Category Archives: Blog

Powerful Words

I’m in a business where the power of words rests at the edge of my finger tips everyday. Journalists, true journalists, don’t take an oath to use the power for good. We are not doctors and don’t have to promise to first do no harm. Journalists are people and that ethical streak in most of us comes from just being a human being.

It’s odd, however, to think that journalists have to walk a fine line between being human beings and being truth seekers and history recorders. As being part of the latter, our basic human instincts have to be fettered — speaking out, writing out, giving opinions.

But in world where a journalist and a blogger mean almost the same thing, where is that line now drawn? Or do we want it rewritten or defined–what is a journalist? what is a blogger?

I’ve thought about that question more and more since the beginning of newspaper’s dark days. As of now, I am a journalist, a writer, with a blog. Does it make me a blogger? And if I am, do I now have the right of the non-journalist to say my piece? I still work in a newsroom after all.

I think regardless of the label, my words are still powerful. My words are part of the discussion of human beings in 2009. And when they study us, whoever they maybe, they’ll come upon my blog as a snapshot into a once primitive time when people once wrote on things called computers to up date things called blogs.

What shall we tell them? What shall I write? What should be my burden when it comes to representing a time and place for future generations to understand?

Here goes: We lived in 2009 where instability was the only stability. We’re relearning what it’s like to live but some of us are having a difficult time learning that lesson. We were reckless with ourselves at one time but we’re fighting to come back from the brink of chaos. We don’t know yet if we’ll be successful but we’re trying and that’s all we can do.

The dreams of the collective whole are varied but the goal is the same–happiness, stability, tranquility. We want to live blanketed by few worries and more glories. We will achieve that but until then, we watch our words because they are power. They make you believe. Give you hope in the middle of darkness. Allows you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Although some of us used words as weapons, there were some that used that power for good. Those people didn’t take oaths, or wear capes or tights. They didn’t live in comic books or in movies. They were mortals with great responsibilities. They were journalists and their words were more powerful than bullets, and brighter than a beacon.

They were here. They existed.

Wife vs Mistress


So that story I’ve been working on is done. Now, it’s in the hands of my writing colleagues. And then, I’ll post it here as the second serial on the blog.

I’m super excited about it and can’t wait for y’all to read it. I think what excites me the most is that doing serials like “The Last Single Girl”in the way Charles Dickens would do it if he had a blog.

Also, with the state of the publishing world now, it gives struggling writers like me a chance to show people what they can do and gain readers.

I don’t anticipate my story being on the blog before June 18th when Estevan Vega visits but it will for sure be after.

Stay tuned….

Tour Dates for "The Scared Sin" author, Estevan Vega

It’s better than a world tour… it’s a virtual blog tour.

Okay that was corny but try finding art for this post that you hadn’t used in the past 24 hours. It was difficult but I think I nailed it.

So, in case you didn’t know, this blog was choosen to be part of a virtual blog tour for author Estevan Vega, who wrote “The Scared Sin.” He’ll be here on June 18.

But he’ll also be making the rounds in other places. Here’s his tour schedule:

June 14
BronzeWord Latino Authors
http://authorslatino.com/wordpress

Eljumpingbean

June 15
Latinitas Magazine
http://www.latinitasmagazine.org/

June 16
The Art of Random Willynillyness.com
http://theartofrandomwillynillyness.blogspot.com/

Carol in Carolina

June 17
Caridad Pineiro
http://www.caridad.com/

June 19
Lara Rios

June 21
rafaelMarquez.me
http://www.rafaelmarquez.me/

June 24
Latino Pundit
http://http://www.latinopundit.com/

June 25
Queer Latino Musings on Literature
http://charlievazquez.wordpress.com/

June 26
Mama Latina Tips
http://http://www.mamalatinatips.com/

Book tour annoucement: Estevan Vega

Sorry guys, I’m not announcing MY book tour. We’re a couple of years and an actual published book away from that. But it’s coming, no worries.

This humble blog is going to be part of a Latino Blog tour from time to time. Our first visitor will be Estevan Vega, author of “The Scared Sin”.

