Author's Biography

 

Daisy Lopez America's Favorite Chicana Storyteller (A.F.C.S.), author of Voices from the Past, Don't Kill My Curandera, and soon to publish  ¡Chale!  ¡Nombre! Hey! What's up?!, is a Rio Grande Valley native and bilingual writing teacher serving low social economic schools in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Lopez was born in Weslaco, Texas in 1983, but grew up in a small rural town called Progreso, Texas.  Her parents were from Mexico and had traveled to the U.S. in search of a better future.  Being raised in a migrant farm working family, she recalls the many travels to northern states looking for farm work.  Lopez became aware of the injustices towards migrant farmworkers at a very early age and how poverty greatly affected these families.  This is what led her to pursue her education.  Lopez became the first family member to ever graduate from high school and was recognized in the top ten of her graduating class. Lopez earned a Bachelor's degree from UTPA in Sociology, a Master's degree from UTRGV in Public Affairs, and is currently working on her Principal certification at Lamar University.   Concurrently, Lopez is also working on her doctorate degree in educational leadership.  

 

It was through her educational profession that she discovered that the interest in reading and writing was declining rapidly in schools due to the personal disconnection with literature that was being presented in classrooms across all grade levels in the United States. The lack of Chicano literature in school curriculums, the dying storytelling traditions amongst families, and the necessity to continue to contribute to the Chicano culture by honoring her ancestors through her writings have created a movement in the Rio Grande Valley.   Her work is rooted upon the Mexican-American history and local traditions. Voices from the Past contains a selection of Mexican folktales that merge genres like never seen before. Don't Kill My Curandera focuses on the holistic healing traditions that still continues to serve many family across the Rio Grande Valley even today.

 

Lopez's writings have received recognition by the City of Weslaco through a proclamation that recognizes her efforts in conserving the culture of the Rio Grande Valley and providing children the encouragement to develop their academic and life skills. Lopez is not only an author, but a bilingual curriculum writer, motivational speaker, and editor.  Lopez is also recognized as a community leader across the RGV.  She currently donates copies of her books to the Weslaco Museum in Weslaco, Texas.  All sales made from the books are donated to assist in the daily operations of the museum.