Fiction Scribe

Hello and thank you for stopping at Fiction Scribe, Mr. Robles. Tell the readers a bit about yourself.

I grew up in a tough New York City neighborhood. My mother was a divorced high school dropout. We were extremely poor but my mother never blamed our circumstances on anyone but herself. She told me we were poor because she had made poor choices and she taught me that the keys to rising above poverty were education and hard work. She never told me my ancestry or my poverty made me weak or helpless or could prevent me from succeeding in America. She never led me to believe I was a victim. I grew up believing in the American Dream.

Of course I knew there was bigotry and prejudice. I was keenly aware that there were people who thought less of me because of my Spanish ancestry. But I didn’t buy into the negative stereotype; I didn’t become prejudiced against myself.

I never gave a thought to the idea that the cards were stacked against me: poor, Puerto Rican, fatherless, drug and gang infested neighborhood, segregated high school. I just pushed on, pursuing the dream my mother had promised. My mother’s teachings of pride and hope and self reliance became the inspiration for my children’s book, Joey Gonzalez, Great American.

What brought you into the world of writing? When did you start?

The story idea came a little over two years ago when I learned about World Ahead Publishing and its line of conservative children’s books. The concept of teaching conservative values through children’s literature intrigued me.

The story I wanted to tell would deal with a controversial subject: affirmative action. World Ahead seemed to be a publishing house that would have the vision and the courage to handle this subject. I wrote the story, submitted it and crossed my fingers.

You’re currently on virtual tour for your book, Joey Gonzalez, Great American. Could you tell us a bit about the book? What inspired you to write this book? Where did the idea begin?

I would like to answer these questions together as they are closely related.

Over the years I have watched affirmative action take an ugly turn. It has become politically correct in America to believe that blacks and Hispanics are inherently inferior and that they must have special preferences in order to compete. Worse yet, black and Hispanic children are being led to believe these negative stereotypes.

I wrote Joey Gonzalez, Great American to bring an alternative message to children. The story takes the negative stereotypes and turns them around, teaching children that Spanish and African ancestry are not weaknesses but sources of strength. The Spanish explorers came across the ocean without any affirmative action.

African slaves had the opposite of affirmative action. They withstood terrible hardships with nothing to defend themselves but their innate strength, courage and intelligence. The Buffalo Soldiers were freed slaves who served in the U.S. Army and were great Americans.

The story uses images that are inspiring and affirmative to teach kids that they have the potential to be great because they have the greatness of their ancestors inside them.

This book is a bilingual book. Was it always in your mind to write it that way? Why did you choose to make it bilingual?

I believe children of any ethnicity would enjoy reading the Joey Gonzalez story but I wrote it mostly for Hispanic and black children. Several months after signing the contract it occurred to me that many of the children who would benefit from this story might have parents who would feel more comfortable reading the story in Spanish.

Also many Spanish speaking parents want their children to be bilingual and would enjoy having a bilingual children’s book to teach them both languages. Fortunately, World Ahead Publishing agreed.

What draws you about writing for children?

Children are the key. They are the future. Joey Gonzalez, Great American could help to create a generation of kids who understand that to judge people by their ancestry is prejudice even if it’s done with good intentions. This would go a long way toward bringing about what this country needs and craves: true reconciliation and true equality for Americans of every color and ancestry.

Are there any authors who have inspired you in your writing?

Katharine DeBrecht. Her first children’s book, “Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!� made me start thinking about writing Joey Gonzalez, Great American to challenge the affirmative action mindset.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m doing the hardest part of writing, promoting the book.

What are your dreams for your writing?

I’d like to create at least one more children’s book.

When you’re not writing children’s stories, what do you do? How do you find time to write?

I have lots of time to do anything I want. I’m retired. I love to go on long distance, overnight bicycle rides. With the sun on my back, with 50 miles behind me and 50 miles to go, that’s when I’m happiest. That’s also a good time to “write� – let the ideas flow and the dialogue take form. I probably should carry a recorder.

Do you have any advice for writers?

Write from your heart. Write with courage. Don’t pull any punches. Don’t try to hide behind your words. That seems to have worked for me.

Thank you very much for your time.

You’re welcome. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.