Children’s book author intrigues crowd

The Writing Center’s Voices in the Monte Writers Series presentation on Nov. 14 featured readings, a book signing, and a talk on craft by fiction writer and former TAMIU professor Mary Sue Galindo, a Laredo native.The presentation was split into two segments, with Galindo speaking in the morning and again in the evening. During the first half, Galindo read from her children’s book, Icy Watermelon/Sandía Fría, written in both English and Spanish.”I liked her readings from her book [Icy Watermelon]; her voice had a nice impact. The book itself was great. It was very realistic and on point,” said Lorraine Ramirez, a senior. “I enjoyed the book because it encompassed family. It talked about happy, peaceful times, hearing family tales, and continuing legacies,” said Kimberly Thomas, director of the Writing Center.After reading Icy Watermelon, Galindo then demonstrated elementary-level lesson plans she developed, which were inspired by her book.”I think one of the goals we want is to get our children to read,” she said. “If [students] can connect with literature that captures their voice and persona, maybe that will get them to want to read.”Furthermore, Galindo spoke about obstacles she faced regarding local public education and border culture in literature. Her goal is to display the local vernacular of Spanish-“not as it’s spoken in Spain or Argentina”-in her works.Galindo said, “We speak two languages; that’s who we are. It’s as natural as breathing. I want to see it [the vernacular] validated as an authentic language.” In addition to documenting the unique language of the border, Galindo also wants to portray its bicultural experiences.”The challenge I’d like to personally take on is to document who we [residents of the border area] are – the way we are – and put ourselves out in the pages of literature,” she continued.Galindo also discussed her struggle to get published because of the Spanish content in her works, an obstacle she is hopeful she’ll overcome. “I like that she’s genuine. She told us the reality of trying to get published; she talked about money and how scary rejection is-it was an honest, genuine presentation,” said Destine Holmgreen, associate director of the Writing Center.At the end of the morning presentation, Galindo sold copies of her books and lesson plans and signed them for audience members, many of whom were former students of hers. For the evening presentation, Galindo read several excerpts from her manuscript, La Llorona Chronicles, to an audience of about 50. In this work, Galindo created fictional characters-“a collection of voices”-that relate their unique encounters with the cultural icon.”What I consider to be my forte is presenting voices,” said Galindo, “who through the guise of sharing Llorona stories, are telling their stories.”Galindo’s characters included homegirl and lowrider chic Janie Morales, a drag queen from Austin named Miss Andy, and Ophelia Villarreal, a Laredo business owner. Each account was told in a distinct voice suitable to the characters’ backgrounds and showed different sides of La Llorona. After each reading, the audience applauded; when Galindo asked for questions or comments on the stories, one audience member responded, “They’re really good and different and funny.”Overall, the presentations were well-received and enjoyed by attendees.Regarding future speakers for the series, Thomas and Holmgreen indicated they wish to highlight local talent and find authors with roots in Laredo culture who, according to Holmgreen, “bring Laredo to life through literature.”