MARCH  2006 
NEWSLETTER

CONTEST

Becoming Latina BookmarkIf you haven’t entered my contest this month yet, you still have time.  Check it out.  This is really a cool bookmark!

The Lara Rios bookmark was created by the very talented artist of Heaven Sent Jewelry.  Handcrafted with the colors of the BECOMING LATINA cover, this bookmark has the color of the flowers and a lime green (peridot).  In the center is a sterling silver heart bead with a letter L, and lastly a red Swarovski heart.  It’s gorgeous and since there will be a limited number made, something you can treasure forever!  So don’t forget to enter the contest!!

WEBSITE UPDATES

I’m not sure if I’ve sent any updates to the website this month.  If anything is new, it is probably in the Meet Lara section.  Check it out if you’d like to attend any events or book signings.  All the dates and times are listed there.

One thing I have not yet listed is that I will be attending the Celebrate Romance conference in Long Beach on March 31st.  I look forward to meeting many readers – maybe some of you!  This will be my first time at this event, and I’m excited.  Long Beach is special to me in many ways, but mostly because it’s where I met the love of my life!  My real life hero!  So to me Long Beach is one of the most romantic cities in California : )

Hope some of you will be there.

Becoming AmericanaBECOMING AMERICANA

BECOMING AMERICANA is still scheduled to be released in November.  I know many of you are anxious to read the sequel and have asked if Marcela and George make an appearance in AMERICANA.  And yes, of course they do.  Marcela will forever be in Lupe’s life.  She’s there to help Lupe again, but this time Lupe is older when Marcela needs her, she’s able to repay her mentor for all Marcela’s good deeds. 

More on AMERICANA in the coming months!

Becoming Latina in 10 Easy StepsBECOMING LATINA IN 10 EASY STEPS


Dr. Yolana Venegas, Lara Rios, Elena Perez

Dr. Venegas, Supervisor of Teacher Education,
Graduate School of Education,
 University of California, Riverside
Elena M. Perez, Chicano Student Programs,
University of California, Riverside

I’ve been having a ball with promotion of BECOMING LATINA.  Probably my favorite event recently was at my very own university, UCR.  One of my very best instructors, Dr. Venegas, was there and she brought along a wonderful group of teachers in training.  Being in the building where I spent so many hours learning and dreaming about my future, twelve years later, seemed almost surreal. 

It made me realize how much has happened in the past decade.  How my dreams have changed and how I’ve changed.  Back then, I would have been shaking in my shoes at just the thought of standing in front of an audience.  And I especially didn’t think I had anything to share that would be of any value to others.  Today, I not only think I have a wealth of knowledge and lessons to share with others (yes, now I’m overly confident and obnoxious), but I’m eager and enthusiastic about using my experiences to help others reach their goals.  Especially, young Latina girls who are much like I was when I was young. 

I remember being super shy, and with limited command of the English language, and insecure (this one still pops up), and having absolutely no confidence, and worst of all – not knowing who I was or what I wanted or how to get it once I figured it out. 

As most of you who have met me already know, I hope that BECOMING LATINA and BECOMING AMERICANA will at the very least encourage some to feel comfortable with who they are.

Thank you to all of you who have emailed me to share that you too have felt just like Marcela!

BLOG

Another contest is currently running on my blog.  You can win a copy of Jane Millioniare by Janice Lynn.  Don’t forget to stop by and visit my blog at www.lararios.blogspot.com

Until next month!

Much Love,

Lara Rios

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