ESCRITORES de la FRONTERA

APRIL 11, 2013, THURSDAY, 3:30 – 10:00 PM

BORDER WRITERS / ESCRITORES de la FRONTERA

Literary Symposium

 

3:30 – 5:15 PM   Panel Discussion + Q&A

6:15 – 6:45 PM   Casual Reception

6:45 – 9:00 PM   Short Readings (seven authors)

9:00 – 10:00 PM  Q&A + Book Signing

Nowhere is the world more connected, more complex, than in the borderlands. This multi-sponsor event highlights the international scene only three hours from San Marcos, Texas, and the Austin-San Antonio corridor—a landscape extremely relevant to students and these communities but often unexplored. Gathering together seven writers who can speak intimately of an area where two countries meet—geographically and culturally—creates the opportunity to highlight the complexities and contradictions of our global, interconnected world. Their stories foster understanding and appreciation for the uniqueness of South Texas, which reflects overlapping Mexican and American cultures, and for both of these cultures in their own right as well. Expected topics range from immigration to religion to economic realities, since these aspects of border life are woven into the fictional and nonfictional work of the participants. Audiences are invited to participate in these deeply important conversations. Books will be for sale during the afternoon event, the reception, and the book signing after the readings.

Texas State University will host “Border Writers / Escritores de le Frontera: A Literary Symposium” Thursday, April 11 in the Wittliff Collections on the seventh floor of the Alkek Library.

SPONSORS: This symposium is supported by a Global Odyssey Grant. Co-sponsors include both Kappa Delta Chi, a Latina sorority, and Omega Delta Phi, a multicultural fraternity, as well as Texas State’s English Department, College of Education, Modern Languages Department, College of Applied Arts, Center for the Study of the Southwest, Office of Equity and Access, History Department, College of Health Professions,  College of Liberal Arts, and Wittliff Collections.

PARTICIPANTS include authors who’ve been finalists for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics

http://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2013/March-2013/BorderWriters032613.html

 

First Texas Publishers Contact Information

First Texas Publishers
PO BOX 181
San Juan, Texas 78589
firsttexaspublishers@gmail.com

www.strawberryfieldsramirez.blogspot.com
www.firsttexaspublshers.com

Writing to Insanity: Book giveway number TWO !!!!

Writing to Insanity: Book giveway number TWO !!!!: "To continue celebrating my blog-a-versary and now my birthday, which is next week, I'm giving another book away. What can I say? I love bo..."

NACCS in McAllen, Texas

Chuy will be participating in the NACCS conference this February. Please come out and support NACCS, local speakers and authors, South Texas College, and experience an amazing event!

Session 6: Building J 1-608, 3:15-4:30PM

Tapón y Gloria: Translating Experience into Poetry, Gender, and Life

Christopher Carmona, Texas A&M – College Station: “Practicing Palabras: Raúl Salinas, the Xicanindio Poet Redefines what it means to Beat”

Chuy Ramírez, Independent Scholar: “Igualada, An Essay: Exploring the Gloria Anzaldúa Link between Powerlessness and Chicana/o Self Expression”

Friday February 25th: 7:00 PM – McAllen Convention Center
Meet Authors and Book Signing: Begins at 9:00PM

Participating authors include: Maylei Blackwell, Norma E. Cantú, Margaret Dorsey, Laura Cortez García, María E. Cotera, Margaret Dorsey, Dionne Espinoza, Daniel Garcia Ordaz, Grisel Gómez Cano, Juan Antonio González, John Morán González, Katherine Hoerth, Thomas Kreneck, Ire‟ne Lara Silva, Lady Mariposa, Lara Medina, Manuel Medrano, Josie Méndez Negrete, Felicitas Núñez, Cynthia Orozco, Kamala Platt, Marco Portales, Catherine Ragland, Chuy Ramírez, Delia Rodríguez, Vicki Ruiz, Rhina Toruño Haensly, John J. Valadez, Javier Villarreal, and Emilio Zamora

Noche Cultural: Begins at 9:00PM, (Concurrent with Book signing session)

http://twitter.com/texaspublishing

http://twitter.com/texaspublishing

First Texas Publishers Immediate Release

On the web:
www.iberoaztlan.com
Media Contact: (210)394-1254



February 10, 2010

Chuy Ramirez Debuts Strawberry Fields
First Book of Short Stories

(McAllen, TEXAS) –Chuy Ramirez released a book of short stories, Strawberry Fields, on Friday, Feb. 5th. He held a successful book launch at Los Cazadores restaurant, located at 901 N. Main St., during McAllen’s Artwalk.

