The associate professor of English’s first book, “Tell it to me Singing,” was published this summer to enthusiastic reviews.
Associate Professor of English Tita Ramírez and her debut novel, “Tell it to me Singing,” are receiving national attention with spots in Oprah Daily and The Today Show.
Ramírez recently published “Books That Celebrate Latin American Brilliance” for Oprah Daily — Oprah Winfrey’s lifestyle and culture website — recommending six books for Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Don’t get me started on the incredible books written by and/or about Hispanic/Latine folx,” Ramírez wrote in the article. “As we say all the time, our community is not a monolith, so the variety of voices is tremendous. Just on this list we’ve got Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.”
“Tell it to me Singing” was also featured on NBC’s “The Today Show” on Sept. 20 during a segment with author Laura Dave recommending her favorite current novels. Dave described it as “a heartfelt, gem of a novel” that is “warm, endearing and a little bit heartbreaking, too.”
The novel introduces readers to Mónica, a young Cuban American woman expecting her first child, and her mother, Mirta — who reveals a life-altering secret from her earlier life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Ramírez drew from her own life in weaving the story together over the span of a decade.
It was published this summer by Simon and Schuster to warm reviews. Kirkus described it as “a rich portrait” that “bursts with humor,” while the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called it a “riveting … heartfelt, frequently humorous, and historically germane exploration of how one family uses truth and love to heal from generational pain.”