It's May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, also known as KGG's favorite day of the year. I love a good fiesta. And Mexican food. Actually, I'm very much in love with Mexico all together. You wouldn't know this, but in college I wrote an original research paper on Jewish colonization schemes in 1920s Mexico. I have a minor in Latin American studies and I've been studying Spanish since I was 12 years old, although I am terribly out of practice now.
I remember watching an interview with Madonna in the 90s (it was during production of her "Take a Bow" video) where she said she must've been Hispanic in another life. That's kind of how I feel. Perhaps in another life, I lived in a Spanish-speaking country because it might explain my love for a culture that is not represented in my ancestry.
That's why when it came to doling out identities to my characters in Grunge Gods and Graveyards, I decided to make Lainey Jewish, like me, and Danny Mexican. I wanted a Latino character in my book.
I used to teach English as a second language in the public schools in New Jersey for five years and all of my students were Hispanic. Many of my students came from Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. My students struggled against poverty, language barriers, neglect, and an education system that, at times, seemed to be actively working against them. I left teaching in 2007 because I was burned out. But I always loved teaching my students. Sadly, being a teacher nowadays isn't so much about instilling learning as it is about about pressuring kids to perform well on standardized tests. But I digress....
Anyway, I hope that if any of my former students were to read Grunge Gods they might see themselves represented in Danny and be proud.
As a Cinco de Mayo treat, Grunge Gods and Graveyards is on sale for 99 cents on all platforms. If you haven't read it and would like to, click here to buy.
The Lady in Blue: A Grunge Gods and Graveyards Mystery has just been released for $2.99 and is on Amazon and Kobo.
And my YA spooky short story, One Night Is All You Need, is free on Amazon until Thursday.
Enjoy a margarita on me!
-KGG
3 comments:
Happy Cinco De Mayo, Kimberly!
Gracias, Jonathan! Right back atcha.
Mmm...chips and salsa... I didn't know you taught! Did I...? My brain some days. I think your former students would be proud of you and your characters.
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