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Earlier this year I blogged about Primary Source when they hosted a Global Read of Mitali Perkins‘ book Bamboo People.  On March 2nd Primary Source will be hosting a new Global Read, this time focusing on Christina Diaz Gonzalez‘ YA book The Red Umbrella. The online discussion forum will be followed by a live web-based session with Christina on March 9th from 3:00 – 4:00pm EST.  Anyone interested in global issues is welcome to take part in this free event but must register online here.

The Red Umbrella follows a 14-year-old Cuban girl and her brother sent by their parents to live in the United States during the tumultuous period of 1960s Cuba. Christina says the story was ” loosely based on the experiences of my parents, mother-in-law and many of the other 14,000 children who participated in Operation Pedro Pan.”

Talking about why she wrote the book, Christina says:

“Obviously, this is a personal story and part of my family history. In fact, it’s an important part of American history and yet there wasn’t much written about it, especially from the point of view of the children who experienced it. The book showcases how the U.S. has always been a haven for those seeking refuge from injustice and oppression and how average Americans have stepped up to help those in need, even if they were foreigners in our country. I also wanted to show the pride immigrants (in this case Cubans) have for their homeland, but how, in the end, family is what matters most… home is not a physical place. It’s where you feel you belong, where you are surrounded by people who love and accept you.”

The Red Umbrella has been appearing on many YA book lists since being published in May 2010, including ALA/YALSA’s 2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults. You can read an interview with Christina here, and there is also an amazing book trailer made by Christina’s brother-in-law:

I'm really excited to be the new listserv editor for FL SCBWI! I owe SCBWI so much for all the wonderful conferences, workshops, support, and connections over the years, and am thrilled to give back. Florida is bursting with great news right now, and I'd like to share some of it with all of you (plus, I have some great market info, too).

But first...I want to congratulate Christina Diaz Gonzalez (cdgred_umbrella) on her amazing launch for her debut novel, THE RED UMBRELLA. It was standing room only! There were well over 300 people there, and she sold more than 300 books at her first signing. No wonder her wonderful book went into a second printing before the official release date! Here are a couple of photos:




Here are a few things from my first listserv post (I had to make a few changes because some events listed have passed already, and I added one piece of market news that will be in my next post).

Don't forget to sign up for the amazing Mid-Year Workshop. The Novel Intensive and Picture Book Intensive are full, but there's still room in the Illustrator's Intensive and all the workshop tracks. Check out the amazing line up on our website, and join us in Orlando (the hotel is on Disney property, so it's a great excuse to take a family vacation)! http://www.scbwiflorida.com/details.htm Hop on over to our website and look at the schedules (I believe a couple haven't been posted yet...but keep checking, because they should be up soon). Don't forget to look, because some of the tracks have homework. http://www.scbwiflorida.com/agendas.htm

GOOD NEWS! Congrats, everyone. :)

BOOK RELEASES AND SIGNINGS:

Happy book birthday, Adrienne Sylver! Her non-fiction picture book, HOT DIGGITY DOG - THE HISTORY OF THE HOT DOG, illustrated by Elwood Smith, was just released on May 13. She'll be signing during her launch party on May 22 – 11 a.m. at Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave. Coral Gables, FL). Join her for a fun day of crafts, books and free hot dogs! Check out her website for more details about her picture book and additional signing dates. http://www.adriennesylver.com/home.html

Christina Diaz Gonzalez's debut novel, THE RED UMBRELLA, already went into a second printing before its recent release! Join her on May 21-23 at Cuba Nostalgia (Miami-Dade Youth Fairgrounds, Miami, FL). Check out her website for more details about her novel, additional signing dates, and a great book trailer. http://www.christinagonzalez.com/home.html

Donna Gephart's debut novel, AS IF BEING 12-3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT! won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award. 5th and 6th graders and EVERYONE else . . . come meet Hammy the Hamster and Donna Gephart at a fun event at Books & Books to celebrate her new book -- HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL! Sunday, May 16 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm at Books & Books (265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL). http://www.booksandbooks.com/Donna_Gephart. That's tomorrow! I know it's sh