L.A. Libros Fest: Interview With Ericka Sanchez

Llyr Heller, Librarian, Teen'Scape,
Ericka Sanchez, cookbook author of ¡Buen provecho! and Aguas Frescas and Paletas
Ericka Sanchez will be one of the featured performers at the Los Angeles Libros Festival, a free bilingual book festival for the whole family
Ericka Sanchez is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food stylist and the creator of the award-winning website nibblesandfeasts.com. Ericka's cooking style is inspired by her life as a bicultural Latina living in California and her cherished memories in the kitchen with her grandmother and mother in Mexico. Ericka was born in Torreón Coahuila, Mexico and immigrated with her family to El Paso, Texas at 8 years old. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Efrain and son Joaquin.
Ericka Sanchez es autora de libros de cocina, desarrolladora de recetas, estilista de alimentos y creadora del sitio web nibblesandfeasts.com. El estilo de cocinar de Ericka está inspirado por su vida como una latina bicultural que vive en California y sus recuerdos preciados en la cocina con su abuela y su madre en México. Ericka nació en Torreón Coahuila, México y emigró con su familia a El Paso, Texas a los 8 años. Actualmente reside en Los Ángeles con su esposo Efraín y su hijo Joaquín.

Ericka Sanchez will be one of the featured authors at the Los Angeles Libros Festival, a free bilingual book festival for the whole family. L.A. Libros Fest will be streamed live on YouTube on Friday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The Festival will be in-person at Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, September 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with select Saturday programs streamed live on YouTube.
Ericka Sanchez será una de los autores destacadas que forman parte de Los Angeles Libros Festival, un festival del libro bilingüe gratuito para toda la familia. L.A. Libros Fest ofrecerá dos días de programación en vivo con cuentacuentos, autores locales e internacionales, talleres de arte, conciertos y mucho más. L.A. Libros Fest será transmitido en línea en vivo vía YouTube el viernes 23 de septiembre de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m y en persona en la Biblioteca Central de Los Ángeles el sábado 24 de septiembre de 11 a.m. a 4 p.m., con programas selectos transmitidos también en vivo por YouTube.

Our tagline this year is Read, Dream and Celebrate en dos idiomas. How do you think your books and stories help us accomplish this? / El tema del festival este año es Read, Dream and Celebrate (lee, sueña y celebra) en dos idiomas. ¿Cómo crees que tus libros e historias nos ayudan a lograr esto?

My books do help celebrate both languages because they show the reader snippets of me living in two different countries, speaking two different languages, and experiencing two very different cultures. There are many people who have had to get accustomed to these types of changes, and my books have helped me connect with people with similar backgrounds.

What are some of the things you do to bring to life the world you’ve imagined? / ¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas que tú haces para hacer realidad el mundo que has imaginado?

The world that I’ve imagined is the world I am living in now. Writing these cookbooks and trying my hardest to keep the recipes true and traditional with the ingredients available to me, it is my way of instilling recipes and stories to my son.

What stories inspired you as a young reader? / ¿Cuáles historias te inspiraron cuando eras niño/a?

I loved stories about families and stories told to me by my own grandparents about my ancestors. It was wonderful to learn how a particular dish was or how the cooking method has been passed on from generation to generation.

If your book was turned into a movie/series, who would you cast? / Si tu libro fuera adaptado al cine, ¿Cuáles actores elegirías para interpretar a tus personajes?

I don’t have any actor/actress in mind. But I do picture a movie/series from the point of view of a little girl (me) in various stages of life. Trying to find herself and finally reach this goal. The rest is yet to be written.

"My books do help celebrate both languages because they show the reader snippets of me living in two different countries, speaking two different languages, and experiencing two very different cultures."

What advice would you give to young writers? / ¿Qué consejo le darías a alguien que aspira a ser escritor?

If it’s someone who wants to write a cookbook, I strongly recommend you to ask as many questions as possible. Learn about how your family cooked and celebrated with food. Spend time in the kitchen with those family members who love to cook and just watch and be curious.

How did you feel the first time your work was published? How was your publishing journey? / ¿Cómo te sentiste la primera vez que un libro tuyo fue publicado? ¿Cómo fue el proceso para lograr que tu libro fuera publicado?

I felt like I had just given birth. Relief, excitement, euphoria, and exhaustion! The time in the kitchen, cooking, and testing is tiring but fulfilling. Photographing my own photos has been a dream of mine I was able to achieve it with these books.

What are some challenges you encounter when writing? / ¿Cuáles son algunos de los retos que encuentras al escribir?

After so much time spent in the kitchen and photographing, writing doesn’t come easy. I have to let some time pass in order to get my mind to rest and really get motivated.

What are you working on now? / ¿Cuáles son tus proyectos futuros? ¿En qué estás trabajando?

Besides continuing with my food photography and recipe development, I am working on two more cookbooks! One will be out November 2023 and the other November 2024. Exciting stuff!


Books by Ericka Sanchez


Book cover for Aguas frescas and paletas: refreshing Mexican drinks and frozen treats, traditional and reimagined
Aguas Frescas and Paletas: Refreshing Mexican Drinks and Frozen Treats, Traditional and Reimagined
Sánchez, Ericka


Book cover for ¡Buen provecho!: traditional Mexican flavors from my cocina to yours
¡Buen provecho!: Traditional Mexican Flavors From my Cocina to Yours
Sánchez, Ericka


Ericka Sanchez at L.A. Libros Fest



 

 

 

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