Creating my Las Cabañuelas Story
My inspiration for writing The Cabañuelas Story is the strong Hispanic influences I grew up with. My father would mention the cabañuelas each January. I thought it was to explain the crazy weather we usually have that month. Eventually, I understood it more when Dra. Luz Rodriguez, a wonderful professor from Spain who I had in college, explained it in more detail. It is a natural system for observing weather patterns during each January that would give farmers clues as to what to expect as far as weather was concerned. Let’s say this was their economic solution to the common need to know when it would rain to prepare the seeds for planting.
It is also noted that my father was the inspiration for the Abuelo character. Just a small tribute to his wisdom and life lessons.
My friend and colleague Alicia Estevis was kind enough to share some real photos of herself and her family harvesting crops. Thank you, Alicia, and all those families whose hands have given so much to all of us with the work you have done in the fields throughout the years.
And of course, much gratitude to Del Alma Publications for seeking out those stories and storytellers who are willing to share their passion to contribute to literature and bilingual literacy.