Author's Biography

 

Daisy Lopez – America’s Favorite Chicana Storyteller (A.F.C.S.)

Daisy Lopez-Tucker, affectionately known as America’s Favorite Chicana Storyteller, is the celebrated author of Voices from the Past, Don't Kill My Curandera, and her highly anticipated upcoming work, ¡Chale! ¡Nombre! Hey! What's Up?!. A proud native of the Rio Grande Valley and a passionate bilingual writing teacher, Lopez serves students in underserved communities, championing literacy and cultural pride through her work.

Born in 1983 in Weslaco, Texas, and raised in the small rural town of Progreso, Lopez comes from humble beginnings. Her parents, immigrants from Mexico, came to the United States in pursuit of a better life. Growing up in a migrant farmworking family, Daisy experienced firsthand the hardships of poverty and the systemic injustices faced by migrant laborers. These early experiences shaped her worldview and inspired her to pursue education with unwavering determination.

As a trailblazer in her family, Lopez became the first to graduate from high school, earning a place among the top ten in her class. She went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, in 2023 she earned her Principal certification from Lamar University and is currently working on her dissertation for her doctorate in Educational Leadership under Curriculum and Instruction. 

Through her work in education, Lopez witnessed a growing disinterest in reading and writing among students—an issue she traced to a lack of personal and cultural connection in the literature taught in schools. Determined to change that, she began writing stories rooted in Chicano history, Mexican-American identity, and the rich traditions of the Rio Grande Valley.

Her debut book, Voices from the Past, reimagines Mexican folktales by fusing genres in a way that captivates modern readers while honoring ancient storytelling traditions. Her follow-up, Don't Kill My Curandera, shines a light on holistic healing practices still cherished in Valley communities today. Her stories do more than entertain—they preserve, uplift, and ignite a cultural revival.

Lopez’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. The City of Weslaco honored her with a proclamation recognizing her cultural preservation efforts and her dedication to empowering youth. Beyond writing, she is a bilingual curriculum developer, motivational speaker, instrcutional coach, editor, and respected community leader throughout the RGV.

In a gesture of giving back, Lopez donates copies of her books to the Weslaco Museum, with all sales proceeds going toward the museum's daily operations—an act that reflects her lifelong commitment to education, heritage, and community.

In addition, she serves on the Texas Education Agency’s Educators Committee and attends national education conferences every summer to advocate for the needs of students in the Rio Grande Valley and Texas.