2006 Top Ten New Latino Latinx Authors
1) H.G. Carrillo, Author of Loosing My Espanish. Not since Junot Diaz has a Latino author created such a stir. If you’re looking for story told in a traditional, chronological way, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a creative read that challenges your views on Cuban history, this is it.
2) Ernesto Quinonez, Author of Bodega Dreams. There is no doubt that this author is ready to be mentioned among the great Latino writers. Ultimately, this is a love story, but a story about the love of what? You’ll be surprised.
3) Loida Maritza Perez, Author of Geographies of Home. Talk about an author who is difficult to classify. This young talent’s writing will both impress and haunt. We guarantee that you won’t find many other characters like the main one in this novel.
4) Sofia Quintero, Author of Divas Don’t Yield. This newest Chica Lit novelist has all the stuff that lovers of the “sucia” genre will enjoy.
5) Marcos M. Villatoro, Author of A Venom Beneath the Skin. Okay, so he is not new, but Villatoro’s detective novels will soon propel him as a “Latino Toni Hillerman.”
6) Angie Cruz, Author of Soledad. A powerful debut novel.
7) Michele M. Serros, Author of Chicana Falsa. A refreshing sense of humor marks this creative debut.
8) Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Author of Make Him Look Good. There is no stopping this original “sucia.” She has a tremendous following that is only certain to get bigger.
9) Jack Lopez, Author of In the Break. Talk about someone whose name should be better known.
10) Junot Diaz, Author of Drown. We know, we know. He is famous, and Drown is a powerful book. But keep an eye on him because he is sure to reemerge with a second book that creates a lot of buzz.
Editor’s Note: Nearly 15 years after we published this inaugural list we learned of H.G. Carrillo’s death and the subsequent news that he was not of Latinx descent. While this news was disappointing and hurtful to those closest to him, we are of the belief that continuing further dialogue on his identity would further add to that hurt. So with that in mind, we will continue to celebrate his writing on its merits.
