We recently connected with Debbie Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.

Debbie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Writing children’s stories, for me, started from a desire to give back to the children with whom I worked. As a social worker, I often met children in crisis. When I received an invitation to participate in the read aloud program at my workplace, I jumped at the chance. Reading provided the space for fun interactions. It inspired me to write. I aim to write joyous stories with the aw effect.

Seeing my name on the cover of my first book thrilled me. However, meeting a family that traveled a long distance because of my Latin surname brought me a greater realization. While I aimed to bring joy to my readers, being a Latina brought needed representation, too. I made the decision to be more intentional, beyond just my name, to include my Puerto Rican culture in my stories.

Over the years, I developed a relationship with our local library, who carries my books. As my stories stem from the real experiences of my sweet doggie, we participated in Storytime with his guest appearance and volunteered in the read to the dog program. At times, the children choose to read my books to us. Words do not fully convey the tremendous joy that provokes in me.

These days it is increasingly urgent for our children to see themselves in stories that celebrate our Latin heritage. Through my participation with my town’s Latin Heritage Celebration committee, I had the opportunity to share my author’s perspective on an additional event. In coordination with our local library, we hosted an event that featured numerous Latin authors representing various countries and backgrounds. We displayed their books with their pictures and biographies. Caregivers and children became aware of authors they had not known. Cultural pride permeated the building.

While I had not included myself in the curated list, the lovely library team displayed my books as well. Our volunteers made a big deal to tell the children of my authorship. Dressed in papi’s guyaberra, they took pictures of me with the children to commemorate the moment. It reminds me that our influence happens in all small interactions. Growing up I did not find myself in books. Today, I get to be a mirror for young readers. Swoon!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Born of Puerto Rican parents, I am the youngest of five. My parents immigrated to New York as children. Their resilience to overcome barriers and their commitment to care for their family influenced my work ethic. Amor de familia guides me.

Educated through my parents’ sacrifice, I completed my master’s degree in social work. Through my mami’s example of service, I dedicated many years to helping others, especially children. During a career transition, I decided to pursue writing. The seed planted during my time volunteering to read aloud to elementary school children. I created the Cooper Book Series which is based on the real stories of my fur baby Cooper from his fictional perspective. Our books celebrate the simple joys of life. They are quiet, lyrical stories that elicit emotion. I pack a lot of heart into my books because I received a lot of love. When readers engage with our books, I hope the love conveys.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to chip away at the lack of Latin representation in children’s literature. Simply being a Latina author did not suffice. Due to this commitment, I evolved my writing to include bilingual stories. A Visit with Cooper contains mostly English with Spanish phrases. Along with that, I translated my first book, A Walk with Cooper, into Spanish.

Author visits provide a tangible process for children to demystify authorship. Meeting an author makes the idea of becoming an author possible, especially when they see themselves in you. I love the sparkle in the children’s eyes when we meet. Every time I show up with my stories, I make a difference. As an independent author, it can feel as if my contributions to the industry dissipate like a drop in the ocean. However, I am reminded when I meet one of my readers that it does make a difference. My desire remains that the generation of young readers feel seen and empowered.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Authenticity matters. Do more than sell your products. Get to know your community and interact with intention. Care about their journey and share their stories, too.

Social media tools change often. Trying to keep up with everything or posting all the time will exhaust you. Pick a platform and do that one well instead of spreading yourself thin. You can expand as you feel comfortable.

Remember that the internet is forever. Go viral for all the right reasons.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://debbiegonzalezauthor.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cooperloopstories
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/debbiegonzalezauthor