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Showing posts with label Awards Press and Testimonials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Awards Press and Testimonials. Show all posts
BOOK CHIC CLUB
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Author Interview- Jamie Martinez Wood
1) How did you get the idea for Rogelia's House of Magic?
Since I've got four books on earth magic (two directed for teens) and two books on Latino culture, the editor came to me asking if I could write a book about Latinas, teens, and magic. I had the basic structure, and beyond that I knew there had to be a mentor. As a practicing Wiccan, mentors have been key in my magical and spiritual life. Magic is actually much more complex than memorizing some chant or finding rare herbs or incense for a potion. It's a matter of recognizing patterns, reading symbols, and above all a deep connection with nature. The mentor, in this case, Rogelia, a curandera (spiritual healer,) would guide Fern, Marina, and Xochitl, the characters in the book. I also wanted to show the different subcultures within Latino heritage. Lastly I wanted the book to be based in Orange County, California, because I've lived here all my life and have such a love-hate relationship with the place, it's perfect for novels.
2) This is your seventh book, but your first fiction novel. What brought about this move from non-fiction to fiction? And YA fiction, at that?
I began as a fiction writer for children, having studied at the Institute for Children's Literature. My greatest dream was to have an article published by Highlights Magazine (the one they usually have in dentists' offices). I always knew I'd write for teens – it's the reason I have a shoebox full of notes passed in class and all my diaries and yearbooks. I even kept corsages I got from dances with little notes tied to them about the highlights of the evening! I've lost most of these. The point was to remember, the best I could, about what it meant to be a teen, bursting full with so much emotion and dreams. I wanted to be a true mentor through my love of writing for that time of life when I felt not only much feeling, but also so alone. My first published article was for a magazine called Listen. It was an article from the point of view of a girl watching her friend suffer from bulimia.
3) Are you working on any new projects right now?
A book about magic and Latinas, but this time for women.
4) Was it difficult to get Rogelia's House of Magic published because of the genre switch? Or was it an easier journey?
Since the editor asked for me personally, the getting published part wasn't so hard. What was difficult was switching to story telling. I was used to a form of writing when I just delivered the facts. But even in my non-fiction books, like The Teen Spell Book, I used personal anecdotes. I feel it's easier to learn from a book if it becomes more personal. The most difficult part has been getting the word out about Rogelia's House of Magic. Now that I'm with a big publisher, I'm like a guppy in the ocean. My other books were published by a quirky publisher out of Berkeley, California, and carried by all the chains and New Age shops. Now with Rogelia's House of Magic, it's primarily available online. Unless of course it catches like an October wild fire in baking southern California. Now where's that candle? JUST KIDDING!!
5) Courtesy of Marissa Doyle, who asked me this a while back and I now can't get out of my head and must ask people now, what is your favorite jelly bean flavor?
Cotton Candy – yum.
6) What is your writing process like? Do you have any rituals that you do to get the juices flowing, or do you just sit down and start typing?
I have different rituals for writing. I move it around so I don't get that dreaded writers' block. I most often write with pencil and notebook paper, somewhere outside, like the beach or the patio of my favorite coffee shop or my backyard, maybe in a tree. Then after a little time as passed I key it into the computer. Sometimes I write little phrases on a notepad then transcribe it later. If I've got a really strong idea, then I'll type it directly into the computer. But honestly I try to stay off the computer as much as possible. I prefer to be outdoors in my barefeet, like every other dirt worshipping tree hugger.
Aside from my questions, Jamie provided two other questions that she's gotten from readers, and gave her answers to them. Hope you enjoy reading these too!
Q - This may seem to be a silly question for you, but I really am not familiar with magic. I have heard about curanderas before, but I noticed that some of your other books have Wicca (I've heard the name Wicca before, but really do not know anything about it) in the title. Is there a connection between curanderismo and Wicca or are they different?
A - There are some similarities to curanderismo and Wicca. Number one would be their work with nature, plants in particular, for healing of the mind, body, and soul. They both use some form of chanting to get into the meditative state that promotes healing. They both believe in the Spirit World. Curanderas might call on saints or perhaps Aztec Gods and Goddesses. Wiccans ask for help and guidance from Gods and Goddesses around the world (incl. Mexican-based). Both work with energy, i.e., smudging to cleanse an area. There are some variants in the ways that Wiccans and curanderas observe the cycles of the moon and natural cycles of the Solstices and Equinoxes. They both work with symbology and ritual ceremony, though in ways that are unique to their traditions.
Q - As I was reading Rogelia's House of Magic I knew it was fiction but based on your other non-fiction books I was always wondering if certain magical aspects were something that you created with your imagination or if it was something you had first hand experience with or knew someone capable of doing.
A - Thanks for asking this question. It was kind of the point to writing the book the way I did - to show that magic is real. I did receive a limpia from a curandera that was similar to the one in the book. When I was a young girl, we did move to a vortex of sorts and very soon after moving, I did experience hearing a deluge of voices every night. Unfortunately, I didn't have a curandera in the room across the hall, and eventually my room became soo very cold that I got scared and began sleeping with a Bible under my pillow. Plus I had an rather blunt nana, a tarot reader and psychic, who told me when I was sixteen. "Well, honey, the reason you're such a bitch is because you've got all those spirits living with you in your room." Bless her. That's when I realized that teens interested in magic really need a mentor to explain these things properly. There is nothing frightening about spirits living with you and you always have the ability to tell them to get lost. Let's see, using theories outlined in the book The Celestine Prophecy, I have seen auras. I do have a lovely relationship with faeries and in fact plan on attending a Fairie Festival in two weeks, promoted by Brian Froud (think Labyrinth or Dark Crystal). I haven't translated bird talk, but there are time I think I get the gist of their meaning. Most days I listen to my intuition, sit in the silence or in nature, just to be.
You can visit Jamie at her website and myspace! Rogelia's House of Magic is available in bookstores everywhere, or can be ordered from Amazon here.
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
"Latino Writers and Journalists is a book that I will have on my coffee table for frequent reference, along with my dictionaries. It includes the biographies of over 150 Latino writers and journalists who have helped shape Latino literature and who should be a point of reference to all aspiring writers, literature students and avid readers. It almost reads like a book of short stories, and features well-known contemporaries such as Jorge Ramos, Isabel Allende and María Elena Salinas, as well as others who do not enjoy the same popularity but are nevertheless cornerstones of modern literature. Interesting, useful and a must in every Latino home." -- Lorraine Ladish
"The Wicca Herbal is an essential tool for the practicing witch. Filled with the essential herbs for a well-stocked magickal cupboard, Jamie brings the herb lore to life with thoughtful anecdotes, yummy recipes and practical magick whether you are just starting your journey with our plant kinfolk or if you have a seasoned green thumb. Magickal and Herbal Kitchen Witchery with a BAM!!" -- Willow HarvestMoon, DCW High Priestess and owner, The Crystal Cauldron of Pomona
"The Wicca Herbal is lusiously illusrated and lavishly written - filled to overflowing with fabulous recipes and ideas for all things herbal. Soft cover tome with hard cover quality!"
