About the Book

Tell Me Something True

Gabriella always loved the picture of her mother kneeling in front of a bed of roses, smiling, beautiful and impossibly happy. But then she learns that her late mother hated gardening; that she had never wanted the house in the Hollywood hills, the successful movie producer husband, and possibly, her only daughter. When Gabriella discovers a journal--a book that begins as a new mother's letters to her baby girl, but becomes a secret diary--the final entry leaves one question unanswered: the night her mother died, was she returning to Colombia to end an affair, or was she abandoning her family for good?

About the Author

Celebrated journalist and former concert pianist, Leila Cobo is the Executive Director of Latin Content & Programming for Billboard and is broadly considered the ultimate Latin music insider. Leila is a frequent contributor to NPR and has written liner notes for acts such as Ricky Martin, Shakira and Chayanne. She is also the host of the television show Estudio Billboard, which features in-depth interviews with top Latin acts.

A native of Cali, Colombia, Leila holds dual degrees in journalism, from Bogota's Universidad Javeriana, and in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. After graduating she won a Fulbright Scholarship and obtained her master's degree from USC's Annenberg School of Communications. Leila got her start in journalism as a writer for the Los Angeles Times and later became the pop music critic for the Miami Herald.

Recently named one of Colombia's most influential women by prestigious magazine Fuchsia, Leila is a recipient of the Premio Orquidea Award for international journalism. She lives in Key Biscayne, Florida with her husband and children.

About the Guest Interviewer

Juanita Baldwin has been a Comadre for a long time and she was among the first to join the Las Comadres and Friends National Latino Book Club as a member of the North Austin reading group. Juanita cannot make all the book club gatherings, due to her work travel schedule, but she doesn't miss one when she is in town. The tight knit North Austin group did not know each other, when they started gathering but they have grown into true Comadres who look forward to sharing the reading experience of the many Latina authors who they have met through our reading journey. I have heard many of the club members say that the authors are new to them and they are grateful to know about them and plan to read their other works. Mil gracias to all our book club members, discussion leaders, and coordinators.
 
Juanita Baldwin, North Austin, Texas Book Club Member
 
Juanita refers to the North Austin Las Comadres Book Club as her  “sweet indulgence.”  She enjoys lively discussions with her Comadres who are passionate about literature.  Growing up in Brownsville, Texas, Juanita became a book-a-holic in elementary school upon receiving her first library card and the “keys to the book kingdom.”
 
Juanita is a recruiter for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Juanita’s background includes over twenty years experience as a Human Resource Generalist managing strategic functions including recruitment, staffing, benefits, compensation, employee relations, training and organizational development. Prior to joining TCEQ, Juanita gained private sector experience in call centers, insurance, financial services, hi-tech start-ups, and information services.
 
Juanita is a proud Longhorn with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Her areas of specialization include English and Psychology. She successfully completed the Governor’s Center Senior Management Development Program, and led the winning project team for the 2009 Hispanic Austin Leadership Program sponsored by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
 
Juanita and her husband, Jim, reside in Austin where they share their home and garden (alas) with a pair of boisterous canines, Murphee and Leonardo Giovanni. The Baldwins delight in taking trips that involve sea, sand, and/or mountains; watching competitive home design shows; and enjoying many of Austin’s live music venues.