BUDDING AUTHOR! This is me when I was 8ish. Behind those wispy brown bangs and hopeful bright eyes, I was dreaming up the kind of books I wanted to write.
I was born a few minutes after midnight on April 11th. My mom named me Angela because she said when they brought me to her, I looked like an angel. She still thinks I look like an angel. 😉 You can learn how to pronounce my name here.
Writing is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do in my life. The next best thing would be running a home for rescued animals. Also, I wouldn’t mind owning an empanada truck. Back to writing…I’ve been writing short stories, poetry, and novels since I was a child. My teachers used to read my work aloud in class and it embarrassed me, but I also liked it. I still feel that way about writing.
So far, I’ve written several middle grade novels including Lead With Your Heart, which is part of American Girl’s new World By Us series. Read more about it here: Lead With Your Heart.
My other novels include Lety Out Loud, which is a Pura Belpré Honor Book; Gaby, Lost and Found, which was named Best Youth Chapter book by the International Latino Book Awards and a Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books; Allie, First At Last, which received a starred-review from Kirkus and; Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring which was named a Junior Guild Selection and included in the Texas’ prestigious Bluebonnet Master List for 2019-2020. It’s a mystery novel based in Mexico City and inspired by legendary artist Frida Kahlo. Read more about it here: Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring.
Besides my original novels, I also adapted Disney/Pixar’s Oscar award-winning animated movie Coco, into a junior novel and wrote Disney’s Encanto: Junior Novelization.
All of my books are available for sale wherever you buy books. When you can, please support independent, local bookstores in your community. And if you don’t want to buy a book, check your local library for my novels. If it’s not on a shelf, ask them to kindly order it for you.
I’m super proud of the novels I’ve written because they’re exactly the type of books I would have enjoyed when I was a child. If you want to read a more “official” author bio, please click here. 🙂
See Author’s Professional Bio See Q&A With The Author
Check out Angela’s Youtube Channel
Other facts you should know about me
- I was born and raised in Kansas so that means I’m super polite and very patient, but I don’t tolerate mean people.
- If you have a pretzel, I will ask you for a bite.
- I cry during the World Cup, Olympics and March Madness (Go Jayhawks!)
- I was editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, The Highland Park Bagpiper.
- I played the snare drum from 5th – 8th grade.
- My first language is English, but I like to practice español too. 🙂
- I lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for nearly three years teaching English
and literature (mis alumnos were the best!) - I lived in Brownsville, Texas for two years after graduating from college (I miss the Valley!)
- I’m a daughter of a retired elementary teacher.
- I’m a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants from the state of Jalisco.
- My pronouns are she/her/hers
- I graduated with an English degree from the University of Kansas (Go Jayhawks!)
- I will stop my car to help any furry, feathered or reptile friend cross the street safely.
Interviews and Guest Posts with Angela Cervantes
Interview with Angela Cervantes by Héctor Rendón for Latino Book Review (2021)
Topeka author Angela Cervantes to write junior novel for Disney’s ‘Encanto’ after writing ‘Coco’ (Topeka Capital- Journal; July 2021)
The Power of Story by Angela Cervantes; School Library Journal (March 2019)
Local Author Transformed Disney’s Coco into Novel; Kansas City Star (January 2018)
Interview with Angela Cervantes; The Latino Book Review (January 2018)
Interview with Angela Cervantes; La Bloga (Dec. 2016)
Angela Cervantes: Writing What She Loves; Whispering Prairie Press (October 2016)
Gutsy, Funny, and Flawed: Crafting Strong Latina Characters; School Library Journal (May 2016)
Piñata Busters and Trailblazers, Guest Post; Latin@s in KidLit (March 2016)
Meet acclaimed author Angela Cervantes; Scholastic blog: On Our Minds (April 2016)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, Allison’s Book Bag (July 2014)
Angela Cervantes on Publishing and her Animal-loving Latina Protagonist; Latinos in KidLit (May, 2014)
Angela Cervantes talks about her name, Teachingbooks.com (May, 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, La Bloga (May 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, Musings of a Children’s Writer (March 2014)
Interview with Angela Cervantes, The Debutante Ball (Dec. 2013)
