By Catherine Marenghi Organizers of the annual San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival announced the establishment of the San Miguel Global Literary Institute, a new umbrella organization designed to offer expanded year-round programs and a global reach for San Miguel’s bilingual and multi-cultural literary organization. Because the new Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in the U.S., contributions are now tax-deductible for U.S. donors. “This is one o

By Catherine Marenghi There’s something about San Miguel that seems to nurture book clubs. At any given moment, dozens of books may be under discussion in homes or cafes, over food or coffee or wine. Book clubs are part of the fabric of San Miguel. On February 24 th , Atención News launched the Atención Book Club at the historic Casa Nigromante . Author Rosaleen Bertolino read from her award-winning book, The Paper Demon and Other Stories . The event drew a substantial and

Join us as we celebrate outstanding local authors. No signup required, no fees. Just read the book and come meet the author for a lively presentation and book discussion. See you at Casa Nigromante, Umarán #38 on April 28. Catherine Marenghi will talk about Walking With Beth: Conversations With My 100-Year-Old Friend with author Merilyn Simonds. Books are available at Aurora Books, Tesoros Bookstore at the Biblioteca, and online booksellers.

By Judith Jenya For many writers, the life of letters can be solitary. But for one Canadian couple, writing has been a shared journey—sometimes collaborative, sometimes parallel, but always deeply intertwined. Merilyn grew up in Ontario, Canada, near Stratford. When she was seven, her family moved to Brazil. The experience left a lasting mark. “It gave me a taste for the fabulous,” she recalls. Her writing life began early. A diary given to her at age seven eventually evolve