Welcome to another Author Spotlight! These spotlights showcase authors’ (predominantly women and people of color) writing talents and published works. As you may or may not know, I do theme weeks of prominent holidays/events throughout the year on my site. Every time I do these I always feature other authors (usual ones of color and women). And for Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, I am trying to feature authors with Latinx and/or Hispanic backgrounds. So without further ado, let’s meet author Adrian Ernesto !
About the Author:
Adrian Ernesto is the author of Flashes & Verses… Becoming Attractions from Unsolicited Press, Between the Spine from Picture Show Press, Speaking con su Sombra with Alegría Publishing, La Belle Ajar & We Are the Ones Possessed from CLASH Books and his 6th poetry collection La Lengua Inside Me will be published by FlowerSong Press in 2023.
Adrian lives with his wife in Los Angeles with their adorably spoiled cat Woody Gold.
What and when started your love for writing?
Mi Papi gifted me his antique typewriter and I started writing Star Trek inspired fan fiction. I loved and still love the feel of my fingers on the keys. It’s like creating music and rhythm on the page. My wife gave me a vintage typewriter as a gift when I graduated from Antioch University Los Angeles’ MFA program.
Of all of the book genres, what drew you to write about yours?
During elementary school, my teacher Mr. Babcock was a fan of the verse and introduced me and our class to poetry. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is the poem that changed my life and inspired me to become a poet.
For a personalized signed copy of We Are the Ones Possessed, click here. Your readers can apply PossessedCode1 for a discount at checkout.
If you could meet your favorite Latinx/Hispanic author, who would it be and why?
I have two: The Poet Laureate Ada Límon, and Erika L. Sánchez. Both have inspired me for years and I would love to talk craft and poesía with these inspirational poets.
How has your Latinx/Hispanic background and culture shaped what you write and how you write?
I write bilingual poems. Growing ip in my house, mi Mami and Papi spoke to me in Spanish and mis hermanos and I would respond in English. This influenced mi poesia the most. Being a Gemini, I embrace my cultura when I write my poems. I have recently embraced my bilingual voice and because of this I am writing the best poems ever in my life.
What book do you think everyone should read is based (or inspired by) around Latinx/
Hispanic culture?
With all the xenophobia, racism, and hate, it is of the essence to put a voice to the faces in our cultura. Latinx Poets, Writers and Authors are showing the personal is universal and even though we may speak with accents or have a different shade, we are similar in many ways. Reading is the best way for all readers to open up our eyes, minds and corazons and is the first step to embracing cultures different than our own.
What makes your book(S)/writing special?
I write bilingually, like many in our culture who speak both languages, I connect and honor mi lengua and my experiences in my poems. Speaking con su Sombra, published by Alegria Publishing, is a collection of bilingual poems written for and inspired by mi Mami who died in 2017. I turned the grief of the loss of mi Mami into a book for people who had lost family members, friends and loved ones to help them mourn with my
poems.
For a personalized signed copy of Speaking con su Sombra, click here. Your readers can apply SombraAmiga for a discount at checkout
So…what are you working on now?
My 6 th poetry book, the bilingual poetry collection La Lengua Inside Me will be published by FlowerSong Press in 2023. It’s a collection of the best poems I have ever written in my life. I also have a bilingual erotic love poem chapbook When Her Lips Spread Simpatico that I wrote for my wife that still is looking for the right publication home.
Talking with Adrian was so insightful into the mind of a living poet. What a great interview! As a writer, I am confident that you will reach great heights. There will be no limit to how far you can go with your writing! And that book cover, We Are the Ones Possessed, is everything beautiful ! To get in contact or connect with him through:
Thank you all for reading and remember:
Live. Love. Laugh.
