Reyna Grande

About Reyna

• I was born in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, which is one of the poorest areas in the country.
• My parents both immigrated to the U.S. when I was very young, but my siblings and I remained in Mexico until I was 10 years old—that’s when I entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant.
• Attended Pasadena City College for two years, then transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in creative writing and film and video studies.
• After graduating, I struggled to find work within my field of study—I ended up becoming a middle school teacher so I could pay my student loans while I searched for work as a writer.
• It took four years to finish my first book and find an agent; and, over fourteen years to become a full-time author.
• Attended Antioch University where I earned my master’s degree in creative writing.
• I’ve written five books, including “Across a Hundred Mountains,” “The Distance Between Us,” and “A Dream Called Home”—and I’m currently working on my sixth novel.
• In addition to being an active promoter of Latino literature, I also speak at a variety of events across the U.S. and teach creative writing at UCLA Extension.