-- Patricia Telesco, Author Kitchen Witch's Companion & Herbal Arts
http://www.loresinger.com/"A splendid introduction to Wiccan and magickal herbalism, focusing on 100 different plants ranging from acacia to ylang-ylang. Filled with recipes, spells and beneficial information on such topics as aromatherapy and organic gardening, this charming book is a practical guide to the magickal energies and healing gifts of our goddess, the Earth. I highly recommend it!" -- Gerina Dunwich, author of The Wicca Garden, Herbal Magick, and other titles.
“The Wicca Herbal is a beautifully written and illustrated book that combines folklore and tradition with modern uses of herbs. Jamie does a wonderful job of teaching us the importance of our spiritual connection to the plants and to Gaia, and how incorporating our plant allies into our lives can make our daily rituals magical!” -- Deborah Halvorson, Registered Aromatherapist, Herbalist, Holistic Health Professor
Irene Lazo, author of Accidental Santeria, interviewed Jamie for one hour about magic, writing and Rogelia's House of Magic. Come listen in!!
» LISTEN!
San Francisco Examiner
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
Mary Castillo
September 18, 3:18 PM Anaheim Literature Examiner
Jamie Martinez-Wood's roots are deep in Orange County's history. Her ancestors were among the Spanish soldiers and Mexican civilians who came with Father Junipero Serra in 1770s. But it didn't mean very much to her growing up in Anaheim. After a disappointing career in PR and marketing, Jamie found a way to combine her writing talents with her spirituality and from that, her understanding and appreciation of her heritage came into full bloom. With the publication of her first teen novel, Rogelia's House of Magic (now in its second printing), Jamie is realizing her dream of empowering young women and giving a voice to the Latinas who don't know the extent of their history.
Anaheim Literature Examiner: Tell us about the first moment you came up with the idea for Rogelia's House of Magic.
Jamie Martinez-Wood: The project came to me and I was so excited that I immediately got into a car accident. Claudia Gabel, an editor at Delacorte Press, decided she wanted to see a book about Latina teens and magic so she began casting around for a suitable writer for the project. Marcela Landres knew that I had written four nonfiction books on magic (two for teens: The Teen Spell Book and The Enchanted Diary) and two books of Hispanic culture (Hispanic Baby Name Book and Latino Writers & Journalists) and recommended me. So I took the bus everywhere - like a teenager seeking independence (the car was in the shop for a month), and by putting myself in their shoes, I was able to create their individual stories. The girls of course needed a mentor, who became Rogelia, named after the nanny who took care of my baby sister when I was a teen.
Q: You've written several nonfiction titles but how different was it to write a novel?
Jamie: In a non-fiction book, the writing is linear and straight-forward. In a fiction book, writing moves in circles that weave back and forth. I love writing dialog (I can finally put those voices in my head to work!) Non-fiction is telling people exactly what you want them to know. Fiction or storytelling requires symbols and relationships to convey your message. I love creating a world that runs like a movie through your imagination.
Q: How much of yourself is in these three young women?
Jamie: I am these three girls rolled into one. I am an impetuous Wild Child like Fern, more often barefooted hugging some tree, and like Marina I tend to worry, had a trying relationship with my mother, and we share family history. In my quiet moments, I tend to mimic Xochitl's autonomy, determination and solemnity about what's important to me.
Q: When did you tap into your spirituality? Do you hope that the book will encourage readers to find their spiritual calling?
Jamie: I was one of those kids tapped into their spirituality from a young age, probably seven or so. I was raised Christian Scientist, a mystical Christianity, (not the Tom Cruise one – but the one where people would say "oh, you're the ones who don't believe in doctors"). This upbringing taught me that the Sacred Source is male/female, loves me dearly, and that all things and ideas – metaphysical, physical, or emotional are available to me whenever I ask for them with "faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible." Combine this belief with a tarot-reading nana, a Catholic mama who loves ritual and symbology, a nana whom I only knew from the spirit world (my mom's mom died a month before I was born, but stayed around to be my guardian angel) and a bent toward nature, you get earth spirituality with a healthy dose of magic.
My hope for my readers is more that they find their gift or talent and begin sharing that with the world. I personally believe a spiritual calling helps us discover our unique specialness because by believing in a loving, positive source energy greater than ourselves, we begin to believe that something really wonderful lives within us. And when we are connected to this source and everything and everyone, we intrinsically know that sharing joy with others expands the joy within.
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
Article by: Aurora Anaya-Cerda
LATIN WEEK NY
This week I spoke to author Jamie Martinez Wood. She was eager to share the news about her debut novel, “Rogelia’s House of Magic,” in which three fifteen-year-old girls find friendship and special powers as they are trained in the ways of curanderismo by a wise old woman. In one amazing summer, their lives will change forever. Geared towards readers ages 12 and up, “Rogelia’s House of Magic” is enjoyable combination of mystery, magic, and friendship.
10 Questions with Jamie Martinez Wood
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Orange County, California, when there were more orange groves and less people
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
In Ms. Kneedler's second grade class. My first story was about a runaway hamburger. The second one was called The Floating Bed and I still have it, complete with pictures. I have all my diaries and a shoebox full of notes passed in class from junior high and high school because I always knew I wanted to write for teens.
3. What was the inspiration behind Rogelia's House of Magic?
Claudia Gabel, an editor from Random House, asked me to write a book about Latina teens and magic. Marcela Landres recommended me to Claudia because of the four books on magic, earth spirituality (two for teens) and the two books on Latino culture that I had written. Inspired to educate and empower (rather than reinforce the myths that magic is all about spellcrafting or manipulation) I introduced a mentor who could explain the deep symbiotic connection with nature inherent in all magic and mystery. And then I incorporated the historical use of curanderismo, a mind-body-spirit healing approach steeped in tradition and ceremony.
4. Do you identify with any one character?
I identify with all the girls and Rogelia. Each of the characters represents some part of me: I worry like Marina; I hermit like Xochitl; I'm a tree hugging spaz like Fern; and I'm a teacher like Rogelia. In this story I get to see how all these personalities play and dance together, sharing time on the stage, and working in harmony together. It reminds me of a multi-faceted diamond.
5. Did you base the characters in the book on people you know or knew?
I based a few characters on people I know and my 15-year-old perspective of those relationships.
6. If you could go back and make changes to any of your books, would you? And if so, what would you change?
Honestly I did the best I could during the writing of all seven of my books. The only thing I would change would be the mix-up of the Bergamot qualities in “The Wicca Herbal.”
7. What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Write for yourself. Write for the pleasure it brings you. Write during the good times as well as the bad. Try not to be too hard on yourself as a writer, the critics and editors will take care of that. Never give up on what you love. Find a system that works for you, but be willing to change it when it stops working.
8. What's on your bookshelf now?
“The Last Lecture,” “The Other Boleyn Girl,” “Travel with Kids,” “The King's Gold,” and “First Draft in 30 Days.”
