¡BIENVENIDOS! WELCOME!
|
If you care about reading and/or the writing life, you’re in the right place.
I’m Li Yun Alvarado: Poet, Scholar, Educator, Parent, and Puerto Rican. I can’t wait to share my love of books, my writing, and my favorite tools of the trade with you. If you’re here, you’re most likely a Reader--just like me. You’re also probably a: Writer, Educator, Parent, and/or Lover of all things Puerto Rican. There’s something on this website for each and every one of you. Read on to learn more about me, my work, and the many ways I might support you and your work. |
Photo © Reynaldo Macias
|
A Free Gift For Writers
LI YUN ALVARADO
WHO I AM
I’m a poet, writer, recovering academic, and among the less than 1% of Latinas with a PhD.
I’m the daughter of Puerto Rican migrants (a postal worker and an elevator mechanic) and big sister to a red-headed Christmas baby (he's now a proud husband and a Papi to my awesome nephews).
I grew up in the Bronx, spent summers in Puerto Rico, studied at Yale and Fordham, and now live in the LBC.
My husband—a Chicano Family Physician from East LA—and I are proud parents to a MexiRican toddler.
A Boricua writer and Mami, I’m fiercely dedicated to mi familia, to my craft, and to mis diversas comunidades.
I’m the daughter of Puerto Rican migrants (a postal worker and an elevator mechanic) and big sister to a red-headed Christmas baby (he's now a proud husband and a Papi to my awesome nephews).
I grew up in the Bronx, spent summers in Puerto Rico, studied at Yale and Fordham, and now live in the LBC.
My husband—a Chicano Family Physician from East LA—and I are proud parents to a MexiRican toddler.
A Boricua writer and Mami, I’m fiercely dedicated to mi familia, to my craft, and to mis diversas comunidades.
(Looking for a more traditional author bio? I got you. Click here.)
WHAT I DO
Through my writing, teaching, and advocacy, I strive:
to amplify Puerto Rican and other underrepresented voices
&
to support aspiring and emerging writers from underrepresented communities --
especially women of color writers.
to amplify Puerto Rican and other underrepresented voices
&
to support aspiring and emerging writers from underrepresented communities --
especially women of color writers.
WHY I DO WHAT I DO
In the current climate of xenophobia and rising white nationalism, elevating stories from marginalized communities is more urgent than ever. I believe stories are at the heart of our human condition and are a mighty tool in the fight against hatred and injustice.
#Weneeddiversebooks now more than ever, and I strive to prominently feature, teach, and advance the works of writers of color, women and nonbinary writers, queer writers, writers with disabilities, and all diverse voices.
#Weneeddiversebooks now more than ever, and I strive to prominently feature, teach, and advance the works of writers of color, women and nonbinary writers, queer writers, writers with disabilities, and all diverse voices.
HOW I DO WHAT I DO
As a Writer…
I write about, on behalf of, and to underrepresented communities.
I’ll never stop writing and publishing Books, Poems, Essays, and Picture Books prominently featuring Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans, and especially Puerto Rican women and young people.
Learn more...
I write about, on behalf of, and to underrepresented communities.
I’ll never stop writing and publishing Books, Poems, Essays, and Picture Books prominently featuring Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans, and especially Puerto Rican women and young people.
Learn more...
- Buy Words or Water
- Read my Online Publications
As an Educator (and Lover of all things Puerto Rican)…
I’ve developed materials to help others teach Puerto Rico. I also share bold works by writers from underrepresented communities — especially those writers I am proud to call my friends.
Learn more…
I’ve developed materials to help others teach Puerto Rico. I also share bold works by writers from underrepresented communities — especially those writers I am proud to call my friends.
Learn more…
- Read my Puerto Rico blog posts, including the Teach Puerto Rico post.
- Read Li Yun’s Library for my book recommendations for adults.
As an Author Educator…
I support aspiring and fellow emerging authors by sharing their works with others and also by sharing with them what I’ve learned about the writing life over the last 12+ years.
This spring, I plan to formalize that knowledge-sharing by offering online courses related to the more practical aspects of building a writing life you love.
Learn More…
I support aspiring and fellow emerging authors by sharing their works with others and also by sharing with them what I’ve learned about the writing life over the last 12+ years.
This spring, I plan to formalize that knowledge-sharing by offering online courses related to the more practical aspects of building a writing life you love.
Learn More…
- Read my Writing Life blog posts.
- Sign up or join the waitlist for my Writing Life Courses.
As a (Writer) Parent…
I regularly share picture book recommendations that feature characters from diverse communities and life experiences. I also talk about my Mamihood in relation to my writing life, sharing parenting and writer resources.
Learn more…
I regularly share picture book recommendations that feature characters from diverse communities and life experiences. I also talk about my Mamihood in relation to my writing life, sharing parenting and writer resources.
Learn more…
- Read Comelibritos’ Corner for my book recommendations for children.
- Read my Mamihood blog posts.
As a Student…
I’m always learning.
I read, take courses, and seek feedback from others in order to improve my craft. I reach out to other writers, educators, family, and friends for recommendations of works I might feature throughout my site. I read and take courses about how to best build a successful writing career based on what success looks like for me.