“Strawberry Fields tells a tale of a Mexican family as they make their way from Northern Mexico to South Texas,” says Ramirez. “Strawberry Fields is symbolic of both the fields, at which farm workers labor to improve their lot, and an abstract place that represent the dreams and ambitions of young Joaquin, the protagonist.” Joaquin, the main character, in Strawberry Fields takes the readers on a journey of self-identity.

Ramirez grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and was involved in various activism movements in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Ramirez attended Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law where he served as Articles Editor for the International Law Journal. He is a partner in the law firm Ramirez & Guerrero, LLP and is currently corporate legal counsel for Lone Star National Bank. Strawberry Fields is his first fictional work.

For more information or to purchase Strawberry Fields, you can visit the Web site at www.iberoaztlan.com or contact Mirta Espinola at 210-394-1254. The books are also available for purchase at two locations: 600 E. Nolana Suite 200, McAllen, TX 78506 and Ebony Estates at 700 N I Rd, Suite B, San Juan, TX 78589.

About First Texas Publishers, San Juan, Texas

First Texas Publishers was founded in early 2009 with the objective of providing writers an opportunity to publish and distribute their initial works. It is anticipated that the first run prints for new artists will not exceed 2,000 books with the objectives being (1) to publish a well-designed and edited product, (2) to identify an test an initial niche market (regional, ethnic, age, etc) in order to defray the publishing costs, and (3) distribute a well-published product to agents and national publishers and distributors for the purpose of marketing the product.

Book Launch...........coming soon...

For Immediate Release
Media Morphosis
Contact: Elizabeth C. Martinez
Phone: (956) 821-8662



December 14, 2009

Author Chuy Ramirez Launches his Book of Short Stories – Strawberry Fields

Inaugural book depicts the life of Mexican immigrants dealing with a new culture
San Juan, TEXAS—San Juan native and attorney, Chuy Ramirez, has spent over 40 years both participating and observing how Mexican Americans in South Texas both integrate with American culture and impact that culture. In his early years as a high school and college student during the late ’60s and early ’70s he was an active participant in then fledging grass roots and political movements. He supported Cesar Chavez’ and Tony Orendain’s efforts at unionizing farm workers and helped organize La Raza Unida Party. In late December 2009, Ramirez will launch his first fictional-novel, Strawberry Fields, which unfolds a touching story about the trials of a Mexican family as they make their way from Northern Mexico to South Texas. Strawberry Fields is symbolic of both the fields, at which farm workers labor to improve their lot, and an abstract place that represent the dreams and ambitions of young Joaquin, the protagonist.

Strawberry Fields draws the reader into Joaquin’s world focusing on the themes of self-identity, self-worth and the transition into a different culture. The stories in Strawberry Fields chronicle the early years in the life of a successful attorney who, reaching age 50, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Joaquin, recounts the brusque comments of his father echoing in his memory, and the shame he felt about his migrant lifestyle when he was a child. Strawberry Fields represents a rite of passage for the immigrant family.
The book is being distributed online at www.iberoaztlan.com. Dates for an official book launch and signings will be posted soon. For more information about Strawberry Fields, please contact Elizabeth C. Martinez at 956-821-8662.
Photo Caption: Strawberry Fields Author Chuy Ramirez.

About Chuy Ramirez

Chuy Ramirez is an attorney who practices law in McAllen, Texas and is a partner in the firm Ramirez & Guerrero, LLP. He is currently corporate legal counsel for Lone Star National Bank, a Texas national bank with branches throughout South Texas and San Antonio. He grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and is no stranger to the strawberry fields, to which he traveled over the years with his family. Ramirez attended Pan American University at Edinburg, Texas and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law where he served as Articles Editor for the International Law Journal. Strawberry Fields is his first fictional work.
Ramirez lives in San Juan, Texas with his wife of 38 years, Aida, who is a retired public school teacher. He has two children: Jesus Ramirez and Mirta Espinola, and is the proud grandfather of four: Chuy Ramirez III, Carla Ramirez, Victoria Ramirez and Isaiah Matthew Ramirez.