We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gabriella Aldeman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gabriella below.

Alright, Gabriella thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My story is one of self-discovery. I began my writing practice at seven, when all my diary entries began with “Hoy me levanté temprano y fui a la escuela.” Throughout my life I kept reading a lot and writing a lot, but I never thought I could become an author. I figured that title was reserved for heroes and other-worldly people that didn’t have to mentally sound out Wed-nes-day.

It wasn’t until years later after degrees in Economics, Psychology, Public Policy, and corporate jobs in data analysis, that I decided to pursue something my heart desired. Something to do with writing. I shifted careers to become a translator and content writer.

But to become an author, three things had to happen in perfect order. 1) At 36, I read a book with Hispanic representation. It was a middle grade book that reminded me of my childhood. It was a book in English with Spanish words sprinkled throughout unapologetically. My mind was blown. 2) COVID hit and I lost all my translation clients. After mourning for a couple of weeks, I decided to rebrand my translation business and specialize in education and children’s books, a dream I’ve been harboring since the beginning of my translation days. 3) I worked to connect with authors, and soon began to translate fun rhymes, character dialogue, and entire worlds of fantasy and wonder. That’s when I began to write my own stories.

For the first time, I was processing life, not through diary entries, blog posts or poems, but through story. And I fell in love. That’s when it happened for me, in the mere act of writing my first story. I still wasn’t sure I could pursue this professionally, but I knew there was nowhere to go but forward on this path that I’d been forging, little by little, since I could remember.

Gabriella , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Gabriella Aldeman. I’m a Pacific Ocean lover, peanut butter indulger, and to-do list follower. I was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, and moved to the United States to pursue an undergraduate degree at Georgetown University. But that was half a lifetime ago!

I live my life between two beautiful languages and visit my family in Panama every year. I currently live in Fairfax, VA with my husband, two children, and a guinea pig named Giuseppe.

I’m a children’s book author and professional translator. I write books in hopes that more children become readers and for all readers to feel seen. My debut picture book, Paula’s Patches, came out in 2023 with Free Spirit Publishing and my second book Squawk of Spanish was just released with Charlesbridge this August 2024.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

There’s this notion that writers and artists are reclusive introverts. But, while many of us tend to live in our own heads, we are better off creating community, sharing our art and knowledge with others, and constantly learning from our peers.

As an author, I belong to two critique groups and count my writer friends as one of my biggest blessings. I’ve also gotten to know booksellers, librarians, teachers, bookstagrammers, podcasters, and other bookish people I hold dear.

Then there’s marketing and promotion, which is not easy but has to be done. The trick for me is to remember that I’m not selling books but championing my work… like a diplomat of sorts.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Even though promoting my work can be painful at times, there’s one aspect of it I love. Nothing makes me happier than sharing my stories with children. Whether I’m visiting a school and talking about my author journey to an auditorium full of K-2nd grade students, guiding 5th graders through my revision process, or making crafts at story time, my heart is full when I connect with young readers.

For years I was not ready to believe in myself. I didn’t understand that my stories were worth telling. Now I want every kid to feel seen and to impress upon young writers and storytellers that authors come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. It starts with believing in yourself and looks a lot like hard work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.writebetween.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/write_between/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriteBetween
• Twitter: https://x.com/write_between

Image Credits

(personal picture) Photo Credit: Ben Timmins