The Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio (SLHWSA) and Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, invites the public to attend its second Book Fair Saturday, October 1, 2011, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A panel of Hispanic writers will talk about their path to publication and will present their latest works.

San Antonio award-winning children’s writer, Diane Gonzales Bertrand, who has been a supporter of the Society for many years, will open the panel discussion with a Children’s Hour at 1 p.m. She is the author of more than thirty books, children’s picture books and books for young adults. Seven other authors will join Gonzalez Bertrand in what promises to be an entertaining afternoon.

Poet and essay writer Marian Haddad will charm listeners with her down to earth poetry, and authors Martha Caso and Barbara Sonnen-Hernandez, who have written about serious subjects dealing with illnesses and the Mexican-American civil rights struggle, will leave their mark on the public’s heart.

Ani Palacios McBride, whose novel “Nos Vemos en Purgatorio” won first place in the Spanish adventure category of the Twelfth Annual International Latino Books Awards in 2010, will present her third novel, “Plúmbago Torres y el Sueño Americano”. Photographer Steve Valdes, developed and published a planning guide for quinceañeras, a beautiful tradition which celebrates the passing from girlhood to womanhood in the Hispanic culture. Nanette Guadiano and Bertha Jacobson will present a young adult mystery anthology, “You Don’t Have a Clue”, published by Arte Público Press.

“We have been working very hard on this event, and we feel we have a good mix of authors that represent the talents and diversity of the Hispanic culture,” stated SLHWSA president Lupe M. Gonzalez. “The Society’s mission is to inspire, promote and support Hispanic writers. Our vision is to make an impact in the literary world by sharing our culture through our writings as well as to increase literacy.”

The Book Fair will also be an opportunity for the Society to raise funds since Barnes and Noble will donate a percentage of the proceeds to the organization. “This will help us to create more learning activities for our writers,” Gonzalez continued, “as well as to do more outreach in the community.”

Barnes and Noble, San Pedro Crossing, is located at 321 NW Loop 410 #104, at the intersection of Loop 410 and San Pedro.