On unconditional love
with Xelena González author of ‘Remembering’
#NuevasPáginas is a space that aims to amplify and spotlight Hispanic/Latine/x authors with newly published books. The goal is to connect readers to their next favorite Hispanic/Latine/x authored book through a mini casual get-to-know-the-book-and-author interview. So please help me connect to more readers. So that together we can continue to build the love/support of Latine literature!
Hey Book Franz!
Did you miss me? Hi! I took a mini-break to explore CDMX and Oaxaca with my family these past few weeks. It was beautiful! I packed three books and unfortunately did not turn one single page (well just on the airplane ride in because CREEP: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba was too good not to read through in an almost four-hour airtime!).
But I’m back and to a full week of bookish fun ⬇️⬇️
TOMORROW! Saturday, September 9th at 3 PM ET ( register here to join us) #LaComunidadReads is joined by queer, Costa Rican-American poet and author -John Manuel Arias! We’ll be chatting about his debut novel Where There Was Fire (available in all bookstores and libraries). I hope you’ll consider attending in person if you can! We are going to have such a wonderful discussion. For those that don’t live in the area - DCPL will be livestreaming the event so you can join virtually too- click here to find the live stream!
Sunday, September 10th at 5 PM ET
I have the honor of chatting with the brilliant Myriam Gurba in person at Politics and Prose (Connecticut Ave location) about her newest book (which I really fucking loved) CREEP: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba!! The event is free and open to the public!
Saturday, September 16th from 1:30 PM- 3:00 PM ET
I’ll be leading a workshop titled: Social Media for Writers: BookTok! Bookstagram! Literary social media spaces o my! In this workshop participants will have the chance to learn more about online social media communities that exist and the best way to engage with these communities as well as participate in them as either a reader or author looking to promote their work. This workshop is available through The Writer’s Center special programming called Latine Heritage Through a Literary Lens. The workshop is free and open to the public but there is limited space so act fast! Register here :)
Tuesday, September 19th at 7 PM ET (Register to join us in person here)
#LaComunidadReads is joined by Alejandro Varela and we will be chatting about his newest short story collection ‘The People Who Report More Stress’!! You can also join this virtually if you are unable to attend in person via DCPL’s YouTube channel.
Thursday, September 28th at 7 PM ET (Register to join us in person here)
I’ll be making my way to Baltimore, MD to chat with Melissa Lozada-Oliva, child of Guatemalan and Colombian immigrants about her newest book Candelaria!
Saturday, October 7th at 3 PM ET
#LaComunidadReads has a special event planned that I’ll be sharing more details on soon! But for now - SAVE THE DATE! I’m telling you - you won’t want to miss it!
I know that was a lot of info! But don’t worry, I’ll be sharing it again as the events get closer. I love meeting people in person so if you are able - please come out and support any or all of these events <3
Con mucho amor,
Lupita
Without further ado, our special guest author for today’s Nuevas Pagina issue is…Xelena González author of ‘Remembering’!
Could you tell me a bit about where this photo was taken? Is it special to your book in some way?
This is my third picture book with Adriana – who lives just ten minutes down the road – but this was our first chance to unbox our new book together! I was living in China when All Around Us was released. Then the pandemic kept us apart during the launch for Where Wonder Grows. So we made sure to get together for the unveiling of Remembering. Here we are in my parent’s dining room, which is surrounded by Adriana’s original artwork from WWG. These were gifts she gave to the book’s models – my mom, daughter, and nieces. At first I was sad that Remembering would not include my family like the other books did, until I saw the back page that features my BujuCat, who lived all of her 17 years within that home.
I wanted my first read-aloud of the finished book to be in the backyard where I first wrote the manuscript five years ago. This is the resting place of my beloved BujuCat, who left my side after 17 years of companionship. I had set up an ofrenda there on Día de los Inocentes (the first day of the Día de Muertos celebrations), and I had a good, long cry sitting there on the earth. Adriana had just lost her dog Simon the week before, so I wanted to write this as a gift of consolation, but also to ease my own heart. The grave marker is a statuette from Cairo; when I first brought it home from my travels, Buju tried to catfight it! Now it guards her special spot, which I plan to adorn again this November.
