Arts & Entertainment
Los Angeles Public Library: L.A. Libros Fest: Interview With Alex Sanchez
An immigrant from Mexico, Alex received his master's in guidance and counseling and worked for many years as a youth and family counselor.
August 16, 2021
Alex Sanchez has published ten novels, including the American Library Association “Best Book for Young Adults” Rainbow Boys and Lambda Award-winning So Hard to Say. His novel Bait won the Tomas Rivera Mexican-American Book Award and the Florida Book Award Gold Medal for Young Adult fiction.You Brought Me the Ocean, Alex's graphic novel from DC Comics, was illustrated by Julie Maroh. His latest book, The Greatest Superpower, came out in 2021. An immigrant from Mexico, Alex received his master's in guidance and counseling and worked for many years as a youth and family counselor.
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Alex Sanchez will be one of the featured authors at the Los Angeles Libros Festival, a free bilingual book festival for the whole family. L.A. Libros Fest will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube on Friday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
When I write, I imagine a better world in which characters learn to be true to who they are. In turn, readers share with me how my books inspire them to be true to who they are and to have empathy and compassion for others.
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I make my story-world as real as possible through realistic multi-dimensional characters with both flaws and strengths who tackle realistic challenges.
My biggest inspiration was the Story of Ferdinand, about a bull who preferred to smell the flowers than to fight in a ring, despite being ridiculed for it. It’s a timeless story about being true to who you are.
I would stick to writing and let the director do their job of casting! I constantly need to recognize my limitations.
Find people who will encourage you...including librarians!
Each time a book of mine is published, I’m excited, thrilled, and scared what other people will say. Like most writers, I cringe at criticism. But I have my team of people who encourage me to help me through those doubt-filled times.
Remembering what it was like to be young, recapturing all the feelings.
It took years for one of my books to be translated to Spanish. In the meantime came Italian, Thai, Chinese, and German versions. Since I can’t read the translations, the most fun part is seeing what the publishers do with the covers.
"Find people who will encourage you...including librarians!"
By opening our hearts and minds to a diversity of ideas and voices.
A memoir of my immigrant experience growing up in the 60s and 70s.
Books by Alex Sanchez
The Greatest Superpower: A Novel Sanchez, Alex View on OverDrive View in Catalog
You Brought Me the Ocean
Sanchez, Alex
You Brought Me the Ocean
Alex Sanchez at L.A. Libros Fest
This press release was produced by the Los Angeles Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
