Greetings!

We are pleased to return to you again and hope this issue finds you in good health. We hope you are finding ways to celebrate Puerto Rican heritage month with all the events and activities throughout our nation celebrating our Puerto Rican pride.

We want to gently remind you that you can help us promote Puerto Rican authors by doing the following:

• Purchasing books written by Puerto Rican Authors
• Telling your friends about those wonderful reads
• Frequenting bookstores and ask for the books so they know that our work is worth purchasing
• Sharing this newsletter to all your friends and family. The more people that read about our featured author the more success that author and the rest of us can experience.
• Please visit us at the Comite Noviembre/PRIDA Book Expo which is being held this year on November 17, 2018 at Hostos Community College in the Bronx.
• Keep informed, share your news and find out about contests and opportunities by joining our PRIDA Book Club group on Facebook.

  THERESA VARELA
IS THIS ISSUE’S:

Saludos!

This issue’s Boricua Author Everyone Should Read is Theresa Varela! A brooklynite through and through, Theresa proudly claims her diasporic roots with her mother’s family in Santurce and her father’s side from Aguada.

We met Theresa at her home in Brooklyn, NY, where she graciously treated us to a meal of mofongo con camarones followed by flan and coffee.

During brunch at the beautiful home she shares with her spouse Patricia and their two pooches, Ginger and Chutney, she told us she is proud to be from Brooklyn and she ensures that this pride shows through in her characters. Having grown up in pre-gentrified Park Slope, she is grateful to be back after a short stint in Flatbush.

Theresa is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by profession and a dedicated writer by passion. She currently holds the position of psychiatric nurse practitioner at a shelter for women with severe mental illness. She has grown to love the community, which is made up of a vulnerable population.

In entering her writing life, which began in the mid 2000s, Theresa credits a non-traditional professor who encouraged her during her doctoral process at New York University to lighten the academic load by writing poetry and playlets. Her writing process also involves practicing needlepoint and cross-stitching to get her creative juices flowing. She told us that while some women of her generation were fortunate to find a place as artists early in life, her family had a strong idea that a career such as nursing would ensure the steady income that a creative life did not guarantee.

Her writing is also flamed by her practices in the Orisha religion of Lucumi, as she is an initiated daughter of Yemayá. As such, she writes because her aché is the power of words, dreamt, spoken, or written. She honors her spiritual guardians by using this wondrous gift in whatever way they deem that she should. She explains that each of us has a particular aché and it’s up to us to use it. She told us that she can just imagine her Yemayá saying, My molasses child, I gave you this gift and it’s gathering dust on that shelf. That won’t do!  She is aware of what she has received from her orishas and intends to use those gifts in every moment of her journey.

Theresa focuses on mystery and poetry and is published by her own press, Pollen Press Publishing. She started her own press company when she realized that only a small percentage of Latino(a) authors are accepted into the big publishing houses. It was her own experience of having agents and companies sit on her work for long periods of time that inspired her to take the leap into publishing.

Theresa was initially published by a small independent press. However, the relationship didn’t work out as expected and she decided to take her future into her own hands by starting her own press. Hence, Pollen Press Publishing was born where she employs the services of professional editors, translators, illustrators and cover book designers to provide her readers with a book that bears the quality of a book published by a major publishing house.

Theresa has published a number of titles, the first one being Covering the Sun with MyHand which won second place for best new writer in 2015 at the International Latino Book Awards. It tells the story of a woman going against the norms of family tradition, expectations, and culture while managing the effects of her twin brother’s mental illness. Her second novel, a first of a series named, Nights of Indigo Blue: A Daisy Muñiz Mystery, won first place Best Mystery at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards and is a story of a young woman suddenly thrown into a mysterious murder case as she attempts to begin a life in Park Slope. Secrets are revealed and the woman is forced to become the unwitting ally to law enforcement as they investigate the murder. Her third book Answered by Silence: a collection of poems is a memoir written in poems that narrates her eleven year old self as she grieved the loss of her older sister.

