Stay In Step With Ceci!
June 2008
Samartin's First Novel Wins Prestigious International Latino Book Award
The International Latino Book Awards presented San Gabriel author Cecilia Samartin the prestigious Mariposa Award for best first book (English) by a Latina or Latino for her stunning debut novel of 2007, Broken Paradise. The critically acclaimed book about Cuban best friends separated by politics has also been published and praised in Spain, the United Kingdom, Holland and Germany. The book made its Portuguese debut on June 10, 2008.
Selected as a "Discover Great New Writers" featured novel by Barnes & Noble, the impressive 2007 debut has been praised by National Book Award winner Carlos Eire and newspapers nationwide. Eire calls Broken Paradise "a stunning literary achievement."
Fittingly, the news of the award came at BookExpo America (BEA) on May 29-June 1, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where Ms. Samartin was asked to speak regarding her new, all-the-more acclaimed book Tarnished Beauty.
The Association of American Publishers (AAP)'s Publishing Latino Voices for America Task Force chose Tarnished Beauty for its Latino Recommended Reading List and Kirkus Reviews awarded the book its prestigious star of merit. Ms. Samartin has also recently been featured by the "Comadres" book network in New York, by Sirius radio’s "Angels On Call", and was asked to be a celebrity author for the new Borders in Mira Loma.
Bom Dia! Portugal Drinks In Cecilia's First Novel!
 What could be better than a great book by Cecilia Samartin and a fine glass of port wine? Our friends at QuidNovi in Portugal thought the same thing and, as of June 10, they now have it: Broken Paradise is now available in Portugal under the title Coração Fantasma. The title alludes the original European book title, Ghost Heart, and this is the 4th translation of the book for entry into a European market. The award-winning novel was previously translated for Holland and Germany (2004) and for Spain (2006). Although not technically translated into the King's English, Ghost Heart did make its United Kingdom debut in both hard cover and paperback in 2005. Muito Obrigado, Portugal!
Borders Features Ceci for Launch of "Inland Empire" Store
If you live in California’s "Inland Empire" (the "909" to locals), you will get a chance meet and chat with Ceci on June 1st at the Grand Opening of Borders Booksellers in Mira Linda. Cecilia will read passages from her amazing new book and be glad to meet you and sign a personal note in your book. Festivities start at 2 p.m.
The address is 12423 Limonite Avenue, Mira Loma, CA 91752. Click here for the Borders' website
May 2008
 Ceci To Be Featured At World's Largest Book Event In L.A.!
The largest Book show in America, BEA, has invited Cecila Samartin to be part of their "Latino Author Voices Live" author program at this year's Los Angeles event at the end of May and early June!
Ceci will discuss the back-story on the inspiration behind Tarnished Beauty and about being a Latina author. The event takes place on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., May 30, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A book signing will follow the discussion.
Joining Ceci will be David Iglesias, author of In Justice, and Perez Hilton, author of Red Carpet Suicide: A surivival Guide on Keeping Up with the Hiltons.
April 2008
 AAP's Latino Voices Selects "Tarnished Beauty" For Recommended Reading List!
Ceci was honored again this week when the Association of American Publishers (AAP)'s Publishing Latino Voices for America Task Force chose "Tarnished Beauty" for its Latino Recommended Reading List as part of the Latino Books Month celebration! Ceci is honored to join a list of distinguished authors. Click here for a look at all the authors.
 "Angels On Call" Dial Up Tarnished Beauty
Super Psychic Mary Occhino will feature Ceci on her live call-in radio show on Sirius Radio on Thursday, April 24, 2008, between 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. EDT. "This should be fun!" says Ceci … and it will! It seems a perfect fit with the mysticism of Ceci’s critically-acclaimed novel, Tarnished Beauty.
Ms. Occhino’s shows offer guidance on relationships – health, family issues, career concerns, as well as closure for all those who have lost love ones. All of these issues can be found in the journey of Jamilet, the heroine of Tarnished Beauty. And Ceci’s background as a social worker should be the perfect compliment to this extra-world conversation. Enjoy it by tuning into Sirius Stars Channel 102.
March 2008
Bright Lights, Crown City
Southern California fans of Cecilia Samartin will get their chance meet and chat with Ceci on March 27 at a reception for the release of her new book Tarnished Beauty. Ceci will be at Mojitos in Old Pasadena, at 69 Raymond Avenue, starting at 6:30 p.m., and will discuss her books!
Come meet Ceci and have her sign a personal note in your book!
For more information you can call 323.344.8080 or 626.796.2520.
 New York, New York (Start Spreading the News)!
New York fans of Cecilia Samartin will get their chance meet and chat with Ceci on March 20! That’s two days after the release of her new book Tarnished Beauty. Ceci will be the featured author at the Las Comadres event at Border’s Books & Music store in Columbus Circle (Time Warner Center). Come meet Ceci and have her sign a personal note in your book!
For more information you can call 212-823-9775 or CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE for directions.
 
Cecilia Samartin Invited To Speak At Prestigious BEA in May!
The BookExpo America selection committee has selected Cecilia Samartin to speak about her new book, Tarnished Beauty, as part of BEA’s for the Latino Voices Live author event May 30 at 3:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Cecilia and other acclaimed authors will talk about the “back-story” and the inspiration behind their upcoming works. A book signing will follow the event.
Joining Cecilia are David Iglesias (In Justice) and Perez Hilton (Red Carpet Suicide: A Survival Guide on Keeping Up with the Hiltons).
Please check the website www.bookexpoamerica.com as the event draws nearer because times are subject to change.
February 2008
Enter to Win the Broken Paradise Sweepstakes By Feb. 29, 2007!
