Join us for a virtual Pride celebration and live excerpt reading of MALA & THE MASK OF GOLD by Jaime Martin Ko Atilano, local nonbinary author and UMD graduate (released December 7th, 2020). Jaime will introduce us to the world of Mala and Salem, siblings who find their destinies intertwined with a prophecy much older than them. With their brother Patrick, Jaime will illuminate Filipinx mythos through a queer trans lens. This event is free and open to all and will be accessible through our Facebook and Youtube pages (@busboysandpoets)
Please RSVP if you are interested in purchasing a book bundle (shipping included)
The program will start out with an introduction from our Director of Operations before we get right to it with a small excerpt reading from the author themselves, Jaime Martin Ko Atilano, followed by a short powerpoint presentation exploring the world of Mala and going over necessary terms like cisgender, nonbinary, etc before we jump deep into a discussion with Patrick Ko. There will be time for Q&A with the audience before we end our program.
About MALA & THE MASK OF GOLD: Deep down, Mala always knew they were different from the other children of Zambo. But it is not until they are visited by Sidapa, the Deity of Death, that they learn why. Siblings Mala and Salem have more potential than meets the eye. As Mala finds themselves a part of an ancient prophecy, Salem must decide if he should follow his dream of becoming a defender of Zambo. They travel together to Isla Sirena where they find that mythical beasts have come to life! Mala learns that they must find the Mask of Gold before the dragon-like Bakunawa devours the moon by the next Lunar Eclipse and leaves the entire world in total destruction.
Jaime Martin Ko Atila is a nonon-binary immigrant from the Philippines and a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. They were awarded the Lorde-O'Leary award for their work at the University of Maryland for tackling initiatives like implementing all-gender restrooms, advocating for inclusive healthcare practices for trans/non-binary students, and speaking at panels to educate students on LGBTQ+ terminology and issues. After growing up without any characters (on screen or in books) that looked like them, Jaime decided to write the book MALA & THE MASK OF GOLD to include characters that their younger self would have cherished. Outside of activism and writing, they spend their time practicing their makeup and styling skills.