He’ll be answering my “Ten plus One” questions. He’ll be here June 18. I’ll post his full tour dates in another post.

As a young boy, Estevan Vega never really felt interested in the written word. Far more fascinating things like comic book superheroes and sketching fantastical beings caught his eye. But in the fifth grade, writing short essays for a standoffish teacher ignited a fire that is still burning. Using his imaginative father as a springboard for ideas, Vega set out to write a full manuscript. His dream to become a published author came forth when he was just15 years old, releasing his first literary creation, Servant of the Realm,to the world, a story about a teenager who sees the future deaths of those he loves and tries to change it. “There is something therapeutic and natural about breathing life into the mundane, or finding escape through odd characters and strange concepts,” says Vega.

The Sacred Sin, his second book, was published when he was 18, and shows a darker edge and deeper intensity than his first effort. The Sacred Sin bleeds with honesty and emotion, and tells the story of Jude Foster, a cynical self-loathing detective,assigned to bring down a serial killer capable of stealing victim’s souls without ever touching them. Stopping this ghost killer, fighting against his demons, his inner darkness, may be the only path toward sanity and a new beginning. With a curiosity for the supernatural, as well as a feeling of discontentment with humanity’s complacency, Vega’s story-lines dwell somewhere in between fiction and reality, a place where the world is as blurred and irregular as human choice and consequence.

Vega resides in Connecticut, a small New England state most people forget about. Tate Publishing will release his latest creation ARSON in 2009.

To buy his book clck here:

The Writing Process from 5th grade, or maybe it was 3rd

I wanted to write about storyboarding for tonight’s entry since I’ve had some success with it. But while researching it, I came across this.
Remember this from elementary school? These are steps we were all taught about the writing process -prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing. They seemed simple enough, right? Four easy step to perfect prose.

Not so fast. It’s a bit more complicated than that.

Prewriting is what I like to call procrastination. That’s when the house gets vacuumed, or the dishes are washed. Hours of Psych episodes are watched and thoughts are tossed around like footballs inside my head.

After procrastination is, you guess it, MORE procrastination. More cleaning and cooking but this time there is some discussion with friends, some Internet research.

That is followed by drafting. Finally my computer is dusted off and words are tapped on its keys. I’ll write and write and … I’ll hate it.

Then I’ll walk away, start another project because a SUPER awesome idea just popped into my head and that’s what I want to do. So that idea goes through the procrastination phase until, my current story takes a twist. Like magic it’s done. Well more like shear dumb luck.

Revision consists of my reading it out loud to my cat who could care less that people are killing each other or sleeping with the mayor. She’s rather lick herself. But I don’t take it personally because her not licking herself means she’s walking away and at least this way I have her attention.

I’ll go through it again, sans cat, questioning whether things are believable or whether a character would react differently. Of course, they would have reacted the opposite of what I wrote, which means I’ll have to write that scene again. And that throws off the other scenes to, so guess what? I have to do a complete rewrite.

My editing phase is next and I read over it to catch the grammar mistakes because THERE ARE ALWAYS GRAMMAR MISTAKES. Is it in the right tense? Are there comma where there are suppose to be and not where they are NOT suppose to be. Pronouns match the nouns? Subject verb agreement?

And even after the several re-writes and the grammar check, it’s gotta go through the critique group. That’s almost like publishing but not really.
Dear Lord, that’s a whole other system. They’ll all read it then discuss it when it comes up in the rotation. A long distant phone call is involved and they tell me how much they love me but that my story needs work…lots more work.

So I take their suggestions, not all but some, and I fiddle with it again. But I have to go through the entire process again, procrastination, more procrastination, drafting, break, drafting, revision, doubt, lame grammar check and then another round with the group….

What I’m really trying to say is that the writing process is more than four steps and the American education system should stop lying to children.

Off to do more drafting…

Annual International Latino Book Awards Winners

From a friend. The outcome to the 11th Annual International Latino Book Awards.
Here’s what was sent:

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. The awards were presented during BookExpo America on May 28, 2009, at the Javits Center.

