Luis Alberto Urrea's Blog, page 19
January 13, 2012
Sweet home Chicago
We've lived in Chicago since 1999, which is longer than we've lived in any one place as a family. But it's not felt natural to call Chicago "home." I see myself described variously as a "Southwest writer," "a San Diego native," "a writer with deep Colorado ties," "Tucson's own," "a border writer," etc. But I have rarely been described as a Midwestern writer or a Chicago author.
I feel that's all starting to change. This week, I was honored to inaugurate the Chicago Tribune's new Printers Row Live! author series. It was designed to be a conversation between me and Elizabeth Taylor, the Trib's extraordinary literary editor. It was a downtown event at the Trib Tower, they were charging for tickets, it was being held on a Wednesday night, Obama was in town, snow was in the forecast. Our college daughter couldn't even come because this quarter she has a class on Wednesday nights. All the excuses were already lining up. Cindy and I talked all the way into town about how there probably would be a small crowd and how we hoped not to embarrass the Trib.
But when we got there, Elizabeth met us with such warmth. We got a quick tour of the inspiring Tribune Tower (Cindy mourning her old reporter days), everyone was so friendly and happy to see us. They had pre-sold more than 80 tickets. And by the time the event started, there wasn't an empty seat to be had. What a wonderful crowd! Some old friends, some students, a contingent from our beloved Kankakee, including Mayor Green! Elizabeth and I had a great talk, I shared a bit of Queen of America and we had plenty of time to talk with the audience. Signed books for over an hour. For an author, it was a perfect event.
Sweet home Chicago.
So thank you to everyone who came out. Thank you to the Tribune and Elizabeth Taylor for the warm embrace.
And if you missed it, the great thing about doing an event at a media center like the Tribune Tower is there is plenty of coverage! I'm especially happy to post the link to the podcast here. I think it's worth a listen. We have a great conversation, me and Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune's blog of the event can be read here. The podcast can be downloaded here. Those links will also lead you to some pictures of the event. We look like we're having a great time!
Tags: ChicagoPrinters RowElizabeth Taylorpodcast
January 11, 2012
La Gira, Parte Dos*
*Book Tour, Part Two
After a small breather so we could enjoy Christmas with our kids, the Queen resumes her march today.
Book Tour is back on! Part Two commences with tonight's wonderful event with Elizabeth Taylor at the Chicago Tribune Tower. I know Obama's in town, but I'm excited to be able to talk with Miss Elizabeth about Queen and the writing life. I will probably bust out some reading/performance. Hope to see you there. Details are below in my events section.
Next week, it's back to planes, trains and automobiles. We're hitting a couple Midwest spots, going to Texas and then to Phoenix. It's an airplane-a-day week and I hope the weather cooperates!
I wanted to thank everyone who came out for the first half of this book tour. I was touched and humbled by your enthusiastic response. I was also so grateful to work in several benefits on that leg and thank you for your support of those causes (the food bank in Berkeley, Fishtrap in Portland, One Book San Diego, the Young Child Immigrant Center in NYC). It gave book tour during the holiday season a special glow for both Cindy and I.
Not wanting to drown you in constant postings of every bit of news, we've compiled a list of reviews, interviews and other amusements below, should you be so inclined to investigate any or all. I'm sure I've missed something, but no matter. I think you get the gist.
Also, a gentle reminder: If you read Queen, please post a review on Amazon.com or Goodreads. Those sorts of things really matter to publishers and booksellers -- and book buyers. It's the best thing you can do to support any book or author you love.
And if you're over on Facebook, make sure to check out my fan page. Lots of photos and updates from the road. Much silliness and amusement found there.
Hopefully, I'll soon get back to writing!
ON TO THE RECAP:
I'm kicking off the Chicago Tribune's new literary lecture series, called Printers Row Live! tonight. I'll be in conversation with Tribune literary editor Elizabeth Taylor, who is amazing. The Tribune has been so generous in their coverage of my work this week. I am so grateful and honored. The esteemed Alan Cheuse reviewed Queen of America for the Trib. You can read it here. And then, Miss Taylor -- who keeps the world of literature alive in Chicago -- moved me to tears by her words here.
The Arizona Republic, in partnership with Changing Hands bookstore, has named Queen of America their book pick for the month of January. I am deeply honored. We will celebrate on Jan. 21 when I get there. For now, you can read the review here.
Las Comadres and the Latina Book Club has picked Queen of America for their January read.Thank you! We'll be talking later in the month. You can find out more here. And here.
Thank you to the Dallas Morning News. I'll be seeing you Jan. 20 and again on Jan. 26 (see my calendar for details). Nice review here.
Was delighted to be interviewed by Guy Raz on All Things Considered. If you missed it, you can listen in here. And then Alan Cheuse named Queen one of the best gift books of the season. Here are the details.
