Hi Gabriela ! Tell us a little bit about you.
I’m a Venezuelan born and raised first generation immigrant who made Texas my home after fleeing the political and economic upheaval of my home country. I went to the University of Houston for a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, and worked in the Oil and Gas industry for about seven years before dedicating myself full time to my writing and illustration pursuits. I have always loved writing and art, and never stopped doing it since I started dabbling in both when I was around 12 years old. When it comes to writing and art, I am mostly self-taught, aside from a semester of studio art with an emphasis on acrylic painting from the Glassell School of Art.
What was the first type of "art" you made (paintings, digital art, pins, etc)?
Do you have any pets?
Yes! Cookie and Latte have my heart and soul. They’re not my pets, I am their pet. Cookie is a 7-year-old maltipoo that has been described by anyone who sees her on walks as “so little!” Latte is 2-year-old cavapoochon with the rowdiest personality, yet she is a queen of cuddles.
What's something that most people don't know about you?
I’m avid traveler! I have been to five of the seven continents, and I hope to visit the sixth (Oceania) soon! My favorite countries to visit so far have been Vietnam and Greece. The country I have visited the most (aside from the USA and Venezuela) is Mexico. My furthest destination, based on travel time, was to Cape Town, South Africa.
Anything else you'd like to add?
For the past five years my focus has been to introduce Venezuelan culture and folklore into the epic fantasy publishing sphere. THE SUN AND THE VOID, which will debut in 2023, is a book I wrote wanting to transport readers into the lush and biodiverse world where I grew up. THE SUN AND THE VOID is an adult high fantasy deriving its lush setting and history from 1800’s Gran Colombia, and inspired by the folklore of Venezuela. With fresh new races, twisted family politics, and themes of identity, it will appeal to fans of Hayao Miyazaki and readers of Naomi Novik’s SPINNING SILVER. It will be released world-wide in July of 2023. Add it on Goodreads to be notified of early review copies, giveaways, and when it releases!