The Winners (Title – Author(s) – Publisher):

Category A – Children and Young Adult Books

Best Educational Children’s Book – English
The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía – Cholita Prints & Publishing Co.

Best Educational Children’s Book – Spanish
Quiero Ser Poeta – Rafael Garcia Jolly, José Carbonell Pla, Antonia Moreno, María D. Torres Bañuls – LetraRoja
2ND Place: El secreto del dorado – Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent – Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: Figúrate: Animales, Fantasía y Mundo – María Villegas y Jennie Kent – Villegas Asociados

Best Educational Children’s Book – Bilingual
Dealing With Insults – Qué Hacer con los Insultos – Marianne Johnson – Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras
2ND Place: Teo in Palo Verde – Adam Del Rio – Lectura Books
2ND Place: Ronaldinho – José María Obregón – Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras
Honorable Mention: Las Abejas – Katie Franks – Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras

Best Children’s Picture Book – English
Abuelos – Pat Mora – Groundwood Books
2ND Place: The Secret Legacy – Rigoberta Menchú – Groundwood Books
Honorable Mention: Kitchen Dance – Maurie J. Manning – Clarion Books

Best Children’s Picture Book – Spanish
Los Tres Reyes De Oriente – Lluis Farre – Bambú
2ND Place: El mejor mariachi del mundo – J. D. Smith – Raven Tree Press
Honorable Mention: Mira, Mira – Angels Navarro – Bambú

Best Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual
Rachel and the Lion – Stephanie Lainez – Story House Books
2ND Place: Colors! ¡Colores! – Jorge Luján – Groundwood Books
Honorable Mention: The Storyteller’s Candle – Lucia Gonzalez – Children’s Book Press

Best Young Adult Fiction – English
Dark Dude – Oscar Hijuelos – Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
2ND Place: Amor and Summer Secrets – Diana Rodriguez Wallach – Kensington Publishers
Honorable Mention: Mr. Clean and the Barrio – David Bueno-Hill – Urbano Books

Best Young Adult Fiction – Spanish or Bilingual
El Asunto Galindo – Fernando Lalana – Bambú
2ND Place: Odisea – Albert Jané – Combel Editorial, S. A
Honorable Mention: Carlito’s Story – Max Benavidez & Katherine Del Monte – Lectura Books
Honorable Mention: No sapiens – Ariel González – Libros en Red

Best Young Adult Nonfiction – English
The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy – Al Rivera – Author House

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – English
Soccer’s Story & A Futbol Fable – Gil Sperry – Amigo del Mar Press

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – Spanish or Bilingual
Go Milka Go! ¡Core, Milka, Corre! – Raquel Benatar – Renaissance House

Category B – Nonfiction

Best Arts Book – English
The Journey of Frederic Edwin Church – Through Colombia and Ecuador – Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaria –
Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Line: 7 Elements of Art – Jane Castillo – Crystal Productions
Honorable Mention: Yolanda M. Lopez – Karen Mary Davalos – Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)

Best Arts Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Manuel Hernández – Manuel Hernández – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Alicia Viteri: Memoria Digital – Alicia Viteri – Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: Herman the Jester and the ABC’s of Art – Rafael Filion – Author House

Best Biography – English
Crazy Loco Love – Victor Villaseñor – Arte Público Press
2ND Place: The Last Supper of Chicano Heroes – José Antonio Burciaga – University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Paths to Discovery – Norma E. Cantú – Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)
Honorable Mention: Take Me With You: A Memoir – Carlos Frias – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Biography – Spanish or Bilingual
Bolívar, Delirio y Epopeya – Víctor Paz – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Llorando en la Oscuridad – Pablo Chapoy – Ediciones Del Ermitaño
Honorable Mention: Yagruma: Amores Prohibidos en Epocas de Tirania – Francisco Calderon Vallejo – Conceptos Editoriales
Honorable Mention: Un Sueño Americano – Oscar de la Hoya – Rayo
Honorable Mention: De Ciertas Damas – Carlos Lleras Restrepo – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Business Book – Spanish or Bilingual
El Latino más rico en los Estados Unidos – Rubén Ruiz – Wealth and Millionaire Publishing
2ND Place: Hablidades Para el Trato Personal en los Negocios – Dr. Camilo Cruz – Taller Del Éxito

