Buy: Luna Inmigrante by Virginia Bulacio | AlegrÃa Publishing | June 27, 2023Â
What living poet/writer had the biggest influence on your book?Â
I came to the United States during my high school years, and I joined an E.S.L class (English as a Second Language). One of my teachers, Miss Ritvo, shared the book The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Some days, Miss Ritvo would read the book to us and other days, she would play the audiobook for us. It was illuminating to follow the book and Cisneros' words while reading the stories.Â
I was transported to another time. In my imagination I would travel back to my small town in the north of Argentina. I felt connected to Cisneros' novel and the main character, Esperanza. I remember feeling like the writer would understand me. I carry those stories close to me, it’s a reminder of where I come from. Sandra Cisneros inspired me at a young age to create stories, bilingual stories para nuestra comunidad. Her work continues to inspire me today and I hope one day I can share Luna Inmigrante with her.
How did your relationship with your family influence your writing?
My relationship with my family has influenced my writing. I think they helped me understand in a way our immigrant journey. Some of the experiences we faced earlier in the journey later became a poem or reflection in my book. Those poems or reflections helped me to see our stories from different points of view, as the voice of an immigrant, what really matters in our heart. Luna Inmigrante is dedicated to mi familia and my friends who qualified for DACA, and those friends who did not, people I would see on the bus on a daily basis, workers and activists who joined rallies during Labor Day. They have influenced me each day and inspired this poetry collection, as we are one family, from the point of view of Luna Inmigrante.Â
How did writing this book transform you?
Luna Inmigrante has helped me understand that our stories are all connected, therefore my poems reflect that we are all part of everyone’s journey. Writing my book allowed me to heal, channel and transform that pain in energy in motion, within each line of poetry in Luna Inmigrante. With time, I am realizing Luna Inmigrante is here to transform us, heal us, grow together, and celebrate our stories and where we come from. I think transformation comes from healing, and each story represents a voice in our community, showing our diversity and honoring our stories.Â
Did another artform influence this work? Painting, music, dancing, etc.
I would like to say motherhood is an artform. I think becoming a new mom in the pandemic inspired me to share my work with others. Motherhood gave me the strength to share my work, and hopefully inspire other writers to do the same. When my son was a newborn, I would take him on walks and I would pay close attention to the details he would see, the texture and colors of plants, our shadows, the petals of roses, as he would show excitement by moving his little hands so fast like an orchestra director. And to me that was a new artform, a new way of expression that I carry in my poetry. All these magical moments with him influenced me to create a new way of writing.
Outside of writing, what are some of your passions or hobbies?Â
Photography, photojournalism, taking Polaroids, the beauty of capturing a moment as it is, without any editing, this has been a passion project. Either I am on a walk or playing with my son outside, watching the clouds, waiting for the sunset, I enjoy taking photographs, seeing my son growing up, and documenting time. Photography is an artform that inspires my creativity, and it allows me to experiment with time and light.Â
If you could have a dinner party with anyone living or dead, who would it be and why? What would you serve for dinner?Â
The first person that came to my mind was mi abuelo. He was like my father to me. I would probably serve empanadas Argentinas, maybe he can teach me how to make an Argentine Parrillada (Argentinian bbq) like the ones he used to make when I was growing up.Â
Years after I moved to the United States, he passed away. I did not have a chance to say goodbye or thank him for taking care of me when I was little. This dinner would be like a reunion to honor him and show him my gratitude.
Virginia Bulacio is an Argentinean writer, educator, and storyteller. She immigrated to the United States during her high school years.Â
Virginia holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Minor in Spanish Language Journalism from California State University, Northridge.Â
Her mission in teaching is to share her passion about culture, storytelling, and poetry. She is teaching subjects such as Spanish and Photography at a school in which the mission is to help the student emotionally, socially, and academically through positivity and mentoring.Â
Virginia lives in Los Angeles with her family, and you would probably find her at a coffee shop looking for a story.