Our tagline this year is Read, Dream and Celebrate en dos idiomas. How do you think your books and stories help us accomplish this? / El tema del festival este año es Read, Dream and Celebrate (lee, sueña y celebra) en dos idiomas. ¿Cómo crees que tus libros e historias nos ayudan a lograr esto?
My books do help celebrate both languages because they show the reader snippets of me living in two different countries, speaking two different languages, and experiencing two very different cultures. There are many people who have had to get accustomed to these types of changes, and my books have helped me connect with people with similar backgrounds.
What are some of the things you do to bring to life the world you’ve imagined? / ¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas que tú haces para hacer realidad el mundo que has imaginado?
The world that I’ve imagined is the world I am living in now. Writing these cookbooks and trying my hardest to keep the recipes true and traditional with the ingredients available to me, it is my way of instilling recipes and stories to my son.
What stories inspired you as a young reader? / ¿Cuáles historias te inspiraron cuando eras niño/a?
I loved stories about families and stories told to me by my own grandparents about my ancestors. It was wonderful to learn how a particular dish was or how the cooking method has been passed on from generation to generation.
If your book was turned into a movie/series, who would you cast? / Si tu libro fuera adaptado al cine, ¿Cuáles actores elegirías para interpretar a tus personajes?
I don’t have any actor/actress in mind. But I do picture a movie/series from the point of view of a little girl (me) in various stages of life. Trying to find herself and finally reach this goal. The rest is yet to be written.
"My books do help celebrate both languages because they show the reader snippets of me living in two different countries, speaking two different languages, and experiencing two very different cultures."
What advice would you give to young writers? / ¿Qué consejo le darías a alguien que aspira a ser escritor?
If it’s someone who wants to write a cookbook, I strongly recommend you to ask as many questions as possible. Learn about how your family cooked and celebrated with food. Spend time in the kitchen with those family members who love to cook and just watch and be curious.
How did you feel the first time your work was published? How was your publishing journey? / ¿Cómo te sentiste la primera vez que un libro tuyo fue publicado? ¿Cómo fue el proceso para lograr que tu libro fuera publicado?
I felt like I had just given birth. Relief, excitement, euphoria, and exhaustion! The time in the kitchen, cooking, and testing is tiring but fulfilling. Photographing my own photos has been a dream of mine I was able to achieve it with these books.
What are some challenges you encounter when writing? / ¿Cuáles son algunos de los retos que encuentras al escribir?
After so much time spent in the kitchen and photographing, writing doesn’t come easy. I have to let some time pass in order to get my mind to rest and really get motivated.
What are you working on now? / ¿Cuáles son tus proyectos futuros? ¿En qué estás trabajando?
Besides continuing with my food photography and recipe development, I am working on two more cookbooks! One will be out November 2023 and the other November 2024. Exciting stuff!
Books by Ericka Sanchez
