THIS IS US:
Cynthia Harmony
Cynthia Harmony is an educational psychologist originally from Mexico City. She’s created exhibits and bilingual learning materials for children and science museums. She has published textbooks and writes picture books, chapter books and early readers. She’s a translator member of The American Literary Translators Association and was awarded the 2020 We Need Diverse Books PB Mentorship. Cynthia is represented by BookEnds Literary.
www.twitter.com/cynthia_harmony
www.instagram.com/cynthiaharmony
Ana Siqueira
Ana Siqueira is from Rio de Janeiro where she is an award-winning published author. Ana loves teaching Spanish to elementary children and writing. Besides BELLA’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, – Beaming Books, Ana also published a book for the educational market El Pato Quiere Uvas. Ana loves playing with her grandkids and cooking. She lives in Florida with her Cuban husband.
https://www.facebook.com/ana.luisduran
Darlene P. Campos
Darlene P. Campos is an award-winning author for young adult and middle grade readers. She earned her BA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, exercising, and going to museums. Previously published by the indie house Vital Narrative Press, she is now represented by Allison Hellegers of Stimola Literary Studio thanks to the work of #DVPit. She is Ecuadorian-American and lives in Houston, TX with her husband.
www.facebook.com/DarlenePCampos
www.instagram.com/darlenepcampos
www.twitter.com/darlenepcampos
Mariana Llanos
Mariana Llanos is a Peruvian-born writer of children’s literature, winner of the 2022 Oklahoma Book Award for her book Run Little Chaski/Corre Pequeño Chaski (Barefoot Books, 2021). She’s also authored Luca’s Bridge/El Puente de Luca (Penny Candy Books,2019), Eunice and Kate (Penny Candy Books,2020), and other titles, including Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess, and Poesia Alada. Her upcoming work include a chapter book series called Vampirita (Reycraft Books 2023). Mariana has received the Oklahoma Human Rights Award for her work visiting schools around the world. She was selected as the Best Latino Artist of 2017 by the Hispanic Arts Council of Oklahoma. She resides in Oklahoma City. She is represented by Sera Rivers of Martin Literary.
www.instagram.com/marianawritestheworld
www.facebook.com/marianallanosbooks
Tatiana Gardel
Tatiana Gardel is a Brazilian illustrator and teaching artist based in New York City. She graduated with both degrees in Fine Arts and in Art Education in Brazil. She started her career as a fine artist, participating in several exhibitions in Rio de Janeiro. While exploring other ways to express her creativity, she found a passion for storytelling and illustration. Tatiana has been awarded the 2020 Emerging Illustrator Scholarship for the Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference and her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators in New York and American Illustration AI-AP.
https://www.tatianagardel.com/
https://www.twitter.com/GardelTatiana
https://www.instagram.com/gardeltatiana/
Mona AlvaradoFrazier
Mona Alvarado Frazier writes to amplify the underrepresented stories and voices of resilient young women facing life’s challenges. A Macondo Writer’s member, Mona believes in writing for social change. A Las Musas Hermana, Mona is also a member of SCBWI and Women Who Write.
THE GARDEN OF SECOND CHANCES, her YA novel, debuts on June 6, 2023.
https://twitter.com/AlvaradoFrazier
https://www.instagram.com/m.alvaradofrazier/
Sara Fajardo
Sara Fajardo is a Peruvian-American writer who grew up in Salinas, California. A former bilingual teacher she now works as multimedia journalist for humanitarian aid organizations and agricultural research centers. Sara is passionate about writing, the Andes, and the history of the potato. Based out of Lima, Peru she is represented by Nicole Geiger of Full Circle Literary.
Denise Rosario Adusei
Denise Rosario Adusei spent her childhood building forts, climbing trees and playing soccer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She grew up to launch her own preschool and engineer play for children in Harlem. Her direct experience with educators and children inspires stories that tap into early-childhood experiences. She was awarded the 2019 Word Mentorship and 2020 AWP Mentorship. She earned her bachelors from Brown University and her masters from Columbia University. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, exercising and spending time with her family. .
https://twitter.com/DeniseLit4Kids
https://www.instagram.com/lit4kids/
Sandra Proudman
Sandra Proudman is a Mexican American writer of young adult and middle grade stories with unabashed Latinx protagonists. She grew up in Northern California where she studied journalism and creative writing. She is a Pitch Wars and DiverseVoices, Inc. mentor, was a Marketing and Publicity Intern at Latinx in Publishing, and will be creating blogs for #LatinxPitch. In her free time, she enjoys helping marginalized creators with their submission materials, mentoring writers of color, jumping onto Zoom calls with writer friends, and taking care of her adorable newborn. Sandra is represented by Hannah Fergesen of KT Literary.
https://www.twitter.com/sandraproudman
Nydia Armendia
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez is a California based author and artist. She writes bilingual picture books and is also focused on her first love – art. Of Guatemalan and Basque heritage, she enjoys highlighting inclusivity and diversity in all her creative endeavors. Nydia earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Pitzer College. In 2006, she and her husband, Luis, moved to Spain for three years where she taught ESL and also studied the art of window dressing! She draws inspiration for her stories, and art, from her two highly imaginative children, her travels, and her husband (who also happens to be her biggest supporter). Represented by Lori Steel of Raven Literary.
https://twitter.com/nydiaarmendia
https://instagram.com/nydia_armendia_creates/
Jorge Lacera
Jorge was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and grew up in Miami, Florida drawing in sketchbooks, on napkins, on walls, and anywhere his parents would let him. He is currently the Art Director at Cloud Chamber Studios, working on the next game in the highly acclaimed Bioshock franchise.
As a big fan of pop culture, comics, and zombie movies, Jorge rarely saw Latinx kids as the heroes or leads. He is committed to changing that, especially now that he has a son. His debut picture book with his wife Megan Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies/Los Zombis No Comen Verduras won multiple awards and was selected for Sag-Aftra’s Storyline Online. He is also the illustrator of Xo, Exoplanet (Deborah Underwood) and Pruett and Soo (Nancy Viau).
His next project with Megan Lacera, The Wild Ones, hits shelves Fall 2023.
He is represented by John Cusick at Folio Jr.
www.instagram.com/jorgelaceracreates
Ernesto Cisneros
Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still teaches. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect that. Efrén Divided has garnered 4 Starred Reviews, An Indies Introduce/Next Pick, Amazon Top MG of 2020 So Far list, and is a ProjectLit Selection.
www.instagram.com/cisne.writes
www.twitter.com/Author_Cisneros
#LatinxPitch 