Amping Up the Mom Tension in "La Bruja del Barrio Loco"

13/5/2018

Foto por Catía Matos

Well, that seemed like the appropriate thing to do, especially since it's American Mother's Day. The tension between Elisa and her mother hits close to home. I mean, if you are a Chicana academic, and your mom hasn't called you out for pursuing your career, and "neglecting" your partner and/or children, count yourself as the exception. My mom still tells me my husband is neglected. Whatevs.

In "La Bruja del Barrio Loco" which is now hitting 86 pages (yeah!), I amplified that tension, but also had a longer interaction with La Bruja when Elisa visits the shop.

Well, my daughter summons, emphatically.

Be the best Mom version of yourself. #Resist

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Dr. Jesú Estrada,
Pen Name: María J. Estrada
Chicago, IL

I grew up in the desert, between Yuma and Somerton, AZ, close to the Cocopah Reservation. Because I was ever-bored, I became an avid reader of Spanish comic books or novelas. Then, once I learned how to read in English, I devoured everything in both languages.

I have been writing stories in mis lenguas since I was six years old. My fiction and poetry focus on working class issues, primarily about laborers in the Southwest.

In real life, I am happily married, been so for over ten years and have a fabulous nine-year-old, son, and three-year-old, daughter, who keep me incredibly busy. My husband is heroically supportive and encourages me to follow my literary passions.

All of my degrees, including my Ph.D. from Washington State University are in English, which makes me a big fat English nerd. Currently, I live in Chicago and teach full-time at Harold Washington College to an amazing student population. Of course, one of my favorite classes to teach is Creative Writing, but I love all of my students and all my classes because I teach all the novels and story/poetry collections I want. Lucky me.

(Yeah, sometimes I let my students write non-serious fiction.)

My next book coming out is Not Your Abuelita's Folktales, a Magical Realism collection of short stories for Young Adults.