Angela Dominguez's Blog, page 8

Global Read Aloud

Thank you to everyone who is participating in this year’s Global Read Aloud! Here is a little video about this year’s #GRA19. I’ll have more information on how to submit your questions soon.

Wow, A New Website and Blog!

I've just upgraded! Check out my new website (with a newer blog):

www.angeladominguezbooks.com

Gracias! Thank you!

Galapagos Girl

I recorded this video for Lee and Low to help preview our upcoming book, Galapagos Girl, written by Marsha Diane Arnold. Enjoy!

OMG Book Festival

I just came back from the 2nd Annual OMG Book Festival. As part of the festival, we visited the wonderful kids at Castro Elementary and later did an event at Tattered Cover. I felt lucky to be surrounded with such amazing authors. Here are just a few pictures.

Stella Díaz tiene algo que decir

I'm delighted to share the Stella Díaz Book Cover for Scholastic's Club Leo. This just makes my heart swoon.

Book Launch and First Annual Whirliwind Book Festival

I just wanted to share some pictures from the book launch party of STELLA DÍAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY and the first annual Whirlwind Book Festival.

The book launch party for STELLA took place at one of the loveliest children's book stores I've been to BBGB. I'm lucky that I live so close to it! We had goldfish crackers, Mexican Pastries, and of course stickers. Thank you to everyone who came out especially Meg Medina.


The first annual Whirlwind Book Festival at Fearrington Village in North Carolina was a smashing success. It was a wonderful turnout. Plus probably one of the best things about these book festivals is that I get to meet so many fellow authors. I always leave exhausted, happy, and inspired. Thank you McIntyre's Books for putting it together.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, STELLA DÍAZ!!!!

I'm delighted to share that Stella's officially on sale!!! 

To celebrate, we made my Mom's delicious albondigas and of course ate at a restaurant named Stella. 


We also picked up a copy of Parent's Magazine which currently mentions Stella!  I honored to be one of Colby Sharp's recommendations of "Books That Turn Kids Into Readers." He even compared the book to Clementine, a personal favorite of mine. 




If you'd like to read more about STELLA DÍAZ or to order a copy, please visit the publisher's website. 

Stella Díaz Has Something To Say Blog Post #6

One week till Stella Diaz Has Something to Say hits the bookshelves. I just want to thank everyone who I either included or helped me along the way with the book. From my boyfriend Kyle who made me albondigas, to my close friend Erika who encouraged me with the early version of the book, to my friend Isabel Roxas, who I snuck into the story as well and to the real life classmates/teachers/librarians I had growing up, a big THANK YOU! Y GRACIAS! Just one week till it's in stores, but if you'd like to pre-order it, please click here. 

Kyle, the albondigas maker/boyfriend 
Erika and me back in San Francisco 
Isabel and me on our baking days. 
My elementary school librarian 
Elementary school staff
My dear friend Anna Gonzalez back in Elementary School 

Stella Díaz Has Something to Say Blog Post #5

Long, long time ago, well about 5 years ago,  Stella Díaz Has Something To Say was just an idea for a picture book. Expect that wasn't it's title. It's was called Stella Stares and it was just 32 pages.

I worked on that version of Stella for nearly a year until it was finally rejected by a publisher. In hindsight, I completely agree. It just didn't quite work as a picture book.



Still, that little Stella stuck with me. I've had other stories that weren't picked up, but I couldn't shake this one. In 2014, I began illustrating chapter books and reading a variety of them for visual inspiration. I feel in love with the stories and the voice of those characters. Soon my non fiction shelves were being replaced with middle grade novels by Kate DiCamillo and Erin Entrada Kelly. 
Those books gave me the inspiration to expand Stella to a longer story. A narrative filled with my own experiences struggling with shyness.  I worked with my literary agent for another six months and eventually showed my 7,000 word manuscript to Connie Hsu over coffee. Thankfully she saw the potential, but she also thought it needed to be three times the length... at least!

From there, I worked on it with Connie for several months without a contract. Every step of the way was exciting and challenging. This book is a dream come true and I can't wait to share it with readers. 
The book comes out in just two weeks. If you'd like to preorder,  you can here. 

Stella Díaz Has Something To Say Blog Post #4

I love visiting Chicago. I love it so much I even made it the setting for Stella Díaz Has Something To Say. While I had visited Chicago a few times, until 2015 I kept missing out on visiting the Shedd Aquarium. We tried, but it was closed for construction one time and another time we went on a day they weren't open. Those failed attempts inspired me to write about the Shedd in Stella before even seeing the inside. And writing about the Shedd, also gave me the perfect excuse to make a trip to visit.

I knew I had to see the Shedd in person to really capture the setting. I needed to see the aquatic creatures and details with my own eyes. Thankfully, the trip and Shedd didn't disappoint. Plus I got to spend a fun filled weekend with one of my oldest friends, Chris Pollard. Here are just a few pictures. Hope you enjoy!

AND it's only 3 more weeks till Stella's big debut! You can preorder it here. 




Leopard Printed String ray