Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
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Arroyo Pizarro in 2019
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Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
29 October 1970 |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | Novelist, short-story writer and essayist |
| Awards | Premio Nacional del Instituto de Literatura Puerto-rriqueña (2008); Premio del Instituto de Cultura de Puerto Rico (2012) |
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro (born October 29, 1970) is a talented Puerto Rican writer. She is known for her novels, short stories, and essays.
Contents
About Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
Early Life and Education
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on October 29, 1970. Her grandparents, Petronila Cartagena and Saturnino Pizarro, raised her. From a young age, Yolanda loved to write. She contributed to school newsletters and local newspapers. She also won awards for her drawings and essays at Colegio San Vicente Ferrer in Cataño.
In 1989, she won a writing contest at Bayamón Central University. Her winning story was called "Vimbi Botella." The next year, in 1990, she directed a play she wrote herself. The play was titled ¿A dónde va el amor? (Where Does Love Go?). It was performed in Barrio Amelia, the neighborhood where she grew up.
Her Writing Journey
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro published her first book of short stories in 2004. It was called Origami de letras (Letter Origami). The following year, her first novel, Los documentados (The Documented), came out. This novel explored the experiences of people moving to new places in the Caribbean. It specifically focused on journeys from Hispaniola to Puerto Rico. This important book won the PEN Club Prize in 2006.
In 2007, she released another book of short stories, Ojos de Luna (Moon Eyes). In this book, she wrote about how people face challenges. She also showed how helping each other can make a difference. El Nuevo Día newspaper chose Ojos de Luna as one of the best books of 2007. It was also a finalist for the Puerto Rican Literature National Award.
That same year, Yolanda was recognized as one of the most important Latin American writers under 39. This honor was part of Bogotá39, an event organized by UNESCO and the Hay Festival. She was the only writer from Puerto Rico chosen for this group.
Continued Success and Advocacy
In 2011, her novel Caparazones was named the best new novel by Salón Literario Libroamérica de Puerto Rico. That same year, she received a special grant to be a writer-in-residence. This allowed her to focus on her writing at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Her short story "Los ... de una mujer sin pecho" was recognized at the Latina Writers Convention in 2012. Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro has written many works. These include two novels, three poetry collections, and nine short-story books. Her stories have also appeared in over two dozen collections by different authors. One notable collection is New Daughters of Africa (2019), edited by Margaret Busby.
Beyond writing, Yolanda has been a radio host for Kooltureate on Bonita Radio. She is also the Chief Editor of Revista Boreales, a literary magazine. She often writes for newspapers like Claridad, La Expresión, El Nuevo Día, and El Vocero. For several years, she has also served as a judge for the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award at the Guadalajara International Book Fair.
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro often writes about topics of fairness and equal rights in her books. She has worked with other writers and activists. They have participated in conferences in places like Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. In 2014, she and her partner, Zulma Oliveras Vega, were part of an important case. This case helped bring about marriage equality in Puerto Rico. When the court ruled that the marriage ban was against the law, Yolanda and Zulma became the first same-sex couple to marry in Puerto Rico.
Awards and Recognitions
Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro has received several awards for her writing:
- Premio Nacional del Instituto de Literatura Puerto-rriqueña (2008)
- Premio del Instituto de Cultura de Puerto Rico (2012)
- Her book Ojos de Luna was chosen as book of the year in 2007 by El Nuevo Día magazine.
See also
In Spanish: Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro para niños
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- Bogotá39
