Ana Castillo

Novelist, poet, essayist, short story writer · United States · On the map · Writers · Born 1953 · age 73

Ana Castillo is a Chicana novelist, poet, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator and independent scholar.

Ana Castillo is read about 36 times a day, in 13 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 7 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 120 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2021“Why is what is natural to women often seen as negative?”In their wordsfrom "A Blessing" in My Book of the Dead (2021)Read the whole statement

2016“The issue of mass incarceration, the multi-billion-dollar industry that prisons have become in this country, is important to talk about.”In their wordsMay 2016Interview with Vice (May 2016)Read the whole statement

“…I always tell people that you have to write what's tearing at your heart, what you need to resolve. I thought it was time to walk my talk.”In their wordsMay 2016On acknowledging her rape and suicide attempt in her memoirRead the whole statement

2015Lambda Literary AwardAward2014“As disturbing as some of us may find it there seems to be some evidence that the age men are most attracted to is a young teen, 13 to be specific.”In their wordsOn a passage from her novel Give It To Me in “AN INTERVIEW WITH ANA CASTILLO” in Blue Mesa Review (2014 Dec 19)Read the whole statement

“In Lak Ech/tu eres mi otro yo-teaches about the ‘other’ and that we are all each other’s reflection.”In their wordsInterview (2014)Read the whole statement

2008“A novel begins with a query.”In their wordsSeptember 2008Interview in Acentos Review (September 2008)Read the whole statement

1987American Book AwardsAward1953Born15 June 1953

Also in Deutsch

Media & music

Photos 2

Ana Castillo signing a copy of Massacre of the Dreamers, May 25, 2006

In their own words 4

Ana Castillo

4 statements, newest first

I take every risk in writing that I can, because I don't write just to entertain people or make money.
May 2016 · Interview with Vice (May 2016), Own words
Protect him, yes, with my life; spare him of learning responsibility and to take care of himself, no.
2016 · Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me (2016), Own words
We all participate in patriarchal patterns.
2014 · Interview (2014), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Lambda Literary Award2015

American Book Awards1987

About this person

Considered one of the leading voices in Chicana experience, Castillo is most known for her experimental style as a Latina novelist and for her intervention in Chicana feminism known as Xicanisma.

Country

United States