Marie Delgado Travis is proof positive that life can begin at 50.  At a time when most people are retiring, Marie took up her pen and began what is proving to be a very successful, award-winning writing career. In the intervening few years, Marie has written over 150 pieces, both prose and poetry, in English and Spanish.  She has won a number of distinctions.  Most recently, Marie’s poem "The Window" received Second Place in the prestigious international TOM HOWARD POETRY CONTEST.  In the same contest, two of her poems ("Bijoux" & "The Bedspread") were commended.  These three poems were published in the anthology, Across The Long Bridge (2005), edited by John H. Reid . In November, 2005, Marie was named “VIP of the Day” at Radio WOSO (1030 AM), the leading English language station in Puerto Rico. 

Place of Residence: Houston, Texas and Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

LS Story/Poem: “Abolengo” and “Me and Don Paco”

Previous Publications: Three bilingual chapbooks: Anochecer / Nightfall, Ofrenda / Offering. and Pasión / Passion  and a book of poetry in English, Origami.  They are available worldwide through major online booksellers, including Amazon.com. 

Some of Marie’s Favorite Writers: Marie says: “I was fortunate to study literature, so there are too many influences to mention, unless you'd really like to hear a litany.  Literally, everything from Sophocles to Shakespeare, Cervantes to Camus.  One of my favorite expressions is ‘So many books, so little time.’  So, given a choice, I prefer to curl up with a classic, rather than with contemporary literature.”

Interview with Marie Delgado Travis:

• Susan: At what age did you start writing, and where did your inspiration come from? In other words, what made you want to write? What makes you want to keep writing?
• Marie: Reading and writing have always been important in my private life.  Following the horrific events of September 11^th, 2001, however, I felt an urgent need to  sift through the rubble to find some meaning for myself and offer whatever comfort I could to others.  So I consider myself a Post 9-11 writer.
• Susan: Do you have a muse, or rituals associated with your writing (a favorite pen, a time of day, etc)?
• Marie: Ah, I can say quite mysteriously that I have many Muses, and they know--intuitively---who they are.
• Susan: How did you first hear about Latino Soul?
• Marie: I had just finished telling a friend that we Latinos needed a forum, an “Asopao for the Soul,” when another friend, totally unaware of my “wish” to the universe, sent me the Call for Stories for CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE LATINO SOUL.  I took this as a “sign” from the cosmos and tried to spread the word at every opportunity, whether or not my own submissions made their way into the anthology.
• Susan: Have you been interviewed by radio, newspapers, or TV about Latino Soul?  Tell us about it. 
• Marie: When I contacted NPR writer-radio announcer Tony Diaz of Nuestra Palabra:  Latino/a Authors Having Their Say about CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE LATINO SOUL, he immediately wrote back, “This is HUGE.”  We have been in contact ever since and I've been on his award-winning program several times, as well with The Mexicanz, KLOL-Mega 101, a very popular drive-time radio show.  I've been a guest on a community television program, Viva Houston (ABC-13), to promote CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE LATINO SOUL.  And I've had the honor of doing several readings in Houston, Webster and Seabrook, TX over the past year, to promote my own work and, more recently, LATINO SOUL.  I enjoy the experience of sharing my work with others and obtaining encouraging feedback.
• Susan: In your own words, why do you think that Latino Soul is an important book that people will want to read?  What does this book mean to you?
• Marie: CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE LATINO SOUL offers a poignantly honest glimpse into the family-oriented and very spiritual, Latino lifestyle.  And its life lessons, in my opinion, transcend Latino experience to help us better understand the human condition.  I like to say, “You don't have to be a Latino to have a Latino Soul.”  In fact, some of my best teachers of Spanish Literature have been of German descent.  They've fallen in love with the beauty and depth of our language and culture and dedicated their lives to promulgating what we Latinos often take too much for granted.  I think CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE LATINO SOUL reawakens us to the value of our rich heritage.  And, although written in English, the stories reflect a rhythmic story-telling tradition learned at our parents' and grandparents' knees.
• Susan:   What do you hope people will take from your story or poem?
• Marie: My prayer is that anyone reading my poem ABOLENGO, no matter his or her background, will at least consider its premise that perhaps we need to pay our ancestors' sacrifices back with gratitude, rather than resentment, in order to move ourselves and civilization forward.  And I love introducing readers to a dear friend in ME AND DON PACO.  I hope his story communicates, as it did to me, that when we face a problem with no apparent solution, God often sends Angels to help light our way.

Thank you, Marie, for your inspiring words and especially for your inspiring contributions to Latino Soul.  Read Marie’s story "Me and Don Paco" and her poem “Abolengo” in the FEATURED STORIES section.  For further information about Marie Delgado Travis, as well as a photograph and links to samples of her work, visit her web site at http://hometown.aol.com/marilutravis/index.html.