Xánath Caraza

Originally from Xalapa, in Veracruz, Mexico, Xánath Caraza likes to use poetry to showcase some of Mexico’s linguistic and cultural diversity, drawing inspiration from Afro-Mexican history, Latino pop culture, and the rhythmic language of the Aztecs, Nahuatl. In this interview at Mid-Continent’s Woodneath Library Center for Park University’s 2014 Ethnic Voices Poetry Series, she talks about her ekphrastic poetry and reads from her International Book Award-winning collection, Sílabes de viento/Syllables of Wind. She also discusses her 2013 short story book, Lo que trae la marea/What the Tide Brings, and how she determines what should be fiction or poetry, as well as reads from her 2012 collection, Conjuro, which placed in the International Latino Book Awards. Parts one and two of a 2019 interview with Xánath Caraza are also available in our audio archive.