Two Border Poems

My border poems were originally published in Lady/Liberty/Lit in July 2017. Singing the Abecedarian at Friendship Park (An abecedarian poem is guided by alphabetical order, with the first letter [...]

Luz Book Launch. Save the Date!

My book launch for Luz will be held at my favorite independent bookstore, Vroman’s in Pasadena http://www.vromansbookstore.com/ on Saturday, June 13th at 4 PM. It’s an amazing store [...]

Why Immigrant and Refugee Rights?

I grew up during a time of activism in our country. Many people took to the streets in the name of justice for the civil rights movement, women’s struggle for equality, Chicano rights, farm [...]

Symbolism of the White Calla Lily

I’ve always loved white calla lilies, such elegant, graceful flowers. Their long, strong, yet slender stems bend slightly under the weight of a trumpet-shaped ivory spathe, its flame-like yellow [...]

What’s in a Name?

Just like expectant parents, writers give a lot of thought to the names of their characters. Sometimes it’s a favorite name—I have always liked the name Beth. Sometimes it’s a name that carries [...]