9. What is your essential summer treat?
A girls' weekend getaway, preferably to the trees where there is a gathering of crazy, like-minded people, or a posh hotel with a pool, a spa and good-looking cabana boys, or camping, or a trip to a winery, or anywhere we can relax and just be girls.
10. Besides writing, what else do you like to do?
Meditative walks, time alone, playing soccer with my boys, camping, travel, yoga, festivals/fairies with live music or a theme like Renaissance, Goddess energy, Celtic culture, Fairy, Folk or Latino pride.
About Jamie Martinez Wood:
Jamie Martinez Wood is the recipient of the 2008 International Latino Book Award Best Reference Book for the Latino Writers and Journalists, a collection of 150 biographical essays. Her books include: “The Wicca Cookbook,” “The Teen Spell Book,” “The Enchanted Diary,” “The Wicca Herbal,” “The Hispanic Name Book” and “Rogelia's House of Magic” - her debut novel. Jamie is an inspirational speaker and empowerment specialist, having taught workshops, led retreats and given performances on earth spirituality, seasonal living and ritual ceremony. She conducts classroom visits and assemblies on writing, publishing, and empowerment. Visit her at http://www.jamiemartinezwood.com/.
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
LISTEN HERE:
A diary helps you...
1) Find your voice. Being a teen there are so many things thrown at you, spending time along with your thoughts helps you decide which thoughts are yours, and which are opinions of someone else. Knowing and trusting who you are improves your self-esteem.
2) Organize and articulate your feelings, opinions, or thoughts,
3) Separate drama from reality. When you write, you get a chance to realize your responsibility in a situation and save "face" at the same time. You see things from a more objective position.
4) Process your feelings - like going from rage to anger to sadness to hope.
5) Express things you might never say outloud.
6) Set goals and visualize your dreams
Questions Jamie answered include: How can I convince my child that I won't read her diary? Should I read my child's diary? What questions should I ask myself when I write in my diary? Is it okay that I most often write dark, horrible thoughts?
Want to know more? Go to... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Sarah-Newton
By TED B. KISSELL Thursday, Jun 4 2009
OC Weekly
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
Genius (Still) At Work Reuben Martinez of the relocated Librería Martinez offers his top 10 summer reads
The economic crisis has slammed us all, and Reuben Martinez is no exception. Thankfully, the supah-genius (just ask the MacArthur Foundation) has found a way to keep on keepin’ on. His Librería Martinez, the renowned bilingual bookstore, moved in April—but only one building to the north on Santa Ana’s Main Street, into the space that once housed only the children’s bookstore. Yes, the site of the original store’s expansion has become the entire store.
“It broke my heart to close that beautiful store,” Martinez says of the space he opened in 1993. “I waited too long, but we’re comfortable now.
“Reducimos el tamaño, pero el corazon sigue creciendo [We reduced the size, but our heart keeps growing],” he declares with his typical earnest warmth. “¡Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos!”
He notes that, even though business is tough, his new position as a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University—a paying gig—is keeping him busier than ever. He describes the fellowship as like an “ambassadorship” to the Latino community on behalf of the school’s math and science programs, connecting high-school kids with Chapman, “telling them when they can apply, where they can get information on financial aid.” Chapman “wants more Latinos, and now the word is out that they’re welcome here,” Martinez says.
Yet even with his hectic schedule, Martinez found time to put together asummer reading list for ?you and yours—books for grown-ups, books for kids, books for grown-ups to read to kids. So get reading, already.
1. I’m Just Like My Mom, Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Mamá/I’m Just Like My Dad, Me Pare
zco Tanto a Mi Papá by Jorge Ramos This bilingual children’s book for those 1 to 7 years old is double-sided—one side for dad, the other for mom. “We’ve had him at our store about four times,” Martinez says of Ramos, the internationally famous Spanish-language news anchor. “This is his first children’s book, a wonderful story for parents to read out loud to their child.”
2.Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain “Make this summer an adventure!” Martinez exhorts. “Life is an adventure—look at the things that are happening to me at my age. I’m walking around Chapman, and people are calling me Dr. Martinez, Professor Martinez—I was lucky to finish high school!”
3.The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros “Sandra’s one of my best friends,” Martinez says. “
At first, they used to tell her, ‘Who’s going to read this book? You’re a Latina, forget about getting it published’—and she’s in demand right now.” This quarter-century-old novella about family, friends and growing up is told in short vignettes: “Good for summer.”
4.Rogelia’s House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood Martinez calls this OC-based author “A Latina J.K. Rowling.” This work, about three kids and a “summer they’ll never forget,” is definitely for the young-adu
lt set, but it has a strong local appeal for older readers.
5.Las Niñas by Sarah Rafael García Another local author, Garcia is also a volunteer at Librería Martinez. “She’s a very good writer,” Martinez says. “It’s a memoir about her dad, who passed away when she was young, and about the life of her and her sisters growing up without him.”
6.The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck “Someone asked me if this might be a little thick, and I said, ‘That’s all right; take all summer to read it!’”
7.Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury “I just like that old buzzard,” Martinez says of the sci-fi icon. “I know him; he just doesn’t give up. He’s like a godfather of literature. And there’s a lot of young people out there who haven’t read it. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to sell that book.”
8.The Alchemist (El Alquimista) by Paulo Coelho “A fable to follow your dreams—a coming-of-age book,” Martinez says. “Let’s dream this summer. Everything and anything is possible!”
9.Las Venas Abiertas de América Latina (Open Veins of Latin America) ?by Eduardo Galeano “The gift that President [Hugo] Chávez [of Venezuela] gave to President [Barack] Obama,” Martinez says. “So that he would understand what’s going on in Latin America.”
10.Rain of Gold (Lluvia de Oro) by Victor Villaseñor Martinez says this nonfiction account of the author’s family’s adventures in the differences between Mexican and Mexican-American culture “is one of our best-sellers.”
Librería Martinez, 1200 N. Main St., Ste. 100-D, Santa Ana, (714) 973-7900; www.latinobooks.com.
tkissell@ocweekly.com
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
By TED B. KISSELL Thursday, Jun 4 2009
OC Weekly
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
Genius (Still) At Work Reuben Martinez of the relocated Librería Martinez offers his top 10 summer reads
The economic crisis has slammed us all, and Reuben Martinez is no exception. Thankfully, the supah-genius (just ask the MacArthur Foundation) has found a way to keep on keepin’ on. His Librería Martinez, the renowned bilingual bookstore, moved in April—but only one building to the north on Santa Ana’s Main Street, into the space that once housed only the children’s bookstore. Yes, the site of the original store’s expansion has become the entire store.
“It broke my heart to close that beautiful store,” Martinez says of the space he opened in 1993. “I waited too long, but we’re comfortable now.
“Reducimos el tamaño, pero el corazon sigue creciendo [We reduced the size, but our heart keeps growing],” he declares with his typical earnest warmth. “¡Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos!”
He notes that, even though business is tough, his new position as a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University—a paying gig—is keeping him busier than ever. He describes the fellowship as like an “ambassadorship” to the Latino community on behalf of the school’s math and science programs, connecting high-school kids with Chapman, “telling them when they can apply, where they can get information on financial aid.” Chapman “wants more Latinos, and now the word is out that they’re welcome here,” Martinez says.
