El Caribe, Hoy

Hilma Contreras’ New Book and Stories Launched at XVI International Book Fair 2013
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 4/27/2013

The General Directorate of the International Book Fair introduced “El poder de unaslágrimas y varioscuentosmás” [The Power of Tears and Several More Stories] and “La tierraestábramando” [The Earth is Howling] by the late Dominican writer Hilma Contreras

Referring to the life of Hilma Contreras, Mr. Valdez said she was a notable and enterprising woman who dedicated her life to writing. She was also the first woman to have received the National Award for Literature in 2002.

The book launch, part of the XVI International Book Fair, was presided over by the writer Pedro Antonio Valdez, executive directorof the Book Fair in charge of book launches.

Referring to the life of Hilma Contreras, Mr. Valdez said she was a notable and enterprising woman who dedicated her life to writing. She was also the first woman to have received the National Award for Literature in 2002.

He said the Ministry of Culture and the Directorate of the Book Fair are pleased to honor the name of Hilma Contreras at this 16th version of the International Book Fair.

During the book launch, students EstrellaNúñezde la Cruz, ShayraGisselNúñez and Leticia Félix read one of Ms. Contreras’s short stories, “Chorrera Abajo” from “El poder de unas lágrimas y varios cuentos más.”

“In the 1980s, Contreras was considered one of the most prominent Dominican writers of that era,” said Valdez.

Hilma Contreras was born in San Pedro de Macorís on December 8, 1913. She was a prominent educator, essayist and storyteller. She collaborated with El Caribe, Hoyand the ListínDiario newspapers.

She passed away on January 15, 2006

Following the event, Pedro Antonio Valdez, writer andexecutive director of the Book Fair, along with students EstrellaNúñez de la Cruz, ShayraGisselNúñez, Leticia Félix along with IbethGuzmán, coordinator of Book Presentations at the Book Fair, pose together for a picture

Two book covers: “El poder de unas lágrimas y varios cuentos más” and “La tierra está bramando.”