Published Writing
Justin Torres Interview & Review of We the Animals
Laughter and love mix with hardship and havoc to define family in Justin Torres’s debut novel, We the Animals. | Read
Citizen U.S.A. Book Coverage
HBO book and documentary explore immigration, naturalization and a sense of belonging. | Read
Hollywood Targets Hispanic Moviegoers
Pantelion Films releases It’s Not You, It’s Me with Eugenio Derbez. | Read
Alisa Valdes-Rodrigues Interview
From Dirty Girls to Enlightened Ladies: Chica lit writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez challenges genre expectations with her novel The Three Kings. | Read
Patricia Engel: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Chica, Interview
The publication of Vida by Patricia Engel marks the impressive debut of a young Latina talent. | Read
Interview with Jorge and Laura Posada: Learning from the Curve Balls
New York Yankee catcher Jorge Posada and his wife, Laura, reveal why they decided to write their memoir. | Read
Oscar Hijuelos: Mambo in Double Time, Interview
The Pulitzer Prize winning author talks about his new book, Beautiful Maria of My Soul, gives advice to his younger self and tells me what’s next. | Read
Soledad O’Brien Cover Story Profile
Motherhood and a multicultural lens add to the human touch of her stories. | Read
Sounds of the Past
In an interview with my mother for StoryCorps, I learn about her sacrifices, heartaches, and joy. | Read
StoryCorps Historias Initiative
StoryCorps Historias lets you archive your life: It’s Time to Tell Your Story. | Read
Bound, A Short Story published in The Newark Metro
Framed in my bedroom door, Diogo was the epitome of sixteen-year-old cool: black mane slicked back with gel, baggy white jeans with matching hightops, left earlobe with a diamond stud. He and his older brother João shared bunk beds in the room above mine, creating a stack of Portuguese boys in our four-story apartment building in New Jersey.
To continue reading visit: The Newark Metro
Love in Exile
No matter how Sex-and-the-City the book’s cover may appear, don’t mistakeReclaiming Paris for chick lit. Although it’s certainly sensually seductive, the book’s origins were anything but, as author Fabiola Santiago tells me. | Read
The Truth Bordering Fiction
Oscar Casares, the critically acclaimed author of the short story collection Brownsville, spends an afternoon with me to discuss his debut novel Amigoland, to detail the pain of fiction colliding with life, and to read an excerpt from one ofAmigoland’s most poignant scenes. | Read
A Mysterious Second Career
At 72, Brazilian mystery writer Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza is 13 years into his second career and has never looked back. In this interview with me, he talks about the latest installment in his bestselling Inspector Espinosa series, Rio de Janeiro as inspiration, and how age has affected his writing. | Read
Sweet Debut
Book review of Liz Balmaseda’s first novel, Sweet Mary. | Read
Sandra Cisneros Cover Story Profile
On the 25th anniversary of the publication of The House on Mango Street, Chicana literary icon Sandra Cisneros reveals her life’s passions, and how she is nurturing a new generation of writers.| Read
Read an extended Q and A with Cisneros, where she discusses the pivotal role her novel played in the acceptance of Latino culture, her years as an academic migrant, and more.| Read
Marie Arana Interview
Marie Arana discusses her new novel, Lima Nights, a timeless tale of forbidden romance set in the Peruvian city of her birth.| Read
My review of Lima Nights. | Read
Junot Díaz Interview
Junot Díaz’s first published work, the bestselling short story collection Drown (1996), earned Díaz critical praise. His second publication and first novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, garnered Díaz the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In an exclusive interview, the Dominican American writer speaks of the challenges of his craft and of the unexpected consequences of his writing. | Read
The Book of Chameleons, Interview with José Eduardo Agualusa
Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa discusses identity and Jorge Luis Borges, the inspiration for his sixth novel, The Book of Chameleons. | Read
My review of The Book of Chameleons. | Read
Five Authors in the Spotlight: Isabel Allende, Victor Villaseñor, Jorge Ramos, Javier Sierra, and Cristina García
Five of AARP VIVA’s favorite authors featured over the last five years answered five questions about their lives as writers and readers. | Read
Poet Alberto Ríos, Interview
The winner of the 2007 Arizona Literary Treasure Award sat down with me to discuss his ninth poetry collection, The Theater of Night, his relationship with his grandparents, and reconnecting with the Spanish language. | Read
My print-only review of The Theater of Night available upon request.
Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of ACLU Interview & Review
I sat down with Anthony Romero and spoke openly with him about his new book In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror. In 2005, Romero was named one of Time magazine’s 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America. We spoke of motivation, the fight for civil liberties, and grappling with sexual orientation in a Hispanic family. | Read
My review of In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror. | Read
Ana Castillo, Interview & Review
I sat down with Ana Castillo in her very first interview about The Guardians.| Read
My review of The Guardians. | Read
Cristina García, Interview & Review
Acclaimed author Cristina García speaks candidly with me about aging, Cuba, and the importance of roots in her first interview about A Handbook to Luck. | Read
My review of A Handbook to Luck. | Read
Isabel Allende Interview in AARP: The Magazine
The bestselling author on her newest book, issues of identity, aging, and more. AllendeInterview.pdf
Review of El búfalo de la noche (The Night Buffalo) by Guillermo Arriaga in Críticas Magazine
My review of El búfalo de la noche (The Night Buffalo) by Guillermo Arriaga (published in Críticas Magazine) Read
Print version of this clip (and all others on this site) is available upon request.
David Maraniss Interview & Review
My interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss about what prompted him to write his latest book, Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero. | Read
My review of Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero. | Read
Zengo Food Review
A food review of Zengo published in On Tap Magazine. | Read
Podculture
Article on podcasting. PodCasting.pdf
Alberto’s Pizzeria Food Review
A food review of Alberto’s Pizzeria published in On Tap Magazine. | Read
Javier Sierra Interview & Review
My interview with Javier Sierra about the upcoming North American release of his latest book, The Secret Supper (La cena secreta). SierraInterview.pdf
My review of The Secret Supper. SierraReview.pdf
Jorge Ramos Interview
The journalist and Univision anchorman speaks with me about his latest book Dying to Cross, immigration, and the American Dream. RamosInterview.pdf
The Ultimate Safety Net
Article on Social Security. SocialSecurity.pdf
Celiabrating
Article on Celia Cruz. CeliaCruz.pdf
A Team Effort
Article on improving the long-term care system in Puerto Rico. LongtermCare.pdf
