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Autumn in the American Midwest brings an unmistakable rhythm. The tree canopies across Ohio parks and avenues turn into shades of gold, amber, and deep crimson; evenings grow cooler and shorter, creating the perfect atmosphere to settle into a comfortable chair with a warm drink and a compelling book.

Across the official catalog of Books by the Ohio Writers Association, a vibrant diversity of voices, genres, and geographic origins thrives. For this autumn season, we have selected three titles by three different authors that resonate with different moods of the soul: an environmental novel on family memories, a rigorous cultural investigative chronicle on music legends, and a serene bilingual collection of borderland poetry.

1. Arribada, by Estela González: Sea, Mystery, and Ecological Resilience

For readers seeking an immersive novel combining natural landscape beauty with profound ethical and familial dilemmas, Arribada is an exceptional choice. Mexican author and scholar Estela González (based in the United States) crafts an emotionally layered story driven by deep social and environmental consciousness.

The novel follows Mariana Sánchez Celis, a Juilliard-trained concert pianist in New York. Following her mother’s sudden illness and her uncle’s mysterious disappearance, Mariana puts her international career on hold and returns to her coastal hometown in Mexico: Ayotlán (freely inspired by Mazatlán). Back home, she discovers that her childhood haven is under threat from predatory tourism, real estate speculation, and danger facing sea turtle colonies during their sacred nesting ritual known as the “arribada.”

Between rediscovered family secrets and community resistance, Estela González’s prose balances ecological urgency with delicate emotional intimacy. It is an ideal autumn read, offering a warm coastal atmosphere that renews faith in our capacity to protect what we cherish.

Literary Fiction & Environmental Novel

Arribada

Author: Estela González (Mexico / USA). An award-winning novel exploring homecoming, environmental justice, and personal transformation on the Mexican Pacific coast.

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2. Crimes That Silenced the Music, by Robinson Lizano: Chronicle and Cultural Memory

For readers fascinated by investigative journalism and cultural history, Crímenes que apagaron la música by Robinson Lizano is a compelling journey. A Venezuelan journalist and author residing in Marysville, Ohio, Lizano brings years of archival research and testimonial evidence to this volume.

The book examines the violent crimes that took the lives of revered musical figures across Latin America and the world. Moving beyond sensationalism, Lizano contextualizes the sociopolitical realities surrounding each case, highlighting the lasting cultural footprint these artists left on generations of listeners.

Told with the gripping rhythm of narrative non-fiction, it is an engaging book for autumn reading and discussion, prompting thoughtful reflection on art, vulnerability, and justice.

Journalistic Chronicle & Music History

Crímenes que apagaron la música

Author: Robinson Lizano (Venezuela / Marysville, Ohio). A cultural investigative chronicle reconstructing landmark crimes against iconic musical legends and their enduring legacy.

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3. Sanctuaries Desert Sea, by Juan Armando Rojas Joo: Poetry and Contemplation

To conclude this seasonal selection with lyrical reflection, Santuarios desierto mar (published in a bilingual edition) by Juan Armando Rojas Joo offers quiet contemplation. Born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and professor at Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio), Rojas Joo is an essential poetic voice in our community.

The collection bridges two seemingly opposing landscapes: the expansive arid border desert and the enduring rhythm of ocean waves. His verses explore ancestral memory, the migrant passage, and the search for inner sanctuary amid contemporary unrest.

Rojas Joo’s poetry stands out for its serene economy of language and meditative tone. On crisp Ohio autumn days, reading these poems quietly brings stillness and deep beauty.

Borderland Poetry & Bilingual Collection

Santuarios desierto mar

Author: Juan Armando Rojas Joo (Mexico / Delaware, Ohio). A bilingual poetry collection linking northern Mexican deserts with sea waters and migrant journeys.

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👤 Author Profile ➔

How to Discover These Books in Ohio

Arribada, Crímenes que apagaron la música, and Santuarios desierto mar are available through publisher distributions and international book platforms. In addition, several titles can be requested through interlibrary loans across Ohio public library systems (such as the Columbus Metropolitan Library).

We invite you to explore the full catalog of works created by our associates or join monthly gatherings at our Book Clubs in Ohio (with locations in Hilltop, Hilliard, and Downtown Columbus), sharing literary dialogue and community in Spanish.

