Himilce Novas
Encyclopedia
Himilce Novas is a novelist, historian
, journalist
and human rights activist.
Born in Havana, Cuba
, in 1960 her family fled to the United States
. Novas was educated in New York City
, where she has spent most of her life.
Novas’ career spans several decades and encompasses works of fiction and non-fiction. Her published work includes poetry, plays, novels, reference books, and a cookbook about Latin American cuisine
. She began her writing career as a teenager, when Nobel Prize
laureate Camilo Jose Cela
published her poems in his literary journal, Papeles de son Armadans. Later, she worked as a journalist, magazine editor and publicist for Vanidades
, The New York Times
, The Connoisseur
, The Christian Science Monitor
, and other publications.
As a human rights activist, Novas was an early member of the National Organization for Women
. She continues to work on behalf of women and those in the GBLT community and was featured in the book Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975 (2006). She serves on the Board of Veteran Feminists of America
.
In 2011, Himilce Novas was the recipient of a National Women's Political Caucus “Women of Courage” Award. Among Other 2011 eight other recipients included Representative Nancy Pelosi, past Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman and Ambassador Mary Olmsted. The National Women's Political Caucus established the NWPC Women of Courage awards to honor women from diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated courage by taking a stand on or against unpopular or controversial issues to further civil rights and equality, and who typify women’s leadership.
http://www.nwpcca.org/uncategorized/announcing-the-2011-nwpc-women-of-courage-award-recipients/
As a public speaker and visiting professor at educational institutions such as Wellesley College, the University of California, Santa Barbara
, and Clark University
, Novas has specialized in a wide range of topics, including her own fiction and non-fiction works, Latino
culture, feminism
, and Gay and Lesbian history and culture. While living in Santa Barbara
, Novas hosted the cultural interview radio talk show, The Novas Report, over KQSB 990-AM. She is a frequent contributor and has served as feature editor for The Multicultural Review.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and human rights activist.
Born in Havana, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, in 1960 her family fled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Novas was educated in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she has spent most of her life.
Novas’ career spans several decades and encompasses works of fiction and non-fiction. Her published work includes poetry, plays, novels, reference books, and a cookbook about Latin American cuisine
Cuisine
Cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, often associated with a specific culture. Cuisines are often named after the geographic areas or regions that they originate from...
. She began her writing career as a teenager, when Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate Camilo Jose Cela
Camilo José Cela
Camilo José Cela y Trulock, 1st Marquis of Iria Flavia was a Spanish novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".-Biography:Cela published his...
published her poems in his literary journal, Papeles de son Armadans. Later, she worked as a journalist, magazine editor and publicist for Vanidades
Vanidades
Vanidades is one of the most popular Spanish language women's magazines. Published by Editorial Televisa across the United States and Hispanic America, it was launched in Cuba in 1931 as a humor magazine, but eventually became a women's magazine in the early 1940s. When Fidel Castro took the...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Connoisseur
The Connoisseur
The Connoisseur The Connoisseur The Connoisseur (by Mr. Town [pseud.], Critic, and Censor-General. 2 vols. 140 nos. (31 January 1754 – 30 September 1756), was a London weekly eighteenth century newspaper founded and chiefly run by George Colman the Elder and the parodist Bonnell Thornton as a...
, The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
, and other publications.
As a human rights activist, Novas was an early member of the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
. She continues to work on behalf of women and those in the GBLT community and was featured in the book Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975 (2006). She serves on the Board of Veteran Feminists of America
Veteran Feminists of America
Veteran Feminists of America is a non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, for veterans of the Second Wave of the feminist movement...
.
In 2011, Himilce Novas was the recipient of a National Women's Political Caucus “Women of Courage” Award. Among Other 2011 eight other recipients included Representative Nancy Pelosi, past Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman and Ambassador Mary Olmsted. The National Women's Political Caucus established the NWPC Women of Courage awards to honor women from diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated courage by taking a stand on or against unpopular or controversial issues to further civil rights and equality, and who typify women’s leadership.
http://www.nwpcca.org/uncategorized/announcing-the-2011-nwpc-women-of-courage-award-recipients/
As a public speaker and visiting professor at educational institutions such as Wellesley College, the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, and Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
, Novas has specialized in a wide range of topics, including her own fiction and non-fiction works, Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
culture, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, and Gay and Lesbian history and culture. While living in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, Novas hosted the cultural interview radio talk show, The Novas Report, over KQSB 990-AM. She is a frequent contributor and has served as feature editor for The Multicultural Review.
Novels
- Mangos, Bananas and Coconuts: A Cuban Love Story (1996) ISBN 1558850929
- Princess Papaya (2005) ISBN 1558854363
Non-fiction
- Everything You Need to Know About Latino History (1994;2003;2008) ISBN 9781429588263
- Remembering Selena: A Tribute in Pictures and Words/Recordando Selena: Un tributo en palabras y fotos (with Rosemary Silva, 1995) ISBN 0679444084
- Latin American Cooking Across the USA (with Rosemary Silva, 1997) ISBN 0679444084 (trans. La Buena Mesa, 1997)
- The Hispanic 100: A Ranking of the Latino Men and Women Who Have Most Influenced American Thought and Culture (1995) ISBN 0806516518
- Passport Spain: Your Pocket Guide to Spanish Business, Customs & Etiquette (with Rosemary Silva, 1997) ISBN 1885073356
- Everything You Need to Know About Asian American History (with Lan Cao, 2004) ISBN 0452284759