I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Wanted to also say thank you if you attended one of my book presentations in 2009 and for also purchasing my book. I truly appreciate your frienship and support. I pray for 2010 to be a better year for all of us and for our economy to improve. Happy 2010.

New copies of “Hope in Times of Darkness: A Salvadoran American Experience” arrived yesterday to VROMAN’s Bookstore. Please feel free to swing by and purchase a copy of the book in Pasadena – it would be a great Holiday gift.

Address of VROMAN’s Bookstore:

Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 449-5320

I had a great time at Nimitz Middle School. Thank you to Ms. Castillo for inviting me to speak to the great students at Nimitz Middle School. The other presentors were awesome. My little girl had a great time too. She really enjoyed the presentations too.

Check out the Multimedia Video Link from La Opinion newspaper:

http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/6zc_PUGI8B?pid=NnOt5BpGGSvtcgw9PrlbHiKtbYEz4NE3

Thank you to Mr.Sanchez and Mr. Foot (Principal) from Le Conte Middle School – for inviting me to go speak there. It was an amazing experience. A lot, a lot of the students there are Salvadoran Americans/centroamericanos and Armenian too. They were very proud that a Salvadoran American author came to speak to them today. I asked 300 plus students “have you ever seen or read a book about the Salvadoran American Experience” and only one raised her hand. At the end of the two presentations – a couple of the students came up to me and told me about how their parents had experienced torture in El Salvador and other students confided that they live in households that have domestic violence issues. I was truly INSPIRED by these wonderful students.
LE CONTE is a special school – with a dark and mysterious past – but now is improving – thanks to the dedicated teachers and Mr. Foot (THE PRINCIPAL). Gracias a todos/as y que Dios los bendiga.

Thank you to Ms. Refoua – Teacher Librarian – for inviting me to speak during lunch time at BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL. The student interest and diversity was awesome. Students asked great questions and a couple of the students showed me their excellent POETRY writing. I also had a great student come up to me and asked me for my autograph. I donated a book for the Belmont High School Library, Virgil Middle School Library, and Glassell Park Elementary School Library. It is for our students to have access to read literature that they can relate to and be proud of.

Gracias a BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL Y A SUS ESTUDIANTES. Sigan adelante!

The rain reminds me of my childhood in El Salvador. The images of the mountains never left my mind.

I am getting excited about the presentation that I will do at Le Conte Middle School and Belmont High School students. These two schools have so much history – it is incredible.

Moving forward.

I had the joy and honor to speak to a class of third graders at Glassell Park Elementary School. It was one of the most beautiful moments in my life. To speak and have a deep, profound, and authentic conversation with children. They asked me between 40 to 50 questions. They were so so excited to meet an author and they asked me “how does it feel to be famous?” I said that my job is to spread knowledge and to inspire children like themselves to believe in themselves and their full potential. Thank you to Ms. Lorena Alonso for inviting to speak to her classroom. I truly enjoyed it. It may my day in so many different ways. I will never ever forget that one hour.

Thank you to Professor William Perez and Professor Martha Barcenas-Mooradian for inviting to speak at Pitzer College. I truly enjoyed making the presentation and meeting the wonderful students. Especially the high school students that were visiting as prospective students for Pitzer College. The questions that were asked were profound and thougtful. Such as “what is hope” and what does it truly mean?

Thank you for the support from the students and Professors. The Claremont Colleges (Pitzer College) campuses are beautiful. If you want a top quality education – apply to the CLAREMONT COLLEGES. They are awesome.