Meet Giselle Flores Alvarado | Writer and Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Giselle Flores Alvarado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Giselle, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
There was a point not too long ago where I debated walking away from writing. I thought that because I wasn’t where I wanted to be, that maybe this life wasn’t for me. I think a lot of people who choose creative careers get to that point. However, I think allowing myself to have space, to remember why I loved writing and storytelling in the first place, allowed me to find my way back and come back to it stronger, more determined, and more patient. I don’t think I could ever stop writing in any capacity.

I learned that it was less about knowing whether you want to keeping or give up and more about giving yourself space throughout your career to come back to what you love, in a way that makes you feel empowered. Pressure and expectations can feel very overwhelming when that’s the main thing you focus on as a creative person. I think another thing I was able to learn was that regardless of any outcome the world needs your art and your voice. I think that was a big reason why I didn’t walk away and came back with more patience, trust, and found a lot more enjoyment.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always read books in order to feel seen, to find a place of belonging. As queer Latinx femme, I want my work to be a space for people within my communities to find that. I would say, however, the running thread through all my work is love. I think while it may sound cheesy, platonic, familial, romantic, and self love are all forms of connection that make the basis for any good story.

The fiction and poetry I write are about strong queer characters who are navigating the world, sometimes with magic, sometimes with just their communities. It has always been very important to me to reflect and imbue my work with aspects of my lived experience. I always wanted to see more people like me in the media I consumed and it has been a great feeling being able to write the stories I wanted back then and even now. It is so exciting to be able to celebrate and explore queer love, queer heartbreak, familial relationships, latinidad, and the healing that runs through each layer.

It wasn’t always such a given that I wanted to write about these specific things. I was scared for a long time to consider the stories I wanted to write. It is something I still work on, but the freedom I found once I released the doubt that my voice wasn’t needed, I was able to create things that I was incredibly proud of. My biggest advice is to always lean into what you are scared of.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was coming to LA, I would start off the day going to Grand Central Market to get brunch then head over to The Last Book Store. After we were done shopping I would head over to the grove and do some more shopping and check out the farmers market. Maybe grab lunch here, check out Barnes and Noble. I would end the day with a sunset at the Santa Monica Pier.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I didn’t think about becoming a writer for a long time, although looking back, it makes sense that I would choose this career path. I’ve been writing stories since I was a young child. However, it wasn’t until I read the Inkheart trilogy as an elementary school kid that I realized the power of writing, storytelling, and language.From there I started reading everything I could get my hands on, I truly was insatiable. Then came my sister, who very lovingly said that I could become an author one day. My world was cracked open and from that moment on it has been a dream I have held onto. My sister is my biggest cheerleader. She has believed in my writing before I even considered becoming a writer and author. She loves talking about the poems I share online or the stories I’m concocting in my head. I’m also very thankful to all the teachers I had growing up that supported me and encouraged me. I was able to study creative writing at Brown University and it was there that I was able to find my writing voice and gain the skill necessary to write well. It was there that I learned that I love writing gothic and horror stories just as much as I love writing romance and contemporary. I am incredibly privileged to have so much support and to have had the experience I’ve had as a writer. I’m truly so thankful.

Website: https://www.gisellecarmenalvarado.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giselle.writes/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselle-flores-alvarado-233703190/

Twitter: https://x.com/Giselle_Writes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiselleisWriting

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@flor.and.honey?lang=en

Image Credits
Giselle Flores Alvarado