2017 Top Ten New Latino Authors

Since the publication of this list in 2016, these authors have continued their activism and have continued to have a strong presence in the writing community.

1. Amalia Ortiz has been on the spoken word scene for years. HBO’s Def Poetry highlighted her talent, while her poetry collection, Rant. Chant. Chisme., demonstrates why she has a strong following.

2. Yesenia Montilla‘s The Pink Box (Willow Books Emerging Poets & Writers Series) tackles serious and timely themes in a sometimes jazzy, always musical style.

3. Harrison Candelaria Fletcher‘s Presentimiento: A Life in Dreams is written so masterfully that it leaves the reader pleasantly dizzy and wanting more.

4.  Gabby Rivera shows off her writing skills in JJuliet Takes a Breath, an inspirational debut coming-of-age tale that covers LGBTQ as well as educational themes for all youth.

5. Isabel Quintero‘s young adult novel, Gabi, a Girl in Pieces is not afraid of tackling tough subjects and realistic characters that tell it like it is.

6.  Lorenzo Pablo Martinez gives us an enlightening and touching look at the Peter Pan program in CUBA ADIOS: A Young Man’s Journey to Freedom.

7. Bryan Allen Fierro’s Dodger Blue Will Fill Your Soul (Camino del Sol) is written so masterfully that you will think it’s not a debut collection.

8.Carolina Ebeid‘s lyrics dazzle in You Ask Me To Talk About The Interior, a debut collection of poems that is sure to establish her as someone to listen to for years to come.

9. Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo is creating a lot of buzz with her debut poetry collection, Posada: Offerings of Witness and Refuge.

10.Celeste Leon’s Luck Is Just the Beginning is just the beginning for this author whose story about a lottery winner is a literary roller coaster.