| Contributing Authors A-C, D-G, H-N, O-Z | |
| A former English and Women's Studies instructor, Sylvia M. DeSantis lives in Pennsylvania with her partner where she divides her time between administrating educational multimedia projects and writing fiction, poetry, and essays that complement her study of holistic healing. Her story was inspired by a true family portrait and is dedicated to both the immigrant women of the early twentieth century who worked hard in their selfless pursuit of the American dream, as well as to our autistic children who affect us in profound and precious ways. She may be reached at wordsong@sylviamdesantis.com. Her website is www.sylviamdesantis.com. | |
| Alejandro Diaz was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago where he was part of a diverse community made up of Mexicans, Italians, Irish, Poles, Puerto-Ricans, Greeks, and Cubans. As a teen, Alejandro was exposed to Latin-American cinema for the very first time and was amazed at how differently Latinos were represented in these movies. Brought up in the U.S., he was accustomed to the shallow and stereotypical depictions of Hispanics that Hollywood constantly dished out. Inspired by these Latin-American films, Alejandro longed to participate in making films that lend dignity, passion, and a multi-dimensional facet to the Hispanic persona. Mr. Diaz has written a number of scripts whose themes revolve around the vast Latino experience. He co-wrote the feature screenplay, Las Mujeres de Juarez, which was a Quarter Finalist in The 2005 Slamdance Film Festival Screenplay competition, it is a story that personalizes the effects of the horrific mass murders that have occurred in the border town of Juarez, Mexico. He also wrote, directed, and produced the short film Pan Dulce y Chocolate which has been showcased in the following festivals: The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, CineSol Film Festival - TX, LEMI Emerging Filmmakers Mini-Fest - CA, San Antonio's CineFestival, and Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival - MI. In addition, he is a published writer whose essays and articles have appeared in such publications as: Hispanic Magazine, Vista Magazine, Latina Magazine, and The Los Angeles Times. And recently, he was a featured writer in the groundbreaking book - Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul - part of the highly successful Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Alejandro Diaz holds a M.F.A in Film from the University of Miami and a Communications Degree from the University of IL. at Chicago. | |
| Johnny Diaz is a staff writer at the Boston Globe and was a reporter at the Miami Herald where he began writing at age sixteen. Johnny was born and reared in Miami Beach by Cuban exile parents. He visits them often for his mom's flan, his dad's media noche sandwiches and the warm weather. Pleas e-mail him at johnnydiaz@aol.com. | |
| Maria Ercilla, born in Havana, emigrated to the U.S. at the age of four. Her life has been rich in both Cuban and American traditions, and it is this mix of cultures that has been a great source of inspiration for her writing. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Education. She has been teaching Creative Writing and English Literature to high-school students for the past twenty years. She is presently teaching the handicapped. Her stories and poetry have appeared in Calyx, Puerto del Sol, Amelia and numerous other journals. Her many awards include The International Hemingway Poetry Award (1997 and 1998) and the Allen Tate Memorial Award (1998). Her work just recently appeared in So Luminous the Wildflowers, an anthology of poetry by California writers. She is presently at work on her third novel, The Year of the Bad Boy. Her other interests are photography, collages and reading. Ms. Ercilla lives in Los Angeles, California, with her son and daughter. | |
| Renee Fajardo is an attorney by training. After spending several years working with inner city children and homeless families she decided that her first love, writing was a more effective way to use her skills. In 1996, the mother of seven decided to write her first children's book based on cultural family foods. She turned her passion for working with children and young adults into a career as she began to teach writing, and to give workshops and storytelling seminars. Today Ms. Fajardo is the co-author of two multicultural children's books; Holy Mole Guacamole (and other tummy tales) and Pinch A Lotta Enchiladas (and other tummy tales). Her third book, Chile Today, Hot Tamale (and other tummy tales) is due out 2004. She teaches storytelling, poetry, creative writing and fiction and non-fiction workshops. Her passion is to help young writers draw on their family and community ties to create a rich and vibrant world. She believes that writing is a craft that anyone can do. Her goal is to open the creative process for those who dare to try. | |
| Antonio Farias lives in New York, but pines for a place with warmer weather, preferably somewhere with a kiddie water park where he and his daughter, Lina, can pass the time chasing each other through water jets. He is currently working on a novel. You can reach him at afarias@gmail.com. | |
| Roberto G. Fernández is a Cuban-American author. He teaches at Florida State University and has published the novels Raining Backwards, Holy Radishes! and En La Ocho y La Doce. | |
| For thirty years, Dahlma Llanos Figueroa was an English and creativewriting teacher, as well as a high-school librarian in the New York City public schools. Her writing is based on her experience as a member of the Puerto Rican community in New York City and on the island. Dahlma is currently revising her novel, Legacy, and is working on a collection of short stories. Her work has been published in various literary journals. | |
| Aurelio Deane Font recived his degree in bilingual education from Temple University in 1976. He has worked as a public school teacher, a musician and as a research assistant for the University of California, San Francisco. He can be e-mailed at togerfont@aol.com. | |
| Elizabeth García teaches Latino Studies at Hunter College in New York City. She is the founder of two online sites, www.latinopromo.com and www.latinafeminist.com. She enjoys speaking to various audiences about her experiences as a Latina in the United States. Please e-mail her at egarci@hunter.cuny.edu. | |
| Alvaro Garduño received his Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Studies with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001. He works with International Scholars and their Health Insurance needs at UHS Tang Center. Alvaro enjoys spending time fixing his home. Please email him at: alvaro_g14@hotmail.com. | |
| Rogelio R. Gómez received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1980, and his Master of Arts, 1990, from Southwest Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas. Roy enjoys riding his motorcycle, tattooing, jogging and playing the button accordion. He is completing his first novel. | |
| Chela González has an undergraduate degree in psychology, and graduate and post-graduate degrees in theological studies. She has taught elementary to graduate students and has served as a Youth Minister, Catechetical Leader, Pastoral Associate and Permanent Deacon Formation Director. She is currently Archdiocesan Director of the Office of Catechesis in Santa Fe. | |
| Linda M. González has been writing since the seventh grade. She received her B.A. from Stanford in English: Creative Writing and finally claims herself as a writer twenty years later. She is the mother of Gina and Teotli, her inspiration to create caminos of love and healing for this and future generations. | |
| Religion and ritual have always been of interest to Mónica González. In the early '90s, she earned her B.A. in Religious Studies and M.A. in Theology. Since then she has worked as a campus minister and is currently developing a prayer book for young adults. Her e-mail is livelongyprosper@yahoo.com. | |
| Cuban-born Barbara Gutiérrez lives in Miami where she has worked as a journalist in both print and television. For the past four years, she has worked in public and media relations. Barbara has always been interested in literature and belongs to a feminist women's book group. You can e-mail her at gestela44@aol.com. | |
| Contributing Authors A-C, D-G, H-N, O-Z | |