Kids & Family

Local Author Wins Big in International Book Awards; Announces Plans for First Children's Book

Graciela Tiscareño-Sato's book, "Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them," wins Best Business Book and two other awards at prestigious multinational ceremony.

Local bestselling author and speaker Graciela Tiscareño-Sato picked up three significant awards last week in New York City for her ground-breaking business and career book Latinnovating.

At the New York City International Book Awards, the author picked up awards for First Place Best Business Book, First Place Best Nonfiction eBook and Second Place Nonfiction Young Adult Book.

Additionally, the author, also a military veteran, has launched a 45-day crowd-funding campaign to give the public the opportunity to participate in the creation of her first children’s book titled ‘Good Night Captain Mama.” Details of that campaign, how to contribute and its unique rewards are here.

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Latinnovating, the first book showcasing Latino-led innovation in the green economy, takes readers inside organizations where real, long-term sustainable practices and innovations are happening today.

Latinnovating spotlights the courageous Latinos and Latinas leading these companies, innovating new ideas and technologies to retool America’s energy grid, lighting systems, industrial printing, educational settings, communication infrastructure and much more.

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It uniquely connects the dots between cultural and familial lessons of conservation and creative reuse, to higher education, to the spark that caused the innovation.

Latinnovating went to print with 22 endorsements from the business, environment, academic and social justice communities, including this endorsement from a former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Aida Alvarez, now Chair, of San Francisco’s Latino Community Foundation.

“For many years, the Latino entrepreneurial spirit has quietly powered America’s economy," Alvarez said. "At last, a book has been published that brings these hidden stories of economic contribution out of the darkness. In producing Latinnovating, Graciela shines a bright spotlight on Latino entrepreneurs innovating new solutions and playing significant roles in the green economy. Simultaneously, these stories of highly educated Latinos demonstrate the urgent need to improve Latino high school and college graduation rates so that many more environmental entrepreneurs will burst onto the scene to power America through the 21st century.”

REFORMA, a national group of professional librarians serving Hispanic communities, recently reviewed Latinnovating and said it was “Highly recommended for public libraries.”

“I am honored to have been recognized in both the Business and Young Adult Non-Fiction categories at the 2012 International Latino Book Awards,” said Tiscareño-Sato. “This collection of childhood-to-innovation stories indeed crosses genres to showcase today’s environmentally-focused innovators.  I love that my work writing and presenting their inspiring educational and professional journeys, sprinkled always with actionable resources, is informing students and guiding the lives of young people and career changers.”

Published by a small independent publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area and at the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, Latinnovating has already sold half of its original print run.

As a social entrepreneur, she’s also talking to potential brand sponsors so that she may give away books to the schools that want copies for their students but lack the budget to purchase.

Latinnovating won earlier this spring at the Latino Books into Movies Awards held during the L.A. Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Latino Literacy Now oversaw and organized the awards event in L.A. and in New York.

The author is currently engaging with potential partners to bring the Spanish translation of the Latinnovating book to market — something she’s asked for at many events where she speaks. She is actively interviewing for the second volume in the planned Latinnovating series.

About Gracefully Global Group and Latinnovating:

Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is a bilingual sought-after speaker, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Gracefully Global Group, LLC, the premiere publishing and marketing firm for Latino innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership case studies. “Creating compelling content to motivate an audience to act,” is the firm’s mission statement. Showcasing positive images of accomplished, educated Latinos to both mainstream and ethnic audiences is the author’s mission. She’s also determined to do her part to dramatically boost Latino higher education attainment in the next decade, through her speaking, writing and mentoring.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here