Ohioana Book Festival - A celebration of the written word

Most of us who write do so because we are compelled to it. Even those fortunate enough to achieve some measure of success still endure a long trail of setbacks along the way – and there is always the solitary nature of our craft. Being an Ohioana Book Festival featured author was an experience that made those sacrifices worthwhile. I want to publicly thank the Ohioana staff for this honor and the fine work they do on behalf of all Ohio authors and readers.

The book festival was marvelously coordinated, a day that made the authors feel special and gave readers a chance to share in the magic of writing. The outreach activities before the festival were elegantly managed as well. Congratulations to the Ohioana Library team on another wonderful event.

The Columbus Dispatch carried a full page story on the book festival

The crowds filed in promptly at 10:00am and lasted all day.

I was honored to be among the ten featured authors at the 2013 Ohioana Book Festival. Back row, left to right: Ellis Avery, Daniel Kirk, Robert Olmstead, Raul Ramos y Sanchez, Emilie RIchards. Front row, left to right: Rae Carson, P. Craig Russel, Bob Hunter, Sharon Short, Carla Buckley. 

Do you really know the facts?

Classifications of ethnicity and race in the U.S. can be bewildering -- and have changed over time. Do you really know the facts? Take the quiz below and find out. The correct answers may surprise you.

The U.S. will be a "minority" nation by 2050.
	True
	False
	Unclear
pollcode.com free polls

Most people of African ancestry in the Americas speak English.
	True
	False
pollcode.com free polls

The second largest "Chinatown" in the Americas was in what city?
	A. San Francisco
	B. Havana
	C. New York
pollcode.com free polls

Which of the terms below has never been used as a racial category on a U.S. census?
	A. Quadroon
	B. Hispanic
	C. Hindu
	D. Korean
pollcode.com free polls

Want the correct answers? You'll find them here. 

Thanks for taking part!

By Far the Best of an Exciting Trilogy

This recent Amazon review of PANCHO LAND by journalist Leonel Martinez captures the essence of the novel so well, I think it merits its own blog post. Thank you, Leonel, for taking the time to pen your insights.

By Far the Best of an Exciting Trilogy

A review by Leonel Martinez

A few years ago, when I read the first book of the Class H Trilogy, "America Libre," I wondered why no novelist had thought about this plot before. Picture this:

After months of steadily increasing violence between Hispanics and non-Hispanics across the southwest U.S., cities throughout the nation erupt in flames. Finally, Congress passes legislation to approve the erection of large walls around inner-city barrios, transforming them into quarantine zones like the Japanese internment camps of World War II.

But the violence increases until the truth is obvious: The United States is in an all-out civil war against Latino insurgents, derisively called "Panchos."

This is the focus of Cuban-born author Raul Ramos y Sanchez's three cautionary war tales about a Latino secession from the U.S., "America Libre," "House Divided," and "Pancho Land." The latest installment, "Pancho Land," is by far the best.

The main character, Manolo "Mano" Suarez, is an unemployed mechanic and military veteran who finds himself the reluctant leader of the Latino insurgency. But in "Pancho Land," he fights a more personal war as well, becoming increasingly embroiled in conflicts with his rebellious son, Ramon. As if that's not enough, Suarez works with the movement's diplomat to fend off the rebels' more radical elements and ensure the Latino secessionists can one day be recognized by the United Nations as a legitimate government.

The book surpasses the others at least in part because Ramos seems to have gained confidence with each. The characters in "Pancho Land" are more complex, the plot more intricate, and the political lessons more striking.

When the insurgents choose Latinos to infiltrate the U.S., for example, they recruit those of lighter skin or with African features because most Americans tend to stereotype Latinos as brown. And Ramos drives the point home by emphasizing a fact that would surprise most in the U.S: There are more black people who speak Spanish in the Western hemisphere than those who speak English.

Read these books, and they will reaffirm what I hope most of us know: The only enemy is extremism.

LINK TO ORIGINAL AMAZON REVIEW

The May winner of a signed novel from the Class H Trilogy

Brooklyn-based photographer Jhonn de La Puente is this month's winner of a signed novel from the Class H Trilogy. Congratulations, Jhonn! I really appreciate your support and that of all the people who like the Class H Trilogy on Facebook.

Would you like to win a signed copy of AMERICA LIBRE, HOUSE DIVIDED or PANCHO LAND?

You'll be automatically registered to win every month when you like the Class H Trilogy page on Facebook. It's as easy as clicking on the link below.

