I'm on deadline and falling behind AND I'm starting a new story that will be a mystery (let the killing begin!). So if I blog again this week, it will either be the result of a miracle, or I'll be throwing myself on the sword of procrastination.
BUT first I have to share this with you. Lizz Wright is magical, haunting, sensuous, sublime ... I'm running out of adjectives here so you'll have to see for yourself.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Between the Pages with Misa Ramirez
The next time you look up the word persistence, Misa Ramirez's name should be listed in the definition. If you're complaining about having to do a third draft, pay attention to what happens when you're willing to do six years worth of rewriting.Please welcome, Misa Ramirez and her tough-talking and tough-walking heroine, Lola!
Chica Lit: What inspired the idea for Living La Vida Lola and how long did it go from manuscript to published novel?
Misa: It has taken six years, three agents, and about 1,000 revisions to bring the book to publication, but it made it, and Lola’s here to stay!I started writing it right after I had my fifth (and last) baby. We had just moved to the Sacramento area, I wasn’t teaching at the time, my husband was in a wheelchair from an Achilles Tendon injury, and I HAD to get out of the house! I started going to a local coffee shop with a friend and we’d do little writing prompts. During one of them, Lola came to me as a character. The more prompts we did, the more Lola and her family and background developed.
She came to me as a Latina, I think, because I wanted to write about someone like my own children. Someone who straddled the lines of being American, but who embodied and embraced her family’s culture at the same time. I want her to find her balance, her identity, and her true self over the course of the series. No small order for anyone!
And then there’s the romance element. Love makes it all worthwhile and I wanted Lola to find love. Or at least the hope of love. =)
Chica Lit: Did Lola pop out of your head complete, or did it take time for her to develop into a full-fledged character?
Misa: I knew immediately that Lola would be a PI since I wanted the book to be a mystery. And I knew that I wanted her family to be a big and important part of her life. I wanted to delve into the interpersonal relationships that might exist in a traditional Mexican family (like my husband’s) if one of the daughters wanted to be a private investigator and buck the expectations her parents had for her.
It took a long time for Lola to fully develop, but now that she has, I love her! She’s got her principles and morals and her goals. She’s a black belt in kung fun, loves yoga, and won’t let anything get in her way. But she’s got weaknesses, too. She’s soft and feminine, but tough. She describes herself as Xena, Warrior Princess, with an occasional Cinderella moment thrown in.
Chica Lit: How much research went into your book?
Misa: About 18 years worth!!!! All the time I’ve been married to my husband--observing, being part of, loving, and absorbing his culture. My biggest goal in writing Lola was to make her an authentic person. I never want to misrepresent myself as a Latina, and I always want to be true to the beauty of the culture and all that means based on my experiences as the wife of a Mexican American man. So, lots of research, but just from living!The mystery details of the book did require researching the process of becoming a PI, what the rules are, details about tattoos, particularly self-done tattoos, visiting the state Capitol and getting a private tour by my brother-in-law who works under the Treasurer. Things like that. All of it has been pretty fun.
Chica Lit: Do you like being a writer? What do you NOT like about being a writer?
Misa: I love being a writer, especially now that I’m not teaching anymore. I have dedicated time to write and it doesn’t encroach on time with my kids. At least not as much! I love that my kids, husband, and parents are so proud of me. I love that I’ve modeled the hard work and determination to pursue a dream, and I’ve reached my goal. I think that’s invaluable.
Things I don’t like about being a writer? Hmm. Probably the nervousness that I’m feeling over doing book signings! Writing is so solitary, and you live in your imagination so much, that to go out and speak about your books is daunting!
Chica Lit: When do we get the next Lola adventure?
Misa: The next book, tentatively titled Dead Girl Walking will be out a year from now. After that will be Bare Naked Ladies, the third book in the series. In it, Lola’s case takes her to a nudist resort. Yikes! I’ll tell you about the research for that one another time!
