In late August I received the thrilling news that I was accepted into Las Musas. Why was I so excited? I’d been fortunate to have met many wonderful people in SCBWI Michigan these past years, but I didn’t cross paths with many other Latinx KidLit creators (although many members of Las Musas are also members of SCBWI). As a writer, I needed that connection and now I’m meeting many Latinx writers, several who are debut authors as well.
What is Las Musas? (The Muses) Las Musas
is
the “first collective of Latinx women and otherwise marginalized
people whose gender identity aligns with femininity, writing
and/or illustrating in traditional children's literature who have to
come together in an effort to support and amplify each other’s debut or
sophomore novels in US children’s literature.”
As posted on our website: Our mission
is “to spotlight the contribution of Las Musas in the evolving canon of
children's literature and celebrate the diversity of voice, experience, and
power in our communities.”
Las Musas debuted in 2018 with 12
women and now boasts 100+ members. Our Latinx community includes a vast
and diverse group of people with cultural ties to Latin America. “We are not
one voice, but many.”
In
addition to this dynamic advocacy and the support offered to debut authors, I find
the idea of being a part of a collective attractive. Too many organizations
seem to be top-down hierarchal power structures where decisions are made at the
top. The possibility of having my efforts make a difference beyond being a
volunteer is energizing. Each Las Musas member is asked to serve on one or two teams to
remain active. We--and only us--are the ones who make the various benefits of
membership and programs offered thrive. We are
challenged with this ideal that WE ARE the organization, and it will only be as
strong as our individual efforts toward keeping the collective strong.
In Las
Musas, decisions are made by the group: As a collective, Las Musas
works with a close-to-consensus ideal as we can get. If a new venture or
sponsorship is proposed it must be voted on. Similarly, anything that proposes
a change to standards, voting, or membership acceptance must also be brought to
a vote.
The benefits of being a
part of Las Musas are many. There’s the Las Musas website with 1000+ visitors a
week. Active debuts/sophomores have their own author page featuring their book
and bio. They are active on social media, sponsor a newsletter, have a
professional Canva account open to all members, organize
panels/workshops/virtual events, help with school visits, host a podcast and
book club, and collaborate with the Latinx KidLit Book Festival, a virtual
celebration of Latinx KidLit books, authors, and illustrators.
This year’s LKBF’s free
workshops and presentations are truly amazing (You can also access previous
LKBF’s presentations on YouTube.). Find
information about this year’s Festival Schedule at: https://www.latinxkidlitbookfestival.com/
You can join LIVE from your
classroom, library or home for FESTIVAL FRIDAYS starting September 22nd through
October 13th! Meet your favorite Latinx creators of picture books, middle grade
and young adult novels, poetry, comic books and graphic novels!
Enjoy four Fridays
(September 22, September 29, October 6, and October 13) of creative language
arts and visual arts content for students of all ages. In addition, there are
Educators’ Nights and Writers’ Nights that begin Sept. 20.
Special note: Supreme Court
Justice Sonia Sotomayor opens the LKBF with a discussion of her NYT bestselling
children’s books! She joins Rafael Lopez and Angela Dominguez on panel to
discuss their series: How to Build a Better World, September 22, 11 a.m. ET
You, too, SCBWI-MI, can
help support the work of Latinx KidLit creators by purchasing our books, asking
your local library to order our books, and by checking them out! You can
support us through social media as well. We have room for all of our stories,
and strong alliances will help lift every single voice in solidarity to better
provide a broader understanding of Latinx diversity to young readers.
*Las Musas Books website: www.lasmusasbooks.com
Instagram: #lasmusasbooks
Facebook: Las Musas Books
Instagram: @latinxkidlitbf #lkbf23
Facebook: Latinx KidLit Book Festival
Isabel Estrada O'Hagin grew up in the desert borderlands of Arizona, dancing and singing her way through life. Always a dreamer, she blends her life experiences as a performing arts educator with her love of Mexican-American culture & folklore into stories. When she’s not writing, she loves to dance, cook, read, daydream, and play with her two gatitos, Dante and Cosmo. She also loves her volunteer work for SCBWI-Michigan as Outreach Coordinator and K.A.S.T. Co-Coordinator (A shout-out to my KAST friends—Where everyone’s a star!) LA MARIACHI is her debut storybook!
wow that panel at the conference sounds awesome! So cool. Thanks for the posting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us know about Las Musas, Isabel. It sounds like an awesome organization.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being invited to join Las Musas, Isabel. It sounds like a really supportive group, and some authors I follow are a part of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful organization of, and for creatives! Congratulations to you, Isabel, and to the group, for they have just welcomed an extremely talented writer and leader!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Isabel! I’m glad you brought this lovely, creative, and supportive group to our attention.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Isabel. I'm thrilled for you and loved learning more about Las Musas.
ReplyDeleteoops that was Carrie Pearson :)
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