Books have the power to connect us and expand our ways of thinking. But for an up-and-coming author, one of the biggest challenges is getting their book into the hands of your intended audience. Sunday, July 19, the Aurora Public Library District is helping aspiring authors with our first ever Libro Latino Fest. This event invites you to discover new voices, support Latino authors, and make connections with others in the community.
The idea for the Libro Latino Fest came directly from our community. “Alderwoman Juany Garza and community member Carmen Lawler reached out to me about hosting a Latino book festival,” said event organizer and elementary school services coordinator Mariana G. “We love finding new ways to bring people together and immediately thought ‘what better place than the library?’ to host this event!” Carmen added“I’m looking forward to seeing people connect, learn something meaningful, and leave feeling inspired.”
At the event, attendees can meet eleven local authors and hear their stories, struggles, and how they published their work. There’s Gabriela Gomez and her anthology Latina Golden Beauty, Liz de Ámbar with her children’s book El soñador y la estrella [The Dreamer and the Star], and Nestor Gomez whose memoir about a 70-pound pitbull, Rescued Me, tells the touching story of how he overcame a fear of dogs to find the love of his life. All our participating authors have put their hearts and souls into their books and are eager to share them.
To discover local authors, visit the Santori Library’s Local Author Collection which features books for all ages by Illinois writers. For digital readers, our website offers access to thousands of self-published eBooks. And as always, our Reference Librarians are available to provide recommendations and help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Are you a self-published author? We’d love to include your book in our Local Author Collection or help you share your eBook with readers online. Not quite ready for those steps? APLD hosts multiple writing themed programs and workshops for writers to practice their skills and gather feedback from peers.
Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a reader searching for your next great read, or someone looking to support Aurora’s Latino community, the Libro Latino Fest offers something for everyone. Join us Sunday, July 19 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Santori Library. While you’re here, visit the Local Author Collection on the third floor and show your support by checking out something new! For more information, visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org or contact the library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.