NEWS BLOG

NMBA News, Opinion, and Articles are powered by members.
To submit, please email your materials to libroentry@gmail.com
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A message from the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library

"​The Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library and the National Endowment of the Arts are privileged to be sponsoring the community-wide Big Read featuring Luis Alberto Urrea’s novel Into the Beautiful North.  While the NEA’s grant has been generous, we need your support to make our series of events available to and impactful for all members of our community.
 
The Big Read is a community-wide celebration of reading and literature in all its wonderful forms. We have chosen the magnificent and timely book Into the Beautiful North for its relevance to issues such as migration and cultural discomfort that impact our community. We feel that these issues will resonate within our community and provide opportunities for personal growth and foster discussions between all members of our community.
 
The Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library in conjunction with The Santa Fe Public Library and other community organizations are planning fantastic events that will focus on Urrea’s themes of migration, the meaning of home, and cultural discomfort. 
 
We invite you to be part of these efforts and to consider becoming a sponsor of Santa Fe’s Big Read knowing that you will be fostering the joy of reading and unity in our community."
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First-, second-, and third-place winners will be awarded in 12 categories of fiction and nonfiction prose and 8 categories of poetry. The entries must be original, unpublished (see definition below*), and in English. You do not have to be a member of SouthWest Writers to enter.

Deadline: Midnight May 31, 2021 (Mountain Time)
Fees: $10 per entry
Submission: Online only
For the Contest Submission Form, click here.
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The Women’s National Book Association invites publishers to submit books for consideration for the 2021 Great Group Reads program by April 16, 2021.

Between February and July of each year, the GGR selection committee reads the books submitted by publishers and picks 20 books of literary merit that encourage conversation and reflection about timely and provocative topics. Books from last year’s list addressed issues such as family dynamics, illness, immigration, LGBTQ rights, racism, war, faith and social justice. The books illuminate the human experience and allow readers to explore social issues and personal relationships. 

Submission information below:
  • Publishers can submit books now through Friday, April 16, 2021 to be read by the Great Group Reads committee. 
  • 20 books will be selected at the end of July as 2021 Great Group Reads
  • Preliminary submission guidelines: 
    • Publishers may submit literary fiction, including novels, novellas, short stories, and memoir, including essay collections. Books in translation are eligible
    • Books must be published in the U.S. between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021
    • Titles must be submitted by publishers, be limited to two titles per publisher or imprint and be readily available through customary distribution channels 
    • All formats — except original e-books — are eligible, including trade-paper reprints published within the designated time frame
    • Please do not submit previously submitted titles, previously selected authors or self-published books
    • Publishers should submit titles to Kristen Knox, Great Group Reads chair, via email at ggr@wnba-books.org (subject line: Great Group Reads 2021). Please include suggested titles and a brief description of each title.  
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ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM
The New Mexico Writers annual grant program is intended to support New Mexico authors in a variety of literary endeavors. The program features a competition for funding new works or works in progress by writers from all populations and geographic areas of New Mexico, including lesser-served communities.
 
Grants are awarded at the New Mexico Writers annual dinner, where grantees are honored as special guests. The 2021 annual dinner is scheduled to be held on June 10, 2021, at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe. (Date is subject to change depending on COVID-19 restrictions in place at that time).
 
WHO SHOULD APPLY
All New Mexico writers are invited to apply for funding to support projects in ONE of any of the following genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, journalism, playwriting, and screenwriting.
 
ELIGIBLE AWARD FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Grant recipients are eligible to apply for grants in one of two categories:
 
New Mexico Writers Annual Grant: New Mexico Writers signature grant supporting writing, research, publishing and other activities pertaining to the creation of new works or works in progress. Grants typically range from $500 to $2,000.
 
Douglas Preston Travel Grant: This special annual $1,000 grant, funded by best-selling author and Santa Fe resident Douglas Preston and matching donations, specifically supports an author’s travel needs in the service of a writing project.
 
Applicants for either grant may request funding to support their work as needed, including attendance at a writing-related workshop, conference, or mentorship program; research-related travel costs; or enabling time away from employment to work on a project.  
 
Award recipients are required to submit a report to New Mexico Writers detailing how the grant was used and how their work benefited from the funding.
 
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Grant applications are due via online submission no later than March 31, 2021. Awardees will be notified by no later than May 15, 2021.
 
Click here for additional information and an application form. 
 
We invite you to apply!  
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The Borderland Writers Co-op of Southwestern New Mexico is proud to announce the publication of Stunning Stories of Fantasy and Science Fiction: Superb Collection of Speculative Fiction.