Yet even with his hectic schedule, Martinez found time to put together asummer reading list for ?you and yours—books for grown-ups, books for kids, books for grown-ups to read to kids. So get reading, already.
1. I’m Just Like My Mom, Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Mamá/I’m Just Like My Dad, Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Papá by Jorge Ramos This bilingual children’s book for those 1 to 7 years old is double-sided—one side for dad, the other for mom. “We’ve had him at our store about four times,” Martinez says of Ramos, the internationally famous Spanish-language news anchor. “This is his first children’s book, a wonderful story for parents to read out loud to their child.”
2.Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain “Make this summer an adventure!” Martinez exhorts. “Life is an adventure—look at the things that are happening to me at my age. I’m walking around Chapman, and people are calling me Dr. Martinez, Professor Martinez—I was lucky to finish high school!”
3.The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros “Sandra’s one of my best friends,” Martinez says. “At first, they used to tell her, ‘Who’s going to read this book? You’re a Latina, forget about getting it published’—and she’s in demand right now.” This quarter-century-old novella about family, friends and growing up is told in short vignettes: “Good for summer.”
4.Rogelia’s House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood Martinez calls this OC-based author “A Latina J.K. Rowling.” This work, about three kids and a “summer they’ll never forget,” is definitely for the young-adult set, but it has a strong local appeal for older readers.
5.Las Niñas by Sarah Rafael García Another local author, Garcia is also a volunteer at Librería Martinez. “She’s a very good writer,” Martinez says. “It’s a memoir about her dad, who passed away when she was young, and about the life of her and her sisters growing up without him.”
6.The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck “Someone asked me if this might be a little thick, and I said, ‘That’s all right; take all summer to read it!’”
7.Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury “I just like that old buzzard,” Martinez says of the sci-fi icon. “I know him; he just doesn’t give up. He’s like a godfather of literature. And there’s a lot of young people out there who haven’t read it. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to sell that book.”
8.The Alchemist (El Alquimista) by Paulo Coelho “A fable to follow your dreams—a coming-of-age book,” Martinez says. “Let’s dream this summer. Everything and anything is possible!”
9.Las Venas Abiertas de América Latina (Open Veins of Latin America) ?by Eduardo Galeano “The gift that President [Hugo] Chávez [of Venezuela] gave to President [Barack] Obama,” Martinez says. “So that he would understand what’s going on in Latin America.”
10.Rain of Gold (Lluvia de Oro) by Victor Villaseñor Martinez says this nonfiction account of the author’s family’s adventures in the differences between Mexican and Mexican-American culture “is one of our best-sellers.”
Librería Martinez, 1200 N. Main St., Ste. 100-D, Santa Ana, (714) 973-7900; www.latinobooks.com.
tkissell@ocweekly.com
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
By Leah Zombie
Rodale.com
Herbal combinations from the Wicca tradition are meant to prep your body and spirit for the winter.
Try these Wiccan recipes for salve, tea, and incense; you don' thave to believe in magic to use them.
Wiccan recipes include seasonal herbal treatments for body and spirit.
RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA-When many of us hear the word Wiccan, we automatically assume we're talking about witches and Halloween. The holiday is associated with Wiccans mainly because it's the time of Sanheim (the third harvest), considered a sacred holiday by Wiccans. Most followers of Wicca celebrate eight nature-based holidays, beginning with Samhain (Halloween), Yule (Winter Solstice), Imbolc (Candlemas), Ostara (Spring Equinox), Beltane (May Day), Litha (Summer Solstice), and Lammas Mabon (Autumn Equinox). "At the Halloween season, we take a hard look at our shadow selves, or the hidden part of ourselves, that might be inhibiting our personal growth," explains Jamie Wood, author of The Wicca Herbal: Recipes, Magick, and Abundance (Ten Speed Press, 2003), and The Enchanted Diary: A Teen's Guide to Magick and Life (Celestial Arts, 2005).
THE DETAILS: So are Wiccans witches? And why is it a bad thing if they are? "Because both words originate from the same word, wicce, meaning to bend or shape the unseen forces," Wood explains. "It also means 'wise one,' and was used to describe a person who knew how to use herbs for healing the mind, body, and spirit," she says. The word witch, of course, has endured far more negative stereotypes, but Woods says that both self-identified witches and Wiccans adhere to the principles of "Do what you will, but harm none," and the Threefold Law of whatever you do will come back to you three times. In other words, "Watch your karma and do nothing negative," says Wood.
Because Wicca is known as the religion of ecology, and those who practice it tend to be in tune with the changing of the seasons, gardening and recipes are a big part of the creed's traditions. "The ingredients are not eye of newt or wing of bat, but come from the earth, such as basil or rosemary or even almond oil," says Wood. In the Wiccan tradition, intention is as important an ingredient as the oils and herbs. "As we create our recipes, we focus on what we want to achieve, whether that is peace of mind or silky smooth skin," Wood adds. "Wiccans believe intention is as key an ingredient in lotion as the oil you use to create it. "
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
Irene Lazo, author of Accidental Santeria, interviewed Jamie for one hour about magic, writing and Rogelia's House of Magic. Come listen in!!
» LISTEN!
From the Staff of The LatinaVoz.com
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
As gifted as Isabel Allende, Sandra Cisneros and Rudolfo Anaya -- the stars of the book cover -- are, the treasure of Jamie Martinez Wood's "Latino Writers and Journalists" compilation is the personal way she gathers scattered literary "jewels" into one tome.
Wood interviewed more than 70 of the 150 writers she profiles in a book that defies one-niche-fits-all categorization. Reference-style, the book's indices group and regroup the writers by age, subject matter, style, ethnicity and year of birth covering topics from oral storytelling to the expatriate experience to Nuyorican literature to border culture to feminist issues to Cuban-American literature to postmodern works to the Chicano Movement to gay/lesbian issues to magic realism to the immigrant experience to Native literature to the barrio experience to social protest writings to New Mexican literature and beyond.
A quote in Wood's book from a 2005 interview with novelist Kathleen Alcala could as easily been said of "Latino Writers and Journalists."
"I have discovered that each person who reads one of my books is actually reading a different book, based on their own experiences," Alcala said. "So it is very gratifying to provide narratives that alter the way people see the world, or that bring out their own experiences that they thought were isolated."
And so it is that the eighth-generation Mexican American author of "Latino Writers and Journalists" organizes her writers in alphabetical fashion, but she herself ends up on a journey much deeper than A to Z.
"Each story I heard from the writers and journalists felt like a lost jewel," Wood told TheLatinaVoz.com. "I was learning something about my Latino family and the events that shaped me and our world. Hearing the different experiences kept up my enthusiasm and continued to inspire me during the long process of writing this book."
"Latino Writers and Journalists," which was two years in the making and published in June, will have a book release party this September and has been nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, which honors "the most distinguished social science books appropriate for young readers that depict ethnicity in the United States."
