INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARDS

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. Due to the dramatic increase in recent years in nominations of literary works from Mexico, Central and South America and Spain, the title of the awards was changed to the International Latino Book Awards in 2006. The awards were presented during BookExpo America on May 29, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. These awards honor literary excellence in a variety of categories. Latino Literacy Now is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community.

Rueben Martinez hosted the standing-room only book release party for the Latino Writers & Journals book at Libreria Martinez. In addition to food, music, and literature we had a wonderful panel consisting of Frank Cruz, co-founder of Telemundo; Pat Mora, children's author of 30 books; Josefina Lopez screenwriter and playwright of Real Women Have Curves; Ana Nogales, PhD, author of Latina Power; Julio Moran, Executive Director of the Chicano News Media Association, Yasmin Davidds, author Empowering Latinas; Yvette Cabrera, President of Chicano News Media Association, and yours truly, Jamie Martinez Wood.
Over the two years I wrote the Latino Writers & Journalists book, I worried and fretted that I wasn't qualified enough to write this book. many of the other authors in the A-Z Latino American Series were PhDs or at least had their masters. With a little fear, but a lot more determination, I could interview the people, reach out to network executives, international best-selling authors, or Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, and ask them frank and honest questions. But did I know enough to assess their life's works and find where they influence the canons of World or Latino literature or fair representation of the Latino perspective in the news? Eventually after months and months of self-doubt I asked myself "Does a degree really mean that you understand any different or better what it means to be Latino in America?" Or doesn't living it every day count for understanding at least just a little? And the more I pay attention, and hear, rather than assess or judge, am I not better able to observe where the pieces fall into place? That's when the personal interviews played a major role. That's when I began to understand, that I was writing a phenomenal book, an award winning book.

QUICK FACTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARDS
Sponsor:
Latino Literacy Now
Venue:
The Latino Book and Family Festival
Book Expo of America - 2008
Los Angeles, California
Date:
May 29, 2008
Scope:
Literary works in English and Spanish from the U.S., Mexico, Central and South America and Spain

Notable previous winners:
Isabel Allende
Sandra Cisneros
Gloria Estefan
George Lopez
Sandra Rodriguez Barron
Jorge Ramos
Alicia Valdez Rodriguez
Victor Villaseñor