Tell me about your book without telling me about your book - share any literary inspirations behind your book! If there are none, the gap you wanted to fill in the literary canon with your book
In some ways this is a completion of our trilogy of our picture books. The first explores the circles around us and the larger cycle of life and death. The second explores nature’s elements, which are all represented on the ofrenda in Remembering. Together, these stories remind us of the beauty and strength alive in nature and within us – a marvelous thing to behold, especially in the loving embrace of family.
I am happy to see more books for both adults and children that explore the traditions of Día de Muertos. Still, I felt it was important to address the loss of a pet, specifically, since Día de los Inocentes is traditionally devoted to the souls of children and pets who have passed away. I find it amazing that their unconditional love is honored in this way.
What are two central themes in your book that you connect with the most and why?
Ritual and celebration. Humans need rituals, and I believe it’s important to make them our own, especially when trying to heal our hearts after losing a loved one. The best part of Día de Muertos rituals is that they’re also celebratory. We celebrate the memories of our loved ones who are no longer alive while also celebrating the life we still have flowing within our own bodies.
If a book was home, where would your home be?
100 Years of Solitude. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I remember it being full of the most colorful characters.
If your book was a famous musician who would it be?
Perhaps Buju Banton. I named my cat after this Jamaican musician. Even though she came to me as a sweet little kitten, I recognized her warrior spirit that is expressed in his gravelly voice. For those unfamiliar with Buju’s music, try Untold Stories, Love Sponge, Shiloh, or Til I’m Laid to Rest.
What comfort food could a reader pair with your book?
Pan de muerto y champurrado, for sure! These pre-Columbian delicacies are traditionally shared during Día de Muertos, and they always take me back to childhood, when I eagerly awaited that time of year.
In what ways has access (or little to no access) to Hispanic/Latinx/e literature defined you as a writer?
During my library studies I remember advocating for authentic voices in literature but also recognizing that there was still a huge gap to fill. I felt this sense of responsibility to throw my hat in the ring, and I’m glad I did. I’ve always enjoyed storytelling, but when you don’t have professional writers in your family, it’s hard to know how to navigate that path. So I studied journalism and later librarianship. Those skill sets are still part of my work, but I am happy to be carving out my life as a creator. At a recent loteria night with the extended family, a couple of the little kids eagerly told me about a movie they were writing. Later, a teen cousin told me about writing songs for his band he plans to tour with someday. That means the most to me – showing the next generation of brown creatives that we too can imagine and shape our larger reality.
Where can readers keep up with your work?
Website: xelena.space
IG: @xfactor.live
Facebook: Xelena Gonzalez
Thank you to Xelena González for taking the time to chat with me about her book! Please please make sure you purchase a copy (or request your local library carry a copy) #SupportLatinxLit!
Xelena González is the author of the award-winning picture books All Around Us and Where Wonder Grows, as well as Remembering, all illustrated by longtime friend Adriana M. Garcia. She is a poet, storyteller, essayist, and creator of the curative card deck Lotería Remedios. Visit her at Xelena.Space.
Adriana M. Garcia is the Pura Belpré Award-winning illustrator of All Around Us, which was also an American Indian Youth Literature Honor, and Where Wonder Grows. She also illustrated The Turquoise Room by Monica Brown and Remembering by longtime friend and collaborator Xelena González. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her family. Visit her online AdrianaMJGarcia.com.
Synopsis for Remembering:
A family remembers their beloved pet dog through the traditions of Día de Muertos in this poignant and brightly illustrated picture book from Pura Belpré Honor–winning team Xelena González and Adriana M. Garcia.
A child and their family observe the customs of Día de los Angelitos, one of the ritual celebrations of Día de Muertos, to celebrate the life of their beloved dog who passed away. They build a thoughtful ofrenda to help lead the pet’s soul home and help the little one process their grief in this moving reminder that loved ones are never really gone if we take the time to remember them.
