Ernesto Quiñonez, author of the landmark novel, Bodega Dreams, talks about his latest book, Taína, a uniquely dark, coming-of-age novel ripe with magical realism, music, sorcery and redemption, with a sweeping narrative.

He will be joined by Pilar Fraile Amador, speaking from Spain, about her novel, Days of Euphoria (Días de euforia). She is considered by critics as one of the most cutting-edge voices of the Spanish literary scene. They will be joined by Spanish author Marta López-Luaces, a poet, writer and translator, and a professor at Montclair State University.

All authors appear for free and the best way you can support them is to buy their book. Ernesto's book is available from Festival partner Watchung Booksellers here.

Ernesto Quiñonez is an acclaimed novelist, essayist, a Sundance fellow, and a Moth storyteller.  He was raised in Spanish Harlem and is a product of public education from kindergarten at PS 101 on 111th Street and Lex to his Masters at the City College of New York. He teaches English at Cornell University.

Pilar Fraile's publications include the novels Días de euforia, Las ventajas de la vida en el campo, the short stories collection Los nuevos pobladores, the nonfiction book Materiales para la ficción, de Poe a Fosters Wallace, and five poetry books. Some of her stories have been published in translation in The Paris Review, The Chicago Review, Conjunctions and The Brooklyn Rail. As well as into English, her work has been translated into Norwegian, Portuguese, and Catalonian.

Marta López-Luaces was born in Spain and lives in New York. She is a poet, writer and translator. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Literatures from New York University, and is a Full Professor at Montclair State University.  She has published two novels and a book of short stories: La Virgen de la Noche, Los traductores del viento (which won the International Latino Book Award for Best Fantasy Novel) and El Placer de matar a una madre . She also published five books of poetry Diatancia y destierros , Las lenguas del viajero, Los arquitectos del imaginario, and Después de la oscuridad.

This event is part of Succeed2gether’s Montclair Literary Festival's special series of author events, Global Voices taking place on March 20 and March 21, 2021, and featuring authors and poets from England, Scotland, Ireland, Korea, Iran, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and Spain.  The fifth annual Montclair Literary Festival will take place on Saturday October 2, 2021, with a combination of live and online events.

See all of the talks by following us on Crowdcast here or visiting our website events page here.

Any proceeds from the festival benefit parent organization, Montclair-based non-profit Succeed2gether, which offers after-school one-on-one tutoring and enrichment classes with the aim of closing the education and opportunity gaps in Essex County, NJ. You can read more about Succeed2gether and the festival at www.succeed2gether.org.

The festival organizing committee wishes to thank event partners Montclair Public Library and Watchung Booksellers, and festival sponsors Rao's, West of Hudson Realty Group, Jill Williams (Ameriprise Financial), Ferguson Dental, the County of Essex, and community members.

Writing Across Cultures in English and Spanish with Ernesto Quiñonez and Pilar Fraile Amador