News re: One Book, One San Diego

I wanted to thank all of you for your support in the One Book, One San Diego competition. Because of you, Into the Beautiful North leads my worthy competition by nearly 1100 votes (as of this posting). However, changes are afoot. Below is a statement I sent to the organizers tonight. You have been so great, I wanted you to be the first to know.

Loyally, Luis

It was an honor for me to be nominated for One Book One San Diego for Into the Beautiful North, a book that was partially written as a thank-you to San Diego for inspiring so much of my career.  And I deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and support of San Diego's librarians, booksellers and readers. You made my book your choice by a wide margin and I will always be honored. However, the organizers of One Book One San Diego have made abrupt changes in the program and the dates. This has proven to be unworkable for me and I regretfully withdraw from the One Book One San Diego program.

After being involved in over thirty One Book programs, you can imagine how much it meant to me to have the opportunity to take part in my hometown's event. I am disappointed, but hopeful the San Diego reading community will enjoy the literary celebration they deserve and continue to support the other nominees.

I am so deeply honored by the readers and fans who supported Into the Beautiful North and voted so enthusiastically. I heard from huge numbers of Latino readers, grade school, high school and college alumna, and dozens of book clubs. Thank you! My family and friends in San Diego were great cheerleaders for One Book One San Diego and asked their friends and family to support my book. I know there were voting blocks from the Coast Guard and Navy bases and I couldn't be prouder to have their support. I was encouraged by organizers to "campaign" for votes to help publicize the contest and I was moved by the enthusiastic support for all of the authors.

I am looking forward to coming back to San Diego on book tour later this year and sharing with you my new novel, Queen of America. It's been a while since I've been back in town and I promise, we will have an amazing time. I am excited to see all of you then and to introduce you to the next chapter.  I hope this too-brief visit will serve to honor those who voted for me as well.

 

Thanks again—Hasta la Vista, San Diego.

Luis Alberto Urrea