Dominican Novel Soy Campeón to be Presented at the New York Book Fair

Dominican Novel Soy Campeón to be Presented at the New York Book Fair
Nueva York, 10/05/2010

The Alfaguara Juvenile and Santillana Group are sponsoring the presentation of Dinorah Coronado’s most recent novel, “Soy Campeón” at the New York Book Fair. The book is based on the life of Domingo Coronado, long-distance  runner and 1928 marathon champion. The book presentation will take place on Saturday October 2 at 5:00 pm during the NY Book Fair under the auspices of the Commission for Dominican Culture in New York. The presentation will take place in the Luis Dias Hall of Boricua College on 155 St. and Broadway in Manhattan.

Dinorah will read parts of the book and there will also be a viewing of an interview given by Coronado to Luis Martín Gómez last month in Santo Domingo.

Dinorah will read parts of the book and there will also be a viewing of an interview given by Coronado to Luis Martín Gómez last month in Santo Domingo. The triumph of Domingo Coronado as the first marathon runner in La Vega-Moca, La Vega in 1928 underscores how he became the first internationally-renown Dominican marathon runner.

Synopsis of the novel

Many years after his 1928 triumph, Domingo Coronado –father of the author – sat below an almond tree in his native Jumunucú to tell his daughter Nora about his youth and adolescence that led to his famous career. In his narration, he talked about the customs and traditions of his childhood, his schooling, his faith, his family ties as well as how he prepared for the marathon.

The novel recreates the environment and society of that time in La Vega at the beginning of the 20th century with the historical and technological milestones of those times including the North American occupation of the Dominican Republic in 1916, the arrival of the automobile and electricity and the evocation of the Santo Cerro legend, among others.

About the author

Dinorah Coronado was born in La Vega and has lived in New York for many years. She is a psychologist, school counselor, poet, novelist and essayist. She founded the Coronado Theater in New York. Ms. Coronado holds a degree in Orientation and School Psychology and a Masters in Popular Culture and School Orientation. She writes for children as well as for adults.
 
Among her most recent publications are “Rebecca at Bat and Two More Stories.” (Alfaguara, 2007), National Award for Children’s Literature the following year; “Juanito and His Robot” (2007), Barco de Vapor Prize for Children’s Literature; “A la sombra del flamboyán” (2008) which received the Ultramar Novel Award.  

In 2010, she received the ACE Prize in New York for her theatrical adaptation of the novel “La Mañosa” by Juan Bosch. This same year, she was recognized as the Cultural Personality of 2009 by the Ministry of Culture which honored her by naming one of the streets in April’s International Book Fair after her. Also in 2010, she won the Children’s Literature Prize from the Society for the Cultural Renovation of Puerto Plata.

For more information: 212-234-8149, the Culture Commission or call the author directly at 914-433-9036.