Gloria Amescua (Ah MES qua) has been a writer since she was a child, writing poems and stories throughout her life. When she was a girl, she would often climb into the cradle of an oak tree and enter the world of words. She loves books that reach a young person’s heart, head or funny bone and strives to do just that in her writing. Gloria is proud of her Mexican American heritage. She is an educator, poet and children’s book writer. Her lyrical picture book biography, Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua (2021), illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, was awarded a Pura Belpré Author Honor. It was also a co-winner of the Américas Award, and received three International Latino Book Awards (English): Alda Flor Ada (Gold), Best Educational (Gold) and Most Inspirational (Bronze). It was listed as a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, ALA Notable Books, SLJ’s Best Books 2021 and various other Best of Nonfiction/Informative lists for 2021/2022. Her book was also a 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite finalist for nonfiction text for Young Readers.
A Hedgebrook alumna and a CantoMundo fellow, Gloria’s poetry has been published in a variety of literary journals and anthologies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has published one of her poems in their national textbook literature series. Gloria received both her B. A. and M. Ed. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
She lives outside Austin, Texas, surrounded by grand oaks with Jeff, their lively dog, Pixie, and sleepy cat, Lovey. The grandmother of two amazing granddaughters, Gloria believes in children, pets and possibilities.
