CSU-Pueblo and the Pueblo Library District host book festival

PUEBLO - Pueblo City-County Library District and Colorado State University - Pueblo's Chicano Studies and English departments will host the 3rd Annual Latina/Latino Book Festival: Discover Your Literary Universe, November 17-19. Readings by Benjamin Saenz will begin at 4 p.m. in the Library and Academic Resources Center 109.

This year's festival features award-winning author and poet Benjamin Alire Saenz, whose five collections of poetry include Calendar of Dust (American Book Award), and Dark and Perfect Angels (Southwest Book Award from the Border Librarians Association). His critically acclaimed first novel, Carry Me Like Water, was also awarded a Southwest Book Award and a Latino Literary Award for Best Novel. Saenz won the PEN/Faulkner Award in 2013 for Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. His 2014 book, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, is a Prinz Honor book. Also a writer of short stories, young adult fiction, and children's books, Saenz won awards for Grandma Fina's Wonderful Umbrella and A Perfect Season for Dreaming.

Presentations on writing, editing, and publishing are scheduled. Events are listed below and are free and open to the public.

Art exhibit, One November Morning, will be on display. Descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre of November 29, 1864, have created an exhibit of artwork depicting the day when more than 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho people were viciously massacred at Sand Creek, CO. The work of Cheyenne and Arapaho artists Brent Learned and George Levi focuses on the remembrance, honor, and strength of their ancestors and leaders.

Registration is available online for the Nov. 19 events at www.pueblolibrary.org, by selecting November 19 on the calendar and then selecting Latino Book Festival. Registration also is available Saturday morning at the event.

For more information, contact Charlene Garcia Simms at 719.562.5600, ask for genealogy.

To reserve an $8 boxed lunch, contact Bob Pacheco at 719.544.4040 by Wednesday, November 16.

Schedule of events:

Thursday, November 17, 4 p.m.

CSU-Pueblo Library and Academic Resource Center (LARC) 109

Readings by Benjamin Saenz

Friday, November 18, 6:30 p.m.

Rawlings Library, Ryals Room, 4th Floor

Reception for Benjamin Saenz and poetry readings.

One November Morning, art exhibit on display

Saturday, November 19, registration required for this day

Rawlings Library, Ryals Room, 4th Floor

9-9:30 a.m. - On-site registration

Vendors open and refreshments provided.

9:30 a.m. - Benjamin Saenz presentation

10:30 a.m. - Break

10:45 a.m. - Dr. Luis Torres

Rewriting, changing and rearranging, pruning, and smoothing…

11:45 a.m. - Lunch

12:30 p.m. - Jill Smith, director at Denver Publishing Institute at DU

Book Publishing Unveiled: Beyond the lofty ambitions and the highbrow reputation, it is a business.

1:30 p.m. - Panel

Authors of El Movimiento de Pueblo, An Anthology of Chicana and Chicano Activism share their experience in writing and publishing the book.

2:45 p.m. - Break

3 p.m. - Reading by Benjamin Saenz

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.