Piece by Piece picture book

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Good news: The ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) for my picture book, Piece by Piece: Ernestine’s Gift for President Roosevelt, have arrived.  The final hardcover books are due out in September 2023; however, you can always preorder at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or your local bookstore. The story is inspirational and the illustrations are beautiful. This true story is set in San Antonio, Texas.

My second bit of news: I have signed a contract for a yet-untitled middle-grade novel set in Texas. Tons of research went into this book which describes the struggles of Mexican-American pecan shellers who fought for social justice during the late 1930s. The story is also set in Texas.

I wish you much success in your writing. Hang in there. It will happen.

Daughters of character in my book

It was my pleasure to host three of Ernestine’s four daughters at my house so that I could sign their books and take a picture. Their mother, Ernestine, the character in my book, Piece by Piece: Ernestine’s Gift for President Roosevelt, was an amazing, creative person. I feel honored to have written this book which can now be bought at any of your local bookstores, Amazon, and Lerner at https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/23019 LtoR: Alice, Virginia, and Charlotte. Not available was Mary Helen.

Piece by Piece: Ernestine’s Gift for President Roosevelt

Yay!! My historical fiction picture book, Piece by Piece: Ernestine’s Gift for President Roosevelt, with awesome illustrations by Anna Lopez Real is now out. Published by Millbrook, it is a touching story of a Mexican-American girl from San Antonio, TX, who created a beautiful clock case out of discarded food-relief crates during the Great Depression. The clock case is still on display at the FDR Museum in Hyde, New York. The book can now be bought at Amazon or any local bookstore.

Author Lupe Ruiz-Flores with latest book.

KIRKUS REVIEW

PIECE BY PIECE: ERNESTINE’S GIFT FOR PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

A small but feel-good historical anecdote. The true story of an elaborate clock case that a young Mexican American resident of San Antonio made for Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a thank-you gift. A gingerbread fantasy crafted from 156 pieces of sugar pine crates saved from New Deal food deliveries, the 40-inch-high case sits today in the FDR Presidential Library. It was made in 1937 in recognition of help received during the Great Depression. The letter to the president that she composed to go with the gift, which is excerpted in the narrative and shown in full at the end, is likewise marvelous.

Happy Thanksgiving

It’s been a while since I posted here. I am in the middle of revisions for another middle-grade book. I do have good news but am unable to reveal it until further notice. The illustrations for my historical picture book, Piece by Piece, are just about done. They look great. Wishing all of you writers and illustrators a great day for writing and for your artwork. Hasta luego! Happy Thanksgiving!

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month – Day 5 – My guest today is the award-winning Lupe Ruiz-Flores. Please go by and welcome her and learn about her books and inspiration for her books. She also has a new book coming in the fall of 2023 – Piece by Piece.

Check my blog: https://lmgonzalez.wordpress.com/blog/

Also, check Books Page on Ms. Ruiz-Flores’ website, a truly wonderful list of bilingual children’s books, which sometimes feature “Lupita” and her adventures. 🙂

Here is a picture of the author at a reading. The book cover is of “Lupita’s Papalote”, one of her first books and the first book I bought of hers several years ago.

We call each other “Tocaya” since we’re both named Lupe.😉

Congratulations on your many awards and successes.

May be an image of 1 person, child and book

5You, Caren Creech and 3 others

Fallen Tree

There was no hurricane wind, no thunderstorm, no warning, in fact we’re in the middle of a drought,  but … this morning when I woke up and looked out my kitchen window, there was this fallen tree in my back yard. Not all the tree, but entire branches had broken off. They fell over my fence, just hanging there, almost touching the ground, but not quite. They resembled a canopy of sorts. The branches will be cut and removed, of course, but it leaves me wondering why this perfectly good-looking tree which offers some shade suddenly decided not to.

Revisions, revisions, revisions

Author

It has been hot, hot, hot here in Texas. Every day the temperature hovers above 100. The grass is drying, the plants are withering, and it is just too darn hot to be outside.

I have been working on revisions for a middle-grade novel with my agent from Upstart Crow. The editorial suggestions she makes are making the story better. I wish I could work on revisions every day, but personal life gets in the way. I try and get some reading in there as well. Not enough time in the day, though.

This is all part of the writing process—the fun part for me. The story is there; it just needs to be refined to make it better. This is the editing process where you add, delete, or change the way it’s going.

I also have several picture book manuscripts that I need to resurrect. I just sent out a poetry manuscript of about 58 poems to a contest. The winner will not be announced until October. All submissions take time. A writer has to learn patience and always has to be working on something else while waiting.

Happy to report that the black and white sketches from the illustrator for my next picture book have been completed. The book will be out in the Fall of 2023. Can hardly wait.