I have the honor of being one of the nominees to receive a Saturday Visiter Award during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival. 

The Saturday Visiter Awards are presented by Poe Baltimore to recognize a new generation of artists continuing Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy in the arts and literature around the world.  The prizes celebrate media, art, performance and writing that adapts or is inspired by Poe’s life and works. 
Though he was not wealthy in his lifetime, Edgar Allan Poe was the first American writer to support himself entirely by his pen. The Saturday Visiter was the name—and spelling—of a local periodical that held a contest for poetry and short stories. Poe won the award for his short story “MS Found in a Bottle” (which he wrote at Poe House.) The Saturday Visiter Awards are named after the prize a young Edgar Allan Poe won while he lived in Baltimore which helped to launch the famed writer’s career. 
Saturday Visiter Awards are presented in two categories: works that adapt Poe’s life or writing (including biography, or true adaptations of his poetry or prose), and original works that are inspired by Poe’s life or writing. In addition, important "Poe Places", including The Poe Museum (Richmond, VA) ,  The Poe Cottage (the Bronx NYC) and Poe House (Baltimore , MD) will highlight exceptional entries specific to their region. The awards are presented every October at the annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Poe Baltimore invites you to darken Poe’s chamber door at the fourth annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Awards, October 8 & 9, 2022. This FREE, two-day outdoor event will feature Poe-themed performances, art, vendors and food, celebrating Poe’s life, works and his influence in the arts. VIP Tickets and Tours, including for the Black Cat Ball, available now!
The festival will take place directly across the street from Poe House at 203 N. Amity Street in Baltimore, in the newly-built “Poe Park” at Center/West. Attendees will learn about Poe’s life and works from some of the United States’ preeminent “Poe Places”, with representatives from The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum (Baltimore), The Poe Museum (Richmond, Virginia), The Poe Cottage (Bronx, NYC), The Poe Studies Association, The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore and Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. The winners of the 2022 Saturday 'Visiter' Awards will also be announced festival weekend!
See you in Baltimore!

What are you nuts for? Eggie can't help it and just thinks of NUTS, of course!
As the rest of squirrels, he spends his time jumping from tree to tree in search for nuts and other yummy things to eat during the winter. Once he finds them he buries them in the ground so he can find them later!
Go to the Have Fun Corner and find the free coloring pages we have there for you!

We are starting a Lunar New Year. 2022 is the year of the Black-Water Tiger. The 2022 Chinese New Year Day is on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. That is the 4719th Chinese year. The first day of the Chinese astrological year is the first day of Tiger Month. The first day of the Water Tiger is on February 4, 2022.
Let's eat some mooncakes, dumplings, noodles, pomelos, tangerines and many more lucky foods that will bring you the best year ever!
I am starting this new year with a new section in our website. The Have Fun Corner, where I will be uploading some free coloring pages for you to download and color at home.
Happy Lunar New year everyone :) 

Last Friday we had the opening reception of the first exhibition of the book. I printed the Spanish version with subtitles in English. It was great to see people I haven't seen in a while and show everyone on what I've been working so hard lately! Thank you to everyone who made it and to the library because those women are incredible.  

And here we go!
After a month long of fundraising to be able to self-publish this book, I reached my goal and a little bit more. That means the book will be printed in English and Spanish. I will also have available the digital version in English, Spanish and Catalan. This past couple of months have been an intense ride... So much work goes into this, from researching printing companies, to creating all the illustrations, all the marketing and images to promote the campaign, all the emails, newsletters, text messages and sleepless nights. 
But it is worth. I am really happy with the result and that I was able to pull this one off. Now I am officially an author, and I illustrated my own book.
Let the logistics begin. I have to fulfill all the orders, once I receive the printed board books pack them to send, and also email all the digital rewards…
I really want to thank everyone that believed in me and supported me through this process. Every person that donated because thanks to all of you I will be able to open new doors and create new paths for me and other people that like me are interested in the betterment of their communities.
Thank you!!
Laura AF