A West Liberty High School teacher is one of seven contributors to a new book to be published by the Iowa Writers’ House on immigration in the United States.
Vanessa Espinoza, who has a masters of education and is a first-year Spanish teacher at West Liberty High School, contributed her story of migrating to Iowa from Mexico in the book “We The Interwoven,” a Volume 3 anthology of bicultural Iowa.
The book is marketed as a “rare look at the immigrant experience in the American Heartland” and Espinoza says she contributed her essay, which was given an honorable mention honor.
“We were provided with individual editorial feedback and coaching memos to help us improve as writers,” Espinoza said of the experience, noting three of the writers in the book also won fellowships.
Espinoza said she was granted the opportunity to meet some of the other writers, noting, “It was such an amazing experience to meet individuals and hear their stories. I got involved because I have always wanted to publish my own stories.”
She said the opportunity has “opened doors” to her essays, noting she’s been writing since the age of 15.
She said the piece that is being published has been in the works for two years and called it “part of my bibliography.”
Espinoza said she’s had stories published before in magazines, but this is the first time she’s made a book, which can be ordered at http://www.iowawritershouse.com/
“I think it is important to hear people's lived experiences,” Espinoza said. “I am a Mexican immigrant that grew up in rural Iowa. My experiences shaped my values and also opened doors for me."
"I am excited to have people read my story and hope that if someone is going through the same struggles, they know they are not alone,” Espinoza said.
In the collection, which includes stories from seven immigrants, the books is described to give a view of American “life through the eyes of our newest citizens” to help the country answer questions about whether the American Dream still exists and what does it mean to be an American?