Those of us who have moved from our native homelands to build new lives across Ohio cities (such as Columbus, Hilliard, Cincinnati, Dublin, or Marysville) understand well that quiet blend of appreciation and nostalgia that accompanies daily life. We learn to manage our workdays in English, navigate long winters, and settle into new routines. Yet when evening comes, an intimate need often surfaces: the desire to converse unhurriedly in Spanish, to laugh at familiar idioms, and to find people who share our cultural heritage.

In response to that everyday yearning, the book clubs of the Ohio Writers Association (Asociación de Escritores de Ohio) have evolved beyond traditional reading groups into genuine community homes. These are not rigid academic halls where anyone knowledge is evaluated; they are welcoming gatherings where books serve as the friendly doorway to deep, lasting connections.

Keeping Our Mother Tongue Alive: The Reflection of Edgar Burga

In the civic heart of Columbus, the Downtown Book Club gathers regularly in the bright meeting rooms of the Main Library. Among its dedicated participants is Edgar Burga, who captures two of the most critical cultural experiences facing Spanish speakers in the Midwest:

«It allows us to keep our mother tongue alive while creating a gathering space with other Spanish speakers to exchange experiences and unite perspectives on the same work. It also helps us discover books by Latin American and Spanish authors that are sometimes difficult to find in bookstores.»

(Edgar Burga, participant at the Downtown Columbus Book Club)

Edgar reflection speaks directly to daily life. On one hand, there is a legitimate concern that Spanish might become confined strictly to domestic chores or lose nuance against the continuous presence of English at school and work. The book club provides a vital space to express complex thoughts, discuss character psychology, and examine cultural heritage in Spanish. On the other hand, it resolves a clear practical challenge: commercial bookstores in Ohio rarely feature extensive Spanish-language literature collections. Through public library reserves and collective book sharing, club members gain free access to foundational Latin American and Spanish titles.

Recognizing One Another and Cultivating Belonging: The Experience of Bessy Valencia

In the northwest area of metropolitan Columbus, the Hilliard branch brings together a diverse community of writers, families, and readers. For Bessy Valencia, joining the Hilliard Book Club meant discovering a true cultural sanctuary where literature transforms into collective solidarity:

«Finding a literary corner means discovering that books are only the beginning of something much greater. Between pages and words, a diverse community weaves together, sharing stories, anecdotes, and lived experiences. Each meeting brings us closer to the roots we left behind and the new paths we walk. As immigrants, we find in this space a place to recognize each other, listen, and feel accompanied. Because, beyond literature, what unites us is the power to tell our stories and build a sense of belonging together.»

(Bessy Valencia, participant at the Hilliard Book Club)

Bessy reflection illustrates the human heart of these gatherings. Migrating often brings an unspoken feeling of cultural isolation or fragmentation. Sitting in a circle to discuss a story, members realize that their hopes, struggles, and reflections are deeply shared by neighbors from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Central America. The book club becomes an anchor where nobody feels like a stranger.

What to Expect When You Attend for the First Time

If you have never attended a community book club or feel curious about how meetings unfold, our gatherings are purposefully designed to be welcoming and pressure-free:

• Completely free and open to all: We do not charge membership fees or require prior registrations. Literature in Spanish is a public gift for everyone in our community.
• Guaranteed book accessibility: We ensure that every monthly book selection is available in free digital format (PDF) or ready for loan through the public library system. No one is ever excluded for financial reasons.
• Warm refreshments and conversation: Leaders welcome members with warm coffee, tea, cold drinks, and light snacks. Meetings feel like a conversation around a family table.
• Community raffles at every meetup: Each gathering ends with a friendly raffle of books or artisanal keepsakes to celebrate our shared time.
• Multiple locations in Ohio: Attend the branch closest to your neighborhood in Hilltop, Hilliard, or Downtown Columbus, or visit different locations throughout the year.

Migrating is never merely about moving a suitcase from one hemisphere to another; it is, above all, about rebuilding the intimate bond between thought and everyday language. When a writer crosses borders, their mother tongue ceases to be an unexamined atmosphere and turns into a portable dwelling, a chosen territory where every line must be crafted with profound discernment. In the literary landscape of Ohio and the American Midwest, few trajectories embody this exploration with as much quiet strength and lyrical rigor as that of Mexican poet and essayist Manuel Iris.

Born in San Francisco de Campeche in 1983, Iris has forged a creative path that joins the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico with the winding current of the Ohio River. His work avoids empty rhetoric and ornamental posturing; instead, it favors lucid phrasing, unadorned questioning, and patient contemplation of whatever endures when the superficial fades away. Through internationally celebrated poetry collections, Iris has demonstrated that poetry written in Spanish within the United States is not a marginal echo, but a vibrant and essential presence in contemporary world literature.