Just go to this link and fill out the form to win a copy Ceci’s critically-acclaimed first novel, Broken Paradise, newly released in paperback:
 Broken Paradise Released In Paperback on Feb. 19!
Cecilia Samartin’s American debut novel, Broken Paradise, is available in bookstores in paperback as of Feb. 19, 2008. The critically-acclaimed novel is published by Washington Square Press (ISBN-10: 1-4165-5039-9, ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-5039-6) and has a list price of only $14, although most online booksellers offer further discounts.
Praise for Broken Paradise has ranged from such literary elites as Carlos Eire, National Book Award-winning author of Waiting for Snow in Havana ("Gripping, poignant, and enlightening...a profound meditation on the complexities of the human heart and the redeeming power of love...") to New Zealand Public Radio ("It's like drinking a full bottle of Cabernet by yourself").
May 2007
 Cecilia and Broken Paradise Selected for Barnes & Nobles “Discover Great New Writers” Series
The Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program has selected Cecilia Samartin and her American debut novel, Broken Paradise, for its Summer 2007 series. The program is intended to help publishers introduce dynamic new literary writers to the reading public, highlighting the most impressive new works published each season. The Discover program is featured at all 800 Barnes & Noble, Bookstop, and Bookstar stores, as well as at 30 prominent Barnes & Noble College Bookstores.
April 2007
 ‘Comadres, Compadres & Friends Book Club’ Features Broken Paradise
Borders Books & Music of Columbus Circle in New York has announced the launch of ‘The Comadres, Compadres and Friends book club’, a book club dedicated to reading and discussing books in English by Latino authors. On April 19, 2007, the club discussion explores Cecilia Samartin’s novel, Broken Paradise.
February 2007
 Cecilia Samartin’s American Debut Novel, Broken Paradise, Hits Bookstores With Critical Acclaim
The release of Cecilia Samartin’s American debut novel, Broken Paradise (Atria, 2007) has sparked impressive attention and praise from literary leaders, such as Carlos Eire and Janet Fitch, for the book’s dramatic story that taps into the universal experience of immigrants. The uncompromising and compassionate work resonates strongly with reviewers because of the insider’s view of a unique true-life experience.
Eire, who is a National Book Award winner and author of Waiting for Snow in Havana, calls Broken Paradise “a stunning literary achievement and a vividly stirring historical testament. This novel bears witness to the real price exacted on human beings by ideologically-driven social experiments.”
Fitch, whose novel, White Oleander, was an Oprah’s Book Club pick, calls the work “A richly textured story by an accomplished literary artist, sensuous and haunting.”
Ms. Samartin was born in revolutionary Havana and arrived as a refugee to the United States with her parents as a young girl. Unlike many Cuban émigrés, she grew up on the west coast, where many people often assumed she was a Mexican immigrant because of her Spanish-language skills. This unique perspective has created an atmosphere and awareness for her characters rarely seen in first novels.
The work is also important as a historical novel because of Cuba’s diminishing institutional memory of the world before Fidel Castro. By walking the path of the characters, Broken Paradise captures the heart of a culture that history books simply do not have the capacity to communicate.
The story follows the divergent lives and friendship of two girls: one becomes an immigrant to the United States while the other stays in revolutionary Cuba. Even more, the novel weaves in a compelling celebration of the Afro-Cuban experience through the relationships of its characters that is simultaneously surprising and dear. Indeed, the Miami Herald Book Review says that “the characters are engaging, and the storylines crash into the heart as intensely as waves on the Havana seawall.”
Written in English, Broken Paradise was previously released to critical and popular success in Europe under the titles “Fantasmas del corazón” (Spain, 2006), “Ghost Heart” (United Kingdom, 2005), “Damals in Havanna” (Germany, 2004), and “Schaduwart” (Holland, 2004).
January 2007
 Broken Paradise Chosen as Featured Selection of Ingram Book Group’s “Advance Handseller”
Ingram Book Group’s Advance Handseller editors have selected Cecilia Samartin’s American debut novel, Broken Paradise, as one of it’s four best books (Volume II Issue 1). The Advance Handseller features a selection of titles the Ingram editorial staff has chosen specifically for their capacity to become the next “big thing” to the independent market. These are not titles that publishers have paid to promote. The Advance Handseller works with publishers, literary agents, and book publicists to discover the next sleeper hit or unexpected bestseller... books that “handsell to success!”
2006
   Cecilia Samartin Expands European Campaign To Germany, Norway and Spain
Cecilia Samartin’s second novel has been released in both Germany and Norway! The novel, tentatively titled “Señor Peregrino” in English, has the same title in Norwegian and is titled “Die Sterne von Santiago” in Germany. Meanwhile, Samartin’s debut novel (Broken Paradise in the United States andGhost Heart in the United Kingdom) was published as “Fantasmas del corazón” in Spain.
“Die Sterne von Santiago” is the second German publication for Samartin, whose first novel was released in Germany as “Damals in Havanna” to acclaim in 2005.
2005
   Holland Renews It’s Affair With Cecilia Samartin; United Kingdom Start Its Own
Holland has published Cecilia Smartin’s second novel, Peregrino’s Hart, after the critical and popular success of Schaduwhart.
Originally written in English as Ghost Heart, the book is now published in the United Kingdom in both hard cover and paperback.
2004
  Cecilia Samartin’s Debut Novel Published In Holland and Germany!
Holland has published Cecilia Samartin’s sensational new novel under the Dutch name “Schaduwhart”, which roughly translates to “Shadow Heart”. Also, Germany has published Ghost Heart under the name “Damals in Havanna”.
Written in English as Ghost Heart (and Broken Paradise in the United States), the book has already resonated with Dutch readers, opening to rave reviews and there has even been a blog named after the book (www.schaduwhart.blogspot.com)!
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