Happy, Happy Holidays!!

Felicidades!

I wish you all the happiest times during this season.  We all celebrate different things at this time of year, but one of the things we share in common is gratitude for another cycle almost completed.  Although we may have experienced pain and suffering within this cycle, we recognize that because of the continuity of life, we have the opportunity to transform our experiences from those of pain to those of light, healing, and eventually,  joy.

We also share in common our hopes for a future that is brighter and more just to all the inhabitants of this planet.  Although at times it may seem that the injustices are too grandiose, please remember that just by your being here, you are making the world a brighter place.  Your inner light is enough.  When you share it with others by acts of compassion, sharing your thoughts, and just being, the world is made a brighter place.  Please do not forget that.

You are enough.

Together, here in the Northern Hemisphere, as our days approach the shortest length of light, our desire to share our warmth and bring joy to others grows.  This is a natural time of giving gifts.

This season I encourage you to remember that the best gift you can give others, is releasing your true self, the pure beauty that is you, into the world.

The best material gift you can give to someone is a book

Whether it is a book that you loved dearly, a book that expresses a collective fear, a book that makes you laugh or cry, reading a book is an experience.

Books take us to other lands; sometimes exotic, sometimes mundane, but always away.

Books take us on journeys, sometimes to outer, magical worlds, other times inside ourselves or others.

Through a book, an author can be a companion, a lover, a voice of reason or warning.

A book can be read again and again, each time providing a whole new experience.

This year, give a book as a gift.  It will be a gift to your loved one, to the author, to society, to yourself.

If you need a financial break, by all means use the deals that are out there from the large distributors.

Today, I also urge you to buy at least one book from an Independent Book Store, this way your purchase will also be ensuring that our literature remains unimpeded by the needs of commerce.

Keep publishing honest, raw and real.  Buy Independent whenever you can!

BELOW IS MY AFFILIATE LINK, IF YOU WANT TO BUY A BOOK, SUPPORT AUTHORS, INDEPENDENT BOOKS STORES, AND MUSINGS, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO PURCHASE!!!





Here is a list of books that I recommend.  Some of these authors previously stopped by Musings on their Latino Book Tour.  I encourage you to look for their interviews in the archives and make your selections that much more personal.  I never receive compensation for any thing or person I showcase on Musings.

I have to say that for me, my biggest gift this year has been your support.  I truly feel blessed to have you all in my thoughts when I write what's in my heart.  THANK YOU!!!

Musings' suggested gifts for this year:

Social Commentary/Noir Fiction:

Raul Ramos' America Libre

Intelligent Chica Lit:

Anjanette Delgado's The Heart Break Pill

Detective/Mystery:

Lucha Corpi's Gloria Damasco Series

Children's Books:

Rene Colato Laínez' collection I am René the Boy, Rene has Two Last Names, and others

YA:

Jo Ann Hernandez' The Throwaway Piece

Poetry:


Armando Romero's El Nadaismo colombiano o la busqueda de una vanguardia perdida

Photography:

Lea Ybarra (with Carlos Fuentes, Edward James Olmos) Americanos: Latino Life in the United States