From Campeche to Cincinnati: Forging a Calling

The formative journey of Manuel Iris reflects an early commitment to the formal study of literature. He earned his undergraduate degree in Latin American Literature from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), an environment where his distinctive voice began to take root. Soon afterward, this dedication led him to the United States, where he completed a master degree in Spanish American Literature at New Mexico State University and subsequently earned his doctorate in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Cincinnati.

Throughout this academic and personal journey, significant recognitions followed. In 2009 he was awarded the National Poetry Prize Mérida for his collection Cuaderno de los sueños (published by Fondo Editorial Tierra Adentro), and in 2014 he received the Rodulfo Figueroa Regional Poetry Prize for Los disfraces del fuego (Ediciones Atrasalante). Yet it was in Cincinnati where his poetry entered a definitive dialogue with the realities of geographical distance, bilingual existence, and everyday family life in the Midwest.

«Poetry is under no obligation to resolve the traveler nostalgia, yet it possesses the rare power to name it precisely, restoring to memory its truest dignity.»

The First Hispanic Poet Laureate in Cincinnati History

In April 2018, the City of Cincinnati bestowed upon Manuel Iris one of the highest civic and cultural honors: he was appointed Poet Laureate of the City (serving from 2018 to 2020, and currently honored as Poet Laureate Emeritus). That appointment established a historical milestone, as Iris became the second poet laureate in the history of the Queen City and the very first Hispanic writer to hold the position.

Rather than viewing the title as a ceremonial post, Iris approached his tenure as an active civic mission. Over those two years he held readings across branches of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (where he also served as Writer-in-Residence), visited community youth centers, and hosted bilingual public workshops. His ambition was to demonstrate that poetry belongs in every neighborhood, inviting English-speaking audiences to appreciate the musicality of Spanish while encouraging young Latinos to take pride in their heritage as an integral thread of Ohio history.

Translating Silence: Language Across Two Shores

Among the most celebrated achievements in his bibliography is the bilingual anthology Traducir el silencio / Translating Silence (published in New York in 2018 and recipient of two awards at the International Latino Book Awards). In this volume, translation moves beyond a technical linguistic exercise to become a living metaphor for migrant life. Anyone who lives between two languages understands that words rarely align completely; in the quiet pause that separates what one language expresses and what the other withholds is where true poetic discovery takes place.

This creative philosophy continued in works such as Cincinnati. Historia personal (Cuadrivio, 2018), where urban American scenery ceases to be an abstract map and becomes intimately human through neighborhood corners, long winters, riverbanks, and family gatherings. For Iris, his adopted home is not an accidental backdrop; it is the place where a poet chooses to put down roots, teach, and raise a family.

Fatherhood, Memory, and the Prestigious Ambroggio Prize

The poetry of Manuel Iris experienced an evocative transformation with the birth of his daughter. In Lo que se irá / The Parting Present (a bilingual collection that won the Ohioana Book Award Reader Choice Award in 2022), the wonder of watching a child grow is intertwined with a gentle awareness of time and impermanence. A father watching his daughter sleep understands that life is defined by what is in constant departure; caring for a child is an exercise in gratitude and quiet acceptance of time.

This lyrical maturity culminated in the prestigious Ambroggio Prize, awarded by the Academy of American Poets (the preeminent poetry organization in the United States) for his manuscript Toda la tierra es un jardín de monstruos / The Whole Earth Is a Garden of Monsters. Dedicated to recognizing book-length collections written originally in Spanish by authors living in the United States, this honor places Iris among the most prominent contemporary voices in Hispanic American poetry. His appointment to the Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte (SNCA) in Mexico further solidifies his role as an essential cultural bridge between Mexican literary heritage and the Latino community abroad.

The Classroom as a Gathering Ground for Community

The impact of Manuel Iris extends well beyond book shelves and academic conferences. In his daily work as an educator and Hispanic outreach coordinator at DePaul Cristo Rey High School in Cincinnati, Iris mentors first- and second-generation high school students. In these classrooms, creative writing serves as an empowering tool for self-discovery, academic confidence, and cultural pride.

Furthermore, his active involvement in the Ohio Writers Association nurtures a supportive network where authors, educators, and readers collaborate, organize book clubs, and celebrate local literary talent. Manuel Iris reminds us that genuine words never need to shout to be heard; they need only be spoken with the gentle conviction of someone who knows that poetry remains our finest safeguard against forgetting.

