FUTURE CHILDREN’S 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.
Being a children’s author and writing stories about Latinx children is my childhood dream. It is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. The next best thing would be running a home for rescued animals. Also, I wouldn’t mind owning an empanada truck.
Okay, back to writing children’s books…
I’ve been writing short stories, poetry, and novels since I was a child. During hot summer nights, I used to tell scary stories to my friends. It was such a rush to frighten them. At school, my teachers used to read my scary stories and my poems aloud in class. It embarrassed me, but I also liked it. I still feel that way about writing.
My latest children’s novel is a fantasy adventure called Anomalies 53: Into The Shadows. You can read more about it here. I love this novel becuase there are all kind of mythical creatures in it: chupacabras, goblins, mermaids, llamacorns, and wyverns! Oh my!My other novels include Lety Out Loud, which is a Pura Belpré Honor Book; and The Cursed Moon, which won Florida’s Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Read more about it here.
You can see my other books by checking out my BOOKS link here.
I also collaborated with Disney for the Coco and Encanto junior novelizations and I’ve worked with American Girls Dolls TWICE! My latest collab with them includes the 2026 Girl of the Year: Raquel Reyes!
Before Raquel, I worked with American Girl dolls for their World By Us series which includes my book about a Mexican American soccer player who advocates for immigrant reform. It’s called Maritza: Lead With Your Heart. Read more about it here: Lead With Your Heart.
Where can you find my books?
All of my books are available for sale wherever you buy books. When you can, please support your local bookstores in your community. Most of my children’s novels are also available as audiobooks. If you don’t want to buy a book, check your local library. If one of my books is not on the library shelf, kindly ask them to order it for you. Check out my books here.
If you want to learn more about me and my books, I also have a Youtube channel filled with author book chats and interviews.
Ten Fun facts!
- I’m a proud Mexican American. My grandpa traveled from the state of Jalisco, Mexico to the United States at the age of fourteen. My grandma was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.
- I’m a Kansas girl just like my main character, Paloma, from Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring.
- If you have a warm, soft pretzel, I will ask for a bite.
- I ran a half marathon in two hours and forty-four minutes. It was rough!
- In high school, I was the editor-in-chief of our school newspaper “The Bagpiper.”
- For two years in middle school, I played the snare drum.
- My first language is English, but I like to practice Español too.
- For me, Lionel Messi is the G.O.A.T. (Cristiano Ronaldo is cool, but Messi is my #1 always!)
- Scary stories are my favorite! The scarier the better!
- I’m a daughter of a retired elementary school teacher.
BONUS FUN FACT: I will stop my car to help any furry, feathered, or reptile friend cross the street safely.