LIKE  THE CLASS H TRILOGY ON FACEBOOK

Last day for PANCHO LAND Kindle edition at $1.99

    BUY HERE    

Just a reminder that today is the last day for the special price of $1.99 on PANCHO LAND for Kindle. I hope you'll take advantage of this 60% savings on a novel that is among the top ten in Amazon's Top Rated Political Fiction.

My publisher introduced this three-day discount to celebrate my selection as a Featured Author at the Ohioana Book Festival. You and your friends in the region are cordially invited to attend the festival which is free and open to the public.

Read the Dayton Daily News article about my selection as a Featured Author

Ohioana Book Festival

May 11, 2013

10am to 4:30pm

Fort Hayes Metropolitan

Education Center

546 Jack Gibbs Boulevard

Columbus, OH 43215

Ohioana website 

PANCHO LAND among Amazon's Top Rated Political Fiction

It's proving to be a week of good news. Following the official announcement of my selection as a Featured Author at the Ohioana Book Festival, I learned of another windfall of good fortune...

PANCHO LAND reached the top ten in Amazon's Top Rated Political Fiction titles. 

To see my work listed alongside George Orwell, Vince Flynn and other political fiction luminaries is something I dared not dream when I began work on my first novel, AMERICA LIBRE. This milestone is a testament to the colleagues, friends and family who have helped me hone an audacious idea into a story that readers have rated as a satisfying experience. My deepest thanks to all of you.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

P.S.
If you've considered buying PANCHO LAND, the next two days might be a great time. My publisher has reduced the Kindle price from $4.99 to $1.99 (60% off) to celebrate my selection as a Featured Author at the Ohioana Book Festival. More details at this link: http://amzn.com/B009NZS6PO

Selected as a major book festival Featured Author

Dayton Daily News story by reporter and fellow Featured Author Sharon Short

I'm proud to announce the Ohioana Book Festival has selected me as one of its ten Featured Authors for 2013. This honor is based on the release of the third novel in my Class H Trilogy, PANCHO LAND. The Class H Trilogy includes the novels AMERICA LIBRE (2009), HOUSE DIVIDED (2011) and PANCHO LAND (2012).

               

In the seven years since its inception the Ohioana book Festival has become one of the major literary events in the Midwest. And my publisher (whom I'm happy to say always looks out for the bottom line), is making available a limited-time discount to celebrate this special recognition…

PUBLISHER'S CELEBRATION SPECIAL!

60% Off 

   ORDER NOW   

I hope you'll join me in celebrating this special honor and will share this news with friends and family.

Where and when:

Ohioana Book Festival

May 11, 2013

10am to 4:30pm

Fort Hayes Metropolitan

Education Center

546 Jack Gibbs Boulevard

Columbus, OH 43215

Ohioana website 

April Winner of a Signed Novel from the Class H Trilogy

Congratulations to the April winner of a signed novel from the Class H Series... Amielynne Barr! Thanks for your support, Amie -- and thanks to everyone who likes the Class H Trilogy, the page where you are automatically entered in a drawing to win a signed novel every month. 

Want a chance to win a signed novel from the Class H Trilogy every month?
Like the Class H Trilogy page on Facebook. 

Adult Fiction: Just 19 of Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers

As an author of fiction for adult readers, I was not expecting this. While checking on the status of my own novels today (a near-onanistic habit most authors indulge in), I decided to scope out Amazon's Top 100. This is terra incognita for my titles and I was startled to find how few adult fiction titles made Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers.

Just 19, to be exact.

Granted, this is a snapshot of a list that changes hourly. All the same, I cannot imagine this is a freak trend.

Below is a breakout of the adult fiction titles by genre…
Literary: 5
Erotica: 4 – by same author
Thriller: 3
Fantasy: 3
Horror: 2 – by same author
Romance: 1
SciFi: 1

So here's an observation for aspiring writers. Want to be a bestselling author? Consider writing a diet or self-help book. Between them, they make up more than 50% of  Amazon's Top 100.

The 19 adult fiction titles and their rank in Amazon's Top 100 are listed below.

One Voice Radio Interview

PANCHO LAND, the final novel of the Class H Trilogy

Originally aired on:

One Voice Radio

Monday March 18 at 1PM Pacific - 4PM Eastern

Listen to this podcast as host Christian "El Catrin" Henriquez and I discuss the Class H Trilogy of novels and the issues they raise including: immigration reform, Arizona book bans and the Latino identity.

Host of One Voice Radio, Christian "El Catrin" Henriquez