When readers across the greater Columbus metropolitan area decide to attend our Spanish literary gatherings for the very first time, an understandable question often arises: “Is there any difference in dynamic, focus, or reading selection depending on which club branch I visit?”. The question makes complete sense: Hilltop, Hilliard, and Downtown each possess their own geographic identity and neighborhood flavor. However, the answer is clear, warm, and reassuring: no, the core dynamic is identical across every single one of our clubs.

At the Ohio Writers Association (Asociación de Escritores de Ohio), we believe that reading is never a solitary chore or a rigid academic seminar; it is a shared community celebration of stories and human connection. Whether you step into the bright community rooms of the Hilltop Library, the welcoming halls of Hilliard, or the iconic architecture of Main Library in Downtown Columbus, you will find the same open doors, the same mutual respect, and the same fraternal ritual that unites our readers.

One Shared Community Dynamic: The Core Pillars of Every Session

To ensure every participant feels instantly welcomed, our book clubs operate under clear, collaborative principles that guarantee freedom of expression, warmth, and genuine accessibility:

• Timely announcements by each leader: Every branch is facilitated by a passionate community leader. Each leader coordinates with the public library and announces the monthly dates and meeting times well in advance, allowing families, students, and professionals to plan their schedules with ease.
• Democratic and monthly book selections: There are no imposed reading lists. Each Book Club discusses and chooses its book each month collaboratively. Discussions span contemporary novels, Latin American classics, universal short stories, poetry, and narrative journalism, driven entirely by the group’s curiosity.
• Universal access without financial barriers: In our clubs, no one is ever left out due to book costs. We conscientiously ensure that every chosen title is available in free digital formats (PDF) or readily accessible through the public book stacks and interlibrary loans of the Columbus Metropolitan Library system.
• Hospitality with refreshments and cookies: Meetings are designed as relaxed table conversations among friends rather than formal examinations. Leaders welcome attendees with hot coffee, tea, cold drinks, and cookies. This casual, cozy atmosphere encourages even the most hesitant newcomers to share their thoughts.
• A celebratory raffle at every meetup: To conclude each gathering on a joyful note and thank attendees for their dedication, every session includes a friendly raffle where a special literary gift (books, handcrafted bookmarks, or association keepsakes) is given to attendees.

“No matter which Columbus library branch we gather at, reading in Spanish brings us together, wraps us in a cup of coffee, and reminds us of the profound power of shared community storytelling.”

The Three Stops on the Columbus Reading Route

Having the exact same welcoming structure across all locations offers a wonderful advantage: you can regularly attend the branch closest to your neighborhood, or alternate between them each month to experience a vibrant citywide reading tour. Here is an overview of our active Columbus locations:

How to Join Our Next Gathering

Joining any of our book clubs is completely free and straightforward. We never charge membership fees or require prior literary background: all you need is a desire to read, discover new authors, and connect with great people.

To find the exact dates, hours, and featured book of the month for your preferred branch, visit our official Book Clubs in Ohio directory or email us directly at secretaria@asociaciondeescritoresdeohio.org.

Music possesses the extraordinary gift of anchoring memories in our collective consciousness. A single melody can capture the joy of a summer, accompany our deepest grief, or become the personal anthem of an entire generation. Yet, behind the brilliance of spotlights, thunderous applause, and the magnetism of fame, there often exists a shadowy realm where celebrity intersects with human vulnerability, obsessive behavior, and devastating violence.

This complex and haunting territory is explored with remarkable craft by Venezuelan journalist, writer, and researcher Robinson Lizano in his book Crímenes que apagaron la música (Crimes That Silenced the Music). Far removed from sensationalist yellow journalism, this work delivers a series of rigorous investigations that uncover the police files, motives, and hidden secrets behind the deaths that permanently silenced legendary figures of world music.

The Insightful Voice of a Seasoned Chronicler

Addressing sensitive events without slipping into tabloid melodrama requires journalistic discipline honed over decades. Robinson Lizano brings more than thirty years of experience in investigative reporting, university teaching, and media leadership in Latin America. After serving as an assistant professor at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, where he trained generations of journalists, Lizano brought his scholarly vocation to the American Midwest.

He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Latin American Cultural and Literary Studies at The Ohio State University and lives with his family in Marysville, Ohio, where he also engages in community work as an educator and advocate for Spanish language reading. That dual perspective of seasoned reporter and academic researcher is felt in every chapter: he never settles for merely recounting the fatal gunshot or assault, but meticulously reconstructs the social climate, music industry pressures, and the human psychology of everyone involved.