Best Gift Book – English
Colombia by Color – Benjamin Villegas – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Holywood – Se Hable Español – Rafael J. Rivera-Viruet & Max Resto – Terramax Entertainment Publishing

Best Gift Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Secreto: El Libro De La Gratutud (The Secret Gratitude Book) – Rhonda Byrne – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Quiero Ser Poeta – Rafael Garcia Jolly, José Carbonell Pla, Antonia Moreno, María D. Torres Bañuls – LetraRoja
2ND Place: Pardon My Spanglish ¡Porque Because! – Bill Santiago – Qwirk Books
Honorable Mention: Gringosincrasias – Emma Sepúlveda – Asterión

Best History/Political Book – English
No Greater Love: The Lives and Times of Hispanic Soldiers – Major General Freddie Valenzuela, with Jason Lemons – Ovation Books

Best History/Political Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Principio y Fin Delmito Fidelista – José Alvarez – Trafford Publishing
2ND Place: Alberto Lleras – Alberto Lleras – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Reference Book – English
A Simple Guide to U.S. Immigration and Citizenship – Luis Cortes – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Reference Book – Spanish or Bilingual
De Inmigrante a Ciudadano – Luis Cortes – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: El Latino más rico en los Estados Unidos – Rubén Ruiz – Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Cookbook – English
Latin Evolution – Jose Garces – Lake Isle Press, Inc.

Best Cookbook – Spanish or Bilingual
Larousse De Los Postres – Paulina Abascal – Ediciones Larousse
2ND Place: Y Hoy ¿Qué Les Doy? – Lourdes Al cñiz y Lourdes March = Grijalbo – Random House Mondadori
Honorable Mention: La Comida de Italia – Un viaje para los amantes de la cocina – María Villegas & Sophie Braimbridge –
Villegas Asociados

Best Health Book – English
The Art of Healing Latinos – David E. Hayes-Bautista & Roberto Chiprut – Chicano Studies Research Center Press (UCLA)

Best Health Book – Spanish or Bilingual
¡Mami, tengo hambre! – Jeamme Warren Lindsay, Jean Brunelli, Sally McCullough – Morning Glory Press
2ND Place: Y Hoy ¿Qué Les Doy? – Lourdes Al Cñiz y Lourdes March – Grijalbo – Random House Mondadori

Best Religious Book – English
Misa, Mesa y Musa Vol 2 – Kenneth G. Davis – World Library Publications
2ND Place: Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage: Unlocking the Secrets to Life, Love and Marriage – Mark Gungor – Atria Books

Best Religious Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Autobiografia de un Yogui (revised) – Paramahansa Yogananda – Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: Susurros de la Eternidad – Paramahansa Yogananda – Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Reconstruye Tu Vida: El Camino a la Felicidad Sin Limites – T.D. Jakes – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Self-help Book – English
The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy – Al Rivera – Author House
2ND Place: I Love You. Now What? Falling in Love is a Mystery. Keeping it Isn’t – Mabel Iam – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Family Activism: Empowering Your Community Beginning with Family and Friends – Roberto Vargas – Bennett-Koehler Publishers
Honorable Mention: The Latino’s Guide to Parenting – Suzanne Moreno – Ed-Ventures Publishing Co.

Best Self-help Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Triunfar en la Vida – Paramahansa Yogananda – Self-Realization Fellowship
2ND Place: ¿Se Habla Dinero? The Everyday Guide to Financial Success – Lynn Jimenez – John Wiley & Sons

Best Spiritual/New Age Book – Spanish or Bilingual
El Viaje – Siete pasos para diseñar y dusfrutar una vida con propósito – Lic. Rafael Ayala – Taller Del Éxito
2ND Place: Secreto: El Libro De La Gratutud (The Secret Gratitude Book) – Rhonda Byrne – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Autobiografia de un Yogui (revised) – Paramahansa Yogananda – Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: El Latino más rico en los Estados Unidos – Rubén Ruiz – Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Travel Book – English
Winter in Kandahar – Life in Afghanistan Before the Taliban – Ana M. Briongos – Trotamundas Press