I continue to learn so that I may continue to teach.
I’m always learning.
I read, take courses, and seek feedback from others in order to improve my craft. I reach out to other writers, educators, family, and friends for recommendations of works I might feature throughout my site. I read and take courses about how to best build a successful writing career based on what success looks like for me.
I continue to learn so that I may continue to teach.
ARTIST STATEMENT: MY WORKS & MY WHY
Mi bisabuela Irene was a poet.
Before I knew I was one too, I watched her, at 80+ years old, recite a long poem she performed in the town plaza as a child. Poetry allowed her to transcend limiting expectations others had about her because she came from a poor family. She recited that poem, surpassed all expectations, and never looked back.
Today, I carry Guelita Irene’s legacy in my work and in the way I carry myself in the world as a writer, educator, and Mama.
My books, poems, essays, and picture books explore the joys, struggles, and dramas of intergenerational and intranational networks across time, space and two languages: English and Español.
Relationships—of all kinds—are central to my work, as are the recurring themes of love, travel, longing, herstories, mamihood and familia.
My poetry explores quotidian moments, speaking softly in response to life’s most urgent questions.
My works are inevitably political—I am a Boricua woman with a PhD living in the diaspora, so my very being, let alone my audacity to write, is a political statement in and of itself.
At the same time, some work is more explicitly political than others, weaving specific current events into the quiet moments I most often explore.
Crafting and sharing these (often Puerto Rican) stories feels especially urgent in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and María. As a child of the diaspora, I spent summers in Puerto Rico cultivating profound relationships with my extended family and my parents’ homeland. Borinken is thus deeply embedded in my thoughts and appears throughout my work.
At the same time, my other homes—New York City, where I was raised (BX represent!), and Long Beach, CA, where I am raising my MexRican son—also weave themselves into most recent creations.
My art is a microphone, amplifying underrepresented voices.
My art is a refuge from storms.
My art is a legacy, a seed planted.
A hope: that my son, nephews, godchildren, and future generations find nourishment in the fruits of this labor.
Before I knew I was one too, I watched her, at 80+ years old, recite a long poem she performed in the town plaza as a child. Poetry allowed her to transcend limiting expectations others had about her because she came from a poor family. She recited that poem, surpassed all expectations, and never looked back.
Today, I carry Guelita Irene’s legacy in my work and in the way I carry myself in the world as a writer, educator, and Mama.
My books, poems, essays, and picture books explore the joys, struggles, and dramas of intergenerational and intranational networks across time, space and two languages: English and Español.
Relationships—of all kinds—are central to my work, as are the recurring themes of love, travel, longing, herstories, mamihood and familia.
My poetry explores quotidian moments, speaking softly in response to life’s most urgent questions.
My works are inevitably political—I am a Boricua woman with a PhD living in the diaspora, so my very being, let alone my audacity to write, is a political statement in and of itself.
At the same time, some work is more explicitly political than others, weaving specific current events into the quiet moments I most often explore.
Crafting and sharing these (often Puerto Rican) stories feels especially urgent in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and María. As a child of the diaspora, I spent summers in Puerto Rico cultivating profound relationships with my extended family and my parents’ homeland. Borinken is thus deeply embedded in my thoughts and appears throughout my work.
At the same time, my other homes—New York City, where I was raised (BX represent!), and Long Beach, CA, where I am raising my MexRican son—also weave themselves into most recent creations.
My art is a microphone, amplifying underrepresented voices.
My art is a refuge from storms.
My art is a legacy, a seed planted.
A hope: that my son, nephews, godchildren, and future generations find nourishment in the fruits of this labor.
WHERE TO NOW?
Welcome again to this little corner of my world!
I hope you’ll stay in touch and sign up for my newsletter so you never miss an update.
I hope that in my emails and throughout this site you’ll find the inspiration, resources, guidance, and support you need on your own journey as a Reader, Writer, Educator, Parent, and / or Lover of all things Puerto Rican!
Enjoy the site and never hesitate to contact me!
I hope you’ll stay in touch and sign up for my newsletter so you never miss an update.
I hope that in my emails and throughout this site you’ll find the inspiration, resources, guidance, and support you need on your own journey as a Reader, Writer, Educator, Parent, and / or Lover of all things Puerto Rican!
Enjoy the site and never hesitate to contact me!
EXPLORE
Readers
Writers
Educators
Parents
Lovers of all things Puerto Rican
PS: Here’s that Traditional Bio again (in case you missed it above).
- Read my poems, essays & other works online
- Buy my book Words or Water
- Check out my favorite Resources for Readers
- Watch me read two works about Hurricane María.
Writers
- Sign Up or Join the Waitlist for upcoming Courses
- Check out my favorite Resources for Writers
- Read blog posts about my Writing Life
Educators
- Check out my favorite Resources for Educators
- Read Teach Puerto Rico
Parents
- Check out my Picture Book Recommendations (plus a few Parenting resources)
- Read my Mamihood blog posts
Lovers of all things Puerto Rican
- Buy my book Words or Water
- Read my Puerto Rico blog posts
- Watch me read two works about Hurricane María.
PS: Here’s that Traditional Bio again (in case you missed it above).
