Xochitl Gonzalez
Xochitl Gonzalez | |
---|---|
Born | Brooklyn, New York |
Education | |
Notable works | Olga Dies Dreaming |
Xochitl Gonzalez is an American writer, screenwriter and producer; in 2022 she published her debut novel Olga Dies Dreaming which became a New York Times Best Seller on January 30th, 2022.
Early life and education[]
Gonzalez was born in New York City to a second-generation Puerto Rican mother and Mexican-American father and raised by her grandparents in the area between Bensonhurst and Borough Park.[1] Her parents were activists in the Socialist Workers Party, where her mother was a union organizer who ran for office in the Socialist Workers Party. Gonzalez attended public schools and earned a scholarship to Brown University. At Brown she intended to study creative writing but ultimately majored in art history.[2] Reflecting on her time at the university, Gonzalez wrote, "Brown was only four hours by car, a lifetime by way of cultural journey. I had dreamt for years of escaping the concrete of Brooklyn for reasons I couldn’t really ever put my finger on."[3]
Gonzalez worked as an entrepreneur and consultant for a number of years before earning her MFA from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.[4]
Olga Dies Dreaming[]
In 2022 she published Olga Dies Dreaming, her debut novel. The book was received positively in reviews by Ron Charles for The Washington Post and Shannon Melero for Jezebel.[5][6] Regarding the novel, Kirkus Reviews wrote "atmospheric, intelligent, and well informed: an impressive debut."[7] Gonzalez is currently writing and co-executive producing[8] alongside filmmaker Alfonso Gómez-Rejón, a pilot for a drama based on the novel produced by Hulu and starring Aubrey Plaza and Ramon Rodriguez.[9][10]
References[]
- ^ Gonzalez, Xochitl (2014-08-26). "Made In Brooklyn: What's the Essence of the Borough That's Become an Adjective?". Medium. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "From poor kid to elite wedding planner to debut author: Xochitl Gonzalez feels 'divine'". Los Angeles Times. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ Gonzalez, Xochitl (2020-09-11). "Good-bye to Century 21, the Store Where I Grew Up". The Cut. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "Read The First Pages Of A Rising Literary Star's First Novel Before Its Release". Bustle. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "Review | Say 'I do' to Xochitl Gonzalez's 'Olga Dies Dreaming'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "Xochitl Gonzalez's Debut Novel Is a Pivotal Examination of Puerto Ricanness". Jezebel. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ OLGA DIES DREAMING | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (2021-04-29). "Hulu Orders Nuyorican Sibling Drama Pilot 'Olga Dies Dreaming' With Xochitl Gonzalez and Alfonso Gómez-Rejón Producing". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (2021-08-02). "Aubrey Plaza to Star in Hulu Drama Pilot 'Olga Dies Dreaming'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (2021-08-04). "Ramon Rodriguez Joins Aubrey Plaza in Hulu's 'Olga Dies Dreaming'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- Puerto Rican writers
- Brown University alumni
- Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni
- Living people
- American writers
- 21st-century American women writers
- Writers from New York City
- American novelist stubs