Best Travel Book – Spanish or Bilingual
El Viaje de Frederic Edwin Church – por Colombia y Ecuador – Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaria – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Category C – fiction

Best Popular Fiction – English
Gunmetal Black – Daniel Serrano – Grand Central Publishing
2ND Place: Ghosts of El Grullo – Patricia Santana – University of New Mexico Press

Best Popular Fiction – Spanish or Bilingual
No sapiens – Ariel González – Libros en Red

Best Novel – Adventure or Drama – English
Brida – Paulo Coelho – Harper Collins
2ND Place: The Flowers – Dagoberto Gilb – Grove Press
Honorable Mention: If I Die In Juárez – Stella Pope Duarte – University of Arizona Press

Best Novel – Adventure or Drama – Spanish or Bilingual
Por La Vida De Mi Hermana (My Sister’s Keeper) – Jodi Picoult – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: El Infinita en la Palma De la Mano – Gioconda Belli – Rayo
Honorable Mention: Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas – Carmela Escobar – Libros en Red
Honorable Mention: Nada Importa – Alvaro Robledo – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Novel – Historical Fiction – English
Alejandro and the Fishermen of Tancay – Braulio Muñoz – University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Valfierno: The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa – Martin Caparros – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Novel – Mystery – English
The Case Runner – Carlos Cisneros – Arte Público Press
2ND Place: The Paris Enigma – Pablo de Santos – Harper Collins
Honorable Mention: Gunmetal Black – Daniel Serrano – Grand Central Publishing

Best Novel – Mystery – Spanish or Bilingual
Sangre en el desierto – Alicia Gaspar de Alba – Arte Público Press
2ND Place: Tácticas contra el tedio – Mauricio Bernal – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Novel – Romance – English
The Heartbreak Pill – Anjanette Delgado – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: More Than This – Margo Candela
Honorable Mention: Tarnished Beauty – Cecilia Samartin – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

Best Novel – Romance – Spanish or Bilingual
Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas – Carmela Escobar – Libros en Red

Best Graphic Novel – Spanish or Bilingual
Aleida x anos – Vladdo (Vladimar Flórez) – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: Ellos/Ellas – Silvia Vallejo – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Best Poetry Book – English
Half of the World in Light – Juan Felipe Herrera – University of Arizona Press
2ND Place: Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland – Latino Writers Collective – Scapegoat Press
Honorable Mention: The Buried Sea – Rane Arroyo – University of Arizona Press

Best Poetry Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Lugar de Origen – Place of Origin – Elena Lafert & Melina Draper – Oyster River Press
2ND Place: Susurros de la Eternidad – Paramahansa Yogananda – Self-Realization Fellowship
Honorable Mention: Secretos – Chuyin Rocha – Createspace

Category D – Design (Title – Illustrator/Designer(s) – Publisher):

Best Cover Design
Take Me With You: A Memoir – James Perales – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Alicia Viteri: Memoria Digital – Villegas Asociados S.A.
Honorable Mention: The Richest Latino in America – Rubén and Richard Ruiz – Wealth and Millionaire Publishing

Best Cover Illustration
El secreto del dorado – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía – Cholita Prints & Publiching Co.

Best Interior Design
Manuel Hernández – Villegas Asociados S.A.
2ND Place: The Song of the Coconut – Adalucía – Cholita Prints & Publiching Co.

Best Use of Photos
Colombia es Color – Villegas Asociados S.A.

Category E – Audio

Best Children’s Audio Book – Spanish or Bilingual
Animals at the farm/Animales de la granja – Gladys Rosa-Mendoza – Me + Mi Publishing
2ND Place: My Family and I/Mi familia y yo – Gladys Rosa-Mendoza – Me + Mi Publishing

Best Non-Fiction Audio Book – Spanish or Bilingual
La Ley de la Atracción – Dr. Camilo Cruz

