harambee South Madison Health and Family Center, 2300 South Park, Madison, WI
Invite me to speak for your organization: Request a Workshop
List of upcoming appearances: Workshops
4. Resources
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HOW EDITORS THINK
"I read How Editors Think in one sitting and was engaged from beginning to end. It is well written, highly informative, and humorous—I found myself laughing out-loud in a few spots! Thanks for sharing the secrets of the trade."—Mayra Lazara Dole, author of Down to the Bone
Inspired by my experience as a former Simon & Schuster editor, How Editors Think: The Real Reason They Rejected You reveals what it really takes to get published. For more information, visit E-book.
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$50,000 Gift of Freedom Award
Deadline: October 31
A Room Of Her Own Foundation is dedicated to helping women artists achieve the privacy and financial support necessary to pursue art. They are currently accepting applications for their Gift of Freedom Grant in poetry, playwriting, creative nonfiction, and fiction. For more information, visit
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PHONE-IN PUBLICITY SEMINARS
Date: October 26
Publicity expert Bella Stander offers seminars which includes: the lowdown on promoting your book like a pro; Q&A session; individual 15-minute follow-up consultation; and $25 discount on first hour of additional consulting. For more information, visit http://www.bookpromotion101.com/
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MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD
Deadline: October 31
Lee & Low Books, award-winning publisher of children’s books, offers the New Voices Award for a children’s fiction or nonfiction picture book story by a writer of color. For more information, visit
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$60,000 HODDER FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline: November 1
Princeton University offers fellowships to writers of exceptional promise to support independent projects. Fellows are poets, novelists, creative nonfiction writers, and translators. For more information, visit http://www.princeton.edu/arts/fellows
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$10,000 TEEN WRITING AWARD
Deadline: Varies from state to state; the earliest is November 3
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards offers students in grades 7 - 12 several levels of recognition, including $10,000 scholarships for Portfolio Gold Medalists. For more information, visit http://www.artandwriting.org/
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WRITER’S DIGEST POPULAR FICTION AWARDS
Deadline: November 3
Seeking fiction in the categories of romance, mystery/crime, sci-fi/fantasy, thriller/suspense, and horror. For more information, visit http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/
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HOWARD NEMEROV SONNET AWARD
Deadline: November 15
The Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award offers $1000 and publication in Measure: An Annual Review of Formal Poetry for a single sonnet. For more information, visit http://theformalist.evansville.edu/
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DELACORTE PRESS CONTEST FOR A FIRST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Deadline: December 31
A book contract is awarded annually to encourage the writing of contemporary young adult fiction. For more information, visit http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/games/delacorte.html
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BESTSELLING NIKKI TURNER SEEKS SUBMISSIONS
Nikki Turner, author of Black Widow and A Hustler’s Wife, is seeking short stories and full-length manuscripts for her Nikki Turner Presents series. For more information, visit http://www.nikkiturner.com/
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AUDIO ISSUE OF BELTWAY POETRY QUARTERLY
Beltway Poetry’s first all-audio issue includes collaborations between poets and musicians, recordings produced over layers of sound, and “naked” tracks of poets with distinctive voices. Contributors include Regie Cabico, Hilary Tham, and Joel Dias-Porter. To listen, visit http://www.beltwaypoetry.com
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NOMINATE WWW.MARCELALANDRES.COM
If you like my web site, please nominate it for next year's Writer's Digest Magazine's "The 101 Best Web Sites for Writers" list. Send nominations to writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Best Web Sites" as the subject line and a brief note explaining how http://www.marcelalandres.com/ has helped you. Thank you in advance for your support!
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SPREAD THE WORD
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REPRINTS
You are welcome to reprint portions of Latinidad®; please credit Latinidad® and include a link to http://www.marcelalandres.com/.
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MORE ABOUT LATINIDAD®
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“The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel.”—Piet Mondrian
Latinidad® © 2003 by Marcela Landres
