Christina Rodriguez

My guest this week for Art Crush Wednesday is bilingual children’s book author, René Colato Laínez. In his own words, Rene describes his experience as an immigrant from El Salvador, the hardships of his journey, and how his past inspired his new book, My Shoes and I:

I was born in El Salvador. As a child, I went to school, recited poetry, played with my friends and won a hula-hoop contest on national television. I had a dream to become a teacher and an author.

The world turned upside down when El Salvador's civil war broke out. My family and I fled to the United States. My mother arrived first but it was a year before my father and I could join her. Mamá had a job for my father and an apartment where we could feel secure.

My journey was unforgettable. On my long and tiring trip, my father, my shoes and I sneaked across three borders. At the Mexican/ Guatemalan border, my father lost his money. In Mexico City, he and I became homeless. An old trailer became our home for two months. During this time, my mother collected more money for our trip. Then, my nightmare began: I had to cross the American border illegally. For two days, I walked, ran and climbed big mountains without food or water. The brand new shoes that Mamá sent me for Christmas were all torn up and without soles. I reached the United States practically without shoes at all.

My Shoes and I is a recount of my long and tiring trip from El Salvador to the United States. I wrote the manuscript during my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adult at Vermont College.  When I was ready to start writing, I stared at the computer’s screen listening to the Los Tigres del Norte song, “Tres Veces Mojado”. Then I wrote, “My shoes will take me anywhere.” I smiled and could not stop typing. I wrote the first draft in an hour. The writing was easy because I was telling about my real journey but it was also hard to relive my fears and the uncertainty if we would be able to make it to the United States. My Shoes and I is such an important book because it is an authentic story. It is not only my story but the story of many children who had crossed borders in search of better opportunities. I’ve also used my immigrant experience as inspiration in many of my books such as Waiting For Papá, I Am René, The Boy, René Has Two Last Names and my forthcoming book, From North To South.

Thanks to the opportunities brought by working in this country, I have accomplished my dreams. I am an elementary teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School and an author of many award-winning children’s books. My goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States, stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future.

Many thanks to René for sharing his story! My Shoes and I is available in bookstores everywhere. You can follow René's blog book tour tomorrow at his next stop: Mama Latina Tips. Stay tuned to my blog this Sunday when I’ll be posting my formal review of the book.

Please welcome Katie Hines, author of Guardian, as she makes her way through her 10-day blog book tour.  Katie will be giving away a free copy of the book to one lucky commenter, so fire way with those questions and comments!

I’d like to thank Christina for allowing me to guest blog on her blog for my tour for Guardian these first ten days of March. Tomorrow, be sure and visit me on Donna McDine’s blog.

Here’s a short synopsis of Guardian:

Imagine you have made a secret promise that can lead you to the discovery of an incredible treasure and an ancient power. But in order to fulfill that promise, you must defeat an age-old sect that is determined to claim the treasure and power themselves.

Drew Newman is ready to tell his friends a secret, but two strangers burst on the scene, demanding an ancient, magical, book. He plummets into a world of uncertainty and fear as his home is invaded and he desperately tries to find the book.

Aided by the mysterious Jean-Paul, Drew’s search takes him and friends to Oak Island, Nova Scotia, where he continues his search. Joined with his Grandpa Ian and cousin, Zea, the tension ratchets up when Drew is kidnapped and he encounters the head of a sect that wants the book, a magical talisman and a treasure, for themselves.

Sprinkled with magic, Guardian explores the commitment of a boy determined to fulfill his promise to his mother and claim an uncertain destiny.

I did about three months' worth of research for this book, and discovered many fascinating historical tidbits that I used in this book. For example, I discovered that the Oak Island treasure story--which this book is loosely based upon--was tied to the Knights Templar.

Back in the 1200s and 1300s, the Knights Templar were a force to be reckoned with. They original began as an order to escort pilgrims to the Holy Land. They were both priests and knights. Amazingly enough, although this was their stated purpose, they actually spent the first nine years of their existence digging into the Temple Mount in Israel. It was there that they were said to find a mysterious artifact, and kept it closely in their care.

The Templar’s escort services were paid for by many countries giving them their royal treasuries, and individual wealth. The Knights are credited with creating the first banking system.

 In the early 1300s, King Philip of France had had enough of the Templars. He wanted the mass of wealth they possessed for himself. So through the Pope at that time, he had the Templars declared heretics, and there was a “rounding” up period of time where Templars were hunted down and imprisoned. Several were burned at the stake. What happened, however, is that even though the King and his lackeys searched high and low, they never found the Templar’s treasure.

 It is rumored that the Templars knew ahead of time of the King’s scourging and spirited the treasure away. One of the rumored resting place for that treasure was Nova Scotia’s Oak Island. This island is where Drew and his friends and family are headed. Get the book and read more about this fabulous treasure and what it has to do with Drew and his destiny.

Guardian can be purchased from 4RV Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your local bookseller.