Aleida Rodríguez

Creative Nonfiction Writer, Poet

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Author's Bio

I am a bilingual poet, essayist, and artist, with the added distinction of being the first woman (not to mention Latina and lesbian) to found/publish/edit a literary magazine and press in the history of Los Angeles (rara avis/Books of a Feather; now defunct). I have taught writing in many settings--elementary and high schools, colleges and universities, community centers, and the AIDS Unit of a women's prison. I am bequeathing my historic home and collections as: Red Hill House Artists Residence & Living Archives, on historic Red Hill in Los Angeles, for use by writers, scholars, and artists in perpetuity.

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Anthologies:

A Poet's Truth: Conversations with Latino/Latina Poets (University of Arizona Press, 2003)

Lucky Break: How I Became a Writer (Heinemann Books, 1999)

Sleeping with One Eye Open: Women Writers on Surviving as Artists (University of Georgia Press, 1999)

In Short: A Collection of Brief Creative Nonfiction (Norton, 1996)

Journals:

Chicago Tribune

L.A. Times

L.A. Weekly

Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine

ZYZZYVA

Poetry

Anthologies:

Poetry Los Angeles: Reading the Essential Poems of the City (The University of Michigan Press, 2014)

Short: An International Anthology of Five Centuries of the Prose Poem (Persea Books, 2014)

Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009)

Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology (Bedford Books, 2009)

Letters to the World (Red Hen Press, 2008)

Latino Boom: Anthology of U.S. Latino Literature (Longman Press, 2006)

Lengua Fresca: Latinos Writing on the Edge (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)

The Face of Poetry (University of California Press, 2005)

California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present (Heyday Books, 2003)

Renaming Ecstasy: Latino Writings on the Sacred (Bilingual Review Press, 2003)

Another City: Writings from Los Angeles (City Lights, 2001)

Not for the Academy (Only Women Press, 1999)

American Voices: Webs of Diversity (Merrill, 1998)

Chester H. Jones Foundation Winners 1998 (Chester H. Jones Foundation, 1998)

Queer Dog: Homo/Pup/Poems (Cleis Press, 1997)

Grand Passion: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond (Red Wind Books, 1995)

An Ear to the Ground: Anthology of Contemporary American Poetry (The University of Georgia Press, 1989)

Poetry Loves Poetry (Momentum Press, 1985)

Fiesta in Aztlán (Capra Press, 1982)

Book:

Garden of Exile (Sarabande Books, 1999)

Journals:

13th Moon

Bachy

Beyond Baroque Magazine

Calyx, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women

Catamaran Literary Reader

Chrysalis

Cold Mountain Review

Kenyon Review

Momentum Magazine

Ms.

New Millennium Writings

On the Bus

Paterson Literary Review

Phoebe

Pilgrimage Magazine

Ploughshares

Poetry Wales

Prairie Schooner

Pudding Magazine: The International Journal of Applied Poetry

Rattle

Seneca Review

Sojourner

Southern Poetry Review

Squaw Review

The Spoon River Poetry Review

The White Pelican Review

Versal

Prizes won:

2018–19 City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Fellowship in Literature, PEN Center USA Literary Award, NEA Fellowship in Poetry, California Arts Council Artist Fellowship, Brody Arts Fund Literary Award/California Community Foundation, Kathryn A. Morton Literary Prize/Sarabande Books, The Spoon River Poetry Review Editor's Prize, Greg Grummer Award in Poetry/George Mason University, Vesta Award in Writing/The Woman's Building, Woman of Promise Award/National Feminist Writers Guild

More Information

Gives readings:

Yes

Travels for readings:

Yes

Identifies as:

Cuban American

Prefers to work with:

Adults, Any, At Risk Youth, Children, LGBTQ, Homelessness, Illness/Wellness, Mental Health, Naturalists/Environmentalists, Disability, Incarcerated individuals, Seniors, Teachers, Teenagers, Veterans

Fluent in:

Spanish

Born in:

Güines

Cuba

Raised in:

Los Angeles, CA

California

Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.

Last update: Feb 19, 2019