«Music can be a radiant beacon of hope, but it can also become a dangerous magnet for tragedy when it collides with greed, fanaticism, or societal breakdown.»

From Ecstasy to Obsession: When Fanaticism Pulls the Trigger

One of the most chilling chapters of the book examines crimes committed by obsessed fans. Lizano revisits the murder of John Lennon outside the Dakota Building in New York by Mark David Chapman in 1980, as well as the heartbreaking loss of Selena Quintanilla in Texas in 1995 at the hands of her fan club president. The book also covers modern tragedies such as young singer Christina Grimmie, shot in Orlando in 2016 following a meet-and-greet session with fans.

For readers in Ohio, this section carries an intensely personal resonance. The book recounts the tragic night of December 8, 2004, at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, when an armed gunman stormed the stage and killed Dimebag Darrell (Darrell Abbott), the iconic guitar player of Pantera and Damageplan, along with three other victims. Lizano recounts the shock and sorrow of that Columbus venue with deep dignity, turning the tragedy into a thoughtful reflection on artist safety and gun violence.

Urban Rivalries, Cartel Shadows, and Political Violence

The volume goes well beyond fan crimes, illustrating how distinct musical movements have become ensnared in cycles of conflict and organized crime.

In American hip hop, Lizano examines the unsolved drive-by murders of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas (1996) and The Notorious B.I.G. in Los Angeles (1997), watershed moments that exposed deadly friction between rival record labels and street culture. In Latin America, the dark reach of cartels is traced through Chalino Sánchez, the Mexican corrido king executed in Sinaloa hours after receiving a chilling death note onstage, and Rafael Orozco, the golden voice of Colombian vallenato group Binomio de Oro, gunned down in Barranquilla amidst intricate romantic and underworld rivalries.

Alongside these chronicles stand stories where state repression and intolerance cut lives short, such as the torture and assassination of folk icon Víctor Jara in Chile’s National Stadium following the 1973 coup, and the 2011 Guatemala ambush that claimed the life of beloved Argentine poet and singer Facundo Cabral. Readers will also encounter intimate family tragedies and enduring mysteries, from Marvin Gaye’s fatal shooting by his own father to the poisoned whiskey lore surrounding delta blues pioneer Robert Johnson, the murder of Euronymous in Norway’s black metal scene, and the contested case of Venezuelan rapper Canserbero (Tirone González), an investigation where Lizano has provided substantial journalistic clarity.

An Essential Read for Lovers of Music and Investigative Journalism

What makes this book such a compelling read is the clarity and pace of its storytelling. Despite the somber nature of its subjects, Lizano writes with an engaging, rhythmic narrative that weaves judicial facts and cultural context together seamlessly. It is a book designed equally for music enthusiasts, true crime readers, and admirers of high-caliber literary non-fiction.

Closing this book leaves one with an enduring realization: violence may cut lives short and silence microphones, but it can never erase the artistic legacy of those who turned vulnerability and passion into timeless songs.

Featured Book

Crímenes que apagaron la música

Author: Robinson Lizano | Creative non-fiction, investigative journalism, and cultural chronicle. Explore full book details on our website or get your copy on Amazon and select bookstores including The Book Loft in German Village (Columbus, Ohio).

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Raising bilingual children in Ohio is a beautiful experience and, at the same time, a daily challenge that many families share. Those of us living in cities like Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Cincinnati, or Cleveland know firsthand that almost imperceptible transition that occurs when little ones start preschool or elementary school: suddenly, English fills every corner of their day, their games, and their thoughts.

One ordinary afternoon, a mother or father asks the usual question in the kitchen: «How was your day at school, sweetheart?». And the response, almost automatic, comes back in English: «Good, we played outside with my friends». There is no rebellion in that answer, nor a lack of interest in their heritage; it is simply the natural pull of the school and social environment. In that moment, the concern that many parents carry in their hearts arises: how do we ensure that Spanish does not remain trapped in the past and continues to be a living part of their present?

The most noble, loving, and lasting answer we have found in our community is not found in scoldings or rigid grammar lessons, but in a simple, timeless gesture: opening a good book in Spanish before turning off the nightstand lamp.

Language as a Sanctuary of Affection, Not School Homework

When we try to protect Spanish by demanding it as a strict rule («we only speak Spanish here» or «do not answer me in English»), we run the unintended risk of associating our native tongue with effort, constant correction, or frustration. A child may begin to feel that English is the language of friends, laughter, and cartoons, while Spanish is the language of household chores: picking up toys, brushing teeth, or finishing homework.

