Bristol Author Inspired By Local Landscape

Carolina Diaz was so inspired by living in Bristol that it became her main character’s residence in her debut novel, “Mi Madre es una Estrella,” which translates to “My Mother is a Star” in English. The book, written in Diaz’s first language of Spanish, calls Bristol “La villa de la bahia” (the town of the bay) and makes mention of the quaintness of Hope Street’s cafes, library, post office and bank.

Diaz moved here in 2008 with her husband, a native Bristolian. The two met in college in New Mexico, where Diaz was doing a year abroad from the University of East London, while studying anthropology. It wasn’t until she moved to Bristol and began walking the to that she felt inspired to write.

“I always loved reading, but I started writing here. Here I found space. The space and the landscape gave me inspiration,” Diaz says.

Diaz says the book, published by Palibrio and sold here on Amazon.com, was also inspired by her training as an herbalist at Providence’s Farmacy Herbs. After Diaz had worked for years in pharmacies and become dismayed by what she perceived as people’s over-reliance on medications, she decided to focus on herbalism as a way to “help oneself without turning to chemicals.”

In “Mi Madre es una Estrella”, the main character Candida is visited by the spirits of her West African ancestors who say she’s the last in an ancestral line of healers. Before Candida can become initiated in the ways of traditional medicine she must tell the story of her past. Like Candida, Diaz has West African ancestors. Her father was born there, and she has visited several times. She hopes to return soon to work with indigenous healers on a future project.

This Thursday, Dec. 8, Diaz will read from “Mi Madre es una Estrella” at the Roots Café in Providence. She is the featured author at the event, an Open Mic for bilingual poets, writers and performers.

Currently, Diaz is writing a second book, with help from Mary Blue, owner of Farmacy Herbs. It’s a children’s book about working with and identifying medicinal plants. Diaz did all the illustrations for the book, and she says it will be released in 2012. For more information you can reach Diaz at candonamia@yahoo.com.

“I’m inspired by the sight of the children in the garden learning. It’s a good way to teach them when they are little the power of Mother Earth,” she says.