Wood's book, however, is far from solely for young readers. In particular, the book's embracing of journalists such as Ruben Salazar and Frank del Olmo contributes a deeper understanding into the experience of Latino writers in the United States.
Wood, who was born and raised in Orange, Calif., has a degree in a communications from Cal State University, Fullerton, where she studied Chicano studies and Latino women in literature. Her book is part of a new "A to Z of Latino Americans" set from Facts On File that spotlights Latinos who "have influenced and continue to impact the Latino community, the United States, and the world in a variety of fields and professions."
Yet, like the authors she profiles, Wood herself cannot be easily categorized, having also written books on seasonal living and earth spirituality as well as "independently researching Orange County Hispanic and Native History for more than 10 years," according to her bio.
The following are excerpts of TheLatinaVoz.com's question-and-answer session with Wood:
Voz: What was the most difficult part about writing the book for you?
Wood: My biggest obstacle was getting over the enormity of the project. The vast scope and importance of this book continued to overwhelm me until I turned the book in for the final edit. I was also concerned that because I didn't hold a doctorate in Chicano literature, the critics would comment that I was underqualified to write this book. But after months of researching and interviewing I realized that my skills, dedication and desire to honor Latino literature were a perfect match for this project.
Voz: The book is so effective at introducing people to a wide range of writers, did you have the idea of writing it as a text from the start?
Wood: From the beginning it was very important to me to include all the genres for which Latinos have written. In this way I hoped to illustrate the varied Latino experience as expressed for different age groups and subsections of the society, throughout history. Through my interviews, I loved hearing firsthand the Latino perspective throughout the political transformations in America. Even though my family has lived in America for 200 years, there are not many stories recalled.
Voz: What made you decide to include journalists?
Wood: The editor required that I include some journalists. However, I went above and beyond the allotted number because I was so inspired by journalists such as Ruben Salazar and Frank del Olmo. I wanted to honor the incredible challenge it has been to get fair representation in the media. Through my research I learned the devastating effects on self-esteem when the Latino perspective and experience was not covered in news and current events. I relied on the assistance of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists to ensure that I included journalists from as many facets of journalism and represent as many cities as possible. Additionally, this part of the project was particularly exciting because a compilation of biographical essays on Latino journalists has never been done.
Voz: How did you decide which authors to include? What were the difficult "cuts"?
Wood: As per editor request, I needed to include an equal number of men and women and as many people from the past as possible. I began my research for subjects by talking with Latino bookstore owners and Chicano studies librarians. I included everyone who appeared simultaneously on these different lists. Since each essay needed to include specific background information and three resources, I next sought out the people whom I could interview or who had the most information available. I spoke with Hispanic publishers, called agents, contacted authors via their website, anything to get the writer's take on their life history, books, Latino literature, etc.
Voz: Have your writing role models changed since you have written the book?
Wood: Yes. I really enjoyed hearing the writers' foibles, strengths and their unique journey on their way to success.
Voz: Which interviews stood out most to you?
Wood: I was so impressed with Frank del Olmo's story, via his widow, Magdelena del Olmo. I was in awe when I heard that upon the untimely death of Salazar, at the Chicano Moratorium, Frank relinquished a master's scholarship at Columbia to become the lone Latino reporter at the L.A. Times to cover the Chicano civil rights movement. With great courage and honesty, Frank wrote about Christmases with his autistic son, making him the only journalist of national stature to write regularly about autism for nearly a decade.
Another memorable interview was with Josefina Lopez. I joined NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) to meet with Josefina. She was flying in from Paris to attend the national conference, which just happened to be in the town I was living. I met her at the conference luncheon and picked her brain in between courses. It was difficult to remain casual, while I was in such awe of her talent and accomplishments. But I found that we are only a year apart in age and actually had a lot in common. We're still in touch today.
Interviewing Betty Cortina of Latina Magazine was fun. She has such dedication and perseverance.
Voz: If readers were looking for a surprise in the book, what would that be?
Wood: The candid quotes and details and anecdotes of the writers' and journalists' early life will be very revealing and surprising.
Voz: What were the surprises for you as you wrote the book?
Wood: My biggest surprise came from hearing stories of hardship of assimilation. As an eighth-generation Mexican American, I was always encouraged to be more American than Mexican, I had resented it and blamed it on a lack of courage or pride. It wasn't until E.A. Mares used the word "propaganda," specifically to enhance the lives of their children, as the driving factor to assimilate did I dully comprehend what my ancestors endured and why they relinquished their traditions.
I found another surprise when I spoke with Sandra Benitez and discovered her deep sense of humanity. Since birth I've had over 10 combinations of my full name. I felt like whenever I claimed one name, I somehow relinquished the rights associated with another name. When I heard of the journey behind how Sandra came to claim her mother's maiden name, I felt a kindred story and contentment in the knowledge that the person behind the name is so much more important than the nomenclature.
The funniest surprise came when I read how Isabel Allende was expelled from a school at age 6 for organizing a contest to show off underpants. I loved hearing these rebel stories.
Voz: Were there any writers of which you were not aware before you began this process?
Wood: The poets and late 1800s women writers were new to me.
Voz: Now that the book is published, do you still find new authors you wish were in the book? Who might they be?
Wood: I would now include Mary Castillo, Himilce Novas, and all the published writers from my Las Comadres para Americas writers group.
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
 By NANCY REDWINE
Santa Cruz Sentinel
The Middle Ages are not exactly considered a time of high culinary achievement. The Medieval kitchen was blurred with smoke, hung with smelly carcasses and populated with goats and chickens.
So why would anyone want to read a cookbook that bases itself in a period of time most people are glad to not have been born into?
Combining a gentle introduction to Wicca, the history of Medieval cooking and eating, with a solar-calendar-based collection of recipes — ancient and modern — "The Wicca Cookbook: Recipes, Ritual and Lore" weaves a convincing case for looking at the wisdom — culinary and spiritual — of that formative period of human history.
Wicca is an eclectic spiritual philosophy that its practitioners claim has its historical roots in the indigenous, fertility-based, polytheistic and communal spirituality that pre-dated (and perplexed) Christianity. Jamie Wood and Tara Seefeldt, authors of "The Wicca Cookbook" assure readers that Wicca is not based in dogma (nor Satan worship), but in aligning oneself with the natural forces in order to create good. In this case, good food.
Following the wheel of the year from Candlemas (now called Groundhog Day) to Yule (Christmas), "The Wicca Cookbook" is organized by the belief that foods are at their peak nutritionally, medicinally and magically when in season. While the recipes — gleaned also from the authors’ friends, families and their own files — the focus of the book is on an approach to cooking — and life — rather than a style of cooking — or religion.
Attending Wiccan ritual in Southern California, Wood noticed that none of the foods that participants brought for after-ritual feasting coincided with the season they were honoring.
"Right now we have pomegranates," Wood said. "Of course you can still have strawberries this time of year, but when a food is prime, everything about it is prime. Of course we can say, ‘I want what I want right now,’ but I think it’s good to honor the gift when it’s been given."
