I'm a writer from Santa Ana, CA. My debut Maria, Maria & Other Stories was published in 2022 and longlisted for a National Book Award. My writing has been supported by generous fellowships from PEN America, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference-Rona Jaffe Foundation, and VONA, and I earned my MFA in creative writing traveling around Latin America.
I'm currently working on a novel about magicians, inappropriate musical theater, and mass deception. I keep thinking about the active ingredients in stories. If we accept stories are healing, can't they be poisonous, too? And what are the antidotes for the story we're in now?
I am happiest when creating experiences that surprise people. That playfulness extends to my work in community engagement and public programs. Over twenty years, I've gained valuable nonprofit and arts management experience at Otis College of Art & Design, PEN America, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
From 2016 - 2021, I founded and managed Makara, a library and community art center in my hometown. We hosted writing workshops, film screenings, artist talks and exhibitions, live music, community meetings, and everything in between. I support writers as an advisory board member for the Granum Foundation, and teach creative writing to high school students. I'm a student of arts in public health and an advocate for equity in the arts.
Reach out if you'd like to work together!