Liza Monroy celebrated the publication of her first novel, Mexican High, with a party at Ulrich Oehmen's photography gallery in Chelsea last week. Catering was provided by her high school classmate, chef Danny Mena of Hecho en Dumbo, while another alum, artist Richard Gonzalez, sent a mariachi band over. (The school is the real-life model for the one in the novel.) Spiegel & Grau co-publisher Cindy Spiegel was one of many guests who packed the room and helped sell out all the inventory local indie 192 Books brought to the party.

Monroy will be reading from her novel at Brooklyn's Book Court Thursday night (with short story writer Nam Le) and the Roots & Vines Café Friday (with novelist Bryan Charles), with other readings to follow. And, she reports, she'll be teaching an online course in personal essay writing for mediabistro.com beginning July 16.

(photos by Kim Buchheit)