After a full moon ritual to bring her writing work, author Wood received a phone call from her former boss, a literary agent who knew of an editor looking for an author for a Wiccan cookbook.
Seefeldt, Wood’s sister-in-law, originally introduced Wood to the ideas of Wicca. The researcher of the Medieval lore and recipes for the book, Seefeldt came highly qualified as a Ph.D candidate in early modern European history with a minor in Medieval history at Arizona State University.
According to Seefeldt, the Middle Ages were one of the last times in human history when Northern European people lived within seasons, watching the sun and moon to determine what they did. They ate according to what was available, and lore and ritual grew up around those foods.
Despite some serious hygiene and food preservation problems in the Middle Ages, Wood and Seefeldt highlight its positive contributions to modern cooking, such as the intricacies of spices and herbs (often used to hide the taste of bad meat).
Surviving the Middle Ages are dishes such as Frumenty, a bulgur dish favored by lords and clerics and Mead, which is credited with bringing oblivion to many a pagan. Tamales de Martinez (from Wood’s great-grandmother) comes from a tradition that predates the Middle Ages, but belongs right in the middle of this celebration of indigenous roots.
"The only information we have available about cooking habits in Middle Ages is what got written down and it’s all a reflection of the upper classes, who were sitting down to meals with 10 courses of meat," Seefeldt said.
"We know sketchily what peasants ate and cooked and it was a much simpler diet. There were fewer, if any, spices, little meat except just after harvest and usually chicken or pork. Porridge was most common.
What is timeless in Wood and Seefeldt’s book is the invitation to immerse oneself in the kitchen, not just to satisfy physical hunger, but spiritual thirst as well.
"Wicca stresses the importance of thinking about what you’re trying to accomplish," Wood said. "What I find remarkable about its application to cooking is that it makes it OK to be completely immersed in what you’re doing. It’s not really about doing something you wouldn’t already be doing, but about being absolutely aware of what you are doing."
All stages of the creation of The Wicca Cookbook were forged in ritual. Matching foods in seasons with the recipes she and Seefeldt collected, Wood lit a red candle and placed an ocean-bathed crystal on her desk. "I’d get out of the way so the divine source could come through me. Then I’d write."
With each chapter and each recipe, the authors offer a small ritual suggestion. For Samhain, also known as Halloween, Hallowmas, and All Saints’ Eve, the ritual is for banishing negativity. They suggest writing down on a piece of paper the aspect of life from which the wisher would like to be freed. Then place the paper in a bowl and burn it, asking the universe to transform the energy from negative to positive.
"With this book we want to educate people and make Wicca less mysterious," Seefeldt said. "It’s really about the power of positive thinking and of putting your mind into position so that you can make good things happen."
All of the following recipes are from the Samhain section of the cookbook. In Wiccan tradition, it is the Witches’ New Year, the time when the veils between worlds are thin, and the time of the final harvest. Traditional foods eaten this time of year are pumpkins, pomegranates, apples, squash, beets, and hazelnuts.
APPLE SCONES
1 med.-sized apple
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. vegetable shortening
½ cup raisins
¼ cup apple juice
Peel, core and mince the apple. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening. Stir in the apples and raisins. Add the apple juice to stiffen the dough.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough to about ½ inch thick. Cut into triangles. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 10 minutes, until light brown.
Barley was a common remedy in Medieval times for acute ailments. It is known for it’s ability to give warmth.
CHICKEN-BARLEY STEW WITH HERBS
2 Tbsp. butter
2 cups thickly cut green onions, white and green parts
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 3 lbs. chicken breast, on the bone
¾ cup barley
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
3¾ cups water
2 bay leaves
2 Tbsp. minced fresh sage
Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or a heavy pot with a lid. Add the green onions and garlic; sauté. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Stir in the barley, vinegar, water, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then decrease heat and simmer for 1 to 1½ hours.
Remove the chicken and let cool. Remove the meat from the bones and add it to the soup. Mix in the sage, stirring well.
To keep the dead from making mischief, offer them these cakes.
ALL HALLOWS’ EVE CAKES
½ cup vegetable oil
4 ozs. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
2 cups granulated sugar
4 lg. eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups sifted cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
In a large bowl, mix the vegetable oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar. Blend in the eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the oil mixture. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball. Coat each ball in confectioners’ sugar, rolling until covered. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The cakes should be soft and the edges should be firm. Do not overbake; they burn easily.
"The Wicca Cookbook: Recipes, Ritual and Lore" by Jamie Wood and Tara Seefeldt is published by Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press in Berkeley.
It is available at Gateway Books and Gifts and Capitola Book Café, and will soon be available at Bookshop Santa Cruz and Bookworks in Aptos. It can also be ordered at www.tenspeed.com
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
Mrs. V's Reviews
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
Yesterday Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood came in the mail. I had been so excited to receive it that I set aside the other two books I was reading to get started on it. I read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, and continued today to finish it. The three main character teen girls each have distinct personalities and dreams, but are linked together by magic and friendship. Under the guidance of Rogelia, a curandera, they learn magic and begin to overcome their individual obstacles and become better people by realizing the power within.
Xochitl is grieving the loss of her twin sister, and in the process has lost faith in magic. This is a theme that many people going through difficult times can relate to whether it is losing faith in magic, such as Xochitl, or losing faith in other core beliefs. Xochitl is not sure whether or not she can trust her new friends or if they are just using her because of their fascination with curanderismo that they can learn from her grandmother Rogelia. Xochitl's magical talent is the ability to disappear, but she has to learn that she should not use the talent to run away when faced with fears.
Fernanda, Fern, the self-proclaimed tree hugger is always busy working on watching out for Mother nature and the environment. Through most of the book she is working toward saving the Bolsa Chica wetlands from being developed. All the while she is trying to figure out how to interpret the auras that she is beginning to see, especially when it involves a cute boy Tristan.
While the other two live in the barrio, Marina's mother worked hard to move out of the barrio and does not hide her feelings against her Mexican roots. Marina struggles to understand her mom's perspective and sneaks around to reconnect with her Mexican heritage. Guiding her along the way to stand up to her mother and let her know her true feelings are two voices, one of which is in Spanish, the language that Marina never acquired as a result of her mother's disdain for the culture (even though her mom does tout her pride in her Spanish ancestry). It was fun to predict who the voices were.
Watching the girls navigate their new found powers was a fun adventure. I can see how many Latina girls familiar with curanderas will love this book as they will be able to connect to it, while teenagers from other cultures who may not necessarily have as much background knowledge will enjoy learning about this magical side of the culture.
As an extra bonus Martinez Wood has a fun site for teens where she currently has an essay contest with an August 29th deadline. Teens can analyze how each teen's clothing reenforces her characterization. I had read about this contest before reading the book, so it was in the back of my mind. It was fun to see how Martinez Wood carefully crafted clothing to create a more vivid picture of each character.
Also I just now read about how some high schoolers turned Rogelia's House of Magic into a play that will be available on YouTube in the near future.
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
"Until now, there wasn't a quintessential book on pagan cuisine. To fill the glaring void comes The Wicca Cookbook ($20) the definitive guide to witch food by real life wiccans Jamie Wood and Tara Seefeldt. Find it at booksotes. Recipes include Stuffed Nasturtiums and Dandelion Wine for Spring Equinox; Apple Scones and Magickal Mushrooms for Halloween; and Snowflacke Cakes and Walnut-Oion Bread for Candlemas, a midwinter festival. Come May Day, I'll go to any wiccan dinner party - that's when they start serving homeade mead (fermented honey booze) for summer. Lace me in a corset and grab me a chalice: I'm ready to rock. By the way, the cookbook also taught me that wiccans honor a main goddess with a sidekick god. Right on."
--Gina Guerra, Jane Magazine
"The Enchanted Diary is for teen girls, but I had so much fun reading this book that I couldn't put it down.... It is wonderful book for teenage girls and I recommend it to any parent."
--Altar Magazine
"Jamie Wood writes with wisdom and charm. From the very start, you feel as if you are spending time with a marvelous friend."
--Brigid
"I can not even begin to express my happiness with the newest release from Jamie Wood! Not only has she approached the subject of teen paganism with insight and bravado, she’s done it without talking down, or gathering groupies. The basics are covered, there’s a large spell section, and a huge list of resources."
--Prolific Pagans
"(The Teen Spell Book) straightforwardly describes the basics of witchcraft, provides suggestions on how to incorporate magick into your everyday life and provides instructions on spell casting."
--Teenmag.com
"This book (The Teen Spell Book) does much to educate the young and Wood deserves recognition for this outstanding book."
--The Unicorn
BLOG CRITICS MAGAZINE
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Written by Mayra Calvani
Published June 02, 2008
A former assistant to reknown literary agent Julie Castiglia, Jamie Martinez Wood is the author of several books in the young adult and nonfiction categories, including The Enchanted Diary, Como Te Llamas, Baby? and A to Z of Latino Americans: Latino Writers and Journalists, for which she recently won the 2008 International Latino Book Awards for Best Reference Book.
Congratulations on the award and thanks for this interview, Jaime. Why don't you begin by teling us about your latest young adult novel, Rogelia's House of Magic?
My latest book, Rogelia's House of Magic, is about three very different 15-year-old girls who learn about friendship and magic from a curandera, or spiritual healer. My inspiration for this novel comes from my desire to express to teens the need for a mentor whom they can trust and respect, as well as the importance of friendships and a strong belief in oneself. I wanted to convey that magic is real, not fantasy, and accessible through a relationship with the world, trusting in this connection (intuition) and conviction to your dreams.
How was your creative process while writing this novel?
I began Rogelia's House of Magic with an outline that morphed as the characters revealed the direction they wanted to take the plot. The storyline was a combination of three different aspects of my early life, represented by the three main characters. Because of the fact that there were three points of view, I needed to practice detachment from these teen experiences to present an omniscient arc rather than becoming bogged down in one character.
What type of writer are you - the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?
I prefer to experience prior to writing. My writing is largely an expression, interpretation, and healing process, with an eagle eye view of my relationships, beliefs, and life's events. I work through the stories I have told myself of my life through the pages of my books so that I can feel at peace, in acceptance, pleased, and excited about the life I have created.
As a writer, what scares you the most?
The thing that scares me the most about writing is that I will never actualize a strong, clear writer's voice. This fear is underlined by worry that I'll appear so far-fetched to become marginalized, an easy target for ridicule or hatred based on others' fear of the subjects I explore. Or that an editor or critic will say something that will change what I say to be more "marketable" or "mainstream" and I'll sell out. But I'm learning to be more courageous than anxious.
When writing, what themes do you feel passionate about?
The writing themes I feel most passionate about are women empowerment, a deep love and connection to nature, our innate ability to create magic (i.e., the events of our lives), and exploration of Latino culture and relationships.
Are you a disciplined writer?
I'm not a disciplined writer in the traditional sense. I tend toward writing in spurts. Since I write based on experience, if I've been playing it safe, not risking, or living small or half asleep, writing is difficult, almost painful, because there is no muse to inspire me. On this same line, sometimes I seek a peace that wreaks havoc with novels that require conflict, which is every good novel. And sometimes I'm afraid of what the silence will bring and so I avoid writing. But when I'm in the zone, I'm writing constantly, at stoplights, in the grocery store, at my kids' soccer matches, out to dinner with my husband, the movies with friends, family birthday parties, whenever. I balance this with journaling in my diary whenever possible.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
The writer's advice I focus on today is that your characters should be able to convince others of their point of view. This of course, comes back around to conviction. However, over the past eight years I've received a slew of advice on writing and publishing from my friends and historical romance veterans, Kathleen Givens and Amanda Scott, as well as my literary agent, Julie Castiglia.
My upcoming project is a woman's fiction called The Making of a Xicana Goddess that follows Eva Ramirez, an overachieving corporate executive, Abigail Moreno-Smith, a neurotic artist-mother, and Moonstone O'Grady, their Crone mentor, who uses women's magic to reveal and heal the childhood traumas that prevent Eva and Abby from obtaining the one thing they truly want: contentment and self-acceptance.
Do you have a website where readers may learn more about you and your work?
My website is www.jamiemartinezwood.com, my blog is http://jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com.
Thanks for this interview, Jamie!
GO TO ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE!
If you would like a press kit, please send request to maito:Jamie@jamiewood.com
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
Finding Magic in Life & Words
by Sylvia Mendoza
Feburary 28, 2008
CLICK TO READ:
Finding Magic in Life & Words
by Sylvia Mendoza
Feburary 28, 2008
CLICK TO READ:
February 25, 2008.
Finding Magic in Life & Words
by Sylvia Mendoza
Writing in an eclectic mix of genres – from cookbooks to biographies of Latino writers – the enterprising, up-and-coming Jamie Martinez Wood exhibits a wide-open range of interests, willingness to tackle a challenge and strong desire to connect with and motivate her readers. “I want to inspire and encourage,” she said. Her many projects have been linked “by an underlying theme of inner power that we can draw from, whether from spells, nature, our roots, or our beliefs.”
Her latest book, Latino Writers & Journalists, Facts on File Library of American History, Infobase Publishing, profiles more than 150 poets, playwrights, screenwriters, children’s book authors, journalists, editors, publishers, and others who have worked to advance the roles of Latino in the United States and abroad. The book is part of a series, “A to Z of Latino Americans,” nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, which honors distinguished social science books for young readers that sensitively and accurately depict ethnic minorities and relations in the United States. The introduction features a history of Latino literature based on native, exile and immigrant experiences and the influence of the civil rights and Chicano movements. The entries by subject matter include Barrio Experience, Border Culture, Gay and Lesbian Issues, Magic Realism, Feminist Issues, Social Protest, Literature and Journalism. The book may provide invaluable insights for high school students and for college courses such as women's studies, Chicano/Latino literature, English and journalism. "That research was fun. I had to look for more than the baby boomers, or those that went through the Chicano movement. I wanted more diversity." Among those she interviewed, journalist Frank del Olmo affected her most. Martinez Wood spoke to his widow around the first anniversary of his death. "His story was our version of It's a Wonderful Life. He was like the Mexican Jimmy Stewart, fighting small-town causes at the expense of his own dreams, but making the biggest impact in the process." She had a starry-eyed encounter with Josefina Lopez. "She is such an incredible Mexican independent producer. I was mesmerized by Josefina's influence through her work like Real Women Have Curves." Gloria Anzaldua reiterated the importance of trailblazers who change the course of tradition. Her influence gave another perspective of feminism and flourishes in women's studies and ethnic studies courses around the world. Isabel Allende, another subject, is her favorite author. “All my life, I wanted to write like her. I thought when I wrote my first novel, it would come out like her language that I so adore. But it didn’t, so now I can go back to admiring and forget emulating her. That’s kind of a relief." Regularly on her website, www.jamiewood.com, including a blurb on how that person's work inspired her.
