Q: First tell us something about yourself?
I am originally from Colombia and my family moved to the U.S when I was a teenager. I am now an engineer working mom of two boys and author of Two Boys on a Sailboat/Dos niños en un Velero.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
Ever since I moved to the U.S I started writing to improve my English, then as an adult I had a blog to record various special occasions and then when I had my boys I started to write about the parks that we went to in Texas. I wrote this children’s book partly as a gift to my kids but also for families that what to be engaged in learning and practicing Spanish!
Q: When did you write your first story? Is it published or not?
I honestly started writing a book for teenagers with a storyline that made me think about the things I wish I would have changed when I went to High School. For example, I stopped playing basketball and wish that I had tried out and played then. I have not published that book and think will be more of a family relic.
Q: Tell us something more about your books?
I think my book will be very relatable to the Latinx family. I worked with the illustrator to bring my Colombian culture into “Two Boys on a Sailboat/Dos niños en un Velero”. For example when the boy is imagining if he is in the city while playing with blocks, the corresponding picture is inspired by a city in Colombia, Cartagena. The page with the boys making a castle with blankets was made with patterns that I sent to the illustrator for inspiration. My book has a few underlaying themes; for example a mom breastfeeding her younger son. That is not the main theme, but it is included there to normalize breastfeeding and it is a resource I wish we had for when we brought the younger brother home and the older brother was asking questions about breastfeeding.
Q: Why do you choose kids as your reader ? is there any specific reason?
I choose kids because I have two younger boys (aged 1 and 4) and I saw that they would enjoy a book where they could see themselves, learn about my country and engage in practicing Spanish.
Q: How did these stories and characters come to your mind?
The story was inspired by my older son asking questions to me and me responding to him in Spanish. It is beautiful because he would ask questions that would invite me to imagine something more beyond the object that he was asking about. For example if we were in the swings he’d ask “Two boys in two airplanes?” and I would respond in Spanish the confirmation of his statement. Him and his brother are so close and I wanted to capture their day to day but from their point of view, they see the mundane activities as something fun!
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
My message for young readers would be to continue reading and using their imagination! Kids truly have a wonderful way of using their creativity and as adults we sometimes lose that wonder. My message for parents would be to accept the invitation from kids to keep our imagination and creativity alive.
