Episode 95 with Diana Lopez, Imaginative Author of Books for All Ages, Including Coco, Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla, and Lucky Luna

Episode 95 Notes and Links to Diana Lopez’s Work 

 

     On Episode 95 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Diana Lopez, and the two discuss, among other things, ideas of representation in literature, Diana’s mentors in her writing life, the cooperative world of children’s literature, and her most recent work which has dealt with real-world issues, movie legends, and the force of nature that was Selena Quintanilla. 

     Diana Lopez is the author of the adult novella, Sofia's Saints, and numerous middle grade novels, including Confetti Girl, Nothing Up My Sleeve, and Lucky Luna. Her debut picture book is now available and is called Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla. She also wrote the novel adaptation for the Disney/Pixar film, Coco. Diana retired after a 28-year career in education at both the middle grade and college levels. Her "second act" day job is helping her husband in his physical therapy clinic, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center, located in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, but she still enjoys meeting with students when she visits schools to chat about books and writing.

Buy Diana Lopez's Books

 

Diana Lopez’s Website

 

Article from Texas Monthly about Diana’s Early Work

 

"Texas Author Invites Children to Sing with Selena" from Houston Press

 

"Alumna and author of Pixar’s 'Coco' novel inspires readers with inclusive storytelling" from The University Star

 

 

At about 2:20, Diana talks about her relationship with language and reading as a kid, including a love of Scholastic book fairs and World Book Encyclopedia

 

At about 4:50, Diana talks about her reading habits and lists from her high school and undergrad days

 

At about 6:15, Diana responds to Pete’s question about Diana feeling represented in the book, including a telling quote from Walter Dean Myers

 

At about 8:20, Diana talks about her mission in writing 

 

At about 9:25, Pete asks Diana about writers who have thrilled her, including Willa Cather and Margaret Atwood

 

At about 11:05, Diana talks about her time at Texas State University in its MFA Program, and great guidance provided by Dagoberto Gilb; Pete shouts out a memorable Gilb piece

 

At about 13:00, Pete wonders about competition and a supportive writing community based on Diana’s experience 

 

At about 14:20, Pete wonders about Diana’s path to becoming a professional writer

 

At about 17:45, Pete asks Diana about her first published works, and Diana talks about her thesis that became Sofia’s Saints

 

At about 21:15, Diana talks about her MFA emphasis and other early writing that hasn’t been published, as well as an impetus for her book Confetti Girl

 

At about 23:15, Pete and Diana talk about whether writing is ever a “waste” if it doesn’t “go anywhere” or get published 

 

At about 25:05, Diana talks about former students who have read her books and her love of writing with her students  

 

At about 27:25, Diana compares herself to her books’ characters, including pinpointing two big connections between her and the title character of Lucky Luna, including their relationships to bilingualism and their many primas 

 

At about 30:15, Diana summarizes Lucky Luna

 

At about 32:00, Pete and Diana enjoy the sayings given by Luna’s grandmother and discuss multiple 

 

At about 33:20, Diana reads from the chapter called “La Luna” from Lucky Luna

 

At about 36:00, Pete and Diana discuss the excerpt, including poliosis that Luna struggles with and its inspiration in Diana’s childhood

 

At about 38:25, Pete tells a story of when overanalysis goes wrong, regarding Reyna Grande’s Across a Hundred Mountains 

 

At about 40:10, Diana responds to Pete’s question about how she does “focus groups” for her middle-grade writing

 

At about 42:45, Diana reveals her NBA allegiance

 

At about 43:05, Diana explains how she got involved in writing the Coco book adaptation, including an interesting reminder about early controversies, including Lalo Alcaraz’s role in reminding Disney of the importance of getting the film’s cultural background correct

 

At about 47:00, Diana discusses the fun and challenges of the book

 

At about 48:25, Pete asks Diana about her creative process and how much creative license she had for writing her book based on Coco

 

At about 52:00, Pete wonders about Diana’s treatment of Miguel, and she responds with interesting points on point-of-view 

 

At about 55:00, Pete and Diana talk about Coco’s storyline and the importance of the family tree that is in the beginning and end of the book

 

At about 57:40, Diana tells the incredible saga of the physical books for Sing with Me: The Selena Quintanilla Story, including some nautical problems

 

At about 59:50, Diana details the continuing allure of Selena in Texas and beyond, as evidenced by one of the many beautiful pieces of art by illustrator Teresa Martinez, as well as how the two worked together to get big and small details correct

 

At about 1:05:05, Pete inquires as to Diana’s decision-making with the unique way in which she included Selena’s tragic death and how her legacy has unfolded since, in her book

 

At about 1:08:20, Diana details the most refreshing and edifying feedback she gets on her books

 

At about 1:10:10, Diana talks about her upcoming project, including a “magical” book coming out with Coquina Press

 

At 1:13:40, Diana gives her contact info 

 

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       Please tune in for the next episode, a conversation with Frank Guridy. Frank A. Guridy specializes in sport history, urban history, and the history of American social movements. His recent book, The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics (University of Texas Press, 2021) explores how Texas-based sports entrepreneurs and athletes from marginalized backgrounds transformed American sporting culture during the 1960s and 1970s, the highpoint of the Black Freedom and Second-Wave feminist movements. His first book, Forging Diaspora: Afro-Cubans and African Americans in a World of Empire and Jim Crow (University of North Carolina Press, 2010), won the Elsa Goveia Book Prize from the Association of Caribbean Historians and the Wesley-Logan Book Prize, conferred by the American Historical Association. The episode with Frank Guridy will air on December 21.