Get your copy of Misa Ramirez's book at your favorite independent, or at my store!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Power to Change Numbers
by Mary Castillo
The face of HIV and AIDS is not what most people think it is. White gay male has become black or
The Center for Disease Control reported that women ages 13 to 26 account for 80% of new HIV cases in the United States (64% of all women living with HIV/AIDS are African Americans while 19% are white and 15% are Latina). AIDS is the leading cause for death in African American women between the ages of 25 and 34 years old, beating out heart disease and breast cancer.
"I said, 'oh my god that would've been me,'" she recalled. "I could've been a statistic."
Determined to save the lives of these young women, Ravera organized and launched Project Reina, a 501c3 organization dedicated to reaching out with the message that they deserve to be cherished and adored. She has gathered her fellow actors Sydney Tamia Poitier (Knight Rider), Dania Ramirez (Heroes), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Teresa Randall (Randle and Girl 6), Lisa Vidal (Third Watch), and Angel Moore (ER) and made them Hermanas (sisters) in her cause.
[Editorial note: The author of this article is also a Project Reina hermana.]
"We function as big sisters giving young women information about life and sharing our experiences when we were their age," she said. "It's not just about AIDS prevention; it's an acknowledgement that life is a gift and it's your responsibility to do something with it."
THE GAP
Getting the information to these girls is one of the biggest obstacles according to Dr. Rosa Solorio, assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
"There's really a strong need for culturally specific interventions," she said. "Latinas are just as likely to use family planning services as white girls but after they have been pregnant. This is a bigger issue than preventing pregnancy and these girls need a lot of education."
Solorio pointed out that the major factors contributing to the female HIV epidemic are poverty (one in five Latinas and one of four African American women live in poverty), limited access to health care, substance abuse and high-risk sexual choices.
"We hear people say, 'why can't they just use condoms?'," Solorio said. "Its much easier said than done."
Many of the patients Solorio has seen are in relationships where the power difference tips in favor of the man, leaving women uncomfortable or afraid to require their partners to be tested and wear condoms.
But Ravera sees this fear akin to toying with death when 80% of female HIV patients contracted the virus from a high-risk heterosexual partner.
"When I was growing up the worst thing you could deal with was the shame," she said. "Now you could die having sex with the wrong guy."
THE BRIDGE
Ravera's vision for Project Reina is to be the bridge between the medical community and adolescent girls. In her experience in talking with young teens, many have heard their teachers or counselors talk to them about HIV and AIDS. But it’s the classic case of in one ear and out the other.
But by leveraging her celebrity to speak to these girls in a language they can understand and in a way that doesn't patronize or instill fear in them, Ravera hopes that they will make decisions that will protect and cherish their bodies and their lives.
"We're not male bashing and we're not putting anybody down," Ravera said. "The reason why we're giving information to these young girls is that they can lead us to the end of the AIDS pandemic."
Friday, January 09, 2009
New Years Blog Tour
IMAGE: Cartoon children with champagne bottles from Art.comThank you everyone who has stopped by to read my story about La Cholita. I'll respond to all the comments later today but I wanted you to know that they are all appreciated.
If you enjoy reading about up-and-coming Latinas - and this is for you, Betty M! - check out this month's issue of Latino Future magazine. You'll meet Jacqueline Pinol and Ruth Livier and get the skinny on the most feared blogger in Hollywood, Perez Hilton. (Personally, I love him!)
And don't forget that we're in the midst of a New Years Blog Tour and here are the authors sharing original shorts, essays and prizes every day till January 11th.
Jan 1 - Misa Ramirez
Jan 2 - Jamie Martinez Wood
Jan 3 - Lara Rios w/a Julia Amante
Jan 4 - Berta Platas
Jan 5 - Mary Castillo
Jan 6 - Alisa Valdes Rodriguez
Jan 7 - Margo Candela
Jan 8 - Caridad Ferrer
TODAY - Jan 9 - Gabriella Hewitt
Jan 10 - L.M. Gonzalez
Jan 11 - Tracy Montoya
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