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Volume 72, Issue 99,
Friday, February 23, 2007
News Festival spotlights Hispanic writing Annual event, which is now in its fifth year, serves to generate community interest, promote Houston writers by ASMA SIDDIQI
Every year, Houston-based writers, publishers and small business owners come together to give the city a taste of old, new and up-and-coming Hispanic literature. Local publishing house Millennium Press will sponsor this year's Hispanic Book Festival on Sunday at the Hilton Houston Southwest hotel, 6780 Southwest Freeway. The festival, now in its fifth year, is geared toward the city's Hispanic community, though anyone is welcome. "The purpose is to first publish books about Hispanic things in Spanish but also in English, and mainly Houston-based. We want to promote Houston writers to the community," said Andres Puello, director of the Hispanic Book Festival. Puello and other members of Millennium Press came up with the idea for the festival in 2003. Their primary concern was to support literacy in their community as well as encourage current and aspiring Hispanic writers. The actual launch of the festival was a slow process. The first festival, held in February 2003, was financed primarily by the members of Millennium Press, Puello said. The first festival had 17 tables -- this year there will be 60. The festival is still financed through Millennium Press, but local businesses contribute as well. Local writers, publishers and bookstores also help. Peullo said the festival not only gives organizations a chance to sell their books, but also allows them to get their names out . Because one of the main goals of the Hispanic Book Festival is to promote reading among the Hispanic community, those displaying books are asked to have special pricing for the buyers. One of the tables at the festival will be held by Arte Publico Press, the largest publisher of Hispanic literature in the country. The company has been a part of the Hispanic Book Festival since its inception, Arte Publico Assistant Director Martina Tristan said. "Events like the Hispanic Book Festival ... serve a dual purpose," she said. "They acquaint the Latino community with books by Hispanic authors in English and Spanish and they raise awareness in the non-Latino population about the wealth of literature available by and about the Hispanic community of the United States." The festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m., and admission is free. Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
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