Tony Diaz
(713) 867-8943
Tony Diaz
Originally from Chicago, novelist Tony Diaz is the author of novel THE AZTEC LOVE GOD, which Ishmael Reed selected as the 1998 Nilon Award for Excellence in Minority Fiction. Reed called Diaz “Relentlessly brilliant.” Diaz is also included in major anthologies such as HECHO EN TEJAS: An Anthology of Texas Mexican Writers edited by Dagoberto Gilb, and LITERARY HOUSTON edited by David Theis. His essays have also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and Houston Chronicle. He has just completed his second novel THE CHILDREN OF THE LOCUST TREE which is in the hands of his agent.
Diaz moved to Houston to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. He became only the 3rd Latino to complete an MFA from that program.
While in graduate school, he began conducting workshops and seminars for different community organizations such as the then-Chicano Family Center and Talento Bilingue de Houston. That work inspired him to remain in Houston after completing his studies. He went on to create Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, which just celebrated its 13th Anniversary. Nuestra Palabra promotes Latino literature and literacy. This consists of workshops, readings, and book fairs. He is also the host of the Nuestra Palabra Radio Show on 90.1 FM, KPFT.
He also designed his dream college course: Introduction to Mexican American Literature which he teaches at Houston Community College by linking his expertise and contacts to the history and study of our culture. He also serves as the faculty advisor for The Egalitarian, the official student newspaper which serves the entire 60,000+ student body and all campuses of HCC.
Houston Latino Book Fest
Under the leadership of Tony Diaz, Nuestra Palabra organized the largest book events in Houston, ranging from book signings for the likes of Sandra Cisneros, and Pulitzer Prize Winner Junot Diaz, to stars such as Cheech Marin, Oscar De la Hoya, and Edward James Olmos.
Tony Diaz brought the Edward James Olmos Latino Book and Family Festival to Houston to create the most successful events in the country for that franchise. This began in 2002 with 15,000 people attending the first annual event at the George R. Brown Convention Center featuring Edward James Olmos and Cheech Marin with the release of his book CHICANO VISIONS: AMERICAN PAINTERS ON THE VERGE. This culminated in 2004 with the group’s 3rd annual event drawing 30,000 people and featuring a celebrity author for every major segment off the Latino demographic, including George Lopez with his book WHY YOU CRYIN’?, Univisión former anchors Giselle Blondete and Maria Antionetta Collins, and even Dora the Explorer.
This unrelenting growth was followed by natural and economic disasters that would put the entire city, state, and nation through several tests. Hurricane Katrina occurred and postponed the following book fair. This was followed by Hurricanes Rita, then Ike. Then the financial hurricanes hit that would bring the U.S. economy to a stand still.
Nuestra Palabra (NP) has survived the onslaught that took down Enron, as well as Borders book stores.
Today NP is poised for a new chapter for the Houston, Texas, and the Latino Demographic.
Nuestra Palabra has been successful by focusing on its essential mission and staying true to its support base.
These skills developed over 14 years were the tools necessary to launch the Librotraficante Movement. Its genesis was the Librotraficante Caravan to smuggle banned books back into Arizona.
In addition to the NP Radio Show, Tony Diaz started the magazine Aztec Muse, which features quarterly musings on Business, Art, and Culture and defines the evolution of the American Dream.
About Tony Diaz
Tony Diaz "El Librotraficante" is a novelist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He is also an entrepeneur who brings together contemporary Latino arts, culture, and business in ways that have transformed Houston, Texas, and have now blossomed into the Librotraficante Movement.
He is the founder of Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say which oversees several successful approaches to the Latino experience in the U.S. These range from unique websites, to classic media such as the magazine Aztec Muse and the group's weekly radio program.
Interested in learning more?
Everyone tries to define Latinos through Multiculturalism. You need to understand us through Quantum Demographics. -Tony Diaz
"All art is breaking loose," Diaz said. "They knew we weren't going to overthrow the government through violence. We were going to overhaul the government by voting them out of office."
"Anything that makes kids read and think is worth doing. So for that reason, we'd like to thank the state of Arizona. Without its dumb law, the Librotraficantes wouldn't exist."
