Dennis Garcia to bring Las Madres to Sacramento Latino festival

Award-winning author Dennis Garcia will appear at the Latino Book & Family Festival on Oct. 10 in Sacramento, where he will sign copies of Las Madres and meet readers. The book’s family-history story of three generations of Latina resilience has already won major honors, including three International Latino Book Awards and a Kansas Notable Book nod.

Why it matters: - Dennis Garcia’s festival appearance puts a nationally recognized Latino family-history book in front of Sacramento readers and families. - Las Madres centers Latina resilience, immigration, and intergenerational success, themes that connect with many Latino and immigrant communities. - The event gives readers a chance to buy and have the book signed while also learning about the research that preserved the family’s story.

What happened: - Dennis Garcia will appear at the Latino Book & Family Festival on Oct. 10 at Valley High School in Sacramento. - Garcia will meet readers in the festival’s Authors Village. - Copies of Las Madres: Latinas in the Heartland Who Led Their Family to Success will be available for purchase and signing throughout the day. - The festival runs Oct. 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - The event is the Sacramento Latino Book and Family Festival.

The details: - Las Madres is based on a true story about three generations of women. - The book follows a family that faced poverty, racism, and hardship while building an extended family grounded in culture, hard work, faith, and education. - The narrative spans from the Mexican Revolution to the experiences of Mexican American railroad families across the Midwest. - The book was named a 2025 Kansas Notable Book by the State Library of Kansas. - Las Madres also won three International Latino Book Awards: the Dolores Huerta Gold Medal for Best Culture & Community Themed Book, the Mimi Lozano Gold Medal for Best Family History Book, and a Bronze Medal for Most Inspirational Nonfiction Book. - The book is available in ebook, paperback, and hardback formats. - The ISBN-13 is 9780700637980. - Readers can order through University Press of Kansas and other online bookstores. - Garcia said he is especially glad to bring Las Madres to a festival that celebrates Latino authors, readers, and families. - Garcia said the women’s experiences are shared across generations of Latino and immigrant families. - Garcia said he looks forward to meeting readers in Sacramento and hearing the family stories and connections the book brings to mind.

Between the lines: - The book’s awards signal strong recognition from both Latino literary groups and state-level book programs. - The festival setting fits the book’s themes, turning a family-history title into a live community conversation. - Garcia’s focus on photos, records, and memories suggests the book blends personal history with documented research.

What's next: - Garcia will continue the Sacramento festival appearance on Oct. 10. - Readers attending Authors Village can expect book sales, signing, and direct conversation with Garcia. - Garcia is available for interviews and speaking engagements. - More information about Garcia, his books, and tour dates is available at Dennis Raphael Garcia’s website.