Today I’m interviewing Juliet Menendez, debut author of the illustrated collection Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers.
Juliet is a Guatemalan American author and illustrator living between Guatemala City, Paris, and New York. While working as a bilingual teacher in New York City’s public schools, Juliet noted the need for more books that depicted children like the ones in her classrooms. She studied design and illustration in Paris and now spends her days with her water colors and notebook. Latinitas is her first children's book.
Today we’re talking about finding moments of creativity when you’re operating in survival mode, how unexpected projects can be a safe place to hide in the midst of trauma, and why being vulnerable with others is essential to avoiding overwhelm. I was awestruck by the medical journey Juliet’s mother went on and how Juliet remained by her side, sleeping for months in her hospital room, while also managing to pitch her debut collection in person. My conversation with her was a great reminder that we are all capable of doing extraordinary things, and that many of us have over these past two years, juggling work and caretaking and our creative endeavours. Finding strength and an ability to adapt we may never have thought possible. It’s the perfect conversation to kick off this new season of Author Pep Talks and I know you’ll find it just as fortifying as I did. So, without further ado, curl up with a furry companion or find yourself a warm blanket, and enjoy my conversation with Juliet Menendez.
Connect with Juliet online:
