COMING OF AGE

Growing up across three continents was both disorienting and exhilarating. Although I often felt isolated as a child, new to the Venezuelan Andes, I am grateful for my extended family and the writers whose words became my refuge: Pablo Neruda, Gabriel García Márquez, Rubén Darío, and Andrés Eloy Blanco.

sombra azul que cruza el mar
la borra el azul marino

Writing has long been part of my heritage, not just in the works of revered writers but also in my home. In 2012, my late mother published a collection of poems in Spanish, strengthening my connection to poetry.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Each place that welcomed me through childhood and adolescence secretly nurtured a dreamer. To say that my academically focused parents were not thrilled about my hope to become an actress would be an understatement. I mentioned it once, quickly realizing I’d be better off laying that dream to rest, the way we part with a loved one: surrendering, yet always remembering.

By eighteen, I was financially and emotionally independent, earning degrees in architectural design and business administration. But fate had other plans. I worked as a producer and writer with the leading Spanish-language production company at the time. What started as a one-year opportunity evolved into a 17-year career as a sole proprietor, collaborating directly with major studios such as Disney, Touchstone, and 20th Century Fox Films. I provided on- and off-camera materials, including electronic press kits and Spanish voiceovers, to support publicity efforts across 14 South American countries.

Throughout those years, writing—whether for television, press materials, or to calm my mind remained a constant.

PIVOTING MY PURPOSE

Creativity has always pulled me in new directions, and although motherhood paused my television career, it has not stopped my artistic drive. In 2014, I launched Designs by Alina, an online boutique showcasing my collections of fine jewelry, home decor, and gifts. The accompanying blog allowed me to merge writing with reflections on design, motherhood, and travel.

On November 2, 2020, I wrote my first poem in years, Civic Sunset, while volunteering for the National Voter Protection Hotline. That moment reignited an old obsession. I've been writing ever since—essays, poems, and a novel I began nearly thirty years ago. Dear Young Poet, one of those earlier poems was published by @streetwritersofficial in 2021. They later invited me to join their team as a senior curator and contest judge. Serving that community and helping young poets find their voice was a very fulfilling experience.

NOTE FOR YOUNG WRITERS

I’m not a seasoned writer in the traditional, MFA-certified sense. But I’ve learned that passion and ruthless determination can open doors.

After completing my A levels in England, I returned to the U.S., unaware that the SAT or ACT was required for university admission. Overwhelmed by the barrage of multiple-choice questions (especially the dreaded none or all of the above) I was placed in remedial English. I challenged that placement with an essay that landed me in Honors English.

If you love writing, follow your passion, practice relentlessly, and advocate for yourself—because if not you, then who? Publishers and editors sing to their own tune.

What will yours be?