Authors Esmeralda Santiago, Andrés Neuman Among Several Latino Writers Making National Appearances

Esmeralda Santiago goes to Maine for the summer or at least her version of summer, April 1 to Oct. 1, when constructing the hardest chapters within her writing.

For her, that's the beginning and the end of the book. And this is particularly true when she's writing a memoir, which cannot be concluded with an abrupt death or convenient dismissal, unlike fiction. Instead, memoirs require beginnings and endings, including memories that are tailored but unadulterated. The memoir must coincide with the past actions of characters and the present day intentions of the writer.

Santiago explained this, and she discussed the long journeys that make an appearance in each of her books. Also, she addressed the importance of the writing process, the "necessity" of truthful writing, her humble opinion of herself as a "mid-list author who simply writes literary books" and the transformation of areas due to gentrification. She also discussed her new book, which is a nearly-finished sequel to her acclaimed work "Conquistadora." The new writing is a modern work of fiction that's based on the young descendants of the Conquistadora.

The New York Times writer Mireya Navarro facilitated the public interview with Santiago, which was hosted by Americas Society/ Council of the Americas. The event, titled "Esmeralda Santiago: A Writing Life," was her last reading/signing in New York City this year.

Downtown New York City, on the same evening, at the Center for Worker Education, Spanish-Argentine writer Andrés Neuman appeared at an event, "Reading and Conversation with Andres Neuman," where he read from multiple works, including "Traveller of the Century." With "Traveller of the Century," Neuman taught attendees that transacting can be an act of love, and love can be an act of translating. With humor and charm, listeners learned that explanative meaning, exact feeling and precise words are efforts inherent to translation and love, as it was with protagonists Sophie and Hans.

Neuman also raised the question, "Is there more love in staying or leaving?" That is a question that draws on the habits and experiences of two of the novel's characters: a young traveler and an older street musician, who carry out a dialogue at the end of the novel about their opposite knowledge. One man thought of love as a journey, saying that love is a place that you want to return to. The other man argued that love is harmony and wanting to never leave a place.

While it's unfortunate that Latino lit lovers were made to choose between the two events on the evening of Nov. 12, what's apparent is Latino writers are becoming more visible and essential in this nation.

At the Miami Book Fair International, which will take place Nov. 16-23, the event will welcome Cecilia M. Fernandez, Daisy Hernández, Natalia Sylvester and Anjanette Delgado and countless other Latino and non-Latino authors.

La Casa Azul Bookstore in El Barrio, New York, will welcome Chicano poets Rigoberto González ("Unpeopled Eden") and Laurie Ann Guerrero ("A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying") on Nov. 15, 6- 8 p.m. The two will be reading together for the first time and share their most recent collections. Giselle Blondet ("Tengo 50 ¿Y Qué?") will appear at the bookstore on Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. Also, Iris Morales ("La Luchadora"), Jake Perez ("Chocolate Maker's Apprentice"), Vicki Grise ("blu") and Michelle Herrera-Mulligan ("Juicy Mangos") will be present on Nov. 29 for Small Business Saturday.

Las Comadres Para Las Americas, an institution of Latinas engaged in dialogues about education, employment, culture and resources, hosts monthly teleconferences. November's Conversations with Las Comadres Teleconference will feature Carlos Harrison, author of "The Ghosts of Hero Street," and Cristina Henríquez author of "The Book of Unknown Americans," or "El Libro de los Americanos Desconocidos," on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Also, author Junot Diaz was in Worcester, Massachusetts Friday (Nov. 14) at Quinsigamond Community College. Julia Alvarez will appear at the Ed Everts Social Justice Activist Award Event, hosted by Peace & Justice Center, on Nov. 15, and she will appear at the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education in Lincroft, New Jersey, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 25. And Jose-Luis Orozco will make a public appearance in late December.

If you know of any other public appearances of Latino or Hispanic authors, please share in the comment section.