Happy to be noticed by the New York Times and thank you for the Editor's Choice nod! The review is here.
Thank you to the Onion's A.V. Club for this great review of Queen. You can read it here.
So flattered to get a shoutout from Zyzzyva in this piece on giving good readings.
Melissa Chadburn EARNED this interview for The Nervous Breakdown. I was a bit ... uh lazy ... in getting back to her. She was awesome.
Not sure if I posted this before, but Time magazine asked me to talk a bit about my Five Favorite Things of the moment. Hard to narrow down, but this was fun. Read it here.
Loved this review of Queen that was featured in the excellent noir site Criminal Element. You can read it here.
A nice interview in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. You can read it here.
A fun interview with Steve Bertrand on Books in Seattle. (Who knew it was going to be videotaped? I thought it was just for radio!) See it here.
The podcast of a wonderful evening with our friends at the Free Library of Philadelphia last month. You can listen here.
Tags: book tourreviewQueen of Americapodcast
Chicago Tonight
Watch December 22, 2011 - Luis Urrea on PBS. See more from Chicago Tonight.
January 10, 2012
Book Tour: Phoenix
A special visit to one of our favorite places, Changing Hands. For more information.
Event Time: 7 p.m.
January 3, 2012
Chicago Tonight meets Queen
Phil Ponce interviews Luis on WTTW's Chicago Tonight. They talk Queen, inspiration and immigration.
Video Embed:
January 2, 2012
Ready for 2012?
Really like this photo in the Chicago Tribune. Blog update coming soon, I promise!
December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
Hello, my friends. We've been a bit quiet since returning from the great tour of 2011. Just staying home and getting ready for the holiday. Well, aside from TV stuff. Haha. The second leg of the tour will begin in early 2012. I hope to see many of you out there. And we'll post some new stuff here soon. Just wanted to thank you for your love and support, for your loyal friendship, and for your goodwill. You mean a lot to me. I think of you often. I hope you're safe and warm and happy tonight. Talk to you soon. XXX, L
December 12, 2011
Party at WORD in Brooklyn!
Our friends at WORD in Brooklyn are throwing a launch party for Queen of America and you're invited! They would like a Facebook RSVP, if you can. Dec. 14: see you there!
In the Whirlwind
It's been amazing out here. Long and grueling,, but incredibly rewarding and humbling. It's been so awesome to see you and meet you, new friends and old palls. The booksellers and stores on this West Coast jaunt have been so enthusiastic and supportive. I can't tell you how gratifying that's been.
A few unexpected treats since we last chatted: a new friend brought me pictures of Quicksilver Messenger Service from the 60s; our daughter's college roommate joined us at an impromptu book signing on Bainbridge Island, we saw BOTH ends of a rainbow at once on Puget Sound between our ferry and the shore; a manager at Elliott Bay Books told me not to expect 60 people at my reading -- and 60 people showed up!
Lots of other cool things: Cindy's brother Billy came back from Iraq while we were here; so enjoyed the ninja signing stops all over San Francisco and Seattle, meeting the awesome singer Tara Linda who wrote a song based on Teresita (link below)!
And NPR!!!
in the interest of making this easier for everybody, here are a few links for your amusement:
Was thrilled to be interviewed for Weekend All Things Considered. We had a wonderful chat and you can hear it here.
Honored to blog for Powell's last week. Proud of these little essays. You can read them here.
The lovely accordion babe Tara Linda wrote a song about Teresita. I'll post it when I get home but until then, you can read about her here.
I'm hosting an open mic benefit tonight for Fishtrap, my beloved writing conference in NE Oregon (details below in the events section). I'll be teaching a workshop there this summer and their fellowship application process has started. You should apply
I've been fortunate that Queen of America has been featured in nearly every major newspaper that still runs boom reviews (Thank you Seattle, Miami, Philadelphia and others that picked up e syndicated reviews from the LATimes and San Francisco Chronicle). I really liked this one from Portland's Willamette Week. You can read it here.
and in the interst of fairness, and for the conversation, the Washington Post Review.
December 6, 2011
Queen-sized bed of America
Bleary-eyed, no coffee yet but trying to keep on top of the details. Interviews, posting tour photos on Facebook, even some Christmas shopping. It's amazing what you can do from your hotel bed (when you have good wireless service!). Wanted to pass on a few more links for cool stuff.
The LA Public Library posted great photos and a podcast of my recent ALOUD event there. There are a few pictures and if you click on the podcast button, you can hear my chat with the awesome Carolyn Kellogg of the LATimes. You can check it out here.
Had a great and fun interview with Terry Hong of the Smithsonian for Bookslut. You'll like it, I promise!
And I'm really enjoying my weeklong guest blogger gig at Powell's. It's making me moody (in a good way) and grateful. Follow along here.
i can't post photos here from the road, but I'm keeping an album on my Facebbok fan page. You can see it here.