Theresa has an online presence. You will find her at www.theresavarela.com, where she contributes frequently to LatinaLibations, a blog on writing and all things of the Spirit, on Instagram and Tumblr as LatinaLibations, on Facebook as Theresa Varela or Author Theresa Varela, and Twitter as Theresa_Varela. Her books are available through Amazon.com or through her website. She encourages you to purchase the books through her website because she can sign and personalize copies for you. Her book Covering the Sun with My Hand can be found at the bookstore Bluestockings on the lower East Side of Manhattan.

Theresa is inspired by the spirits and when she hears a story she is compelled to start writing what comes to her even if it means writing on  napkins, her smartphone and whatever she has handy. She is writing the story as if she was reading it, and waits for characters to tell her where to go, giving them the autonomy to choose how they want to be portrayed.

Currently, our Boricua author is working on two long term projects. The first, Graciella la Gitana Oracle/ Oráculo de Graciella la Gitana is a fifty-six card oracle, that will be available in both Spanish and English. This is work she received from one of her spirit guides, Graciella. The oracle will serve as a portal for discovering hidden paths, developing intuitive skills, and learning to love from deep within. She has been creating this wonderful project for roughly fifteen years and it’s a family affair with her daughter, Mara Alicia Cordova, as illustrator and her spouse Patricia, as cover designer. The accompanying booklet is translated into Spanish with Orlando Ferrand, artist, writer, and poet accomplishing the translations in lyrical form just as her original work was completed.

The second project, a novel titled Coney Island Siren, was written as inspired by her encounters with women who have endured horrific incidents of domestic violence. In the novel, Maggie Fuentes,the protagonist discovers a nineteenth century journal during an afternoon excursion at a Coney Island flea market and soon faces having to change her fate before she is no longer able to differentiate between the grim layers of reality. Look out for the release of this wonderful story by June of 2019.

Although she was unable to narrow the choice to one favorite author among the masters, Sandra Cisneros, Piri Thomas, Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, and Ernesto Quiñones, she gives credit Sandra Cisneros as her main influence for Sandra’s sincerity and simplicity. It was the clarity of Cisneros’ writing that  immediately captured Theresa, symbolically a gift given to her by her spouse Patricia so many years ago, House on Mango Street, causing her to discover the true power of words.

As usual, we always ask our interviewees why they joined PRIDA and why should other writers become members of PRIDA?

She emphasized the importance of celebrating, promoting and supporting the Puerto Rican artist. Additionally, membership also helps an organization like PRIDA maintain a presence to facilitate advocacy for its members and to promote Puerto Rican art and artists. She articulated a difficulty in defining herself as an artist, a common notion among other writers we meet at PRIDA, but she reminds herself that writing is art. It is created, nourished, and cared for by the creator, the artist.

At PRIDA, an organization that promotes Puerto Rican artists members get to know each other and applaud each other’s accomplishments. We receive and give intergenerational mentorship that is far more valuable than the yearly fee which gives the artist a chance to give back to the artists and art lover community.

Here at PRIDA we enjoyed interviewing and getting to know Theresa Varela. We encourage you to support her and other Puerto Rican authors by reading their work, sharing reviews and recommendations, and gifting their work to others. Your support will help our entire community.

• Comite Noviembre’s  Puerto Rican Author’s Book Expo is this Sunday!

Be sure to join us on November 17, 2018 at Hostos Community College for our annual Artisan Fair and Book Expo. This year marks the 13th year of the fair which is a gathering of over 60 artisans and over 35 authors all in one roof. Don’t miss it! If you are a writer and want to participate go to our website and visit the link for the application.

• Felix Rojas is leading the charge in Puerto Rico facilitating workshops on the island to help school aged children narrate their stories in the project Escritoriquenos. He is boots on the ground conducting several workshops for the children Javier Cruz Winnick has started a kickstarter campaign to help him fund the publishing of his third book. Visit: kickstarter fund for the next installment of A Reason to Smile by Javier .  Javier Cruz Winnik is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel series titled A Reason to Smile. This is a wonderful series about a Puerto Rican girl from NYC who uses her creativity and imagination to help people find the bright side of life. The series has sold over 2,300 copies and continues to be a success at the yearly book expo.
• Dahlma Figueroa: was hosted at KRVC Club, 505 W. 236^th St. Bronx, NY 10471 7pm on Oct 18^th.. She read excerpts of her work to a welcoming audience.
• Yari Pares, A.K.A. Porta Rock, is celebrating the recent publication of his poetry book, From in Between the Bricks I rise: Reflections from a Porta Rock. He lunched the book to good reviews and attention. He had a book signing event at the Newark Public Library and was supported by local city officials. insert pics from event. In addition, he was recognized recenlty as an Invited poet during the 57th Annual Newark Puerto Rican Day Parade Flag Raising ceremony at Newark City Hall, where he received two certificates from the Newark Municipal Council recognizing and commending him as the Puerto Rican Poet of the Year and received a Senate Citation commending and praising him for his comittment to public service. Look for him at the Expo!
• Congratulations to Mia Roma and Milteri Tucker on the publication of Bomba Puertorriquena. The book will be featured at this year’s book expo!
  

