A message to Hola Escritores readers
By hola | Published | No Comments
Dear readers,
Books have been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up painfully shy, it took months for me to pluck up the courage to enter my elementary school’s library. But soon enough, the library became my place of comfort.
When I realized I could make a career out of my passion for books, I poured hours into researching majors that focused not just on writing stories but the publishing industry as a whole. With each year bringing me closer to graduation and each internship requiring me to compete with thousands of other bookworms across the country, I had to ask myself one thing: What impact do I want to have in publishing?
That question led me first to Hola Cultura as a copy editing intern, and then to Hola Escritores as its column editor.
I’ve always noticed a lack of Latine representation in publishing, from authors to characters to industry personnel. Hola Escritores was created to resist this inequality through celebration.
For nearly the past two years, we have been able to release reviews and interviews that place focus on Latine authors of all genres from across the world – including the vivid poetry of “Brava” by Violeta Garza and the scathing feminist collection “Reservoir Bitches” by Dahlia de la Cerda.
This year, we began our monthly charla events intended to bridge the gap between author and audience through live readings and Q&As with reader-submitted questions. Our featured authors have expressed immense gratitude for our support of their books, which often lack the support of traditional publishing houses. We have also forged connections with indie publishing houses to stay informed on upcoming releases from emerging authors.
As editor, I am incredibly honored and grateful to work alongside our volunteer writers and editors to promote stories that push the boundaries of the current trends in the publishing landscape; an industry that is constantly changing. The increase in censorship since the Trump administration took office is all the more reason why we are committed to the Hola Escritores’ mission. We will continue to uplift Latine storytellers through content that encourages exploration beyond what is popular or conventional.
Here at Hola Escritores, we are a community made by readers for readers. If you are interested in providing feedback, submitting a book for the column or joining our writing team, please reach out to michelle_benitez@holacultura.com. We would love to hear your ideas as we search for stories that entertain and incite conversation.
Thank you for supporting Hola Escritores!
Sincerely,
Michelle Benitez
Editor, Hola Escritores
– Copy edited by Findlay Drabant and Valerie Izquierdo
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