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| Past Events, General News and Information
Recent Presentations:
Book Presentation October 5th, 2007 O DR, DÉCIO DE OLIVEIRA APRESENTA NOVO LIVRO DE POESIA SOL POSTO Terá lugar no próximo dia 5 de Outubro, pelas 7:30 horas da tarde no Portuguese Athletic Cub de San José, o lançamento de mais um-o terceiro-livro de poemas do conhecido dentista aposentado e prolífico poeta, Dr. Décio Machado de Oliveira.. A nova obra tem por título: SOL POSTO. A nova colectânea, com prefácio do Dr. Ramiro Dutra e edição de Portuguese Heritage Publications of Califórnia, será apresentada ao público durante um jantar/convívio no PAC pelo Alvaro Pereira da Silva. O serão terá ainda a participação dos conhecidos músicos: Aurélio de Oliveira, Hélio Beirão, Júlia e David Borba. Reserve o seu lugar para mais uma noite cultural no PAC (408) 287-3313 San Jose State University, March 24, 2007 during the Luso American Education Foundation annual conference. David Bertao, the author of The Portuguese Shore Whalers of California, 1854-1904, will be the speaker during the luncheon at the Luso American Education Foundation Annual Conference on Education and Culture on Saturday, March 24, at San Jose State University. For more information and reservations please call the Luso American Education Foundation at 925-247-3883. J.A.Freitas Library, March 30, at 7:30 PM. A presentation of The Portuguese Shore Whalers of California is being sponsored by the U.P.E.C. at the J.A.Freitas Library, 1120 East 14th Street, San Leandro, on Friday, March 30, at 7:30 PM. Admission is free. Please call the U.P.E.C for more information 510-483-7676. NEWS RELEASE 10/16/06 - Read the book release announcement with downloadable files and pictures.
September 2006 Here is an update on the latest activities from Portuguese Heritage Publications.
1. The Portuguese Shore Whalers of California, 1850-1954, by David Bertao This major research project will be published this October with a couple major presentations. In the same format and print quality as The Portuguese Californians, this work chronicles every whaling station along the entire length of the State of California. In addition, David Bertao compiled the names of all known whalers and their biographies in Part III. David dedicated over 10 years life researching this book. I believe this is another major work documenting the Portuguese experience in California. Presentation Dates: November 11 in Monterey, November 17 in San Jose.
2. A Cow For The Holy Spirit by Rose Silva King This novel will be released in October. It tells the story of an Azorean immigrant, his devotion to his family, the Holy Spirit, and the hard life of adapting to a new land.
3. An Egg in The Glass by Olivia Andrade Lage Also to be released in October under the Pioneer collection, this autobiographical work tells the story of an Azorean family, their struggles and triumphs, over a period of several decades. It contains lots of important and very detailed information on daily life in a diary, including the struggle of the Portuguese dairymen and their families since the great depression thru the 1960s.
4. I No Longer Like Chocolates by Alamo Oliveira In April, we released the English translation of Ja Nao Gosto de Chocolates by Alamo Oliveira, a translation by Diniz Borges and Katherine Baker. This book as been very well received and has been a great seller. In addition, friends of Alamo promoted book presentations in Tipton, Sacramento, Gilroy and Turlock. A couple more presentations are planned.
5. A Barrelful of Memories by Pauline Stonehill The second edition was release early this year and continues to sell well. Most of you are already familiar with this work. It sure deserves to be recommended to your family and acquaintances. It is easy reading.
6. The Power of the Spirit This is the book telling the story of all the Portuguese founded churches in California. Lots of the research has been done, but lots more needs to get accomplished. This might be our major work for late in 2007.
April 2006 The English version of Alamo Oliveira’s novel "I No Longer Like Chocolates" was officially released at the S.P.D.E.S., Tipton, California on Sunday April 2, 2006, 10-12 am. The author and translators Diniz Borges and Katharine Baker were on hand to read excerpts from and autograph copies of the book. The publication and much anticipated release of "I No Longer Like Chocolates" is sponsored by Portuguese Heritage Publications of California. To buy the book click here.
The presentation of Decio Oliveira's book, "Retalhos Da Alma" , on November 11 was a big success. Here is a link to the Portuguese language text of the presentation of the book given by Henrique Dinis that evening.
SUMMARY OF ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS-January 2006 (Webmaster Note: If you believe you may want to contribute your skills to our organization, drop us a line, info@portuguesebooks.org.)
1. Portuguese Shore Whalers of California, 1854-1904 This book by David Bertão will be released to the public soon. After 10 years of research, David's work on this fascinating and little known aspect of the Portuguese experience in California is ready for publication. Following the last two research publications, The Holy Ghost Festas and The Portuguese Californians, this book will also be in hard cover, deluxe, full color, and large format. Soon, we will be mailing you more details about the presentation in the spring of '06. Please keep that weekend free. We received lots of good feedback at the exhibit we unveiled on Dia de Portugal at the Portuguese Museum in San Jose. On that day over 5,000 people visit the park and many made the pilgrimage to our exhibit. As we start the preparation for the presentation in the spring, do you have any suggestions on the names of people and organizations that should be invited? Please send you list to me and I will incorporate them into our master list. Given the historical nature of this book, I would want us to reach to as many people as possible. Even if they will not be attending, due to conflict of dates or distance, it is important to let these people and institutions know of this new publication. We need to create awareness! A buzz, as they call it in marketing.