David Nieves featured a reading on his new play Sweet Land. Thursday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Teatro LaTea Clemente Cultural Center at 107 Suffolk Street, Suite. 203, New York, NY.

• 
  
• Seeking Writing Submissions: Alberto O. Cappas is seeking submissions from our community for the monthly issue of The Latino Village, a Puerto Rican/Latino publication in Buffalo, NY. This publication is friendly to poets and writers. Will also consider book reviews to publish. Keep submissions to the limit of 425 words. The publication will compensate you with two copies of the issue where your work appears. To submit you may send an email to: latinovillage1@gmail.com. 
• So You Want to be Published? Looking for opportunities to submit your writing for consideration? Visit Poets and Writers Magazine for links to hundreds of literary magazines and contests.  https://www.pw.org/literary_magazines
• Join an ALREADY THRIVING writing community in the BRONX! Visit http://www.bronxarts.org/bwc_events.asp You will find connections to a great organization that provided FREE writing workshops. Writing is a lonely endeavor so why not find other writers to mingle with and bounce ideas around with?
• Want to help Puerto Rico? Send a copy of your book or purchase a fellow Puerto Rican Author’s book and send to any of the Bibliotecas listed on for public libraries in Puerto Rico. Include a card or a card with an uplifting message. http://www.everylibrary.com/PR.ht

We encourage you to get these titles this month. Don’t forget to email ygtbooks@gmail.com with feedback and we will publish your thoughts in our next newsletter.

The Shameless Shenanigans of Mister Malo, by Alidis Vicente, (2017)

$9.95 on Amazon

During the school day, Lance García looks like a typical fourth-grader at Oakland Elementary School. But after school, dressed in disguise black jacket, black baseball cap and dark, cool sunglasses with tiny, rectangular mirrors so he can see who’s behind him he checks the mailbox labeled Malo Mail. No one realizes that he is the infamous Mister Malo, righter of wrongs, punisher of bullies…

Sabrosuras Boricuas, by Eris Garriga, (2018)

$35.00 plus $6.50 shipping on Amazon

Eris did it again. She brings us a beautifully put together Boricua cookbook with images that will make your mouth water but better yet, the recipes needed to recreate her culinary greatness in the comfort of your home. Cook with Eris today!

The Story of How Wildcats and Wolves Became Cats and Dogs, by Melissa Emalia Medina (2018)

$9.99 on Amazon.

During the school day, Lance García looks like a typical fourth-grader at Oakland Elementary School. But after school, dressed in disguise black jacket, black baseball cap and dark, cool sunglasses with tiny, rectangular mirrors so he can see who’s behind him he checks the mailbox labeled Malo Mail. No one realizes that he is the infamous Mister Malo, righter of wrongs, punisher of bullies.

Introduce your little one to the fascinating relationship between Canines and Felines of all walks of life and how the tiny friends we keep near us are actually related to the wild creatures we admire from a distance. This is Melissa’s first publication.

Don’t be shy! We want to celebrate you. Hey there PRIDA Authors! Did you publish something new? Did you recently receive an award? Are you going to a book fair? Do you know of a writing fellowship or grant application you want to share with the rest of the Puerto Rican writing community? Do you know of a writing competition or a submission deadline? Do you possess any other golden nugget of information that could help a fellow writer? Share with us so the blessing can be sent back to you tenfold. Send an email to: PRIDA member Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor at ygtbooks@gmail.com and we will publish your news.