Join four award-winning authors, Kate Rauner, EJ Randolph, Alethea Eason, and me, Kris Neri, in eight realms of fantasy and science fiction. Otherworldly adventures to touch your heart and thrill your imagination.
* A deadly secret lurks in idyllic fields of flax; 
* Chatting with the dead, even when you're a fraud, can't end well on Friday the 13th; 
* A blue trunk-nosed alien sniffs out the truth behind a smuggler's delivery; 
* Mining Jupiter's storms leads to an unexpected discovery; 
* and more engaging stories.

The Kindle edition is currently FREE for downloads, a holiday gift from the Borderland Writers Co-op. Download your free editionOr purchase the paperback
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New Mexico Press Women have many book awards with upcoming deadlines. 

2021 Zia Book Award:
​Each year the award rotates to one of three categories: children’s literature, nonfiction, and fiction. To accommodate this schedule, a book published in the last three years is eligible. The 2021 award is open to nonfiction books published in 2018, 2019, or 2020.

Finalists will be invited to attend the award ceremony on Mar. 20, 2021, in Albuquerque (or online if necessary) and speak about their books. Finalists will receive either the Award or an Honorable Mention. To be eligible for the Award, the author must attend the ceremony.

The entry fee is as follows:
If sent by Dec. 31, 2020:
• $25 for NMPW members
• $30 for nonmembers

​If sent after Dec. 31, 2020:
• $35 for NMPW members
• $50 for nonmembers
Entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 11, 2021. An acknowledgement letter will be emailed upon receipt of the entry.
NMPW New Mexico Communications Contest:

​The annual New Mexico Communications Contest recognizes excellence in print, broadcast, electronic or Internet media, photography, marketing, public relations, graphic arts and journalism in New Mexico. Contest winners are announced in spring and awards are presented at New Mexico Press Women’s annual banquet. First place winners advance to the national contest.
The purpose of the contest is to improve professional skills by recognizing excellence in communication. The message is what is important. The message — how well it communicates, how it is directed to its target audience, how well it achieves its objectives — is the judging standard.
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NMBA tried something new at the November virtual luncheon meeting--Speed Networking Sessions! We noticed that it is challenging to have meaningful conversations and connections online in our group luncheon meetings, and so at the November meeting we tried out randomly assigning present members to small groups of four or less where they were able to chat and network for around 10 minutes and then rejoin the main meeting. After 1 0r 2 sessions with four members, we had a few 15 minute rounds with only 2 people in each group. Members had a wonderful time connecting with others in the group who they may be old friends with, or even meeting for the first time! It was a great exercise and we plan to continue to incorporate a few speed sessions into many of our virtual luncheon meetings going forward. If you plan on joining the luncheon meeting, please be sure to RSVP HERE beforehand.
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Nancy King reflects on her life and childhood in her new memoir, Breaking the Silence. Empowered by the stories she told herself as a child, she learns to use stories as part of her work as a university professor teaching theater, drama, world literature, and creative expression. Gradually, with the help of bodywork and therapy, she finds her voice. Says no to abuse and abusers. Reclaims her self and life. Writes a memoir. You can find her brand-new memoir here or at any bookstore.



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Martha Egan’s new book, Relicarios: The Forgotten Jewels of Latin America, celebrates finely crafted bi-faced lockets popular during the Spanish Colonial era. Relicarios held prints, miniature paintings, or bas-relief sculptures of holy figures behind glass in silver or gold frames. The jewels could be simple or lavishly encrusted with gems. Although Jesuits in particular exported tons of relics to Latin America from Europe, in general only the elite wore relicarios containing relics. The pendants served to reflect loyalty to the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church, devotion to certain saints, and as powerful amulets to protect the wearer from harm in the precarious New World. Although written for the general reader, much of Egan’s information will be new even to historians of Latin American art. She includes such rarely discussed topics as Bethlemite monks’ badges, Agnus Dei wax medallions, and Native people’s affinity for religious jewelry. 
Topics such as New Spain’s ivory trade with Manila, miniature painting, silversmithing in Latin America, and bas-relief carving in indigenous media yield new information. With 200 color photographs, many of them not previously published, this elegant 176-page book, printed in Italy, is the result of 40 years of research, correspondence, interviews, travel, and writing. A glossary, an index, and an extensive bibliography accompany the text. Fresco Books of Albuquerque published Relicarios in September 2020. This handsome book is now available from Pachamama, 4829 Corrales Road in the Casa Perea Art Space, tel. 505-503-7636, or from the bookseller of your choice.
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NMBA member Gene Goldberg is releasing a brand new children’s book titled Once Upon a Pizza: Eight Crazy Ways Pizza Wasn’t Really Invented, and One It Might Have Been. This is an illustrated children’s book with a small collection of fun short stories. He invites NMBA members to reach out to him if they are interested in reading an advanced copy and posting a review on his behalf. Contact Gene at: geneg1103@gmail.com

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NMBA News, Opinion, and Articles are powered by members. To submit, please email your materials to libroentry@gmail.com