On Saturday, February 18th, Bronx-bred author Lilliam Rivera launched her YA debut novel “The Education of Margot Sanchez” over at DreamYard Art Studio on Washington Avenue. The event was hosted by feminist hip-hop writer Sofia Quintera and fellow author Gabby Rivera, along with Noelle Santos, who is currently pushing to open The Lit. Bar, a bookstore/bar in the Bronx. There was an air of high energy and excitement in the room, partly due to the unusual 60-degree weather in the middle of February. The faint hum of a Mr. Softee truck jingles a few blocks away.

 

“There’s so many things that you guys could be doing on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, but I’m so glad you guys are here with us,” Rivera humbly joked to the crowd.

 

“The Education of Margot Sanchez” chronicles a 15 year-old Puerto Rican girl named Margot, but is referred by everyone as Princesa. She is forced to spend the summer working at her father’s supermarket in the South Bronx, after charging 600 dollars to his credit card to impress her prep school friends. Margot struggles to fit in at her prestigious prep school, being one of the only Latina girls. She straightens her curly hair and listens to Taylor Swift. Along with dealing with identity issues, the novel’s themes include family life, love, and gentrification in the Bronx. The novel is available for purchase on Amazon.

 

Rivera starts off the event by reading the first chapter of the book. Even in the first chapter, the story was already humourous, but the story already introduced Margot’s identity issues and insecurities in just the first few sentences, which definitely draws readers in. After the reading, Lilliam and Gabby held an interview plus a Q&A with the audience.

 

 

Gabby: How did you develop the Bronx as a character in your book?

 

Lilliam: “For me, it was just important to try and capture the magic of the Bronx in the summertime. It was just magic. Everyone was always outside, there’s always free music and concerts, BBQs, parties … it just felt like freedom. But there was also this intensity. Everyone’s hot and annoyed, but I wanted to capture the beauty of it all. There’s really so much beauty in the Bronx. Although things are changing now, people in the Bronx are still living, creating, and thriving. That doesn’t change.

 

Gabby: Does Margot hate the Bronx?

 

Lilliam: *laughs* Margot hates the Bronx, I’m not going to lie. She comes from a family who lives in Riverdale, but she doesn’t consider it the Bronx. She and her family aspire for something else, and to Margot, that means denying her culture in order to survive in her prep school.

 

 

Gabby: I feel like there’s this shared sentiment in the Bronx where you kind of can’t wait to get out, although you love this place, you love your family, your friends, the food; it’s loud and boisterous here. But it’s also like “Ugh! I hate this place!” There’s a value our lives take on when we get out of these environments.

 

Lilliam: I went through that phase. The high school I went to was an hour away by train. I could’ve easily went to a high school nearby, but I wanted to get as far away as possible. There

was always that sentiment of “I need to get out of the Bronx.” Although now I live in LA, I’m always thinking about the Bronx and writing about the Bronx. My fiction and the voices I write about are coming from this place. I had to rethink about my relationship with the Bronx, and going away helped with that. I went to Binghamton University, and it was such a different environment that made me appreciate and miss the Bronx. For the first time in my life, I was with people who weren’t people of color. It was a very different life.

 

Gabby: How have you sustained yourself as a writer? What is your writing process?

 

Lilliam: Well, my background is in journalism. I got my first writing gig as an editor at Latina magazine. I’ve always written entertainment features and still do freelance work. I’m excellent with deadlines. I know how to interview people, write things down. I make sure to write at least two hours a day. Sometimes I write in my car, my car becomes my office. Or write at night, after the kids go to sleep. I feel like I don’t have time to waste. I have stories to get out there.

 

Gabby: What is the most joyous part of this book being released?

 

Lilliam: Hearing feedback from the readers. They say things like “I see myself in this book” and I never imagined that I would write a book, and a young girl from Puerto Rico telling me that she loves my book. To me, it’s a big deal. If I can make someone feel that way, it’s enough to keep me going.

The audience enjoying pizza and cake while waiting to get their books signed.

When the event was over, I felt an extreme amount of pride for the Bronx. It’s so refreshing to see people from my borough making their dreams happen and bringing a sense of unity to the younger generation. Please support our Bronx artists whenever you can. Go to that book launch, go to that poetry slam. The Bronx is thriving more than ever, and not only that, the Bronx is burning with a desire to read.

 

 

*Support Noelle Santos and her vision for The Lit. Bar at her website.

*Follow Lilliam Rivera on Instagram and Twitter.

 

 

*The opinions and ideas expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the opinions of The Bronx Brand*

Sydney is from Bedford Park, in the northwest section of the Bronx. She’s lived in the Bronx all her life, and is inspired by the strength of the people of the Bronx. She says, “If you can make it from the Bronx, you can make it anywhere.” She believes the Bronx has a charm that can’t be found anywhere else. She wouldn’t trade it for anything growing up here because it’s shaped her into the fighter she is today. You can follow her on Twitter: @sydney_joy and tumblr: http://sydneyj0y.tumblr.com/