Hello!
I'm a writer from Santa Ana, CA. My debut Maria, Maria & Other Stories was published in 2022 by Liveright/W.W. Norton and was longlisted for a National Book Award. I earned my MFA in creative writing traveling around Latin America.
I'm working on a novel about magicians, musical theater, and mass deception. I'm an arts in public health student and 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?
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.
After a 20+ year career in arts administration where I produced bold and community-engaged public programs and performances, I've reignited my commitment to storytelling as an author and teaching artist. I support writers as an advisory board member for the Granum Foundation, volunteer at 826LA, and teach creative writing at Orange County School of the Arts.