Children’s books break that cycle at its root. By sharing an illustrated story, Spanish becomes the language of adventures, fantastic creatures, mystery, and shared laughter between parents and children. The language stops being a list of instructions and becomes a warm space of connection, where the voice of the reader comforts and accompanies.

«When a bilingual child falls in love with a book in Spanish, they do not just learn new words; they learn that their family language holds beauty, imagination, and a rightful place in the modern world.»

Shared Memory and the Bridge to Extended Family

For Hispanic families in the American Midwest, Spanish is above all an emotional bridge. It is the invisible thread that connects our children with grandparents living thousands of miles away, with cousins they talk to on weekends, and with a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

A child who reads stories in Spanish naturally adopts the expressions, affectionate phrases, and melodic rhythm of our homelands. They understand family humor and learn to name traditional meals, landscapes, and celebrations without needing abstract explanations. The day they call their grandmother on a video call, the conversation flows without awkward silences or barriers, because the shared words remain alive in their recent memory.

Cognitive Benefits That Endure Over Time

For decades, there was an unfounded myth that nurturing two languages during childhood could confuse children or hinder their academic performance in English. Today we know with certainty that quite the opposite is true. The bilingual brain is agile, flexible, and accustomed to viewing reality from multiple perspectives.

When a child learns to read in Spanish, they develop clear phonological awareness thanks to the phonetic transparency of our alphabet. That ability to connect sounds with letters transfers directly to English, enhancing reading comprehension in both languages. A child who understands from an early age that the same idea can be expressed with different words gains greater analytical skills, stronger problem-solving focus, and a natural empathy for understanding different points of view.

The Reality in Ohio and How to Bring Books Home

We know that living away from traditional large Spanish-speaking metropolitan centers presents practical challenges. In Ohio, it is not always easy to find bookstores with shelves dedicated to children’s literature in Spanish. However, in recent years the community has gained valuable ground that is well worth exploring:

• Metropolitan public libraries: Library systems such as the Columbus Metropolitan Library and community libraries in Hilliard, Hilltop, Dublin, and other locations now offer bilingual and Spanish children’s literature sections, along with free digital catalogs through apps like Libby and Hoopla.
• Book exchanges between families: Creating small lending networks among friends and neighbors allows children’s stories to circulate and gain new life in different households without large expenses.
• Community spaces and reading clubs: Initiatives such as children’s Spanish classes, creative workshops, and the Book Fair organized by the Ohio Writers Association provide gathering places where children see peers their own age reading, playing, and expressing themselves naturally in Spanish.

Small Daily Rituals That Make a Difference

There is no need to spend hours or set up a home school. Loving consistency always outweighs the quantity of time. Fifteen minutes a day is enough to plant a habit that will last a lifetime.

A good idea is to let children choose which book they want to read, even if they repeat the same story five nights in a row. That repetition provides security and helps them absorb phrasing effortlessly. It also works very well to pause briefly to discuss illustrations, imagine what happens on the next page, or connect the story to a family memory: «Do you remember when we went to the park and saw a tree like this one?».

If the child responds in English while discussing the story, there is no need to interrupt to correct them. The most effective approach is to welcome their comment naturally and reflect it back in Spanish: if they say «The fox is so fast!», we can answer «Yes, the fox runs so fast through the forest!». In this way, the conversation keeps flowing and the child hears the right expression without feeling tested.

A Treasure No One Can Take Away

Every page we share with our children in Spanish in Ohio is a gift of twofold value. On one hand, we are giving them an invaluable professional asset for adulthood in an interconnected world. On the other hand, and perhaps most importantly, we are giving them the certainty of knowing who they are and where their roots come from.

A child who grows up reading in two languages does not divide their identity; they multiply it. They carry the strength of two worlds, the richness of two cultures, and the deep conviction that their voice has a meaningful, resonant place in both English and Spanish. And that entire journey begins, simply, by opening a book together at the end of the day.

Book review

When God looks where others don’t look

I wrote this book from a truth that I did not learn in books, but in life: there are pains that do not seek explanation, but rather recognition. God’s compassion: hope for the despised is born from that place where human beings feel invisible, where history seems not to matter, where silence weighs more than words. My own history marked by loss, adversity, and constant struggle taught me that God does not reveal himself in perfection, but in necessity. My own story marked by loss, adversity and constant struggle. I grew up in the midst of difficult circumstances that forged my character, but also awakened a profound question: where is God when pain seems to have no answer? taught me that God does not reveal himself in perfection, but in necessity. This book is, in essence, the answer I found.

