Carlos J. Queirós

Bound, A Short Story published in The Newark Metro

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-12-05T03:02:38Z

Bound

By Carlos J. Queirós

Framed in my bedroom door, Diogo was the epitome of sixteen-year-old cool: black mane slicked back with gel, baggy white jeans with matching hightops, left earlobe with a diamond stud. He and his older brother João shared bunk beds in the room above mine, creating a stack of Portuguese boys in our four-story apartment building in New Jersey.

“Can’t you even play with GI Joes like a normal kid? They’re supposed to kick the shit out of each other,” he said, ramming together my usually mild-mannered soldiers.

It was February, 1989. The previous night’s blizzard had shuttered the schools, and Mãe decided Diogo would be my impromptu babysitter. With a day off from third grade, I was eager to cocoon myself in blankets, watching Thundercats for endless hours on the color TV my parents had given me two weeks earlier for my ninth birthday.

“Come on, let’s go,” Diogo peeled my covers off. “Aww, how cute—Superman tighty whities.”

I’d been lying on my stomach and raised my butt. I screeched in a teakettle pitch—the hope was that he’d just call me a retard and leave. Head buried in a pillow, still the scent of his Old Spice.

“Okay, enough. I told your mom I’d check up on your sorry ass and if I’m bouncing so are you.” A fingernail scraped through my crack as he yanked my briefs down.

“I told you, that’s not funny,” I bolted out of bed, and charged at him. He pushed me away with a clammy palm, and laughed while I flailed at the air.

“I knew that’d get you up,” he said. “Stop being a baby. I’ll get you back before your mommy gets home.”

“You know I’m not supposed to leave.”

“You have two minutes,” Diogo announced.

To continue reading visit: The Newark Metro

Love in Exile

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-09-01T18:41:00Z

No matter how Sex-and-the-City the book’s cover may appear, don’t mistake Reclaiming Paris for chick lit. Although it’s certainly sensually seductive, the book’s origins were anything but, as author Fabiola Santiago tells me. | Web

The Truth Bordering Fiction

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-08-01T18:29:00Z

Oscar Casares, the critically acclaimed author of the short story collection Brownsville, spends an afternoon with me to discuss his debut novel Amigoland, to detail the pain of fiction colliding with life, and to read an excerpt from one of Amigoland's most poignant scenes. | Web

A Mysterious Second Career

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-07-01T18:13:00Z

At 72, Brazilian mystery writer Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza is 13 years into his second career and has never looked back. In this interview with me, he talks about the latest installment in his bestselling Inspector Espinosa series, Rio de Janeiro as inspiration, and how age has affected his writing. | Web

Sweet Debut

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-06-21T18:46:00Z

Book review of Liz Balmaseda's first novel, Sweet Mary. | Web

Sandra Cisneros Cover Story Profile

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2009-03-01T17:25:00Z

On the 25th anniversary of the publication of The House on Mango Street, Chicana literary icon Sandra Cisneros reveals her life's passions, and how she is nurturing a new generation of writers.| Web

Read the full Q and A with Cisneros, where she discusses the pivotal role her novel played in the acceptance of Latino culture, her years as an academic migrant, and more.| Web

Interview with Marie Arana

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2008-11-02T01:49:00Z

Marie Arana discusses her new novel, Lima Nights, a timeless tale of forbidden romance set in the Peruvian city of her birth.| Web

My review of Lima Nights. | Web

Interview with Junot Díaz

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2008-07-13T20:12:56Z

Junot Díaz’s first published work, the bestselling short story collection Drown (1996), earned Díaz critical praise. His second publication and first novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, garnered Díaz the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In an exclusive interview, the Dominican American writer speaks of the challenges of his craft and of the unexpected consequences of his writing. | Web

Interview with José Eduardo Agualusa

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2008-06-01T18:05:00Z

Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa discusses identity and Jorge Luis Borges, the inspiration for his sixth novel, The Book of Chameleons. | Web

My review of The Book of Chameleons. | Web

Five Authors in the Spotlight: Isabel Allende, Víctor Villaseñor, Jorge Ramos, Javier Sierra, and Cristina García

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-12-01T20:53:00Z

Five of AARP Segunda Juventud's favorite authors featured over the last five years answered five questions about their lives as writers and readers. 5AuthorsInterview.pdf | Web

Interview with Alberto Ríos

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-10-01T20:29:00Z

The winner of the 2007 Arizona Literary Treasure Award sat down with me to discuss his ninth poetry collection, The Theater of Night, his relationship with his grandparents, and reconnecting with the Spanish language. RiosInterview.pdf | Web

My print-only review of The Theater of Night available upon request.

Great Website to Keep Track of What You and Your Friends are Reading

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-08-15T16:50:42Z

my 'read' shelf:

Interview with Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of ACLU

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-08-01T22:37:00Z

I sat down with Anthony Romero and spoke openly with him about his new book In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror. In 2005, Romero was named one of Time magazine's 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America. We spoke of motivation, the fight for civil liberties, and grappling with sexual orientation in a Hispanic family. RomeroInterview.pdf | Web

My review of In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror. RomeroReview.pdf | Web

Interview with Ana Castillo

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-06-02T00:58:00Z

I sat down with Ana Castillo in her very first interview about The Guardians. AnaCastillo.pdf | Web

My review of The Guardians. GuardiansReview.pdf | Web

Out of My Head

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-04-02T00:56:00Z

Article on Headaches. Headaches.pdf | Web

Interview with Cristina García

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-02-01T23:59:00Z

Acclaimed author Cristina García speaks candidly with me about aging, Cuba, and the importance of roots in her first interview about A Handbook to Luck.
GarciaInterview.pdf | Web

My review of A Handbook to Luck. GarciaReview.pdf | Web

2007 Year-Long Health Calendar

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2007-01-01T19:19:00Z

A web-exclusive health calendar with tips and links to resources. Web

Interview with Isabel Allende

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-11-02T00:33:00Z

The bestselling author speaks with me about her latest book Inés of My Soul, issues of identity, aging, and more... AllendeInterview.pdf | Web

Review of El búfalo de la noche (The Night Buffalo) in Críticas Magazine

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-05-15T07:00:00Z

My review of El búfalo de la noche (The Night Buffalo) by Guillermo Arriaga (published in Críticas Magazine) Web

Print version of this clip (and all others on this site) is available upon request.

Interview with David Maraniss

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-04-02T03:17:00Z

My interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss about what prompted him to write his latest book, Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero. MaranissInterview.pdf | Web

My review of Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero. MaranissReview.pdf | Web

Food Review of Zengo

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-04-01T21:59:00Z

A food review of Zengo published in On Tap Magazine.
SushiFourWaysApril2006.pdf | Web

Podculture

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-03-01T21:11:00Z

Article on podcasting. PodCasting.pdf | Web

Food Review of Alberto's Pizzeria

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-03-01T21:08:00Z

A food review of Alberto's Pizzeria published in On Tap Magazine. PizzaFourWaysMarch2006.pdf | Web

Interview with Javier Sierra

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2006-02-02T03:58:00Z

My interview with Javier Sierra about the upcoming North American release of his latest book, The Secret Supper (La cena secreta). SierraInterview.pdf | Web

My review of The Secret Supper. SierraReview.pdf | Web

Interview with Jorge Ramos

nospam@example.com (Carlos J. Queirós) — 2005-10-01T21:54:00Z

The journalist and Univision anchorman speaks with me about his latest book Dying to Cross, immigration, and the American Dream. RamosInterview.pdf | Web