We’ll Be at the Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books!

I am headed south on Friday to meet up with co-author Cecilia Brainard in Los Angeles, where we will quite happily represent Angelica’s Daughters at FilAm Authors Night on Friday and booksigning Saturday morning at the LA Times Festival of Books. Here are the details from Linda Nietes of Philippine Expressions Bookshop:

Celebrate the Printed & Spoken Word:
Eleven Pilipino American Authors
to Sign New Books

AUTHORS NIGHT
Friday, April 29th, 2011  / 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
1145 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

A gathering of authors, books lovers, and members of the community to launch new books written by Fil Am authors. The program includes authors’ talks, readings, and booksigning. Traditionally being held on the eve of the LA Times Festival of Books. RSVP requested. Call 310-514-9139. Also visit Friends of Philippine Expressions Bookshop on Facebook.

LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Saturday, April 30th, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, May 1st 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
University Park Campus, University of Southern California (USC)
West Adams District, South Los Angeles

This annual Festival is the nation’s largest public literary festival. Last year, more than 140,000 people visited the Festival, where over 400 authors blended with hundreds of exhibitors representing booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations.

Authors whose books will be launched during Author’s Night will sign their books at the Festival book of Philippine Expressions Bookshop, Booth 204, on Trousdale Parkways, which is the main promenade on campus (entrance at Exposition Blvd.) Please call or email for specific schedule.

(left to right: Cecilia Brainard, Virgil J. Apostol Mayor, Roseli Ilano, R. Zamora Linmark)

Lolan Buhain Sevilla and Roseli Ilano. Co-editors, Walang Hiya: Literature Taking Risks Toward Liberatory Practice. 

James Daos. Ants on the Rainbow…You’ll Never Know. A book for children.

Lorna Ignacio Dumpias. Editor, Filipino American Experience: The Making of a Historic Cultural Monument.

Lilia Lopez-Rahman. For the Sake of Louise: A Mother’s Triumph over Domestic Abuse.

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard. Vigan and Other Stories. Co-Author, Angelica’s Daughters.

Virgil J. Mayor Apostol. Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions.

Veronica Montes. Co-Author, Angelica’s Daughters.

Lane Wilcken: Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern.

R. Zamora Linmark: Leche: A Novel.

Special Appearance by Jessica Hagedorn! Jessica will sign her latest novel, Toxicology, on May 1st from 12:30 – 1:00 pm before she joins the literary panel at the Festival. Pre-Order her book to avoid the rush!

Guest Authors also signing: Carina Monica Montoya, Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown and Filipinos in Hollywood; Florante Ibañez, Filipinos in Carson; Albert Mortiz, Discover the Philippines Cookbook.

Both events are open and free to the public. Parking structures are available at both venues. For more info: linda_nietes@sbcglobal.net or 310.514.9139. These events are part of the ongoing community outreach program of Philippine Expressions Bookshop, the Mail Order Bookshop dedicated to Filipino American in search of their roots. Now in its 27th year of service to the Filipino American Community.

If you’re in the area, come say hello! I’ve attended this Festival before, and it’s basically what a huge vat of Callebaut chocolate would be to a chocolate lover. Except it’s all about, you know, books. I can’t wait to pick up my copies of Leche, Toxicology, Vigan and Other Stories, Way of the Ancient Healer, and all sorts of other goodies.

So I’ll see you Friday night or Saturday morning. Right?! Right.

Thanks for reading! Check back soon!

~Veronica

S-s-s-scandalous! Plus, Booksigning @ the NaFFAA Conference

At the PAWA launch, Marie Romero told us about a woman at the recent Manila International Book Fair who picked up a copy of Angelica’s Daughters, scanned the cover, read the words “a dugtungan novel,” and then dismissed the book (with a flare of her nostrils, no doubt!) as “sexual.” Silly, funny woman! Our book is kinda sexy, for sure, but not “sexual” (wow—this blog is going to get so many Google hits now…). The photograph on the cover was actually shot at the Vigeland Museum and Park in Oslo, Norway, by our own intrepid world-traveler, Cecilia Brainard. The artist is Gustave Vigeland, who designed all of the 700+ sculptures at this famous institution.

But what I meant to say when I started this post is that the tireless Linda Nietes of Philippine Expressions Bookshop is setting up a Filipiniana Book Exhibit during the NaFFAA Empowerment Conference to be held this weekend in Burlingame. You will find me there (along with others, but I’m not sure who. Linda, if you’re reading this, perhaps you can share the names?) during the Author Booksigning from 5:00 – 7:15. I am secretly hoping that a few potential book buyers will be as scandalized by the cover as the woman at the Manila International Book Fair, as it will provide me with the perfect opening for a little chitchat about the book.

Before I sign off, I want to wish Cecilia and Nadine buena suerte as they tap away at their keyboards for the remainder of NaNoWriMo. Nadine reports that there is also some sort of follow-up event?—Something like NaNoReWriMo? I think that’s hilarious…

Thanks for reading! Check back soon!

~ Veronica