Compassion as a divine act, not as a passing emotion

Durante mucho tiempo se ha reducido la compasión a un sentimiento. Pero al escribir esta obra comprendí que la compasión de Dios no es un gesto momentáneo: es una intervención. It is an act that transforms, that interrupts pain, that restores dignity. As I meditated on the stories in Luke 7:11-17 and Mark 10:46-52, I discovered something that changed the way I view faith: God does not ignore human suffering. It stops. Observe. And he answers. The widow of Nain did not ask for a miracle. Bartimaeus was silenced by the crowd. However, both were seen by God. And in that act of being seen, their restoration began.

The despised: those the world has forgotten

This book is written for those who have been relegated to the margins. Para quienes han sentido que su historia no tiene espacio, que su voz no es escuchada, que su vida no tiene valor. But it is also written for those who, without realizing it, have learned to live with indifference. Because compassion not only transforms the one who receives it, it also confronts the one who observes it. I understood that the biggest problem is not the absence of faith, but the absence of vision. We have learned to see without stopping, to listen without understanding, to live without getting involved. And this book seeks to break that habit.

Restoration: beyond the visible miracle

One of the biggest mistakes is to think that the restoration ends when the problem disappears. But God’s restoration is deeper: it restores identity, purpose and dignity. When Jesus raises the widow’s son, he not only restores life. Returns hope. uration ends when the problem disappears. But God’s restoration is deeper: it restores identity, purpose and dignity. When Bartimaeus receives his sight, he not only regains his physical vision, but also his place in the world. That’s what I understood while I was writing: God not only changes circumstances, he transforms destinies.

The faith that is born in the midst of clamor

The faith that is born in the midst ofThe faith that I present in this book is not comfortable or silent. It is a faith that screams, that insists, that rises up even when everything seems lost. The cry Bartimaeus was not listened to because he remained silent, but because he dared to insist. And in that insistence I found one of the most human truths of spirituality: faith is not always elegant, but it is always authentic when it is born from necessity.

A compassion that becomes a calling

One day, as I progressed in writing, I realized that this book could not remain a reflection. It had to become a calling. Passion that becomes a calling Because God’s compassion is not just something that is received…it is something that is reproduced. We cannot talk about faith if we remain indifferent. We cannot talk about transformation if we are not willing to look at the other in depth. This book is not just a message. It is an invitation to live differently.

God has not passed by your story

If there is one thing I wish to remain after these pages, it is this certainty: God has not ignored you. It hasn’t passed by. He hasn’t forgotten your story. On the contrary, it has stopped. And in that stopping, there is an opportunity.

A special invitation

If you have ever felt invisible, if you have ever believed that your story has no value, this book is for you. I invite you to read this work and the others I have written, not as someone looking for immediate answers, but as someone who is willing to find themselves. Because each book is an encounter. And each encounter can transform a life.

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Book review

The origin: when pain becomes seed

Escribí este libro desde la memoria viva de lo que duele y no se olvida.

Not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as an act of reconciliation with what marked me.

Born in fire and faith is not born from comfort, but from the profound experience of having gone through moments where everything seemed lost.

I understood that fire does not always destroy; sometimes it reveals what remains when everything else disappears.

Among the ashes: rebuilding from within

In these pages I do not only tell a story, but a process.

That of falling, questioning, resisting and getting up again.

Internal or external war leaves traces, but it also opens paths.

This book is testimony that even in the midst of chaos, direction can emerge.

Like all true transformation, it does not begin outside, but inside whoever decides not to give up.

As described in works of this approach, the purpose is born precisely in the midst of the pain overcome and the experience lived.

Faith as an act of reconstruction

I am not talking about a distant or theoretical faith. I’m talking about a faith that becomes a decision, that is built in the midst of uncertainty.

I understood that believing is not evading reality, but facing it with a different perspective.

Faith, in this book, is not a passive refuge, but an active force: a way of rebuilding life when everything seems to have collapsed.

Reborn: a new way of living life

If this work sustains anything, it is the conviction that it is always possible to start over.

Not from forgetting, but from understanding.

Every wound, every loss, every silence experienced has the potential to become a new beginning.

Being reborn is not being the same again: it is becoming someone more conscious, firmer, more willing to live with purpose.

A request for readers

If you have ever felt that the fire of life has been too intense, this book is for you.

