Barbara Flores is an award-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction. But her middle-grade Magical Realism novel, based on her bi-cultural family, is closest to her heart. She’s been labeled both a “serial enthusiast” and a “Renaissance Woman” (take your pick) for careers that have expanded from illustrator, art director, food poster designer, to founder of a Central American refugee program, and cookbook author. Her second cookbook, which she wrote and designed, won an international IACP cookbook award nomination. Other than writing, the job she enjoys most is teaching. She’s taught writing for over twenty years at two art high schools, three colleges, and in her private living room classes.
Barbara lives both in South Florida and the Bay Area — each residence a home complete with a beloved daughter, several dogs, and grandkids close by. In Florida, she’s blessed with sunsets over Intracoastal waters, and in California, the East Bay hills transform from emerald green to summer gold.
She loves ethnic cooking, and there’s always fresh-roasted jalapeño salsa in her fridge. She travels often to mystical, holy places in Latin America, India, and the Southwest, but she also finds the magical and holy in less appreciated places: a tent, a river, or a jail cell.
Barbara’s immensely grateful to her many faithful students, SCBWI, and The Seymour Agency for their encouragement and support.