San José State librarians hosted an author event at Room 225 on the second floor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library to shed light on local authors in the community on Saturday.
Librarian Natasha Lowell said LocalLit is an annual author fair and showcase event done in partnership with the San José Public Library and the MLK Library.
The 11th annual LocalLit was the first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event featured book talks from nearly 20 local authors including writing and publishing tips, and three Q&A discussion panels.
Interim associate dean Anamkia Megwalu kicked off the showcase by welcoming authors and attendees to refreshments and sharing the history of LocalLit.
“From its inception, LocalLit has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the collective effort to elevate the voices of local authors and writers,” Megwalu said.
Megwalu said when she moved to San José eight years ago she discovered the rich history and culture of the city through reading local literature.
She said she felt a strong connection to the stories of her neighboring communities when she read Bay Area resident Jane Kuo’s first book, “In the Beautiful Country.”
“Writers are more than storytellers,” Megwalu said. “They are preservers of regional cultures, educators, counselors and community builders.”
Authors were invited to step to the podium to give a brief introduction about their book and their inspirations behind writing their story.
SJSU alum and local artist Ricardo Cortez shared his latest book titled “The ABC’s of Lowriding,” detailing the history of lowriding customs in San José.
“This is not a book about cars,” Cortez said. “It’s about the people, customs and traditions of lowrider culture explained through the simplicity of alphabet learning.”
Published as an educational tool for those wanting to learn more about lowriding, Cortez said he also wants to generate dialogue amongst old and new generations of lowriders with his book.
In October, Gov. Gavin Newson followed San José’s motion to lift the nearly 40-year-old ban on lowriders and cruising statewide, according to a California Assembly Bill 436.
“San José was at the epicenter of lowriding in the early days of the 1970s,” Cortez said. “Now with this book being released, we know San José still remains a pioneer in the lowrider movement.”
Self published by Cortez with the help of an illustrator from Chihuahua, Mexico, he said he wrote and designed the layout himself and was proud to produce the book locally.
With the birth of his first born, Cortez said he wanted to read to his daughter about the history of lowriding culture but struggled to find a book for children.
“When setting out to publish a book, it’s important to have a really good support system,” he said. “There were so many times where I was like, ‘What am I doing, and am I wasting my time?’ You don’t know all these things, but you need people there to continue to push you forward to get to that finish line.”
Authors returned to the head of the room in groups of three to participate in a discussion panel, which featured a Q&A portion about topics such as the best environment for writing, how to brainstorm, how to plan a narrative efficiently and how to get published.
Author Sonali Patodia spoke to attendees about her children’s book “You’re Truly One of A Kind,” a story about Hindu deity Krishna and their friendship with Radha.
Radha was a milkmaid who became a lover to the god Krishna during his time living among the cowherds of Vrindavan, according to a Britannica article from November.
Patodia said her retelling of the story centers around themes of friendship, confidence and diversity.
“The book tells a sweet and impactful story of Krishna and Radha, addressing the important themes of discrimination based on one’s outer appearance and the appreciation of diversity,” Patodia said.
She said the idea for the book stemmed from the heightened social discrimination that occurred across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patodia said she began working on a narrative to encourage younger generations to celebrate diversity because she experienced a lack of representation during her youth.
“When we worship someone who is a God of color, Krishna is a God of color who is depicted with blue and black skin in Hindu mythology,” she said. “So why do we divide people in our society based on their skin color ... this thought stuck with me deeply.”
Patodia also said she was inspired by online articles to start a conversation about diversity early on in her household.
In a 2020 study done by the American Psychological Association in 2020, participants believed it is best to talk to their child about race when they are 5-years-old, but research shows children can associate racial groups with positive and negative traits by 3-years-old.
“It was important for me to come up with a narrative that was super simple,” Patodia said. “I truly believe that profound lessons or storytelling on deep topics does not have to be very complex.”
