BXBF Authors Answer — Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
The authors and panelists of the Bronx Book Festival responded to personal questions about their lives, the writing process, and current literary inspirations. To see their panels and hear more about their books, RSVP for the Bronx Book Festival below.
DAHLMA LLANOS-FIGUEROA
AUTHOR OF DAUGHTERS OF THE STONE
Why did you become an author?
The images that were out there were of Puerto Ricans were stereotypes of a hyper-sexualized and violent people which bore no resemblance to the people in my world. I wanted to make sure there was a realistic representation of Afro-Puerto Ricans in literature. And this representation included; a world of historical significance and nuanced characters with dignity and understandable motivations and the agency to impact on their world. For too long, and in the absence of our own voices, those flat caricatures defined us. I set about destroying that image.
What are you reading right now?
I am doing research for my third novel. So I am steeping myself in the Puerto Rico of the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Have you ever been to the Bronx? If so, what's a favorite memory you have? If not, what do you know or think about the Bronx?
I have lived in the Bronx almost since I was brought to NYC at age 2. My favorite memory is our family's summer outings to Orchard Beach. We would pack the car with family and food (my mom didn't consider the hamburgers and hot dogs at the concession stand food). Then on the way home, we would stop at Johnny's Reef on City Island for dinner. After my favorite meal of fried shrimp and French fries, we'd all pile into the car again and head for home. I still make this pilgrimage every summer. And Johnny's is still there.
What is a quote you live by?
"You won't know what happened in the hunt until the lion tells his tale."