Meet Alicia Quintero | Author|Presenter|Keynote

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Quintero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Every successful business idea emerges from a pressing need. As entrepreneurs, we pinpoint a challenge that resonates with us on a molecular level. Our minds instinctively pivot towards crafting solutions. In my case, I started Novels and Resources by A.C. Quintero to address the woeful lack of diversity I encountered in the language learner literature teaching community. This subgenre of literature caters to people who are learning the language. Many world language teachers count on these books to help their students better contextualize the language and delve into the world of stories.

As a Spanish teacher, I was not satisfied with the literary options available to my students at the time. Furthermore, as a woman deeply aware of the impact of harmful narratives, I was troubled by the stories being presented as part of the curriculum. Understanding the impressionable nature of young minds, I aimed to introduce diverse characters not bound by stereotypical narratives, offering students relatable figures with a variety of skin shades. To remedy this problem, my first course of action was to reach out to educational publishers specializing in language learner literature, but my efforts were met with silence. As Shirley Chisholm is quoted saying, “If they don’t give you a seat a the table, bring a folding chair.” I decided I didn’t even want to be at that table, so I constructed my own. I ventured into self-publishing via Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), formerly known as CreateSpace. Despite having no prior knowledge of publishing, creating artwork, or designing covers, I miraculously managed to release my first book, “La clase de confesiones.” This romantic comedy, featuring a young Afro-Latino boy with a crush on his classmate, quickly became a hit among teachers. Without the backing of a publishing company, teachers spread the word via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. In fact, at the time I did not have an FB account. A teacher reached out to me on Twitter, encouraging me to join. Her subject line was “They’re talking about your books on Facebook!”

“La clase de confesiones” was warmly received by the community for its readability, a key requirement for this genre. Its humor and portrayal of a character of color joyfully living his life contributed to its appeal. Orders poured in from teachers and school districts alike. Since then, I’ve authored 11 books, primarily in Spanish, but also in French and German, catering to language learners. Surprisingly, among my readers are adults looking to reignite their passion for Spanish. One reader from Germany reached out via Instagram to express her fondness for my upper-level series “Las apariencias engañan.” This connection led to a collaboration on a German version of “La clase de confessions.” These books, while featuring compelling storylines, are designed with simplicity in vocabulary and grammar, significantly reducing the anxiety factor associated with language learning and making acquisition effortless.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
A few years back, I received an Instagram DM about my trilogy “Las apariencias engañan,” one of my most beloved series. The message boasted about the captivating storyline and expressed genuine love for the books. I was used to receiving such feedback from teachers, so I curiously inquired about the level of Spanish class in which she was using the book. Her reply rocked my world. She wasn’t a teacher; she was a student in the class! The realization that a student had taken the effort to find my Instagram handle and send me a message was astounding. In an era where teenagers are often stereotyped as being tech-obsessed, hyper-connected, and self-centered, here was a student who chose to reach out and thank me for writing the series. Any doubt I had about myself suddenly faded away.

Novels and Resources by A.C. Quintero stand out because the novels and short stories transcend the typical perception of language learning novels as mere “educational” material. Readers don’t get the sense that they’re being taught; instead, they’re engrossed in genuine stories that use authentic, comprehensible language and natural dialogue. The appeal of these novels lies in their ability to not feel didactic or prescriptive but rather offer an enjoyable reading experience that subtly enhances language skills. These novels are versatile. Whether you’re seeking novels for a classroom setting or aiming to improve your Spanish, my engaging, comprehensible, and creatively crafted novels will provide the connection and context you need.

At the outset of my journey, being relatively unknown was a significant hurdle. This was made painfully clear when educational publishers and teacher resource companies declined to collaborate. I was bluntly advised by one company to “Leave writing to the pros,” implying that I couldn’t compete with the established giants of the industry. However, competing wasn’t my goal; believing in myself was my true challenge. Though my writing experience was limited, my knack for storytelling, particularly in Spanish, was undeniable. In high school, my friends would crowd around, eager for my jokes and tales, especially the ones about dates gone awry—though I admit, I embellished quite a bit for effect! This flair for storytelling, perhaps, laid the groundwork for my third book: “Cómo salir de la Zona de Amigos” (How To Get Out of the Friend Zone). And to those high school friends: I hope they never stumble upon this post and discover my creative liberties!