Finding Roots and Connections
Long before Latino Writers & Journalists, Martinez Woods saw the Importance of connections with one's roots. As a member of the Orange County Mexican American Historic Society, and with a background in Chicano studies and Latino women in literature as well as her mother's influence, she began her journey with the Hispanic Baby Name Book (Berkley Publishing). "Since my mother’s mother died one month before I was born, my mother was still in deep mourning when I came into this world, two days before Christmas. It was heartbreak and healing in one day. My mother wanted to – needed to – recall a happy time in her life.” Thus her mother named her after a childhood best friend. “Then she blessed me with her mother’s name, Della, so that I would always have a guardian angel watching over me.” The joy continued through the nine months it took to do the research. The book is set up with connections of saints, nature and symbolism. She asked her mother to write the forward. “I learned where I got my writing skills that day.”
The Journey
With a B.A. in communications and public relations from California State University-Fullerton Martinez Wood found a lucrative public relations job. The decision to leave it to pursue her writing full time was tough. “I tried to make it work, but I wanted something more, something deeper. I needed to rediscover my passions and wanted a childlike enthusiasm for my work.” It was the right move. She had studied Spanish, Chicano studies and Latino women in literature and now promotes literature and writing workshops in her community. Her projects have been quite diverse, with many of the book ideas coming from editors’ suggestions. Each book has impacted her in different ways. “The first, The Wicca Cookbook (Celestial Arts Publishing), taught me the beauty, creativity, connection and attention that can be cooking. Like Water for Chocolate was my inspiration for this book. This was eye-opening since I had claimed to be a women's libber since I was l0 and had previously thought cooking had been relegated to women because they were ‘lesser beings.’ “The Hispanic Baby Name Book taught me about saints, and I realized there was little difference between what the saints represented to people and what goddesses represented to people. I began to bridge the gap between the ancient pagans and Latino Catholicism. The Teen Spell Book helped me heal from teenage angst. The Enchanted Diary helped me move to empowerment as a young woman. The Wicca Herbal taught me a deeper connection to Mother Earth. The Latino Writers & Journalist book taught me I can do anything I set my mind to. It helped me make connection with some of my literary heroes, who taught me many things. I also learned that magical realism was an integral part of being Latina. Rogelia’s House of Magic, which will be published by Random House, brought me back around to telling stories, something I love to do, And I got to use all my California history.”
The Root of It
Raised as a Christian Scientist, Martinez Wood believed there is the sense of having power from within that is connected to your God Source, which is very similar to spellwork, she said. Already a tree-hugger, she found that Wicca is primarily an earth-based spirituality. And she connected to that. She felt at home with spirits and angels because of her late grandmother. Another grandmother was a Tarot reader, providing her with a link to the metaphysical. “My mother felt shunned by the Catholic Church, but once you're Catholic, it’s part of who you are.” There was always a love of ritual and saints there, which became her goddesses. Manifesting thoughts and desires came through praying - and she realized that a spell is no different from a chant in church. “One thing that felt weird, out of sync, was that I wrote my Wicca books from the Celtic perspective when I was a staunch Latina. When I wrote the Latino Writers & Journalists book, I discovered how ingrained magical realism is to the Latino culture, and I didn't feel so much like a fish out of water.” Of her teen spell book, she noted, “There was more curandismo than Harry Potter. “The book offers ways to help heal self-destructive behavior, broken relationships, apathy. “I knew what it was like to feel fragmented at that age. I played REO Speedwagon, peeled out, was rebellious in my own way. We all go through it, some in more despair than others.” Martinez Wood said she loves getting letters and testimonials of what that book (The Teen Spell Book) has done. “Everything is on such high volume for young girls, it hurts. I felt like I was being a mama to the girls who need stories and connections that help them know they are okay. The letters say things like ‘my son - or daughter – was in the deepest despair and came out of it.” That is powerful and humbling.”
Reclaiming Latina-ness
Of her roots, she said, “I was a pocha because I never learned the language, and had a couple of walls painted a neutral color.” She sought more connection. Her grandfather, whose family was from Guadalajara, served in World War II. “He was born here, the last of nine kids, determined to assimilate and be all-American in order to find more opportunities for himself and his family. “I wanted to know more. Growing up, if I lived in Santa Ana, I was not brown enough. “In Orange, Calif., just a few miles a ways, he was too brown, she said. There was a premonition of fear based on the stories she had heard. “I thought, ‘Will I be kicked to the curbside? Will I be deported? Is immersion the answer? I wanted to reclaim my Latinaness, but it was so elusive. What was the recipe of what made you? I was mad. I didn’t get the prejudice growing up in the ‘70s. There was no Spanish spoken in our home. We were propagandized, told that if we assimilated, all would be better. “ When she was able to get through her indignation, she developed a compassion for her grandfather and his choices. Her first young adult novel, Rogelia’s House of Magic, to be released this year, brought her full circle. “I just wanted to show Latinaness comes from different places. One of the young protagonists grows up not knowing the language, but wanting to learn the language. I needed to find the extent of my Mexican-ness, to come back to the Latino/a spirit of overcoming obstacles, like prejudice, and try to understand what he went through.” What she has learned through her writing projects is that there is no “normal” way to connect to your Latino roots. “Connecting to Latino roots could be through the language or the dichos - sayings- or how often someone visits their abuela or church. Some people experience some kind of discomfort in how or whether or not they stood up against prejudice or were refused grants based on ethnicity rather than performance. The need for connection has to come from within and how to be comfortable in your connection. Now I am a Spanish heiress, a conquistadora, and celebrate my Latina-ness however I can.”
Holding Women Close
Martinez Wood runs “Wild Women” retreats and an ongoing “Authentic Sexual Self class that aims to honor the wholeness of women. “I want to move away from our fragmentation, our inconsistent doubts on morality.” She also volunteers at Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers girls through skills, such as writing, which she teaches. “I don’t believe women of our generation support younger women from being exploited. There's a big gap between women’s lib and women’s reality.” A simple way to lift up girls is by supporting them as they try to unearth their unique gifts, she said. “It can be singing. writing, listening, drawing, math, riding horses, but they (girls) need us to reaffirm they are special connections to each of us, with something to offer this world.”
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