I invite you to read this work and the others I have written, not as someone looking for immediate answers, but as someone who is willing to rebuild.

Because each shared story is also an open door and perhaps, in it, you will find the beginning of your own rebirth.

A special invitation

If these words have found an echo within you, then this book has already begun its purpose.

I invite you to read this work and the others I have written, not as someone looking for immediate answers, but as someone who is preparing to follow a path. Because each book is a threshold, and each reading, an opportunity to meet.

And maybe just maybe that encounter will also transform your way of living your faith.

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Book review

A faith that is born from life

I wrote this book from a conviction that was not born in books, but in life: faith cannot remain in thought; It must be embodied in everyday life.

For a long time I observed how theology was seen as a territory reserved for experts, distant, almost inaccessible.

That distance, rather than bringing God closer, made him alien. However, I understood something essential: God does not dwell in the complexity of language, but in the simplicity of experience, in what is lived rather than what is explained.

An invitation to walk, not to theorize

In Encounters with God: challenges for non-theologians, I do not seek to teach from a chair, but rather to walk alongside the reader.

Each page is born with the intention of opening an honest, close, human dialogue.

I do not propose an abstract faith, but a living presence that runs through our decisions, our doubts and our daily struggles.

The work raises a fundamental truth: everything that God reveals can become part of our lives if we decide to allow it, if we stop observing from afar and begin to get involved from within.

Written for those still searching

I don’t write for those who know everything, but for those who still wonder.

For those who feel that faith has become distant, incomprehensible or even unattainable.

This book is born for those who are at that breaking point where certainties are no longer enough, but the questions still burn. Because in those sometimes silent questions the true spiritual path begins.

Transformation as a living experience

This book does not aim to offer definitive answers, but rather to provoke encounters. I understood that true transformation does not occur when we understand God, but when we live him.

Faith stops being discourse when it becomes experience. And that experience, far from isolating us, brings us closer to life, to others and to ourselves. The encounter with God is not evasion, it is confrontation, it is awakening.

God in everyday life

If there is one thing I wish to remain after these pages, it is this certainty: God is not far away.

It is present in the everyday, in the simple, in what we often overlook.

Daily life with its lights and shadows is the true space where the divine is revealed in the simple, in what we often overlook.

There is no need to search in the extraordinary for what already lives in the essential.

A special invitation

If these words have found an echo within you, then this book has already begun its purpose.

I invite you to read this work and the others I have written, not as someone looking for immediate answers, but as someone who is preparing to follow a path. Because each book is a threshold, and each reading, an opportunity to meet.

And maybe just maybe that encounter will also transform your way of living your faith.

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Book review

When I imagined The House of Answers, I wasn’t simply thinking of a story to be read. I was thinking of a symbolic space, an inner house that we all inhabit, although we rarely stop to explore it with real attention. From a young age, we learn to look for answers outside ourselves. We ask adults, teachers, books, and the world around us. However, as time goes by, we discover something that transforms our perspective on life: many of the answers we seek are not outside, but within ourselves. That understanding was the starting point for this work. The House of Answers offers the reader a journey full of imagination, curiosity, and reflection. The story follows a girl who, guided by her desire to understand the world, enters a space where every corner awakens new questions. This is not an ordinary place; it is a house that symbolizes the exploration of the inner world, where each door represents an opportunity to look deeper within oneself. The questions that appear in the book are not obstacles or impossible enigmas. They are doors that invite us to stop, to observe our emotions, to think about time, about the decisions we make, and about the way we build our own story. While writing this book, I realized that curiosity is one of the most powerful forces we have as human beings. Asking questions is not a sign of weakness or uncertainty; on the contrary, it is a way of awakening consciousness. Each question opens a space for learning and personal discovery. In the story, the visual elements of clocks, gears, and moving mechanisms evoke the passage of time and the dynamics of our thoughts. The human mind is never still; it constantly seeks to understand, connect ideas, and find meaning in what we experience. That is why this work is aimed at both young readers and adults. At some point in our lives, we all face questions that seem to have no immediate answer. Who am I? What do I want to be? What does it truly mean to understand something? The House of Answers It does not aim to offer definitive solutions. Its intention is much simpler and, at the same time, more profound: to remind us that within each person there is an inner wisdom capable of guiding their decisions. If, upon finishing the book, the reader discovers a new question within themselves, then the story has fulfilled its purpose. Because sometimes the real answer doesn’t come when we find an explanation, but when we learn to listen carefully to what our own conscience is trying to tell us.

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