Queer Latino Musings on Literature

Charlie Vázquez

I’m the proud author of many things and have two books on the publishing horizon: a fiction collection due in November and my second novel in spring of 2010. And although I’m constantly writing and refining my fiction, it’s been my blog, Queer Latino Musings on Literature, that has facilitated my making new friends on the blogosphere and beyond. While writing and perfecting fiction is a solitary craft, blogging is “public” and helps to sharpen writing in a casual, journalistic way—one which is not necessary in fiction, where the whims of the imagination can run as far as they please.

I began my blog after my father passed away late last year, as a way to informally communicate his long and unusual story, with those who chose to “read/listen”. Despite the unfortunate genesis of my blog—and my initial experimentation with the format—it eventually evolved into what it is today: A forum where I post interviews with (mostly Latino) authors, share book reviews that I write for AMBIENTE (our nation’s largest Latino LGBT e-zine), and publish other announcements related to my own artistic life as a Latino writer in New York City.

I felt compelled to create this web-space, since it was something that did not exist when I sought it. As an author and reading series host, it has helped me find writers for my monthly NYC readings and has exposed me to new literature which has inspired me on many levels. It has forged new friendships and has allowed me to meet and befriend many of the “wizards” in my field of writing—the elders of the queer Latino literary world. It has been a perpetual joy; one that has consumed much time and energy—fuel.

As for my readership: My subscribers number into the hundreds and thousands of others read my bimonthly posts every month. I believe in quality first and only solicit to people I think might be interested. What I’m trying to do is connect Latino (and other) authors to potential readers and vice versa. There is a rich body of fine Latino literature in this country that continues to evolve as our lives as Latinos do. So it’s important to support our literary heritage by cultivating readerships for our many talented scribes. Both need the other.

Blogging, on my terms, has allowed me to achieve this to an extent. We all need to do our part in telling the fascinating stories of our lives and imaginations. And it’s a great service to bring the hard work and achievements of our writers into the hands of people who want to read their work (this includes our non-Latino allies). Reading in our country seems to be in decline and I hope that we, as literary Latinos, work the other way to enrich our culture. I’m proud to be doing my part and ask you to do yours—it’s easier than you think. Connect crucial websites to authors and readers—we’re all over the place and sometimes don’t know one another. Sometimes sending one email will make a huge impact on other people’s lives. The results of tiny actions can be enormous!

Happy reading!
Charlie Vazquez
http://charlievazquez.wordpress.com/

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