Collecting Voices with Ernesto Cisneros

In this heartfelt episode of The Children's Book Podcast, host Matthew C. Winner sits down with acclaimed author Ernesto Cisneros to explore the power of memory, voice, and community in storytelling. Cisneros reflects on how he 'collects voices' throughout life—those of his parents, teachers, editors, and mentors—that continue to guide him as a writer. He shares his journey from a sense of disentitlement rooted in his working-class upbringing to discovering his authentic voice, which he calls his 'superpower.' This breakthrough came with the accidental success of *Efren Divided*, a book written not for publication but as a love letter to immigrant youth facing deportation. The episode also delves into Cisneros’s transformative experience at a retreat hosted by Meg Medina and Boyd's Mills, where he first felt like a true writer after being read to by Medina herself. He emphasizes the importance of paying it forward by creating space for emerging voices, especially within Latinx communities. Cisneros closes with a powerful message for young readers: connect with your parents now, and remember that even in dark times, society has progressed—and it will keep improving.