2. The Power of the Spirit Joe Machado and his group are hard at work preparing the manuscript for this book on the California churches founded by the Portuguese. This will be a book, also in the same large format, deluxe, hardcover, with the history of all these churches, i.e. Five Wounds, San Jose, Saint Elizabeth, Sacramento, etc. In addition, this book will have information on other churches where the Portuguese had a substantial influence in its construction. We are hoping to have this publication released in the fall of 2006. If you are aware of any church that should be included in this book, please let us know. We are also looking for volunteers to help research the subject. Please call or write Joe Machado. (Webmaster note: contact info@portuguesebooks.org, and we'll put you in touch)
3. The Portuguese Californians, Immigrants in Agriculture This wonderful book by Dr. Al Graves is now on its second edition. This book is a must in every library and Portuguese home in California. If you know of anyone who still does not own a copy, please direct them to our website www.PortugueseBooks.Org. There is a limited quantity remaining.
4. Perspectivas This book by Dr. Fernando Manuel Soares Silva was released in May at a well-attended formal presentation in San Jose. Published under our series, Decima Ilha, this book, in the Portuguese language, has garnered good reviews in the Portuguese press.
5. Internet Sales All our publications are available, or soon will be, at our website www.PortugueseBooks.Org or at www.amazon.com . Please let your family and friends know how easy it is to buy any of our publications thru these two sites. Soon, another site will have our books on sale. After the initial sales wave, it is thru these sites that we do most of our sales. The only exception is the special tables set up by our members at some of the Portuguese functions. Your help in manning at table at one of these functions is very welcome. With all the Portuguese Fraternals holding their conventions during the next few months, it would rather helpful to our sales outreach to have you volunteer to man a table. If you make the necessary arrangements with the organization, we will have the books shipped to you. Please let us know if you are willing to help.
6. Evaluation Committee This committee is evaluating a couple proposals from individuals who have a manuscript they think are of interest us. At this moment, we have two novels and a history book under evaluation. I am sure that not every manuscript sent to us will be of interest or economically feasible, but the fact that people are contacting us is rather significant. One, it shows there are writers with a Portuguese “hook” out there, Two, these writers have come to realize that Portuguese Heritage Publications can be a good vehicle to get them published. But regardless of the number of manuscripts received, we are still looking for good original research works on the Portuguese in California. In addition to the above-mentioned works, and the Portuguese Tuna Fishermen of San Diego, there are many other subjects that are deserving of being studied. Here is just a short list of possible topics: The History of the Portuguese Newspapers, Radio and TV; Portuguese Bullfighting in California since the early 1900; The Portuguese leaders in the labor unions of California; etc. Do you know of anyone who is qualified and might want to tackle any of these subjects? Do you know of other subjects that should be researched?
7. Holy Ghost Festas This publication, also on its second edition, continues to sell well. We are down to the last few hundred copies. Place your orders now!
8. Annual Board Meeting Our annual Board meeting was held on January 21, from 10 AM - 4 PM, Wyndham Hotel, 1350 North 1st St., San Jose. The date for next January's annual meeting has not been set.
9. Marketing and Representation How well have you made the organization you represent aware of our projects? How can you generate a warm and more effective relationship between our organizations? Right now we are dealing with several people who would make wonderful speakers at any large gathering: Al Graves, Joe Machado, David Bertao, Tony Goulart, Fernando Silva, Maria das Dores Beirao. These are people who will speak to the heart of the Portuguese experience in California. Now, wouldn't that be more appropriate and interesting that some boring county supervisor? How about an article in your organization's bulletin? Your church? Your school or university alumni bulletin? We are willing to prepare the article, in English or Portuguese, to fit your needs. Just let's us know. Help us get the word out!!
10. Financials Given the success of the recent sales, we have the funds to start the publishing process of the book The Portuguese Shore Whalers. The fact is that most of our work is done by volunteers. The publication of high quality books is a rather expensive proposition that requires the use of highly technical people. The layout alone can cost 10K. If you know of someone who wants to sponsor this book on the shore whalers, in whole or in part, as we have done with the past publications, please let us know. In order to make these books more accessible to the public, $45.00 a copy is a bargain, and provide hundreds of free copies to libraries, historical societies, high schools, etc., we need sponsors to help defray the printing costs.
11. A final word Given the many resources available to us now - mail, email, phones - we would love to have more input from each and every one of you. Please look at the 10 topics above and I am sure that you: o Have an opinion on many of the above listed subjects Portuguese Heritage Publications can and will only be as good as your input and commitment to the cause of researching and disseminating the Portuguese experience in California.
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