Imagine a Mexican American storyteller whose words weave magic, folklore, and the heartbeat of her heritage into every page—meet Raquel Vasquez Gilliland! A poet, novelist, and painter, Gilliland crafts stories that blend the mystical with the everyday, inviting readers into worlds where nature speaks, myths breathe, and identity blooms. Her work, rooted in Mexican American culture, has earned her a Pura Belpré Award and a devoted following.
From young adult novels to soulful poetry, Gilliland’s storytelling dances between realism and enchantment, making her a standout voice in contemporary literature. Ready to explore her vibrant universe? Let’s dive into her life, works, and the magic she brings to the page.
The Making of Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland grew up steeped in the magic of her Mexican American family’s traditions. Her mother cut clouds with kitchen knives, and her grandmother swept fear away with a corn broom—stories of folk magic that shaped her worldview. With a BA in cultural anthropology from the University of West Florida and an MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Gilliland honed her craft, blending her love for myths, plants, and lineage into her art. Her early years as a painter and poet laid the foundation for her genre-bending storytelling.
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s Unforgettable Stories
Gilliland’s debut poetry collection, Dirt and Honey (2018), sets the tone for her work, intertwining feminist reclamations of myth with Mexican family folktales. Poems pulse with nature’s rhythm, where women create worlds and flowers bloom at their feet. Her chapbook, Tales From the House of Vasquez (2018), winner of the Rattle Chapbook Prize, explores mental illness and motherhood through a mythic lens, drawing from her own postpartum struggles.
In young adult fiction, Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything (2020) is a genre-bending tale of grief, alien lore, and Mexican American identity. Sia, a teen grappling with her mother’s deportation, lights candles in the desert, guided by her grandmother’s ghost. The Pura Belpré Award-winning How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe (2021) follows Moon, an artist navigating colorism and self-worth on a road trip, finding love and cosmic truths. Her adult novel, Witch of Wild Things (2023), a USA Today bestseller, weaves romance and magic, while Lightning in Her Hands (2024) explores weather-wielding heroines. Gilliland’s style—lyrical, spiritual, and sassy—merges magical realism with raw emotion, celebrating her heritage.
Why Raquel Vasquez Gilliland Matters
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s work is a love letter to Mexican American culture, amplifying marginalized voices through stories that resonate with teens and adults alike. Her blend of folklore, feminism, and family history challenges stereotypes, offering heroes who reflect the strength and complexity of Latinx experiences. By centering indigenous knowledge and mystical traditions, she invites readers to see the world through a lens of wonder and resilience, leaving a lasting mark on young adult and romantasy genres.
- Born: West Palm Beach, Florida
- Key Works: Dirt and Honey, Sia Martinez, How Moon Fuentez, Witch of Wild Things
- Awards: Pura Belpré Award, Rattle Chapbook Prize
- Fun Fact: She tells stories to her plants, and they talk back!
Grab How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe and dive into Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s spellbinding world of magic and heart!