Today’s Pod Club episode is stuffed full of the gems we learned from last week’s full length episode with Latina author, Annette Chavez Macias.
We focus in on the one thread that all of us can resonate with: the little voices in our heads trying to block us from achieving our dreams.
Imposter syndrome, la cultura, la familia… so many opinions, even our own, that have us doubting ourselves and stopping us from go after our wants!
No worries if you haven’t caught up yet, this one stands alone and will fire you up to listen to Annette share her journey in her own words.
Takeaways:
- Overcoming self-doubt and societal expectations is crucial in pursuing our dreams.
- Listening to our hearts and acting for the greater good can have a profound impact on ourselves and others.
- Representation of Latinas in literature and media is important for creating a sense of belonging and empowerment.
- Supporting and championing Latinas who are making a difference in the world is essential for building a thriving community.
Quotes:
- “Annette teaches us to not get hung up on our own fears.”
- “Listen to your heart and soul. They know you best.”
- “Annette’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance.”
Transcript
¿Como estás this beautiful Wednesday coming at you midweek with love, joy, and hope for a gentle life ahead? I'm your host, Consuelo Crosby, thank you for bringing me into your space today with our pod club episode of Annette Chavez Macias, Latina author of Big Chicas Don't Cry. and Too Soon for Adios, with her third novel arriving this fall, When We Were Widows.
minute chats where we pull [:Before there was Instagram threads, there was just the human condition of being just a few degrees away from each other, and that is what brings us closer together. Now, if you haven't caught Annette's full length conversation, no worries. This one stands alone and may encourage you to follow up with her complete journey.
moms or abuelas glued to the [:Nothing was going to disrupt those shows, especially any ask to Las Reinas. Oh, you would get the shh shh shh right away, right? Well, Annette takes this to a whole other level. After being influenced by her mother's romance novels as a child. She says they were lying all over the house, and any time Annette ran out of something to read, she would go and grab one of her mother's romance novels, which were, at the time, of course, written with white couple leads.
is is part of the mainstream [:Aside from romance, though, which, as you learned, has one mandatory element in it to be considered a romance instead of a love story. I got hooked up on this. I don't know. I just thought it was a really fascinating nuance. But romance novels have to have a happy ending, a happily ever after vibe for the lead couple.
And that is exactly what Annette has manifested for herself with her love for her women's fiction books. Which as we learned, is a whole other concept from romance writing, and one that was the most difficult for her to publish. Not because she wasn't talented. Not because of barriers or editors and agents or she didn't have a storyline.
te the story, la novella, of [:Here's where we're diving into this gem. Here's where this life lesson is coming to us from the graciousness of Annette sharing her story.
The commonality that we hold with her Across our lives
nging, of being exactly what [:The whispers from the cultura to stay silent, to worry about what others think, to be the proper woman, the good wife, to stay in line and not cause problems.
the whispers from la familia to not embarrass them, to be the obedient daughter, take care of your parents, be excellent in school, get a good job, raise a family, And still be the one responsible for anything going wrong,
e her own story of life as a [:It's heart wrenching to hear, yet heart warming testament to her strength of writing for a greater purpose, to honor her familia, the matriarchs in her family, her abuela and Wuelita, to celebrate who they are so no one else could say they, collectively, are not enough.
t makes their world glorious.[:Imagine all those wet blankets laying on you, hella heavy, keeping you silent and still, in the dark with only the whispers of inadequacy for company. Now imagine being in the center of celebration and love, surrounded by people who respect you with gratitude, cheering you on for more, and in that roar,
those whispers can't be heard. Which would you choose? What would it take for you to get out from under those heavy wet blankets and fulfill that dream that brings you joy and pride and celebration? Whatever it is, or whoever it is, do that. Listen to your heart and soul. They know you best. They were there before your rational mind started talking back at you.
verse. Created with purpose. [:As Annette said, she had a story. A story of love and kindness of her four generations of family in her heart and soul that just had to be told. And you saw it most when she spontaneously broke into tears in thinking about her precious abuela and Wuelita,
that are so much bigger than any of those little voices could ever hold back. It's what got her to finally submit. into that really hard environment of publishing, of persevering through 13 rejections.
efore her third. I mean, she [:Join us next week with our amazing guest, Hope Lopez. Co founder of Moonlight Comedy Productions, a multidisciplinary filmmaker and Chicana activist born and raised in Southern California. She's a showrunner, director, writer, producer, actor, editor, and musician. She's all the things. With the intention of bringing accurate representation to marginalized communities through complex and intersectional characters.
e mujeres, the really badass [:Live freely, knowing there are people building spaces for you to be seen and accepted for who you are, with no editing, no code switching, just all authenticity and self love. So join us next Wednesday, April 10th at 5 p. m. Pacific, sunny time, California. We love that you have subscribed to this podcast and continue to champion women who understand the life of all things Latina. And as always, step into your truth, ladies. Ciao!
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percent represented. [:
