“This Is Not Poetry” — Roxana Calderon on Writing, Identity & Representation

What happens when our stories are missing from books, classrooms, and publishing? In the very first episode of The Missing Book, Dominican-American children’s author Luz Maria Mack sits down with poet, editor, and author Roxana Calderon for an emotional and powerful conversation about identity, literacy, publishing, poetry, and preserving culture through storytelling. 1. Why representation in books matters 2. Growing up Dominican in New York 3. The realities of traditional vs. independent publishing 4. How poetry becomes survival and self-expression 5. The literacy crisis is affecting millions of adults and children 6. Writing for future generations 7. Why culturally relevant stories empower Latino and Black children to see themselves as worthy, intelligent, and capable This episode explores how books become mirrors for communities too often erased from mainstream publishing and why our stories deserve space. ✨ Featured topics include: Dominican culture & bilingual storytelling Literacy statistics in the U.S. Publishing industry barriers Afro-Latina identity Preserving ancestral stories through writing Poetry as healing and resistance 📚 Featured Book: Esto No Es Poesía by Roxana Calderon 🎙️ About The Missing Book: The Missing Book highlights underrepresented voices in literature, culture, and storytelling while exploring the impact of literacy, identity, and access to books in marginalized communities. If you believe everyone deserves to see themselves in a book, subscribe and join the conversation. #TheMissingBook #DominicanWriters #LatinaAuthors #LiteracyMatters #AfroLatina #Poetry #BilingualBooks #RepresentationMatters #IndieAuthors #Publishing #DominicanCulture #LatinoStories #BooksWithColor #Storytelling