Category F – The Mariposa Awards

Best First Book – English
Take Me With You: A Memoir – Carlos Frias – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
2ND Place: Reclaiming Paris – Fabiola Santiago – Atria Books/Simon & Schuster
Honorable Mention: The Seamstress – Frances de Pontes-Peebles – Harper Collins
Honorable Mention: Carnival of Memories – Yocasta Fareri – iUniverse

Best First Book – Spanish
Luna llena. Cabalgando sin riendas – Carmela Escobar – Libros en Red
2ND Place: Pardon My Spanglish ¡Porque Because! – Bill Santiago – Qwirk Books
Honorable Mention: Herman the Jester and the ABC’s of Art – Rafael Filion – Author House
Honorable Mention: Secretos – Chuyin Rocha – Createspace

In addition to these book awards, Latino Literacy Now also awards the Latino Literacy Now Lifetime Achievement Award for publishing excellence and, in association with noted actor, director and community activist Edward James Olmos, hosts the Latino Book & Family Festival series held annually in Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Houston, my muse.

Sometimes being a writer means learning to play the waiting game.
Now, I know some writers will say that it’s about discipline and that you have to train yourself to write under the pressure of a deadline. As a journalist at a newspaper, trust me, I get it. I’m constant under the 5 p.m. daily deadline.
But I also know that not everything I write is a jewel. Somedays it’s just slapping crap on a triscut and calling it caviar.

Thankfully, fiction writing isn’t like that. While I agree with writing experts who say write every day (totally needed) there is nothing better than when inspiration strikes.

That’s what happened this weekend. While I was home in Houston, inspiration for not one but TWO projects popped into my head.

One is for the conclusion of the short story on the murder mystery I’m working on. Remember? Wife and mistress team up to kill their guy? I figured out a nice twist and I’m considering submitting that one for publication. All that’s left is the same details, i.e. how to take a 250 pound body from a third floor apartment without people seeing. Hum. The devil is in the details, ain’t it?

Second idea popped into my head for a spec that I’m working on. I might not get it done for my July 1 deadline but I’ll get it done and ready for next year.

All this inspiration happened the first morning I woke up in Houston, in my mother’s house, in my sister’s old room. That’s my sweet spot. And one day, hopefully, I’ll be able to be in that sweet spot more often than once a month.

I heart Houston.

Powerful Latinaness

Okay, after my depression and Latinas post, I thought we (and by we I mean me) needed a pick me up.

So I am going to feature two Latinas who I admire for doing what they love to do and doing it well.
First up Selma Hayek.

Okay besides being INCREDIBLY beautiful. She’s smart. INCREDIBLY smart. Homegirl started VentenaRosa, a production company that has done several movies including Frida and an adaptation of No one Writes to the Colonel, from Garcia-Marquez. The company also produces a well known, primetime one hour dramady. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

Not only did she do that but she’s got another company, VentanaAzul, which is a partnership with MGM to produce more Latino themed work.

Let’s not forget that homegirl married rich and now has the most adorable daughter, Valentina.

I left a bunch of stuff out–working in novelas, awesome movies, etc, etc.

I’m becoming a fan of hers for her work toward making art that gives Latinos a voice in a town that would soon keep us in the shadows. Do your thing, mamita!

Next chica: Ruth Livier

You may recognize homegirl from Resurrection Blvd. Well ,now she’s doing her own thing, a web series called Ylse. “Think illegal and sexy.” EEEl-say.

Of course the story line is near and dear to my heart. Ylse is a young reporter working as an anchor to one the Spanish television shows — think El Gordo y La Flaca.

She’s idealistic and wants so very much to voice her own opinion but can’t. The show is about her journey of finding her voice, all while she’s channeling Oprah.

I saw the first episode on Generation N and loved it. I quickly did a Google search for more (and you know how good I am with my Google searches). I found episodes 2-6 on Youtube.

The series is brilliant and it gives me hope that our stories will be told. That we won’t be relegated to sex symbols, maids, or delinquents any more. Well, at least less so.

This web series has also inspired me to develop some ideas in my head. And y’all know I got ’em. I guess it’s that sense of empowerment that makes me flock to Ylse. We don’t need permission. Excuses no longer exist. We can create and rewrite our destinies as we see it.

Here’s the first Ylse webisode.