Author Spotlight: Ysabel Y. González
Buy: Sing This Body Out by Ysabel Y. González | FlowerSong Press | Pub Date: July 11, 2026 | ISBN: 9781963245943 | Page Count 104
How did writing this book transform you?
I had several epiphanies when writing Sing This Body Out, one of which was that I have been forced to adapt and shapeshift, like the chameleon persona in my book, over the years. I always knew I was highly adaptable, but what I learned from writing this book was about shifting and choice. When, how and where do I adapt to the world around me and when does it become my choice. I’ve become even more hyperaware of when I choose to assimilate or adapt because of the political climate we are living in the US. Every day I encounter microaggressions or in some cases, outright racism, and I must make hard decisions about how far I’m willing to go to blend in or be the bold colorful chameleon and brave it out.
Do you have any advice for new and emerging writers? Is there anything you wish you knew?
In my formative years as a young poet I was audacious and would reach out to poets whose work I was reading. This is before IG. I would email poets and simply let them know how much I was feelin their work—not with any requests or asks. Just letting them know how much I loved their writing. I always encourage emerging writers to connect with other writers who you respect! Part of the joy or being a writer is being in community, so if you bump into poets you love, or simply want to take a few minutes to craft a really thoughtful DM, I encourage emerging writers to connect with other writers and let them know you’re reading or watching them. I can’t tell you how much this means to other writers. And it’s an opportunity to give artists their flower while they are with us. It also lets these poets know you are part of the community!
Outside of writing, what are some of your passions or hobbies?
I love this question because sometimes we forget writers have other passions and joys besides writing. I love creating and crafters gon’ craft! When I’m not writing, I find joy in glitter in one hand and resin in another. From chunky custom beaded pens to unique hand-beaded jewelry, crafting relaxes me and puts me in a euphoric state. About 1.5 years ago I opened up my own Etsy shop called Dee Dum Emporium, and I bring joy to the masses by incorporating the small touches when packing up items, like including Disney stickers and Hello Kitty tattoos. Giving others a little joy, fills me with joy. I believe that just because I’m selling items to my consumers does not mean I have to take the human element out of it so I include a handwritten note with every purchase. It’s the poet in me trying to revive the human element of consumerism letting folks know that yes…there is a human on the other side of this creating something special with a whole lot of TLC.
If you could organize a reading with any writers living or dead, who would be in the lineup? Where would you host the event?
If I could organize a reading and conversation, I would choose to moderate a conversation with Pedro Albizu Campos, Ada Limón, Audre Lorde, and Malcolm X. I’m cheating a little because they are not all strict writers, and have majorly, in some way, shifted the world’s perspective on topics such as patriotism, grief, race, orientation, and ability. I would love to get their thoughts, in particular, on technology, AI, and social media, and overall, how we can practice being a more just country. I would want them each to have an opening statement then engage in conversation with each other. I would host this event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and then invite them all over to my house for dinner afterward where I would make pollochón, roasted sliced sweet potatoes, and French green beans.
You can often tell a lot about a book by how it begins and how it ends. What is the first line and last line of your book?
Rearing a garden bed, becomes my undoing—
Patient, as I since this body out
These lines say a lot about the book, in fact—from the green lush landscape, to the body.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading a lot of romantasy these days, like The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros, a little Leigh Bardugo, and Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I’ve also been obsessed with memoirs like Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz and revisiting Hunger by Roxane Gay. As far as poetry, I’m reading my autographed copies of the past is a jean jacket by Cloud Delfina Cardona and sipèstisyon by Mckendy Fils-Aimé.
Do you have a new project that you’re working on? Could you tell us a bit about it?
I’m working on two projects. One is a collection of science fiction short stories, and the other is a collection of nonfiction essays. The essays explore life and challenges as a fat, neurodivergent Latine arts administrator and woman.
Newark, NJ native Ysabel Y. González (she/her), received her BA from Rutgers University, an MFA in Poetry from Drew University, and serves as Producer, Poetry & Social Impact at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Dodge Poetry. Previously, she has also worked at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Ysabel is a CantoMundo fellow, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and the author of Wild Invocations (Get Fresh Books, 2019) and Sing This Body Out (FlowerSong Press, 2026). Ysabel is her ancestors’ dream and comes from a long lineage of strong-willed women. You can find her in New Jersey, with her husband and two furbabies, resisting, writing, crafting, gardening and reading oracles. Visit www.ysabelgonzalez.com for more.
