Edited by Blas Falconer and Lorraine M. López, The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity (University of Arizona Press, 2011) is a diverse collection of essays written by some of the best emerging and established contemporary writers of Latin origin to help answer the question: How can we treat U.S. Latina and Latino literature as a definable whole while acknowledging the many shifting identities within their cultures? By telling their own stories, these authors illuminate the richness of their cultural backgrounds while adding a unique perspective to Latina and Latino literature.Essayists include Lisa D. Chávez, Teresa Dovalpage, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Joy Castro, Steven Cordova, Daniel Chacón, Urayoán Noel, Gina Franco, Peter Ramos, and others.
The Other Latin@ is a finalist for Foreword’s Book of the Year Award, and has won an Independent Publisher Book Award: Silver in Adult Multicultural Non-Fiction (2012).
Praise for The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity
“With this collection of complex and articulate essays, Lorraine López and Blas Falconer dare to unpack what mainstream American media and culture have been forcing into a single neat package for decades: Latino. What was once perceived as an inert and non-threatening designation will hereafter be recognized as a politically-charged identity thanks to the power and verve of the voices that thrive in multidimensionality. A timely manifesto!“ —Rigoberto González, editor of Camino del Sol: Fifteen years of Latina and Latino Writing
“An essential and vibrant collection of essays that explore the plurality as well as the differences found in Latino voices and their journeys into their past.” —Marjorie Agosín, author of Of Earth and Sea: A Chilean Memoir
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Online Reviews of The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity
“Against Singular Identities,” by Amelia M.L. Montes, La Bloga
“Diversity within Diversity,” by Maria Browning, Chapter 16
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Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets
Edited by Blas Falconer, Beth Martinelli, and Helena Mesa, Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets (Southern Illinois University Press, 2010) is a collection of twenty-nine insightful essays that draw upon both established and emerging poets to create a one-of-a-kind resource and unlock the secrets of writing and revising poetry. Each author examines in detail a particular poetic element, shedding new light on the endless possibilities of poetic forms, such as imagery, the duality of myth and the personal, and the versatility of traditional poetic forms. The essays include the full text of the poems discussed, and detailed, relevant writing exercises that allow students the opportunity to directly implement the strategies they have learned. While many advanced topics such as authenticity, discordant music, and prosody are covered, this highly readable volume is as user-friendly as it is informative. Essayists include Phillis Levin, Patricia Clark, Stanley Plumly, Claire Kageyama-Ramakrishnan, Michael Waters, Victoria Chang, Kevin Prufer, Shara McCallum, David Keplinger, Nancy Eimers, and others. For a sample essay, see Phillis Levin’s essay, “Recording Mortal Sight: The Drama of Prosody,” posted on Poetry Daily.
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Praise for Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets
“Mentor and Muse is perhaps the most complete recounting of the various ways poets find themselves elected and pursued by their art. While many of the essays focus on elements of craft, their real subjects are inspiration and how poetry casts its mysterious spell.” —Michael Collier, author of Dark Wild Realm
“Anyone who has ever wondered about the importance to poets of the placement of a single punctuation mark, or why they grow so excited about the feel of a word in the mouth or the shape of an image in the mind’s eye, will find the answer in this generous collection of essays.” —Kate Daniels, author of A Walk in Victoria’s Secret
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Both The Other Latin@: Writing Against Singular Identity and Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets are available at at your local, independent bookstore and at Amazon.
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Blas Falconer 