The Curse of "Authenticity" for Latina Writers in a Publishing Industry Dominated by White Women

How the demand for stereotypical narratives stifles the diverse voices of Latina authors

Starting Out: The Search for an Agent

Twenty-four years ago, after I wrote my first novel, The Dirty Girls Social Club, I set about finding a literary agent. Several people suggested I try to get an agent named Susan Bergholtz. By then I’d spent 10 years as a staff writer for two of the top newspapers in The United States (Boston Globe and LA Times), whe…