Call and Response: Multicultural Writers Series was held on Thursday April 16 in the Library Loggia of Sinclair Community College. The series spotlighted writer, Estella Gonzalez and her short story “Act of Faith” that was published in “Latinos in Lotus Land: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature.”
Gonzalez, a native of east L.A., took questions after reading portions of her story on topics that ranged from her obsession with Catholicism and the autobiographical information that influenced her story.
Lori Orenich, a surgical technology major, attended the event and was impressed by Gonzalez. Orenich said she was able to identify with some of the themes that Gonzalez discussed in her story.
“I just think she presented it very well,” Orenich said.
Gonzalez has been writing for about 10 years and has known that writing was her calling since her teenage years.
“I’ve known since high school,” she said.
Gonzalez said her story “Act of Faith” is about a woman who holds a funeral for her husband who isn’t dead. She said the theme of the story is “hope after heartbreak.”
“I’d just gotten out of a divorce and I was very angry,” said Gonzalez about what inspired her to write this tale.
Gonzalez said she continues to write because it lets her know that she isn’t alone in her experiences.
“What I have to say, it means something,” Gonzalez said.