Join us in celebrating the launch of Camille Gomera-Tavarez’s debut collection of stories High Spirits (out 4/12/22), one of Lo’Mas Lit’s book club picks! Gomera-Tavarez will be reading and in conversation with Angela Abreu, founder of Dominican Writers Association. 

This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with 30 max attendees. This event will be live at Word Up and broadcast over Zoom. Please register in advance for the event for both.

After the conversation, Gomera-Tavarez  will be signing her books. Please preorder your copy of High Spirits on WordUpBooks.com (for pickup or shipping). Books will also be sold onsite at the event. 

In compliance with Word Up Community Safety guidelines, all attendees for this event must show proof of vaccination and I.and must remain masked at all times. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the event so we can check vaccination cards and ID. 

Word Up Community Bookshop is located at 2113 Amsterdam Ave. (& 165th St.) in Washington Heights, NYC. You can take the 1 train to 168th St and the A/C train to 163rd or 168th  St.

ABOUT THE BOOK

High Spirits is a collection of eleven interconnected short stories from the Dominican diaspora, from debut author Camille Gomera-Tavarez. It is a book centered on one extended family – the Beléns – across multiple generations. It is set in the fictional small town of Hidalpa – and Santo Domingo and Paterson and San Juan and Washington Heights too. It is told in a style both utterly real and distinctly magical – and its stories explore machismo, mental health, family, and identity. But most of all, High Spirits represents the first book from Camille Gomera-Tavarez, who takes her place as one of the most extraordinary new voices to emerge in years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Camille Gomera-Tavarez is an Afro-Dominican writer, designer, and creative from New Jersey. She has a BFA in Graphic Design & Creative Writing from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is currently based in Philadelphia, PA. High Spirits is her debut.

Word Up Community Safety Guidelines

• All children and adults ages 5 and older are required to have proof of vaccination. They must show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• People 18 and older are also required to show identification along with their proof of vaccination.
• All attendees ages 2 and older must wear a mask at all times when indoors at the store and during events at Word Up and Recirculation.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Word Up Community Bookshop reserves the right to cancel events for any reason, including but not limited to safety concerns.

CODE OF CONDUCT: Please note Word Up has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or intimidation of any kind during any event, virtual or in-person. Please read our Safe Space Policy for more information. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from the event at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to events@wordupbooks.com immediately.

PHOTOS & RECORDING: Events may be recorded, and video and photos may be posted on our website, social media, and elsewhere. If you would prefer not to be visible, please let a Word Up team member know. 

PRIVACY: Registrants will be added to the Word Up mailing list. Your contact information will never be shared or sold. You may unsubscribe or update your subscription at any time.

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY: Word Up Community Bookshop/Librería Comunitaria is a fully wheelchair-accessible space with one ADA-compliant ramp from the street level to the store. Some of our bookcases and tables are on wheels and can be moved to provide additional access. Our visitor bathroom is wheelchair accessible and gender neutral. Our events are mic’d for sound. Free ASL interpretation is available for most programs upon request; please email events@wordupbooks.com to request interpretation as early as possible. The space is not scent or chemical free but we do our best to minimize the use of chemicals and scents throughout the space and use nontoxic materials whenever possible. If you have specific questions about the space or how an event can be made more accessible to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@wordupbooks.com.

VIRTUAL ACCESSIBILITY: Word Up Community Bookshop/Librería Comunitaria public events are open to all and are presented on Zoom, and Facebook Live when possible. Computer-generated live captions are available on Zoom. Free live transcription and ASL interpretation are available for most programs upon request. If you have other accessibility needs or if you are someone who has skills in making digital events more accessible, please don’t hesitate to reach out to events@wordupbooks.com. We are actively learning the best practices for this technology and we welcome your feedback as we begin this new way of connecting across distances.