The second hurdle was the classic challenge of “learning while doing” or, as the saying goes, “building the airplane while flying.” You may not start with all the answers, but I deeply believe in rising from ground zero,and presenting yourself as you are. Be your own mentor. Carve out your own niche. Shapeshift and go through closed doors to get to the other side. Years into this journey, my skills in crafting language-learner literature have significantly improved. Last year marked my foray into a new genre with “La revelación,” a ghost story thriller. Furthermore, I’ve collaborated with two educational resource companies to produce “El último viaje” and “El Portal.”

Thankfully, I’ve managed to carve out a space for myself. Over the past four years, I’ve been honored to keynote at four events: the Oklahoma World Language Association near Tulsa (2021), Comprehensible Iowa (2022), the Central States World Language Conference (2023), and the Iowa World Language Association (2023). Additionally, I’ve led workshops on the critical importance of diversity and anti-racism practices in the World Language (WL) classroom for Comprehensible Midwest and was awarded the DEI award by AATSP (2022, Puerto Rico), a renowned World Language Organization.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is simple yet profound: Believe in yourself. Show up for yourself. Be your own cheerleader.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Variety truly is the spice of life, and Chicago, with its 28 miles of lakefront and delectable dishes, offers endless opportunities for a fantastic weekend getaway without ever leaving the city.

We’ll kick off our Saturday at M Henry’s, a cozy breakfast spot nestled in Chicago’s vibrant northside Andersonville neighborhood. Despite the lack of reservations, waiting in line provides the perfect opportunity to mingle with the friendly locals. Once seated, we’ll indulge in a protein-packed breakfast to fuel our day—perhaps one of their mouthwatering omelets or berry bliss pancakes, or for a veggie option, the delectable veggie chorizo. After breakfast, we’ll explore the unique shops in Andersonville, including my very fav “The Women and Children Bookstore,” before embarking on a scenic Divvy Bike ride along Lake Michigan for a DIY architecture tour. A leisurely break at Maggie Daley Park will rejuvenate us before heading to the Art Institute, where we might just catch, with a stroke of luck, the Picasso exhibit.

As the evening sets in, we’ll unwind with some soulful tunes at a Blues or Jazz club.

On Sunday morning, a session of Hot Yoga will invigorate us before we head to Collective Coffee shop for some strong, flavorful coffee and catch-up conversation. Bring a book if you’d prefer a bit of reflective quiet time. Afterward, we’ll hop on the train to the River Walk, where we’ll embark on a relaxing architectural tour along the Chicago River. We’ll learn about vestiges Art Deco tucked into towering high-rises and office buildings. We’ll then take a leisurely stroll downtown, capping off our weekend with a visit to Giordano’s Pizza, renowned as the absolute best in Chicago.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to thank Bryce Hedstrom from Brycehedstrom.com He was the first business to welcome me with open arms. He has a very popular online digital bookshop that specializes in language-learner literature. As a 30-year veteran teacher (high school and college), he saw the potential in my books before anyone else. He placed my books on his website and talked about my books at workshops. I earned a lot of business because of his faith in me. He mentored me and helped me to get where I am today. We still work together, and his wife is a darling too!

Website: https://tinyurl.com/rh3zyn5b

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.c.quintero/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/klasekastellano

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/993395751183802/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkQzuLSLSM5qi9d8SgfpdsQ

Other: https://acquinterobooks.com https://www.brycehedstrom.com/books-by-a-c-quintero/ https://cpli-bookstore.myshopify.com/collections/a-c-quintero

Image Credits
Oklahoma Foreign Language Association